Spa Time: Journey towards relaxation

In the contemporary times, the craze of spa is almost ubiquitous. Everywhere, you can see people thronging spas, to restore their health as well as beauty. Talking about spa treatments, they are not only refreshing, but also have multiple health fitness benefits. This very fact explains the reason behind the popularity of spa massages. The very idea of going in for a spa massage takes you to a fantasy world, boasting of a peaceful atmosphere, where you let your mind, body as well as soul, relax completely. Are you aware that there are many types of spa treatments, like destination spa, medical spa, health spa, beauty spa, resort spa and day spa, each suitable for a different need of the recipient. If you want to explore different types of spa treatments in detail, go through the following lines.

Different Types Of Spa Treatments

Destination Spa
Destination spa is designed in a manner to rejuvenate you at all levels, providing you with mind and body fitness, along with making you indulge in healthy eating and ensure complete relaxation. It's not a one-day experience, rather gives you a chance to lose yourself in a new beautiful world, for two to three nights, where no troubles and tensions are allowed to chase you.

Resort Spa
Resort spa can be described as one of the hotel amenities meant for the comfort and convenience of tourists. It mainly offers spa services, along with fitness classes and typical spa cuisine and is perfect for business travelers and families.

Day Spa 
A day spa offers spa treatments on one-day basis. It is something that people can indulge into everyday. Some people go to a day spa for manicures and pedicures, while others prefer it for facials and body massages.

Health Spa
Health spas basically focus on ensuring the overall well being of a person. Usually located at a very peaceful place, it provides you with expert advice from health practitioners.

Medical Spa
Medical spa concentrates mainly on cosmetic treatments, such as laser resurfacing and Botox injections, though it does have spa treatments as well. All the treatments are given under the supervision of a doctor.

Mineral Springs Spa
As the name suggests, a mineral springs spa makes use of natural mineral, thermal or seawater for providing hydrotherapy treatments to the spa users.

Cruise Ship Spa 
Cruise ship spa is provided aboard a cruise ship. Apart from the typical spa treatments, it encompasses fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.

Airport Spa 
Provided as a facility at the airport, an airport spa is aimed at providing short treatments to the travelers. Some of the most common treatments are 15-minute chair massage and oxygen therapy.

CEOs’ Take on Wellness as Corporate Strategy

Survey Finds Over Half of Multinational Companies Polled Plan to Invest in Workplace Wellness More than half of multinational corporations surveyed expect to introduce or expand corporate wellness programs over the next five years, according to the results of a new survey of CEOs of global companies. The global workforce is becoming fatter, sicker and less productive due to chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes work becomes more sedentary, according to the results of the study. The report "Working Towards Wellness: Accelerating the Prevention of Chronic Disease," identified chronic disease as a growing and costly threat to corporations and their workers. It was prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute in conjunction with the World Economic Forum. The document calls on global CEOs to make wellness central to their corporate business strategy, suggesting that multinational employers have the greatest stake in and best opportunity to prevent chronic disease. For corporations adopting wellness programs, PwC provides a framework to ensure the effectiveness of those initiatives. Too little attention is being paid to preventing chronic diseases, as only 3 percent of spending in industrialized nations goes toward prevention, according to PwC, "Traditionally, it has been governments, not employers, that have been responsible for managing the major global health risks," said Jim Henry, global leader for Healthcare, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. "The focus and funding have long been on infectious diseases such as AIDS and malaria, as well as maternal deaths and diseases of the poor and malnourished." "But the prevention of chronic diseases has been chronically under funded," he said. "As we get older, fatter and less active, the weight of the world is falling on the bottom lines of the world's largest companies in the form of reduced productivity, increased tax burdens and declining competitiveness." PwC's report, first presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of chronic disease: Chronic disease, including cardiovascular diseases (stroke and heart disease), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, caused 60 percent of deaths worldwide in 2005. Deaths from chronic diseases will increase worldwide by 17 percent between 2005 and 2015. At the same time, deaths from infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies combined are projected to decline by 3 percent. The economic toll of chronic disease for developing and developed nations around the world is estimated at approximately 3 percent of gross domestic product, globally. The world now has more people who are overweight than hungry. Preventable risk factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, stress and smoking are the biggest contributors to chronic disease. According to the World Health Organization, the United States is the world's fattest nation, with over half of adults overweight or obese. But China and India are growing fatter at a faster pace. By 2015, the number of overweight and obese adults in China and India will grow by 66 percent and 44 percent, respectively. In India, the share of deaths from chronic disease is expected to increase from 40 percent in 1990 to 67 percent in 2020, and spending on cardiac-related treatments is expected to grow by 13 percent annually there. Employers Step in with Wellness Programs In "Working Toward Wellness" PwC examines the challenges facing businesses as a consequence of the growing epidemic of chronic disease, and found that approximately 2 percent of capital spent on workforce is lost to disability, absenteeism and presenteeism (in other words, diminished productivity from ill employees who go to work but work below par) due to chronic disease. Combined, these indirect costs are more than the additional direct medical claim costs that some employers incur. In contrast, corporate wellness programs have been shown to provide a 3-to-1 return on investment. "There are quantifiable benefits from using wellness programs to attract and retain talented, healthy employees," said Simon Leary, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the UK firm of PwC and Health Research Institute Leader for United Kingdom/Europe. "You can improve the health and well-being of your workers while also bolstering your bottom line. The economic case for prevention is overwhelming." As part of its research, PwC conducted a survey on wellness programs among multi-national employers representing more than 3 million employees worldwide, and found a growing emphasis on health prevention in the workplace. The survey, conducted in conjunction with the Washington, DC-based National Business Group on Health, found that: More than half of multinational corporations surveyed expect to introduce or expand corporate wellness programs over the next five years. One third (33 percent) are rolling out comprehensives wellness programs in multiple countries, while another 17 percent are rolling out a single wellness program in multiple countries. The two leading reasons cited for promoting wellness were "reducing indirect costs associated with absenteeism, presenteeism, disability and workers' compensation" and "improving work performance, such as productivity and quality." "Reducing direct healthcare costs" was cited as the third most important reason, followed in order of importance by "the desire to improve the image of the company internally (for retention purposes)" and then to "improve the image of the company externally (for recruitment purposes)." PricewaterhouseCoopers also found that of the 20 largest multi-national companies in the world, 75 percent published corporate responsibility reports online in 2006. Of those that published reports, 93 percent emphasized their commitment to improving the health of employees. The "Working Toward Wellness" report is a joint initiative of PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Economic Forum. A full copy of the report can be downloaded from www.pwc.com/workwellness with online, free registration. PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute provides new intelligence, perspective and analysis on trends affecting all health-related industries, including healthcare providers, pharmaceuticals, health and life sciences and payers.

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What is Power Yoga?

Power Yoga is also known as Dynamic Yoga. The Power Yoga trend started emerging during mid 1990s. It was introduced by two American Yoga teachers. As the name suggests, 'Power', Power Yoga is fast paced and a strenuous exercise. The two Yoga teachers gave a new edge to Yoga by making it a fitnesstool. They took lessons of Yoga from an Ashtanga Yoga master from India and re-invented Yoga in the form of a technique called Power Yoga. 

The core of Power Yoga is Ashtanga Yoga. The stress on fitness makes Power Yoga different from other forms of Yoga. This technique of Power Yoga can be used for a heavy work out. It does not have any fixed poses to be followed. The poses may differ according to the teacher or instructor. It gives more importance to strength and elasticity of the body.

Instructions for Power Yoga

Power Yoga can be practiced by anyone who enjoys exercising. However, pregnant women must consult their doctors to take up any form of exercise. Apart from preganat women, on a general basis, seek help from your doctor or aPower Yoga instructor to know whether it will suit your body or not. An earlymorning environment is very conducive for Power Yoga. Power Yoga has to be practiced on an empty stomach. You can also take help from Power Yoga DVDs or CDs to practice it. You can enjoy it more by practicing with your family,children or friends. Here are some tips which you should keep in mind while practicing Power Yoga.

• Select places like building terrace, open ground, garden which will encourage you to practice Power Yoga 
  
• Wear sweat absorbent clothes. Stay comfortable
  
• Seek guidance of a professional as it involves difficult poses
  
• Concentrate completely on each pose
  
• Follow a proper series of exercise while performing it
  
• Practice Power Yoga thrice a week for 45 minutes each day 
  
• Avoid over doing it or exerting yourself. Slow but steady must be yourPower Yoga mantra

Benefits of Power Yoga

Yoga in any form provides health benefit. Health conscious individuals of any age can enjoy the benefits of Power Yoga. You can start teaching Power Yoga to your child so that he or she will be able to develop a good physic at an early stage. Here are some great benefits that Power Yoga provides.

• Removes body toxins through sweat
  
• Heals disorders like acid stomach
  
• Helps getting rid of obesity
  
• Increases the calorie burning capacity of body
  
• Helps coping with asthma, cancer, bronchitis, insomnia and sinus
  
• Helps to deal with hypertension and menstrual disorders
  
• Increases stamina, strength and flexibility of body
  
• Improves blood circulation and immune system
  
• Improves concentration and self-control

Power Yoga is not only about achieving excellence with different poses, it is also a method to achieve an excellence of mind. It is a beautiful way to gain a perfectly fit and healthy body. If you have been wondering about how yoga can help you stay in shape, here is the answer. You are just 45 minutes away from a healthy trim body. Get... set... Power Yoga!

Oriental Massage Techniques

Tui Na (tuina) - Chinese Bodywork Massage Therapy

Introduction

Tuina (Tui Na) is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy that has been used in China for 2,000 years.Tuina (Tui Na) uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage andmanipulation techniques Tuina (Tui Na) seeks to establish a more harmonious flow of Qi through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body the naturally heal itself.

Tuina (Tui Na) methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi ,and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting). External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.

Tuina (Tui Na) has a variety of different systems that emphasize particular aspects of these therapeutic principles. The main schools in China include the rolling method school which emphasizes soft tissue techniques and specializes in joint injuries and muscle sprains, the one finger pushing method school which emphasizes techniques for acupressure and the treatment of internal diseases, and Nei Gung method school which emphasizes the use of NeiGong Qi energy generation exercises and specific massage methods for revitalizing depleted energy systems, and the bone setting method school which emphasizes manipulationmethods to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships and specializes in joint injuries and nerve pain.

In a typical session, the client, wearing loose clothing and no shoes, lies on a table or floor mat. The practitioner examines the specific problems of the client and begins to apply a specific treatment protocol. The major focus of application is upon specific pain sites, acupressure points, energy meridians, and muscles and joints. Advanced Tuina (Tui Na)practitioners may also use Chinese herbs to facilitate quicker healing. Sessions last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Depending on the specific problems of the client, they may return for additional treatments. The client usually feels relaxed but energized by the treatment.

Tuina (Tui Na) is now being popularized in this country as a powerful therapeutic extension of traditional western massage methods. Tuina's (Tui Na) simplicity and focus on specific problems, rather than a more generalized treatment, make it both an excellent alternativeand/or extension of the Swedish-style massage. By utilizing treatments of shorter duration, it can be used in a variety of settings, including home, office, clinic or hospital. It is well suited for both the professional massage therapist or the active, health conscious individual.

Tuina (Tui Na) practitioners can be found by calling Acupuncture Colleges of the American Oriental Bodywork Therapy Association.

History

Tuina (Tui Na) dates back to the Shang Dynasty of China, 1700 B.C.E. Oracle bones show that tuina (tui na) massage was used to treat children's diseases and digestive complaints in adults. By 600 C.E. Tuina (tui na) was included in the Imperial Medical College as a separate department. Tuina (tui na) flourished throughout China until the Qing Dynasty where it was suppressed along with other Chinese cultural arts. Following the Communist revolution, Tuina(tui na) was restored along with other traditional medical arts and was included in the creation of the current system of Traditional Medicine Colleges.

Currently, Tuina (tui na) is taught as a separate but equal field of study in the major traditional Chinese medical colleges. Tuina (tui na) doctors receive the same demanding training as acupuncturists and herbalists and enjoy the same level of professional respect.

Benefits, Limitations, Contraindications

Tuina (tui na) is well suited for the treatment of specific musculoskeletal disorders and chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. Effective treatment protocols have been tested in a practical setting. Tuina (tui na) is not especiallyuseful for those seeking a mild, sedating and relaxing massage since it tends to be more task focused than other types of bodywork. Contraindications include conditions involving fractures, phlebitis, infectious conditions, open wounds, and lesions.

So what makes the Russian Bath special

Russian bath for centuries was an essential part of living in Russia. People from Tsars to peasants not only washed there, but used it for religious ceremonies, to heal when they get sick, women gave birth and young couples found seclusion in there.

Spend a day at one of Russian baths and you will sweat in bath and freeze in icy pool, enjoy birch leaves (venik ) massage and struggle with the heat. But after all, walking out of the banya, feeling ten years younger with skin soft and smooth like babies, you will promise yourself to come back.

Banya (Russian bath)

- a bathhouse with a steam room where heat comes from heated stones and humidity is added by throwing water on the stones.
A vital part of banya is venik - a leafy bundle of birch or oak twigs used body massage (platza).

Baths differ greatly in temperature and humidity. The hottest contemporaryFinnish saunas have only about 5-10% humidity, which allow boiling temperatures (100C/212F) to be tolerated and even enjoyed for short periods of time. Other types of baths, such as the Turkish bath Hammam have almost 100% humidity, but the temperatures there are no more than 40C/100F. Russians believe that hot and dry sauna will only dry your throat and skin. And high humidity baths with heavy drops of water in the steam are also not healthy.

Russian bath has the same levels of humidity as the air we breathe every day: about 60%. And the temperatures usually do not exceed 80C/180F. Russians pay special attention to the quality of steam: by throwing water on stones heated to extreme temperatures behind metal doors, they create steam droplets of exceptionally small size; this makes breathing easy and enjoyable.And of cause there's a famous Russian venik - leafy, fragrant bundle of birch twigs used to gently beat and massage fellow bathers.

A Natural Cure for Diabetes

Here we have more powerful proof that the trace elements provide a natural cure for diabetes - and many other diseases. In this article, chromium supplementation has been found to provide dramatic improvement - up to and including freedom from all symptoms - in diabetes. However, in another direction of research initiated by Prof. John McNeill at UBC, the trace element vanadium had been found to provide just as dramatic improvements

This proves and underscores my assertion that not only one or two trace elements, but the complete natural range of the 72+ trace elements is needed for our naturally robust health. Of course, neither chromium nor vanadium are recognized by our modern agriculture, and are therefore either severely deficient or absent in agricultural soils, hence in all of their products, and hence again, in practically all of our daily food. And as asserted here in these pages, a daily serving of seafood is a natural source of the complete range of the 72+ trace elements, and will provide not only the same, but far, far better results than either chromium or vanadium alone.

The 13th Boryeong Mud Festival

Boryeong City has abundant resources and beautiful scenery with mountains and beaches. It is a blessed place where has been called Every world in Boryeong cause the citizens have lived in splendor from generation to generation at the place of the great scenic beauty. We invented seven kinds of cosmetics including Mudpack after we processed the qualified and quantified beach mud gathered from the pure plain near to Daecheon swimming beach on July 1996.

It was proved by prominent research institutions such as Korean Research Institute of Standards and Science, Korean Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Taepyungyang Technology Institution, Dr. Kim, Jae-baek and the team workers in Wonkwang Univ. etc. that Boryeong Mud cosmetics have much far-infrared factors good for humans body and also have higher Germanium, Mineral and Bentonite contents compare to imported products. And also, we got ISO 9002 Certification in 2001. Accordingly, we wanted to let people know the superiority of Boryeong Mud, the good product, Boryeong Mud Cosmetic and also to advertise for the sightseeing place including Daecheon swimming beach. So, we held the festival July 1998 for the first time and now we are to bring up this festival into a global one. Boryeong Mud Festival has been held at Daecheon swimming beach, where has unique shell-powered sandy beach only in Eastern countries. So, you may swim and massage with mudpack at the same time. Furthermore, there are Mud massage programs (Self massage at the Beach, Ultramodern mud massage) and Mud Experiential Land program using mud powder made through the processing procedure, that is, we gather mud from pure plain and remove all impurities. There are many events such as mud wrestling, mud king contest, mud fireworks fantasy and mud sliding. There will also be a photo competition in which past members have come in first place. This is a high profile event. There is a gorgeous beach there as well, which will come in handy as you won't have any chance but to get dirty. You will be put into a prison until you get some mud on your body. You will have a chance to join the adventurous silt extreme training experience. This will be a various marine-type extreme training courses on silt such as silt basic training, games, cavalry battles and human pyramid. The mud itself is very good for your skin and health, so you can save yourself some money on a facemask and come along with us. At night, you can relax or experience some games and watching fireworks with good friends at the gorgeous night beach. The beach itself is very beautiful and a great place to go swimming, and this is one of the biggest festivals in Korea, so please don't miss out on this great day! Be sure to specify which day you would like to go. In addition, there are 78 big and small islands including a fantastic one like God kneaded and 36 precious cultural heritages like Woiyeon-do, Muchangpo sea road famous for Mosaic Miracle, Cold pool even you feel chilly in summer, Coal Museum, National Treasure, Namhyehwasang Baekwol Bogwang Monument and etc., so visitors can sightsee and enjoy all those things. Hence, we are to let people know Cultural sightseeing in Boryeong as a related one and also advertise Boryeong Mud Cosmetic broadly to home and abroad.

Life expectancy gap between rich and poor 'widening'

The gap between the life expectancy of the rich and the poor in England is widening despite efforts to close it, a National Audit Office report says.

Life expectancy is now 77.9 years for men and 82 years for women but in poor areas it falls to 75.8 and 80.4 years.


The NAO says this means that from 1995-97 to 2006-08 the life expectancy gap grew by 7% for men and 14% for women.

It is calling for more investment to help GPs tackle problems like smoking and poor diet in poor communities.

The NAO says the figures mean a Labour government target to reduce the difference in life expectancy by 10% by 2010 is unlikely to be met.

Blood pressure
Its report says it is not possible to show how much money has been spent on tackling health inequalities, as primary care trusts (PCTs) are not allocated specific funding for the task.

But it says that at present the system "does not provide enough of an incentive" to encourage family doctors to focus on the neediest groups in their practices.

The report says it would not cost "a large amount of money" - £24m a year - to take key actions which would improve health in deprived areas.

These include increasing the prescribing of drugs to reduce cholesterol and control blood pressure, and doubling the capacity of services which help people quit smoking.

The report contrasts that amount with the £3.9bn spent by PCTs in the poorest areas on treating circulatory and respiratory illness.

Life expectancy for everyone in England improved under Labour, and now stands at almost 78 years for men and 82 years for women.

MORTALITY RATES FELL SLOWEST IN THE PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS OF:

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Salford
Bolton
Middlesbrough
Blackburn with Darwen
Hartlepool
Bradford
Oldham
Nottingham City
Sandwell
Ashton, Leigh and Wigan
Leicester City
Hull
Blackpool
But the improvement rate has been slower in the most deprived communities, and currently the equivalent figures are 75.8 years for men and 80.4 years for women.

Analysis also showed that success rates in stop-smoking programmes were lower in the poorest communities than in other areas.

Karen Taylor, from the NAO, said: "This has been an intractable and costly problem.

"It's likely improvements will start to happen - but at the moment, health inequalities are widening.

"Moving forward, there needs to be much more targeted action - with GPs and other healthcare professionals being aware of the need to actively intervene with the lowest socio-economic groups, to educate them and to provide the drugs which will improve their health outcomes.

"People in those groups are less likely to attend GPs, and also those areas still tend to be under-served with doctors."

Prevention
Health minister Anne Milton said: "We want the public's health to be at the very heart of all we do.

"I want to see the NHS, doctors and local government acting at the right time to improve the health of those who need it most."

The government has pledged to increase the proportion of the health budget in England which is spent on preventing illness - something the NAO welcomed.

Ms Taylor said: "It's stayed steady - at about 4%. The new government has talked about an increase to perhaps 5%. That's actually a big increase, when you think about the whole health budget."