Banner Banter - Podcasts

A Fitness Expert’s View of Exercise Equipment, Fitness Supplies and Commercial Fitness Equipment

Banner Therapy — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:15:13 GMT

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In this episode of Banner Benter fitness instructor and expert Jolene Puffer helps beginners and athletes learn to choose fitness equipment that is right for their individual needs. Whether you are in search of commercial fitness equipment for your spa or gym or home exercise equipment to enhance your personal workout www.BannerTherapy.com has everything you need. Banner Therapy offers simple, basic exercise equipment for beginners like exercise resistance bands and yoga balls along with fitness equipment that provides a more intense workout like treadmills or a Pilates machine.

Fitness is a very personal choice for most people. If you purchase home exercise equipment you want to be sure and purchase fitness gear that works for you and will help you attain your fitness goals. Commercial fitness equipment can be any type of exercise device large or small. The key is for gym and spa owners to purchase commercial fitness equipment that will best serve their clientele and provide a variety of fitness routines to suit various types of people including beginners and seasoned athletes.

Jolene Puffer has been in the fitness industry for 14 years working with both individuals and businesses. She is the owner of RealFitnessForLife.com and the creator of the Yo Wei workout.

Sponsored by Banner Therapy Products.

Chiropractic Tools for Lower Back Pain Relief

Banner Therapy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:49:12 GMT

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In today's world many Americans suffer from temporary and chronic lower back pain, especially those that work in offices and sit in front of computers all day. When it comes to lower back pain relief there are many ways to naturally support and heal lower back problems. In this podcast writer and interviewer Sarah Benoit speaks with Dr. Andrew Aguilar, know by his patients as Dr. Dru. Dr. Dru has a chiropractic practice in downtown Asheville and you can learn more about him at http://www.ashdrdru.com.

Chiropractic Tools for Lower Back Pain Relief In today's world many Americans suffer from temporary and chronic lower back pain, especially those that work in offices and sit in front of computers all day. When it comes to lower back pain relief there are many ways to naturally support and heal lower back problems. In this podcast writer and interviewer Sarah Benoit speaks with Dr. Andrew Aguilar, know by his patients as Dr. Dru. Dr. Dru has a chiropractic practice in downtown Asheville and you can learn more about him at http://www.ashdrdru.com. In this interview Dr. Dru discusses the causes of lower back pain and lower back pain relief. He explains the relationship between lower back pain and neck and shoulder pain. Dr. Dru also talks about chiropractic supplies, chiropractic tables, and home back pain relief such as specialized pillows, chairs and back braces. Chronic lower back pain can seriously affect a person's quality of life. For more information on lower back therapy products that can help you or chiropractic tools that can assist with lower back pain relief visit http://www.BannerTherapy.com.

Sponsored by Banner Therapy Products.

Massage Therapy Accessories: What do the Pros Use?

Banner Therapy — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:56:55 GMT

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When it comes to massage creams and oils, massage tables, music and other necessary tools of the trade, it is best to rely on the opinion of the experts. This podcast features writer Sarah Benoit interviewing Lynn Bernatsky, a massage therapist with 20 years of experience who is licensed in North Carolina and Tennessee. Bernatsky is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, and she specializes in jin shin jyutsu, a Japanese healing modality. She speaks to Sarah Benoit about basic massage tools and how to evaluate the best tables, massage creams, oils and lotions and music for use in a massage practice.

Massage has a multitude of uses such as lower back pain relief as well as natural neck pain relief and overall muscle pain relief. Massage therapy accessories and supplies can be found in abundance on the BannerTherapy.com website. At Banner Therapy massage tables we guarantee you will find quality and affordability. Massage therapists also need a reliable source of massage oils, lotions and creams. Visit our online store for a complete selection of products we know you’ll love!

Sponsored by Banner Therapy Products.

New Trends in Home Spas

Banner Therapy — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:57:55 GMT

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This insightful podcast is an interview with a professional writer who works closely with alternative health practitioners. She identifies some new trends in home spas which help people deal with chronic pain, stress, or fatigue by creating a retreat within the home. Air purification systems detoxify the home environment, while aromatherapy oils and diffusers set the mood for relaxation. To ease lower or upper back or neck pain, there are some handy portable massagers, hydrocollator packs, and more. Some people want their own massage tables in their home spa, so their acupuncturist, chiropractor, or massage therapists may visit them. Others are trying new technology, such as Vibration Therapy or Whole Body Vibration Therapy (WBV) which has been shown to help improve muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, circulation, and bone density and is used by NASA. All of these new trends in the home spa point to one overall message: people are becoming more proactive with their own health.

Elizabeth: Today we are here at the Banner Therapy showroom in Asheville, North Carolina. Banner Therapy is one of the largest providers of massage therapy supplies, chiropractic tools, physical therapy products and exercise equipment. My name is Elizabeth and Sarah has joined me to talk about how and why more people are designing and building spa therapy rooms at home. Sarah is a writer who works with a variety of alternative health practitioners including acupuncturists, chiropractors and massage therapists. I’d like to jump right in to the questions I have prepared if that’s okay with you?

Sarah: Absolutely Elizabeth, I’m glad to be here and let’s get started.

Elizabeth: Are Home Spas really popular now?

Sarah: Yes they are. Designing a spa therapy room for your home has become a popular practice throughout the United States. You can read about design ideas and popular spa therapy equipment in the paper, online and in magazines. Just recently I was reading about interior design ideas for home spas on www.Oprah.com. People love the idea of escaping every day life without leaving the house. Our world is so busy and stressful, many people have become aware of how important it is to have the space and time to relax and clear your mind. It’s about quality of life and taking excellent care of yourself. Enjoying spa therapy at home helps you maintain mental and emotional clarity and general physical health. Home spas are also more popular now than ever because you don’t have to be a millionaire to consider creating one; there are a lot of options that will fit any budget.

Elizabeth: Should people who exercise regularly consider a home spa?

Sarah: A home spa is a great compliment to an exercise room, or any regular exercise routine. After strenuous exercise, you can come home, take a bath, relax your muscles and use some aromatherapy to unwind. Your massage or physical therapist can visit you in your own home or you can use self massagers like the Theracane. You can also use therapy products like hydrocollator packs, which are easy to use heat steam packs that provide up to 30 minutes of deep, soothing, moist heat. They are great for the muscles.

Elizabeth: It sounds like a great way to start or end your day…..you can go jogging or to the gym to work out and then reward yourself with some pampering. I like that idea.

Sarah: Exactly, so many people in America are busy all day and it is hard to take time for yourself. Bringing spa therapy into your home makes it convenient and simple to treat yourself well. It’s like taking a vacation without leaving home. People need to rejuvenate their energy and stay healthy so they can approach their daily lives with more clarity and passion and they can accomplish their goals.

Elizabeth: Where do you start when you try to create a relaxing and healing space at home?

Sarah: To get started you want to choose which area of your home that you will transform into a spa therapy room. Then you want to make choices about what kind of spa equipment will work best for you. You want to choose products that will facilitate your personal goals whether it’s skin care, overall health, relaxation, getting in shape or pain management. Regardless of your goals it is important that the spa therapy help you release emotional and physical toxins.

Elizabeth: When you say it’s important to release toxins what do you mean?

Sarah: First of all, our environment and daily lives are physically toxic in this day and age. We come into contact with chemicals in the air, water, and even in our food. A home spa therapy room can include a few important things to help combat this. First purchase an Air Purification System, this will help especially if you are sensitive to allergies, asthma or sinus problems. Use organic and all natural oils, lotions and bath products. These kinds of products will help you avoid adding more chemicals to your body through the skin. You can also use high quality sheets, towels, robes and slippers. Massage itself will help remove physical toxins from your muscle tissue just make sure you drink water after every massage. That’s another thing, if you don’t already have one purchase a water filter.

Elizabeth: And what about the emotional toxins you mentioned?

Sarah: Stress can cause a lot of emotional issues. You can feel short tempered, chronically depressed, frustrated, lonely. It is important to have space to let these negative feelings go. Aromatherapy is a wonderful way to help shift emotional energy. Many essential oils are known for their healing properties that work on an emotional and physical level. For example, lavender oil is known to heal the skin and help people sleep better, but it also promotes a feeling of inner peace and calm. Also to combat the affects of stress pampering yourself and having a special place to relax is essential.

Elizabeth: Do people really want their own spa therapy equipment in their home? Why not go to a spa for a massage and other treatments where they have a space already set up?

Sarah: It’s good to have spa therapy equipment like a massage table of your own so your massage therapist, acupuncturist, physical therapist or whomever can come to your home and work with you. In your home spa therapy room you can control the environment and be completely comfortable. When you are finished you don’t have to drive home you can simply sit back and allow mind and body healing to occur. Another perk is that you, your friends and family can also use equipment like the massage table. It can provide health benefits for everyone. Consider buying some quality massage tools as well, such as self massagers or the hydrocollator packs I mentioned earlier. You can use them alone or with your spouse or children at the end of a long workout, after a hard day at the office or when you are feeling run down.

Elizabeth: Can you tell me about some of the newest and most popular spa therapy tools and equipment on the market right now?

Sarah: Well that’s a loaded question Elizabeth. There are a lot of products on the market to choose from. I think it is important that you consider what your individual physical needs are. If you are having specific issues with things like carpal tunnel syndrome, skin problems, spinal degeneration you can find spa therapy products to help with all of these. It is important that you speak with your health practitioner or doctor to make sure you don’t use anything that can make a condition worse.

Elizabeth: Can you give me some examples?

Sarah: A couple of great examples are kits like the Amber Spa Equipment Kit, which is used for many treatments including full body wraps and treatments, paraffin cocoons and paraffin manicure or pedicures. Also you can purchase infared mineral lights, which are used to relieve muscle strain and increase blood circulation. This type of treatment is used worldwide by acupuncturists, chiropractors, fitness specialists and naturopaths. Some of the more cutting edge spa therapy equipment are products like portable or stationary hydrotherapy tables and tubs and there is something new called the Power Plate, which uses vibration therapy.

Elizabeth: What is Vibration Therapy?

Sarah: Vibration therapy or whole body vibration therapy (WBV) has been the focus of a number of recent studies, one by NASA. NASA is exploring how vibration therapy can help astronauts. Many astronauts eventually suffer from bone loss and osteoporosis as a result of weightlessness in space. It has been shown to prevent bone loss when applied for as little as 10 to 20 minutes a day. Vibration therapy is being explored in so many ways has been proven to help improve muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, circulation, and bone density. This type of product can help everyone from older women suffering from osteoporosis or athletes dealing with issues of rehabilitation.

Elizabeth: The home spa trend makes sense now. It’s a matter of setting aside a space and making a commitment to your own health. Going back to our earlier question…how much space do you think you need at home to create a spa therapy room?

Sarah: Like I said earlier you don’t need to live in Hollywood and be rich to have a spa therapy room at home. A massage table can fit in a spare room, and an aromatherapy device is small and can be moved from room to room. Air purifiers can be placed anywhere. You might want to consider using a room near the bathroom especially if you have a Jacuzzi tub or steam shower. Some people prefer the spa therapy room have great natural lighting so they choose a more open space, other prefer the space be located near their own bedroom for convenience. It really all comes down to what fits your personal lifestyle.

Elizabeth: Well thank you for being here Sarah.

Sarah: Thank you, it’s been a pleasure.

Elizabeth: Again we are here in Asheville, North Carolina at the Banner Therapy showroom. To learn more about our therapy products and alternative health trends please visit us online at www.BannerTherapy.com.

Sponsored by Banner Therapy Products.

All About Aromatherapy: Healing Body and Mind

Banner Therapy — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:01:18 GMT

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Sarah: Today we are here in the Banner Therapy showroom in Asheville, North Carolina to discuss the healing powers of aromatherapy. Banner Therapy is one of the largest online providers of massage supplies, physical therapy products, exercise equipment, chiropractic tools and more.

Elizabeth: Aromatherapy plays a significant role in all kinds of healing modalities and healthcare practices. It is used by chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists and naturopaths to help achieve physical healing, but it has also been proven that aromatherapy helps with a wide variety of mental and emotional issues.

Sarah: I'm Sarah

Elizabeth: And I'm Elizabeth, and this is All About Aromatherapy: Healing Body and Mind

Elizabeth: Okay, so, smell is one of the most powerful senses. The brain responds immediately to it and it stimulates everything from feelings, to changes in behavior, to memories. Why do you think this happens?

Sarah: Well science has proven that smells and odors travel through the nose into the cilia, those are the little hairs in your nose, and then into the limbic system. This is the part of the brain that controls moods, emotions, memory and learning. Did you know all of us have the ability to identify as many as 10,000 different smells.

Elizabeth: Wow, that is a lot of smells!

Sarah: Studies on aromatherapy have shown results in many different ways for instance smelling lavender has been shown to increase alpha waves in the back of the head, which are associated with relaxation and jasmine oil has been shown to increase beta waves in the front of the head, which creates a more alert and focused state.

Elizabeth: I understand......aromatherapy works because smell can actually affect our brain waves.

Sarah: You've got it, according to WebMD doctors are studying aromatherapy and the healing properties of essential oils in regards to all sorts of health problems and conditions: everything including menopause, migraines, colds, insomnia, arthritis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS....the list goes on and on.

Elizabeth: That is amazing.....

Sarah: It really is......so in order to gain the benefits of aromatherapy you can create your own system at home. There are so many ways to use essential oils. I like to wear them and spritz them in water around my house. When you wear essential oils just be sure they are mixed with a base oil that is appropriate for the skin like jojoba, essential oils on their own can be too concentrated to wear alone.

Elizabeth: You can also diffuse them with a number of different devices. I personally own a small ceramic diffuser, called the Simplicity Aroma Diffuser that requires only a small amount of essential oil and a tea light candle. It’s so easy my mother can even use it. It smells so great and the one diffuser can fill a pretty large room with the scent.

Sarah: I used to have one of those, then I fell in love with a diffuser called the Aroma Mist. The Aroma Mist uses ultrasound vibration to create a scented mist that comes out of this really cool fountain. You can place it on a table or shelf and as the aromatherapy mist comes out the fountain literally changes colors and just looks really pretty. It adds a whole other dimension to the decor of a room.

Elizabeth: I’ve never heard of that. I’ll have to try the Aroma Mist. You know, I’m also a big fan of the aromatherapy lamp rings. There are also a variety of aromatherapy sprays, which are great if you prefer not to burn things like sage or incense. There is an Energy Clearing Spray that you can use in your car or house or even the office...it's really good if you need to get rid of negative energy in your space.

Sarah: Energy Clearing Spray is awesome. I love spraying it in the morning to start the day. With essential oils and aromatherapy there are so many options to consider, it is easy to find something that fits your personal lifestyle. I have a couple of friends, one is an acupuncturist and one is a massage therapist. Janice, the acupuncturist, has two aromatherapy devices. First she has an electrical Atomizing Diffuser at home. This has a tiny air pump that disperses a fine mist of essential oils. It’s better than any air freshener you can buy. Then when she’s at work at the spa she has a Spa Center Air Diffuser that works in larger spaces.

Elizabeth: Oh those are great....it's like creating a spa atmosphere at home. Sarah: Right, right...you can adjust the air circulation and you just fill this oil drawer with 10-20 drops. It has a pad in the drawer that collects the essential oil drops. It’s great at the spa since the scent can cover multiple rooms. My other friend, Connie, the massage therapist has a Pearlessence PUR AIR Fragrant Ionizer. It sounds high tech but this thing plugs in, uses batteries and even has an adapter for the car so it is completely portable. Not only does it eliminate odors it absorbs dust and other particles in the atmosphere. Elizabeth: I think everyone needs one of those.

Sarah: No kidding, wouldn’t it be a great idea to bring that to the office and fill it with different scents? You could help everyone be more relaxed or more motivated. In the car you could burn oils to keep from getting stressed at rush hour.

Elizabeth: I love that aromatherapy has so many practical daily applications.

Sarah: I completely agree. So tell me, what are your favorite essential oils to use? There are so many good ones!

Elizabeth: Well, I love eucalyptus and lavender both. The are definitely two of my favorites.

Sarah: Oh, I really like both of those, especially lavender.

Elizabeth: Yes, a lot of people like the affect lavender has over them. It really has some incredible properties. It can help with headaches, skin problems like acne and stress. It has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties and even works as an anti-depressant so it is able to help with many mind and body issues.

Sarah: I love it because of its relaxing affect. It is great for doing yoga and meditating.

Elizabeth: Yeah, lavender is in a lot of essential oil blends created to deal with stress. It also helps with depression, grief or just your typical feelings of being overwhelmed. Lavender oil can make you feel peaceful and calm and safe.

Sarah: Okay, so you said eucalyptus essential oil is also one of your favorites right?

Elizabeth: Yes, I did.

Sarah: We obviously have some similar tastes in essential oils. I love Eucalyptus because it is great when you have a cold, sinus infection or the flu. It has almost a menthol or vapor rub affect sometimes.

Elizabeth: Exactly. It works as a decongestant and also has some anti viral qualities. I diffuse it every day in the winter to stay well. If you’re sick you really want to speak with your doctor. For the most part essential oils are safe, but like anything else you want to use them in moderation.

Sarah: What other kinds of essential oils do you use?

Elizabeth: Well I also use peppermint, frankincense, rosemary and lemon grass. the best thing to do is buy a reliable book as a resource for choosing the essential oils that will work for you.

Sarah: I agree, one book that I would recommend if you don’t already have it is the Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. It is well written and works like an encyclopedia. Worwood has been a practicing aromatherapist for over 20 years and she describes how to use over 600 essential oil blends.

Elizabeth: Well, that seems to be all of the time we have for today!

Sarah: Thank you for joining us for All About Aromatherapy

Elizabeth: Don't forget to visit the Banner Therapy Showroom in Asheville, North Carolina for all of your aromatherapy needs.

Sarah: Or visit us online at www.BannerTherapy.com

Sponsored by Banner Therapy Products.