Bon Vital also makes all natural massage oil, lotion, and cream that comes in ½ gallon and one gallon containers for professional massage therapists and body workers.  Whole sale massage oil is regularly sold to massage therapists and many have commented that BannerTherapy.com has the best prices in town and on the Web. Hazelnut scents, and unscented massage oil, make mixing these natural massage oils with other essential oils easy. 

Natural Massage Oils, Lotions, Creams and Gels
    For the discriminating massage therapist looking for an all-natural line of massage oils, lotions, and creams that do not use toxic ingredients or preservatives the Bon Vital Naturale Massage line is a wise choice.
The Naturale line comes is massage oil, lotion, cream and gel.  It is created with all natural ingredients. An organic preservative is used, instead of a chemical preservative, making it one of the best all natural, non-toxic massage therapy product lines on the market.

All Natural Skin Care for the Consumer
    For the everyday consumer looking for a quality all natural skin care product, Bon Vital cannot be beat.  Their natural skin care products are some of the finest on the market and they come at unbeatable prices. For everyday aches and pains, try the Bon Vital Cooling Sports Gel.  It’s a great way to soothe and refresh muscles and skin tone after a vigorous workout. 

For tired and swollen feet, try the Foot Balm by Bon Vital. It helps smooth the skin and relieve the stress of a long day on your feet at the same time. The Bon Vital foot balm formula is not just a scented cream.  It evolved from Salzburg over sixty years ago and is a widely used natural skincare product today. 

Shea Butter: Natural Skin Care
    Most people who prefer all natural skin care have heard of shea butter. Its moisturizing and rejuvenative powers benefit the skin and provide some protection, too. 
Bon Vital 100% Pure African Shea Butter is different than other brands.  Many shea butters claim to be all natural skincare products but many are mixed with chemical compounds and preservatives.  Always check the label when purchasing all natural shea butter, and if it is not listed as the first ingredient, there is plenty of reason to be suspect. Better yet, purchase Bon Vital 100% Pure African Shea Butter, to be certain it’s authentic and pure.  

Protect Your Skin: Your Body’s First Line of Defense

    Looking at your body’s largest organ does not require medical imaging – it is visible to those around you at all times.. ...it’s your skin!  The natural effects of chronological aging, along with environmental exposure, damage your skin over time.
    What you see in the mirror every day has an impact on how you feel.  Odds are that the better your skin looks and feels, the better you feel.  While no one can turn back the clock and prevent the normal aging process, there are certainly steps you can take to protect your skin from premature aging, and to keep it looking and feeling healthy.

Preserving Healthy Skin: What You Can Control

    When it comes to keeping your skin young, there are factors beyond your control.  Normal aging causes biochemical changes in the collagen and elastin levels in our skin.  These changes can lead to decreased volume and loss of firmness.  Skin sags and wrinkles form; the texture of skin loses some of its softness. No two people’s skin ages at the exact same rate.  
    Chronic or excessive sun exposure causes skin to become damaged much sooner than it would otherwise.  Exposure to UV light causes fine and course wrinkles, redness, and can give skin a leathery, rough texture.  This process interacts with natural, chronological aging and appears to hasten the aging process, leaving your skin looking older than it actually is.  What can you do to prevent this extensive damage?      
    When you know your skin will be exposed to the sun, wear an SPF of 15 or higher and wear a hat with a brim.  Cover your arms and legs when possible, and limit exposure to the sun during the hours between 10 a.m. and 4.pm.  Do not deliberately sunbathe outdoors or at a tanning salon.  These measures can benefit your skin even if it already suffers from sun damage.  If you smoke cigarettes, quitting will benefit your skin in addition to your overall health and well being.  Smoking exacerbates skin damage due to the biochemical changes that it causes.

Natural Health: Take that Extra Step for your Skin through Home Spa Treatments

    In addition to limiting sun exposure and avoiding cigarette smoking, your at-home skin care regimen can benefit your skin.  There are several types of products available and it can be difficult to sort the best products from the rest.  L’Athene is a unique skin care line designed not by skin care/cosmetic experts, but by two nurses with experience treating patients with burns and severe dermatological conditions.  Nan Brown and Lil Bogdan have used their first-hand knowledge of how skin heals to create an all-natural skin care line free of man-made chemicals.  They have consulted other experts, including nutritionists, organic chemists, and aromatherapists in helping to create a product that is both effective and appealing to the senses.
    Tom Maroney, CEO of Banner Therapy, applauds the emergence of a skin care line designed by health care professionals.  
“The ingredients in these products have been hand selected by nurses who have been on the front lines of skin care, and who have done their homework in terms of what skin needs, and what it doesn’t need.”  
The ladies cite growing consumer concern over harsh chemicals that are routinely used in many cosmetic and skin care lines.  They saw a need to provide a line of products that contain the best that nature has to offer our skin, and their products contain such skin-nourishing natural ingredients as proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, fruit acids, healing herbs and essential oils.
    Alpha-hydroxy acids have become well known for their beneficial properties; they can help with fine lines, irregular pigmentation, age spots, and can help decrease the appearance of enlarged pores.  L’Athene offers several products for the face containing the AHA glycolic acid.  The line also includes body treatments and products designed for dry skin, redness and inflammation.
    There are steps you can take to protect your skin and minimize environmental damage.  Treat your skin well, and it will return the favor.

This free massage video shows how to give yourself a hand massage. These techniques can help anyone who uses their hands heavily during a hard day. As with all massage, the choice of massage oils, creams and lotions can really make the difference in a good massage or bad massage.  Proper lubrication during a massage makes it easy to slide over the muscles and aid in efflorage when using deep tissue massage.  There are many popular massage oils on the market today, and differ in types of massage oils, creams and lotions.  After you have chosen to use a high quality massage oil, massage cream, or massage lotion, you still have to choose from top manufactures like Lotus Touch, Massage FX, Bon Vital, Biotone, Khepra, Soothing Touch and Organic Bath and Body.  All of these manufacturers make professional therapy oils, lotions, and cremes. 

If you are able to stop by our showroom in Asheville, NC we can offer some free samples of massage oils, lotions and creams, that are availble.

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.

    Today’s quick pace and high-pressure environment have led to an increase in consumer demand for services that pamper.  As a result, over the past decade, the spa industry has flourished.  In response to people’s desire for a place to retreat from their frenetic, daily lives, the number of spas continues to grow steadily.

    The spa promises an oasis from a harried day -- an escape from the sounds of the cell phone, Blackberry, and all the trappings of modern living.  Since spa services can be time consuming and expensive, why not bring the spa to you?
    You need not spend a fortune to carve out a spa-like sanctuary in your own home.

The Home Spa: Setting the Mood
    
    Start by setting aside some time when you know you will not be interrupted.  A few simple touches can transform, if just temporarily, your own bathroom into a personalized spa.  Start by dimming the lights and using candles to provide soft lighting.  This will help you let go of the various to-do lists floating through your mind.  Candles with calming scents such as lavender are ideal.  Listening to soothing nature sounds can help drown out background household noises, as well as providing a meditative and relaxing mood.  You may want to purchase a sound conditioner that offers an array of soothing sounds.  Marsona makes several models that can bring the sounds of rain, waterfall, surf, and even doves into your home spa.

    You do not need to be at a professional facility to indulge in the spa luxuries and services that clients enjoy.  A luxurious bath in the comfort of your own home may be even more relaxing.  A few drops of an essential oil can be added to the bath to give it a more pampering feel.  Lavender is a natural relaxant and antidepressant that can also be used to treat headaches.  Eucalyptus is a decongestant, also used to treat muscular pain. Peppermint is also a wonderful energizer.  

    After the bath, you can use spa massage oil to moisturize your skin; Khepra Essence of the Nile massage oil has aroma-therapeutic qualities.  

    A self-massager can extend your after-the-bath spa experience.  Massagers come in many varieties, depending on your needs and budget.  A simple manual massager such as the Theracane Self Massager can be a nice addition to your home spa, allowing you to reach sore muscles and trigger points without the added expense of a professional masseuse.  A larger investment will allow for the purchase of an electric massager such as the Single Speed Jeanie Rub; this can help relieve deep-seated muscle pain easily.

Going All Out: Spa Equipment
    
    If you have the space and the budget, you can convert an entire room into a home spa without doing major renovations.  According to designer Heidi Karpa, “Easy access to plumbing will let you create a bath-oriented spa-retreat.  However, if access to your pipes isn’t an option, a fabulous spa space is still possible.”
 
    Karpa suggests purchasing a plug-in water feature and installing an at-home sauna. If receiving at-home spa services from a professional is an option, you may want to consider purchasing spa equipment for the room.  A spa table and chairs will truly “bring the spa to you.”  There are several varieties to choose from depending on your needs.  A stationary table would be appropriate for most converted-room home spas.  The Oakworks Classic Clinician Maple Massager is a sensible choice.  You can also find portable, electric, and hydraulic tables. A portable massage table can be purchased for as little as $200-$300.

    Indulge yourself.  When the kids are yelling and the dog is barking, escape without leaving the house; a home spa provides this ultimate luxury.