There’s no doubt about it:  physicians will tell you that routine exercise is good for the body. Next time you consider implementing an exercise regimen into your life or your home, consider the equipment you will want to have nearby.

An Elliptical Workout

    For the complete at-home gym, consider purchasing an Elliptical. The high quality ellipticals have a range of different workouts to choose from and many different intensity levels.  Star Trac is the brand to trust when it comes to high quality elliptical machines that are built to last, and function at the highest level during workout sessions. Consider the Star-Trac P-TBTx Total Body Trainer  for your at home gym. The elliptical workout is so effective because it combines stair climbing, cycling, skiing and walking all in one movement for the ultimate workout. For a more economical elliptical with the same high quality user-friendly Star Trac design, try the Star Trac P-TBT Total Body Trainer.  A cardio workout will help you to get and stay fit and energetic.  It’s time to equip the at-home gym, lose weight and get into shape.

Exercise Bicycle

    There’s one piece of gym equipment that will never go out of style and is constantly being improved upon: the exercise bicycle. The Star Trac P-UP Upright Bike is a state-of-the art piece of exercise equipment. It’s suitable for warm-ups, at home fitness, and is even used by top athletes.  
    
Recumbent Bicycle

    For those who prefer a recumbent design exercise bicycle, or require it during rehabilitation from an injury, the Star-Trac S-RBx Recumbent Bike Plus is a good selection.  It’s user friendly and it measures the heart rate to prevent over exertion.  
    For the ultimate recumbent bike The Star Trac P-RB Series Recumbent Bike  has many extras.  This state-of-the-art piece of fitness equipment actually adjusts the intensity level of the workout based on the user’s heart rate and includes a personal fan. The Star Trac P-RB Series Recumbent Bike is a winner.

    Star Trac’s Upright Bike and Recumbent Bike are excellent choices in fitness equipment.  Both are superior design and quality with easy to use controls for a variety of workouts.  The design for Star Trac bikes and other fitness equipment was executed after studying the exerciser’s behavior and incorporating common movements into the structure of the machine. Ease of use, comfort, flexibility and durability are some of the characteristics of Star Trac’s fitness equipment.

Rowing Machine

    Some fitness enthusiasts prefer a nice upper body workout without the weights. An investment in a rowing machine can make all the difference.  The Stamina ATS AirRower, is a well-built piece of exercise equipment that is also foldable, for ease of use in an office or an apartment.  The molded seat is especially good for longer workout sessions.  A rowing machine can provide a great cardio workout right at home. And then, it can be put into a closet or out of the way place until next time.  

Don’t Forget the Abs: Abdominal Exercise Equipment

    For the busy person who may not have time to exercise, a breakthrough product is on the market to exercise abdominal muscles. The Slendertone Flex Abdominal Training System  is basically a belt that can be worn around the waist. The person wearing the Slendertone will receive an abdominal workout after pressing a button and receiving electrical stimulation.  So, if you have no time for a workout, there’s still no excuse for not attending to your abs.  The price tag of only $139.95, as well as the convenience factor, makes the Slendertone Flex even more tempting, and worth a try.  
    Old school ab crunchers can now breathe a sigh of relief. No need to get on the floor to strengthen and tone abdominal muscles unless you prefer it that way. 

    Developed by a team of Johns Hopkins nurses who consulted with burn patients, the L’Athene skin care treatment system is an anti-aging skin care treatment that exceeds expectations, and does so naturally and organically.  Nan Brown and Lil Bogdan are the creators of L’Athene. When  they developed this high quality botanical spa skin care line, they committed to utilizing the finest natural, organic ingredients with healing properties for skin.  

    The L’Athene skin care treatment utilizes a combination of vitamin E and selenium to prevent the effects of aging.   Though this is not unusual for an anti-aging skin care treatment, the use of all natural healing botanicals and products is a unique approach. L’Athene skin care products assist in reducing the size of pores, act as a wrinkle treatment, and rejuvenate skin to make it appear younger.  The best way to find out how well a skin care treatment works for you is to give it a try. L’Athene anticipated this and developed a trial kit for the consumer who is curious to see just how well the skin care regime works.  The L’Athtene trial-dose sampler kit  is only $19.99.   

    For the person who wants to use a skin care product that is sold in physician and dermatologist’s offices, the best way to start using L’Athene is with the SR-3 Daily Skin Rejuvenation System™ - Ultra.  L’Athene is recommended by numerous care professionals, including J. Lucas, M.D., a Plastic Surgeon quoted by She magazine.

    For those suffering from dry or cracked skin, the L’Athene solution could be the answer.   The Dry Skin Hydrating Plant Oil Extract  is a revolutionary skin care treatment that repairs dry, flaky, damaged skin.   L’Athene’s all natural skin care treatment minimizes wrinkles and fine lines with routine use.  This extract is effective for very dry or damaged skin that is created for those people who work in an injurious environment. For those suffering from chronic dry skin, L’Athene’s Intensive Moisture Therapy will help revitalize and renew.  It works by replenishing naturally occurring skin lipids and stimulating cellular activators to protect facial collagen, enhancing the natural protection our bodies provide.    

    It’s difficult to find a facial cleanser on the market that does not have alcohol as an ingredient. This is another area where L’Athene’s all natural approach to skin care treatment stands out above the rest. L’Athene’s Primesse Essential Facial Cleanser  uses natural antibacterials and Echinacea and Rose Hips to restore skin balance.  This cleanser, toner, and eye makeup remover also utilizes lavender oil to help tone the skin. The nutrients contained in this cleanser are absorbed more easily by the body than chemically based facial cleansers.   

    For improved skin, wrinkle treatment, and an all natural approach to healing dry and cracked skin, L’Athene is certainly one of the premier products on the market today.  Use L’Athene in an anti-aging skin care routine and watch your skin transform to a more vibrant and radiant appearance in no time. 

    When one thinks of the injuries sustained by baseball players, skin irritation is not necessarily the malady that jumps to mind. But for Josh Beckett, ace pitcher of the Boston Red Sox, it is exactly those sorts of concerns that have proven most debilitating over the years: Beckett has suffered from blisters on the fingers of his pitching hand that have landed him on the disabled list an astonishing six times since 2000.

    That is a painful problem. It is an expensive problem. And it is a problem that can curtail seasons; it can derail careers; it can mean the difference between playing and not playing, winning and losing.

In Search of Topical Pain Relief

    And it’s not limited to Beckett, pitchers, or even baseball players. Athletes of all stripes risk injury due to blisters, abrasions, eczema, cuts...all dermatological concerns that demand topical pain relief. And, it doesn’t end there: Those who participate in outdoor sports—tennis, sailing, skiing, and so on—frequently suffer from sunburn. Those who sweat a lot in workouts or competition such as basketball players, gymnasts, and runners have to deal with chafing. It especially helps runners to prevent blisters, abrasions, and also expedites in healing. These are recurring problems that demand chronic pain management. Yet, many athletes downplay these concerns, oftentimes because such injuries are not considered severe. Hey, it’s not a broken bone or a torn hamstring, so how bad can it be? It can be bad enough to cause an athlete to lose a step, or to favor a certain leg, arm or muscle group. It can also be bad enough to lead to more severe injuries. Just ask Josh Beckett.

    As such, athletes aiming to remain in top form should seek to treat their dermatological concerns via natural health remedies. Indeed, natural pain relief is the optimum method for keeping an athlete’s skin healthy and hydrated. In fact, the importance of hydration itself cannot be overstated. Of course, the simplest and most effective method for staying hydrated is to simply drink water. And for athletes, who lose a great deal of fluids through sweating, water should be consumed frequently.  In fact, it’s said that even 2 percent dehydration decreases an athlete’s performance by as much as 10 percent. Adequate hydration is crucial in keeping one’s skin healthy.

    For athletes already suffering from blisters, abrasions or the like, simple powders and ointments such as Johnson’s Baby Powder or Gold Bond Medicated Ant-Itch Cream can be purchased inexpensively, and can provide tremendous relief. Even petroleum jelly can be applied to cuts or chafed areas to provide immediate topical pain relief.

    For athletes suffering from dermatological issues, chronic pain management can truly be that basic. Again, let’s take the example of Josh Beckett: The Red Sox hurler addressed his blisters issue with…surgery? Laser treatment? Nope. He used Band-Aids.

    Which doesn’t mean that Band-Aids or baby powder are the only methods for treatment, or even the most effective ones (it should be noted that Beckett’s Band-Aid solution prevented him from throwing his curveball during bullpen sessions, and his on-field performance suffered as a result).

Advanced Natural Pain Relief

    For athletes looking for more advanced natural pain relief, XTreme Skin Ointment (www.xtremeskin.com) offers a wide range of healing capabilities: It creates a breathable, protective barrier for the skin; it locks out germs and bacteria, and locks in moisture; and it accelerates the skin’s healing process. Natural health remedies like XTreme Skin Ointment can (and should) be used as a preventative measure, but they can also be applied to damaged areas.

    It must be stated that no athlete is immune to dermatological issues: Bowlers will often suffer from blisters and cuts; rock climbers, from cracked skin and burns; horseback riders, from chafing; swimmers, from dry skin; weightlifters, from calluses.  And, too many athletes will try and play through these problems when they should be seeking out chronic pain management techniques and natural pain relief.

    An athlete’s skin is as related to his or performance as his or her muscles, yet too few recognize this. It is crucial that athletes seek out topical pain relief, and it is recommended that they do so through natural health remedies. To ignore them, or to treat them ineffectively, can spell damage, disaster and heartbreak. Just ask Josh Beckett.

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.

There are lots of ways to relieve lower back pain and hip pain. There are many different high quality products on the BannerTherapy.com website that are effective in helping with pain relief in these areas. The products suggested here are all natural, non-chemical, non-invasive approaches to chronic lower back pain, which also affects the hip and knee regions on some. This short guide will offer some practical suggestions on easy, everyday tools that can be used right in the home to help relieve lower back pain.  

    In order to avoid injury or worsening of a condition, always consult your physician first, before embarking on an exercise routine or using special physical therapy equipment. Most health care practitioners will encourage those suffering from lower back pain to focus activities on improving muscle strength and flexibility. Always proceed with a health care professional’s advice first.

Physical Therapy Exercises

    Physical Therapy Exercises are easy to do right in the home, provided you have the right tools. Consult a physical therapist before engaging in any lower back exercises.  He or she can recommend the best exercises to help strengthen muscles that will aid in the relief of chronic lower back pain.

A yoga mat is something useful to keep around the house even if you don’t do yoga. For extra cushioning, try the Tapas Ultra Yoga Mat. Many physical therapy exercises for chronic lower back pain are done on the floor, and yoga mats provide a stable non-slip surface for these exercises.   

Exercise balls are also great tools to keep handy and one of the primary physical therapy supplies that helps reduce back pain.  Something as simple as sitting on an exercise ball and bouncing lightly for a certain amount of time each day is beneficial for the lower back because it distributes the fluid in the lower spine, aiding in pain relief and flexibility. Try the Stamina Shiatsu Massage Body Ball for a relaxing massaging effect while working out.  Low back pain is often aggravated by a sendentary lifestyle. There are many types of exercises which will benefit lower backs that utlize the yoga ball.  Ask your physical therapist or physician to recommend some exercises specific to your condition.

Vibrating Massagers – Hand Held

    There’s no better way to spoil yourself than a vibrating massager.  Massaging certain areas of the upper neck and back can help ease pain from too much time on the computer or time spent driving.

    A great hand held massager is the Homedics MT-PA Palm Percussion Massager. The Shiatsu Massager is also a great hands free unit with a strapping system.  It custom fits any body area and is portable.  The deep kneeding action is a wonderful way to relieve stressed tight muscles.

Back Massagers

    A good back massager is worth its weight in gold.  For an affordable price of only $74.95, you can purchase the XTC Back Massager. The Posture Pump Elliptical Back Rocker relieves chronic lower back pain and promotes disc and joint lubrication.  This device not only helps stretch the lower back but also helps you build abdominal muscles.  
 

 

However, the main incentive to make you start exercising is overall natural health improvement. It can help you not only in your physical well being, but with mental health as well.  Here are some top reasons to motivate you to exercise:  

Weight control: Regular physical activity helps people lose excess weight or stay at a reasonable weight; exercise increases metabolism and burns calories. Duke University research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that overweight, sedentary adults who began exercising lost visceral fat, or at least did not gain more. Those who did not exercise, however, gained more in just six months.

Increase flexibility, muscle strength and endurance: Health studies repeatedly reveal that strength training increases muscle strength and mass and decreases fat tissue.

Bone strength and prevention of osteoporosis: An active lifestyle benefits bone density.

Stronger immune system:  The findings from some studies support the possibility that exercise may delay immunosenescence (age dependent decline in immune function).

Better sleep:Daily exercise can serve as relaxation therapy.  It can improve the general quality of sleep, help with quicker sleep-onset, and longer sleep duration leading to feeling more rested upon waking.

Chronic back pain relief:  By increasing muscle strength and endurance and improving flexibility and posture regular exercise helps to prevent lower back pain, middle back pain and upper back pain.  Many exercise studies show that yoga, in particular, seems to help.

Personal stress management: Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, which may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.

Fight depression: Many studies show that exercise promotes positive mental health and reduces symptoms of depression.

New brain cell development:Exercise stimulates the formation of new brain cells (neurons). It also strengthens connections between those cells. The areas of the brain that are stimulated through long-term exercise are associated with memory and learning.

Cardiovascular disease prevention:Lack of physical activity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. There is a direct relation between physical inactivity and cardiovascular death. In a long-term, Swedish study, women and men who were physically active at least twice a week had a 41 percent lower risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) than those who performed no physical activity.

Cholesterol lowering: Physical exercise favorably influences blood cholesterol levels by decreasing LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol.

Type II Diabetes prevention and control: Exercise can promote healthy blood sugar levels in the body.  There is strong evidence from randomized controlled studies (e.g. Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study and the Diabetes Prevention Program in the U.S.) that moderate physical activity combined with weight loss and balanced diet can confer a 50-60 percent reduction in risk of developing diabetes among those already at high risk.

Lower blood pressure:  Low physical activity increases the risk of hypertension. Regular exercise training seems to be effective in reducing blood pressure. Trying out some different types of exercise fitness equipment may be one way to go (i.e. treadmills or elliptical equipment.)   

Reduce stroke risk: Research data indicates that moderate and high levels of physical activity may reduce risk of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic strokes. According to a study in the December 2007 issue of Neurology, published by the American Academy of Neurology, people who have good physical function after the age of 40 may lower their risk of stroke by as much as 50 percent compared to people who are not able to climb stairs, kneel, bend, or lift as well.

Yoga is a union of body, mind, and spirit and its history is as rich as what it professes to do for overall well being and harmony. The word “yoga” came from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which translates into “to unite or integrate.” 

Yoga is an ancient system of health and fitness which originated in India and dates back approximately 5,000 years. The word yoga had its first mention in the Rig Veda, the oldest of the sacred texts.   

The history of Yoga can be divided into five main periods: vedic, pre-classical, classical, post-classical and modern. They are defined as follows:

    Vedic: The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas contains the oldest-known Yogic teachings -- Vedic Yoga. This is portrayed through rituals and ceremonies that attempt to go beyond the limitations of the mind. During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony.

    Pre-Classical: The creation of the Upanishads marks this period.  The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads describe the inner vision of reality resulting from devotion to Brahman. These explain three subjects: the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas. Yoga shares some characteristics with Hinduism and Buddhism. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of meditation and the practice of physical postures. Around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord’s Song was created and this is currently the oldest-known Yoga scripture. Just as the Upanishads furthered the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads.

    Classical: The development of the Yoga Sutra took place during the classical period. Written by Patanjali around the second century, he attempted to define and standardize Classical Yoga through what is referred to as the Eightfold Path or Eight Limbs. They are:

    Post-Classical:  The yoga of this era is similar to the post-classical and Vedic traditions; it’s characterized by the unification of body and mind. Yogis of the past did not pay close attention to the (physical) body, as they focused most energy on contemplation and meditation. The new generation of Yogis, however, developed a system where different exercises when used along with deep breathing and meditation, can help to maintain a youthful body and prolong life.

    Now that you are well versed on the history of yoga, why not give it a try? You’ll be in the company of over 30 million people from around the world who currently practice yoga.

    According to Ramakrishna Ananda, Founder of the Yoga Center of California, when you first start practicing yoga, never strain — in the postures or meditation.

    To aid in yoga practice, many products are available to enhance the experience. For instance, Banner Therapy Products offers an array of alternative health care products.  Yoga supplies include: yoga mats, yoga DVDs, yoga videos, yoga books, yoga blankets, and more.     

     Over its long history, different schools have emerged, and there are numerous examples, branches and philosophies.  Ultimately, all agree on one common element: the fundamental purpose of yoga is to foster harmony in the body, mind, and environment.

The Laryngoscope, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, recently published the results of an American study that surveyed 211 patients with different nasal inflammatory conditions, including allergies.
The study concluded that the daily use of nasal cleansing with salt water significantly improved many of the parameters of experienced discomfort. It also revealed that nasal irrigation has the potential to improve overall quality of life and is a cost-effective treatment.

    Nasal irrigation is a personal hygiene practice that involves flooding the nasal cavity with warm saline solution.  The goal of nasal irrigation is to clear out excess mucus and particulates while moisturizing the nasal cavity. Either a fluid-filled syringe such as Nasaline or a Neti Pot can be used. Nasaline was developed by a team of Swedish ear, nose, and throat specialists. Neti pots have been used in India and South East Asia for centuries to clear the nasal passages and sinuses, and are still widely used today around the world.

    There are several products on the market that profess to clear nasal passages and sinus airways, however, many are prescription drugs or over-the-counter products that are filled with artificial ingredients. Nasaline and neti pots are natural-therapy alternatives. They are gentle and easy-to-use.

Nasaline: The patented silicone tip is designed to fit snugly in most adult nostrils. The tip produces a gentle swirl stream when the saline solution enters the nose washing away harmful, irritating particles. Simply fill the Nasaline syringe with 2-ounces of saline solution and experience drug-free relief from everyday nasal and sinus ailments.

Neti Pot: This is an interesting little pot that looks like a small tea pot. It is used for running a saline solution through nasal passages. It will moisturize, clear nasal passages, and help to prevent infections.

To use the neti pot, simply prepare the saline solution by adding 8-ounces of warm water and a quarter teaspoon of non-iodized salt the pot. Turn your head to the side, and insert the spout into the upper nostril. Raise the neti pot so the saline solution flows into the nose and out of the lower nostril.

"Users can also enhance the benefits of the nasal wash.  For neti pot use, neti pot salts and washes are available," Tom Maroney, CEO of Banner Therapy Products, said.  "For Nasaline users, complementing salts are also helpful."

www.bannertherapy.com is an e-commerce site that offers physical therapy, spa therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic, and alternative therapy products, supplies, and equipment. They also have a wide selection of rehabilitation, homeopathic, and occupational health products.

Maroney recommends that after using the neti pot, users may like to do the following simple exercise before blowing their nose: lean forward from the hips and waist, head hanging down, and turn your head from side to side.

In conclusion, whether you choose Nasaline or the neti pot, you are sure to be satisfied with the results of these natural therapy alternatives and will embrace these alternative health care practices to make a positive change in your health.

    Most people associate strength training with clunky dumbbells and heavy and expensive weight equipment.  Resistance training offers a flexible and inexpensive solution to strength training because the bands and tubing are portable, come in different sizes and tension levels and are designed to work arms, legs, back, and other important muscle groups, and are inexpensive.

What’s the Difference between Resistance Bands and Resistance Tubing?

    A resistance tube is an actual tube of rubber that usually has a handle on each end. A resistance band is a ribbon of elastic and they come in different colors to represent different levels of tension. 

    To be most effective, different ones are used on different parts of the body.  Many trainers and fitness specialists use resistance tubes to develop arms, chests, shoulders, and legs.  Resistance tubes complement exercises such as squats, chest presses, standing rows, lateral raises, and bicep curls.

    Resistance bands, great for toning, are usually recommended for strengthening the shoulders, buttocks, and thighs. This can be done through exercises such as the lunge, upper back rows, upright rows, standing hip abduction, and leg hip extensions.

Popular Resistance Bands and Resistance Tubing

    Thera-Band exercise and resistance tubing is effective and economical and can used in clinical or home-fitness settings. Use of the tubing for resistive exercise provides positive and negative force on the muscles, improving strength, range of motion and muscle group cooperation. Color-coded progressive resistance gives “at-a-glance” documentation of progress from one level to the next.

    Some brands are even latex free and are comprised of a synthetic latex material that performs like latex, but does not have any of the allergenic issues associated with natural latex. Low powder also helps to keep clothing clean.

Choose the Right Resistance Level

    Most companies manufacture five resistance levels for each band they sell. Although they vary in color, they can generally be described as: extra-light, light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy. Trainers generally recommend that people start at the level they feel most comfortable. A very light level is typically suggested for children and seniors, or to improve the smaller muscle groups of the upper body.

    Women of average strength are advised to use the lighter levels and for working small to medium muscle groups such as the back and hips.

    The medium level is recommended for the average man or active woman. It tones and develops medium muscle groups such as the arms, shoulders, chest, and legs. The heavy level is generally used by stronger men and women to tone medium to large muscle groups. It is designed for advanced upper body work and intermediate or advanced lower body work. For advanced elite athletes, the extra-heavy level is perfect for advanced lower body workouts.

Resistance Band and Resistance Tubing Pros

    Phillip Page and Todd S. Ellenbecker are excellent resources for learning more about these strength-training products.  They co-authored The Scientific and Clinical Application of Elastic Resistance.

    Phillip Page, MS, PT, ATC, CSCS, is a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and certified strength and conditioning specialist. He manages clinical education and research for Thera-Band Products and has a private practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializing in sports and orthopedic physical therapy. He has worked with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks and has lectured internationally on the scientific and clinical use of elastic resistance.

    Todd S. Ellenbecker, MS, PT, SCS, OCS, CSCS, is the clinic director at Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. A licensed physical therapist, he is certified by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as a sports clinical specialist and orthopedic clinical specialist. The APTA also awarded him its Sports Physical Therapy Clinical Teaching Award in 1999. He was chairman of the APTA’s Shoulder Special Interest Group and is a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy and American Journal of Sports Medicine.

    So, to maximize strength, speed, and power, resistance bands and resistance tubing are a practical solution. They can be used on their own or as a supplement to free weights and machines.  They are great tools for customizing workouts and for isolating muscles.  They travel well and will not break the bank.

    You’re going about your day, and you lean over to take the trash bag out of the bin…only to moan in discomfort due to the ache in your lower back.  Millions of Americans complain of back pain due to sports injuries and the strains of daily life.  Simply sitting at a desk all day at work, or bending over to lift a bag of groceries, can put you at risk for back injuries.

    Back pain is one of the top reasons people visit their doctors and miss days at work.  Many people are seeking non-invasive forms of relief for back pain that do not require medication.  Inversion therapy is a way of stretching the spine that can provide relief for back pain.  It can be dated back to as early as 400 BC when the “father of medicine,” Hippocrates, suspended a patient suffering from back pain on ropes and pulleys to relieve his symptoms. 

    Sound scary?  Luckily, citizens of modern times can benefit from inversion therapy right in their own living rooms.  

What is Inversion Therapy?

    Inversion therapy uses gravity to provide relief for your back pain.  It consists of lying on a “table” that tilts your body so that your feet are higher than your head, putting you at a recommended 15-degree angle or more.   This allows the disks and nerve roots in your spine to naturally decompress.

    People with varying causes of lower back pain, such as sciatica or a pinched nerve, may benefit from inversion therapy.  Stress and poor posture can also contribute to back pain, making virtually everyone susceptible to it.
 
    ABC’s Good Morning America recently featured Gary Calabrese, Director of Sports Health Rehabilitation for the Cleveland Clinic, who demonstrated inversion therapy on weather anchor, Sam Champion.  Calabrese reported that lying on an inversion table allows the muscles and ligaments in the spine to stretch.  The muscles relax as they are elongated, and this stretch can relieve the discomfort caused by the wear and tear of daily activity on your back.

    Tom Maroney, CEO of Banner Therapy Products, a company specializing in rehabilitative products, said, “By relieving pressure on the discs and nerve roots, inversion therapy allows discs to recover lost moisture and to return to their original shape.  This decreases the pressure they can exert on nerves, therefore minimizing back pain.”

 Is an Inversion Table Right for You?

    Inversion tables are a convenient, non-invasive way to alleviate your lower back pain without having to leave your house.  Often two or three short sessions, per day, will help minimize symptoms. 

    Inversion tables range in price from $299 to $1,400.  Banner Therapy sells several versions suited to fit a variety of needs.  They offer inversion tables for all budgets. Some easily fold for storage in a corner or closet.  Others are perfect for “at-home” use because they require no adjustment for height and weight.  Some are also motorized and capable of providing a full inversion.

    There are several different models of inversion tables to choose from, depending on your individual preferences.  Looking for an alternative way to soothe your back pain?  You just may turn things around by trying inversion!

    It’s the holidays. People are stressed not only with holiday plans, but with finding that perfect gift to show a loved one they care. What better way to communicate that message than by giving a gift that will make them feel good all year long?

So, when making your holiday list, and checking it twice, be sure to include not only good gift ideas, but ones that are good for you too.

    A recent survey conducted by Jenny Craig, Inc., revealed that approximately 80 percent of people would appreciate receiving a health-related gift item during the holidays and seven in ten people (69 percent) would consider giving such a gift.

Aromatherapy, Pilates, Yoga, oh my!

    If you decide that a healthy gift is the way to go this holiday season, first you will need to examine the habits of the people on your list. Do they have healthy habits? If so, what are they? Do they enjoy yoga, Pilates, spa treatments, or practice alternative medicine?  Perhaps they enjoy massage or dabble in acupuncture.

    If yoga is the answer, an appreciated gift might be a yoga mat or yoga video.  For the person who likes some pampering, consider aromatherapy oils and accessories such as aromatherapy diffusers, candles, and bath salts.  For those practicing Pilates, how about a Pilates exercise ball or Pilates mat bag? Acupuncture enthusiasts might enjoy an acupressure point hand chart.  Massage lovers would welcome massage oils, massage music or a massage stone set so they can enjoy the benefits of massage at home. 

    “Last year I received a foot massager,” Stephanie Urfer of Brooklyn, NY said. “I work as a server at a local bistro and I am on my feet all the time. It was the best present I could have received. It’s such a luxury to come home and spoil my feet; it makes going to work more tolerable. Sometimes, I will even add lavender or rosemary essence to enhance the overall experience.”

Healthy Gifts Contribute to Healthy Backs

    In addition to gifts that provide overall health and well being, many people have problem areas that need specific targeting such as the neck and spine. Today, cervical and spine problems are becoming more and more numerous. This can be attributed to an array of causes that include more time at the computer desk and more time in the car.

    Companies such as Banner Therapy Products, based in Asheville, NC, offer a wide selection of healthy gifts that help to improve posture, cervical alignment, and offer pain relief.  Some pain relief products include: heated seat cushions and heated car seats with massage designed by Obus Forme.  Cervical support pillows that are water based and also contour to the neck and spine also offer pain relief from cervical tension, sleepless nights and headaches.  Inversion tables are also growing in popularity. In fact, they were recently featured on the morning news program, Good Morning America. Inversion allows a stretch for the muscles and the ligaments in the spine.  As the muscles elongate, they relax, which can relieve some discomfort that occurs through normal daily activity or through sports activities.

Banner Therapy Products Provides One-Stop Shopping

    A company like Banner Therapy Products is a great place to start when seeking a healthy gift. In addition to providing professionals with physical therapy equipment, rehabilitation supplies, and medical equipment, they also sell an array of exercise gear, thousands of spa products, salon and skin-care products, and massage therapy supplies that make perfect personal gifts during the holiday season.
“We purchase our stock from hundreds of local and international suppliers/manufacturers to save our customers time and money,” Tom Maroney, CEO of Banner Therapy Products, said.  “We like our customers to have a wide choice at their fingerprints and to be their one-stop shopping source when it comes to healthy holiday gift needs. We continually travel the world searching for new and innovative products.”

    So, why not consider a healthy gift this holiday season for your loved one? Who knows, you might even find something for yourself as well.