If you are new to yoga/pilates, or just want to venture to new class meeting new people at new place, here are some tips for you:

1. Go talk to the teacher before or after a class time. Let them know what physical limitations you might be worried about or ask what the class will require in terms of strength/endurance. The teacher’s description may differ from what someone else says or what you’ve seen printed. Find out how they handle questions during class time.

2. Feel free to ask questions about the instructor’s training. You’d be shocked how many people never, ever ask. All the teachers I know are more than happy to tell you about how much and what type of training they’ve got.

3. If your teacher makes you uncomfortable, look for other teachers. It might be that your exercise style doesn’t match up. It might be that they like to have silent classes. You might feel like the instructor is only there to do their own workout. Whatever the issue - a teacher is there to help guide YOUR fitness. There’s someone out there who will match up with you. Ask the teacher to recommend other classes!

4. Once you’re in the room:

• Nothing should be painful. If something is painful, stop what you’re doing and ask for help. Corallary: if your teacher can’t provide help (alternate positions, props, or otherwise work with you) -find another teacher. Period.
• Know that everyone in the room is at least a little self-conscious about their own limitations. And everyone has limitations (even if you don’t think you see any).
• Once you start focusing on your workout, you’ll realize that everyone else is working too hard to pay attention to what you’re doing.
• Relax.
• Breathe.
• Smile. You should be having SOME fun.

Ask other students for class recommendations. Try out as many teachers as you can, because everyone brings something different to the table. If there are modifications that you like/use regularly - you can still use them even if another teacher doesn’t tell you to. It’s cool to keep your mind open and attempt whatever the teacher suggests, but it’s also fine to go with what you know.

One of the reasons that people go to spa is mainly to relax their muscles. True, the main reason to go to spa is to get a healthier-looking skin. But as I've writen on previous articles, spa treatment not only improve your skin health, it also helps your muscles and release stress.

Stress is the main culprit for all our daily aches. From work stress, home stress, school stress, commuting stress, a little bit of stress from daily activities can lead to bad health.

There's an article on Center for Conscious Living about Relaxation, and the benefits of it, and how it improves your health. For complete article, viist: www.centerforconsciousliving.com/relaxation

I hope you start going to spa again after reading the article.

Going to spa isn't something new for women. Nowadays, there's even a kids' spa that offer spa treatment just for kids. Spa can make your skin glow by getting facials, reduce the appearance of cellulite by body wraps, relax muscles by getting a massage.

Even though spa is never meant to be gender specific. From the day it became popular, most of spa-goers are females. However, the trend changes now; some men start to enjoy being pampered in spa too.

According to a new survey commissioned by KSL Resorts, a leader in spa industry, 73% of American men believe that spa treatments can help relieve the stress of work.

Men are showing an increasing willing ness to try spa treatments, urged by their spouses or partners. More than 26% of the men polled in the KSL Resorts' survey reported having tried a spa at least once, and a majority of those reporting a change in their spa-going habits noted an increase in the frequency of their visits. Of the spa-goers, 20% had visited a spa for the first time  during the past year. (www.spatrade.com)

Men used to think that spa is a girl thing, and it is a luxury. Nevertheless, once they try it, they will know that it nurtures their body and in turns it can improve quality of health. Males can benefit from just about any treatment on the spa menu. Some spas make specific menus just for men, such as: Facial for Men and Sportsman Facial. 

In short, men can enjoy spas too. So make your spouse or partner to a spa gateway, and once he is hooked, you can make a spa date with him!

Today, everybody is under stress. There are three components: environmental, input and habitual.

Environmental Stress
 
At work you will be fired if you do not perform and you are given too much work. Your "colleagues" are looking to be promoted in your place. Or you are unemployed.

You and your spouse have constant arguments. Your children do not obey you, creating enormous tension.

People around you set standards which you have to follow, whether harmful to you or not. They wear fashion clothes, or revealing clothes. They buy expensive cars and have three televisions.

Your sedentary life means that you are overweight and not fit. Both sports and gym activities aggravate your stress further.

Input Stress
 
Everything you consume creates stress by causing your body systems to work overtime to limit pollution damage. The water you drink is polluted, or you drink coke. The food you eat is artificial and contains chemical additives. You fall ill and are injected with "medicines". They air you breathe is severely polluted. Your brain is disturbed massively and subconsciously by television, radio, mobile phone, and Internet/computer communications waves. This is true even if you are an isolated island miles from habitation. Weather changes mean that your body has to cope with conditions different from the norm, even if you are fit which you are not. Your eyes see harmful things, your ears hear noise (known as modern music).

Habitual Stress
 
From before birth you are stressed. Doctors invade the privacy of your mother: looking at her, testing her. In your mother's womb, you suffer all the stresses that your mother does. Her non-natural living means that delivery is a nightmare. During childhood your parents shout at you, leave you alone scared, or with strangers. They insist you do too much irrelevant homework, criticize you if you do not work hard or do not pass an exam. Your teachers mentally abuse you, other kids are even worse. You watch horror movies, which means that in order to avoid complete tragedy in your life, God gives you horror experience only in your sleep.

Article by: Shyam Mehta, for full article read here: www.healthandyoga.com/html/sutras/stress.asp

An all too common ailment is that of back pain. Back pain for you, if at all, may be minor, however for many people, and increasing as people age, back pain can be debilitating and interfere with a person’s life.

There are many different types of back pain, from upper and lower back to chronic pain (back pain is pain that is daily and lasts longer than two weeks) that may come from:

• Poor Posture, not standing up straight, not wearing supportive shoes or very high heels

• Injury or straining your back as a result of picking up or carrying something that was too heavy to lift

• Sleeping wrong, or on a mattress that isn’t adequately supporting your weight

• Pregnancy – the growth of the woman’s baby and the size of her abdomen throw the body terribly out of alignment and off balance.

• Being over weight - A person who is overweight tends to accumulate fat around the abdomen and loose the muscles. When this occurs, it throws the posture and balance out of alignment and the back is then used to make up the difference.

It is important that you a careful with your back when at you place of work or at home. This may mean that you wear a back brace at work when picking up heavy objects and use your legs when lifting. Also, you should always bend at your knees when picking something up. Many people make the mistake of bending at the waist to pick up heavy objects and this can result in strained back muscles, or back injury.

Another good way to prevent back pain is to keep an eye on your weight and to exercise. Being overweight can lead to chronic back pain. When the abdomen becomes overstretched and the stomach muscles are lost, stomach muscles help support the back, the back muscles will be used to counteract the effect of slack abdomen muscles. By keeping the abdomen toned and not becoming overweight and exercising you can save yourself from having a bad back.

Part of your exercise can be some gentle Yoga stretching exercises. Always check with your chiropractor or doctor before starting any exercise, but Yoga is wonderful for the spine and most likely will be recommended by your doctor.

Additionally aromatherapy can be a great help to you in treating your backache.

Aromatherapy massage can be a wonderful tool in treating chronic back pain. There are many natural essential plants, and essential oils, that contain the healing properties and can be massaged into the skin will relieve pain and pressure at the cellular level.

It is important to make sure that if you feel any strong pain, then to stop the massage at once.

If you are pregnant, it is important to read the safety precautions on the label and make sure that you don’t use any essential oils that can cause harm or danger to the baby.

A great massage oil for back pain and ailments may be made by using two drops of Eucalyptus oil, two drops of Lavender oil, and 1 drop of Lemon oil. Take this blend and add it to 1 ounce of carrier oil. A great carrier oil to use for this blend is jojoba oil.

You can get more from the essential oils by heating your massage oil before using it. You can heat it by putting the oil in an amber colored jar, then placing it in a bowl of hot water. Don’t try to microwave it, this can cause the oil to become too hot and burn the recipient during the massage.

You can also take hot oil baths to relieve the pain after the massage. There are many natural essential oils that will help relieve the pain. To make a great hot aromatic pain-relieving bath, use 10 drops of Eucalyptus and 10 drops of Peppermint added to your bath.

Soak in the hot bath for at least 20 minutes to achieve the full therapeutic benefits.

If you are pregnant, make sure that you read the safety precautions on the label of any essential oils that you are using.

Article Source: www.spaarticles.com

Health spa treatments can be costly. Have you ever considered creating your own home spa by using lavender and other herbs from your own herb garden? After all of the hours you spent planting and tending to your herb plants, reap another benefit by using your herbs to make herbal cosmetics, herbal teas or herbal medicines and by all means as ingredients for a home spa. Some people have spaghetti herb gardens, or salad gardens even headache gardens, consider this your own Spa Herb Garden!

For very soft touchable skin use Lavender or Calendula leaves and petals. Bruise the leaves and petals and put them into a glass jar. Pour enough olive oil into the jar to cover the herbs. Set the jar on a sunny window and shake everyday for two to three weeks. Strain the oil through cheese cloth pressing on the solids to remove all essential oils. Reseal the jar and place in a dark place. The herbal oil should last up to one year. This soothing Lavender oil can be applied directly to the skin or used in a bath.

Put lavender flowers and leaves into a warm bath and soak. Or put them in a muslin bag which you will hook over the running water while filling the tub. The Lavender will fill your bathroom with a wonderful scent. Since Lavender is known for its calming effect, what better way to relax after a day of gardening than a long soothing bath filled with Lavender?

Lavender is a natural anti depressant so place bowls of dried lavender around the house. Or since Lavender is known for its claming effect, boil a large pot of water, throw in the lavender, and place a towel over your head as you bend down over the pot. Inhale in the delightful smell and feel its soothing properties from the steam on your skin.

Another lovely way to use Lavender is to sew them into little bags and put them between your pillow and pillow case. The beautiful calming scent will help you sleep.

Calendulas may also be used in the bath. An even better way to use this herb is as an antiseptic. Again, bruise the leaves and flowers and add them to olive oil. It will relieve stings, chapped lips, cuts and burns.

To make you're won spa loofahs plant Luffa aegyptiaea. For a home spa tool grow the plant in full sun in a place where the plant can climb. When you harvest it, soak it in water to soften the brown skin, peel and set out in the sun to dry. Save the seeds for your next years Spa Herb Garden.

Now let's make some refreshing teas using herbs from your herbal garden for use in your mini home spa. Most people look at roses as just beautiful blooms, but rose hips have more vitamin C than oranges. The little round balls in the center of the rose is the hips. Gather them and grind them in a coffee grinder. Steep them in very hot water, not boiling, for about ten minutes and enjoy your fruity tea.

For a calming tea try Chamomile or for a refreshing tea try Lemon balm. All of these herbs can be grown in your own yard and will create a wonderful home health spa experience.

Article is writen by Mary Hanna. For more articles by Mary Hanna, visit: www.GardeningHerb.com, www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com.

Most people are ashamed of their feet because they just simply don't know how to make their feet as beautiful as their hair. The miracleous cure is a simple Pedicure/Foot Spa! By the time you have had a pedicure or specialist foot treatment, you won't believe how your feet will look and feel.

Pedicures because it is one of those treatments that will guarantee results when most other treatments can be variable due to a wide variety of influences. One thing is for sure, that when you have a foot spa treatment, a pedicure that is specifically designed for your feet, you will not even know that your very same feet are the ones that walked you in for the treatment in the first place!

A pedicure will delight your feet with not only a mask and a paraffin wax treatment (for silky, luscious skin), but also the foot massage (reflexology) will make your feet feel alive. In Chinese medicine every point of your foot correlates to an organ system in your body, so not only will your feet happy but your whole body will be glad for the opportunity to have some therapeutic touch and massage.

Also, do you know that a luxurious soak in a warm foot spa/bath can help relieve aches and pains. It's even great for arthritics! So, re-introduce yourself to your feet.

What is it that keeps you going through the hot summer months? What is it that allows you to stay out and about for all hours of the day? What can you do to keep yourself out of harms way during these very balmy days and nights of summer?

Water is one of the most needed components of nutrition. You really need to pay attention to your water intake during the summer months. I know how it is. You get playing at the beach, or going out for drinks, and you forget to drink water through out the day. Next thing you know you are feeling dehydrated, have a headache, or just feel a little on the down side.

Everyone needs water. It is critical. We take water in many forms. We get it through our foods, different drinks, and directly from a bottle or glass. We all know it is important and needed for life, but we forget sometimes to take in enough of it.

Depending on how active you are will depend on how much water you should supplement into your day. Keep in mind that if you are very active, sweating, and possibly exercising, you should keep yourself hydrated by drinking several glasses of water per hour through the day. The more you lose through sweat and activity the better chance you have at becoming dehydrated. We don’t want that to happen.

The best way to stay hydrated is to keep a bottle of water with you where ever you may be going. Keep a bottle in the car. Keep a bottle at work. Take a bottle with you to the beach or the gym. Drink it during the day and more than likely you will stave off dehydration and sometimes feelings of hunger.

What does dehydration feel like? You have to recognize it. Some of the things you can look for are a mild to strong thirst, dry mouth, maybe a headache. You could feel things like tiredness and even dizziness. If you feel these things you may want to start by drinking a glass or two of water. They may help. Of course if these things persist, you also might want to check with a doctor.

Water is good for you. It keeps you hydrated, feeling fresh, and helps prevent certain ailments. Water is abundant and usually pretty easy to come by. Keep it close to you in your travels and daily activities. You may feel better drinking a little more water during the day. Good health to you this summer and always.

Always check with a physician before starting a supplementation or diet plan.

Article Source: http://www.spaarticles.com

Joseph Simcic owns a website dedicated to providing over 3000 health and fitness products including natural herbal supplements and vitamins. Visit www.bigdaddyshealthspot.com today.

The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. According to the International Spa Association, spa is an entity devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.

The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, where since medieval times illnesses caused by iron deficiency were treated by drinking chalybeate (iron bearing) spring water. In 16th century England the old Roman ideas of medicinal bathing were revived at towns like Bath, and in 1571 William Slingsby who had been to the Belgian town (which he called Spaw) discovered a chalybeate spring in Yorkshire. He built an enclosed well at what became known as Harrogate, the first resort in England for drinking medicinal waters, then in 1596 Dr Timothy Bright called the resort The English Spaw, beginning the use of the word Spa as a generic description rather than as the place name of the Belgian town. At first this term referred specifically to resorts for water drinking rather than bathing, but this distinction was gradually lost and many spas offer external remedies.

There are various stories about the origin of the name. A Belgian spring of iron bearing water was called Espa from the Walloon language term for "fountain", and was used in 1326 as a cure by an iron master with such success that he founded a health resort which developed into the town. It is also suggested that the term Espa may be derived from the name of the resort, and that its source could be the Latin word "spagere" meaning to scatter, sprinkle or moisten. It has been suggested, with no evidence, that the word is an acronym of various Latin phrases such as "Salus Per Aquam” or "Sanitas Per Aquam" meaning "health through water". These are "backronyms" — back-formed acronyms. Acronyms arose in the twentieth century, and were not used in classical times.

There are several types of spas:

• Club spa: a facility whose primary purpose is fitness and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day-use basis.
• Cruise ship spa: a spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.
• Day spa: a spa offering a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a day-use basis.
• Dental spa: a facility under the supervision of a licensed dentist that combines traditional dental treatment with the services of a spa.
• Destination spa: a destination spa is a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically a seven-day stay, this lifestyle transformation can be accomplished by providing a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthful cuisine and special interest programming.
• Medical spa: a facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as traditional, complimentary and/or alternative therapies and treatments. The facility operates within the scope of practice of its staff, which can include both Aesthetic/Cosmetic and Prevention/Wellness procedures and services.
• Mineral springs spa: a spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments.
• Resort/hotel spa: a spa owned by and located within a resort or hotel providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices. In addition to the leisure guest, this is a great place for business travelers who wish to take advantage of the spa experience while away from home.
  

Spa medication or equipment:
Spa (mineral water), from the sources in Spa.
TrimSpa weight loss pills
A soda fountain, in United States usage.
A hot tub, in United States usage.
A small bath in which feet can be washed and massaged is commonly sold as a foot spa.