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Bad Posture And The Benefits of Massage

Poor posture is something that affects more and more of us these days; so much of our lives are spent slumped over laptops and slouched in chairs playing with mobile devices. London On Site Massage can have a huge benefit if your back, neck, shoulders, or even arms are affected by sitting the wrong way – it can undo a lot of the damage that is done. But what’s even better is, once the massage has taken place, you really need to be aware of how you’re sitting or walking or even standing, and try to correct your posture as much as possible. Here’s how.

Sit Well

It’s not just a case of sitting in a chair and hoping for the best. If you want good posture and you don’t want to suffer any pain (even if a good massage can reduce it substantially), then make sure that your back is property supported by ensuring that your hips are as far back as they can go. A cushion can help here. Keep your feet absolutely flat on the floor, and check that your knees rest level with your hips. They can be a little lower, but not too much, and certainly not higher. If you need a foot rest to achieve this, go for it. Then set up your desk or the area around you so that everything you need is in easy reach – you should twist to reach anything.

The Chair

Using the right chair, or a chair that is correctly adjusted, can save putting too much strain on your back. Play around with the height, tilt, and of course the position of the chair back until you find a way that makes you most comfortable. If you have arm rests, your shoulders need to stay relaxed when you use them – it can sometimes be best to remove the arm rests altogether to save any problems occurring. Remember, when your arms are on your desk, you should be able to rest them and form an L shape at the elbow.

Your Computer

If at all possible, place your keyboard so that it is directly opposite your body. Your wrists should be straight to avoid damaging them, so you might need either a wrist support or a stand for your laptop, depending on how you are sitting. Your mouse needs to be close by so that you don’t have to reach in order to use it.

The screen on your computer needs to be situated so that the very top of the monitor is around two inches over your eye level. This stops you from looking down and constantly bending your neck. If you are using a laptop that has a keyboard and a screen connected, it will be worth invested in a separate keyboard so that you can optimise the position of each part.

The Massage

If you can do all of the above, you will find that the pain in your back, arms, neck, and so on will be less of a problem, but it may be that the deep damage has already been done. If this is the case then a deep tissue massage can help hugely.

 

Acupuncture and Its Uses

Almost everybody these days suffers from some sort of pains and problems ranging from headaches to obesity and high blood pressure. What is more, many of us experience chronic fatigue that is rather hard to treat by conventional medicine. I see people all the time seeing their GPs complaining about being tired. They usually end up with some general advice such as take a vacation, or if this doesn’t help let’s try some antidepressants.Little do they know that there are some alternative ways to treat various conditions and that acupuncture is definitely one of them.

Acupuncture might be new to the Western world, but this is not the case in the East. As a matter of fact, the Chinese have been successfully practicing it for thousands of years. The Chinese have a completely different approach medicine seeing the human body as a whole. This holistic approach allows acupuncture specialists to tackle the problem rather than just treat the symptoms. And this is what acupuncture is all about: getting to the root of problem to obtain the necessary results.

People who undergo any sort of acupuncture treatment report the feeling of well being that comes in the form of this treatment. It is true that this form of contact with the human body bring well being, and probably this is one of the main reasons so many people out there opt for this sort of treatment.

If you are unsure whether acupuncture is right for you and whether it is going to bring you any help I suggest that you give it a go. You might need more than one session before you can see any results, but it might be worth trying and finding out for yourself. Feel free to see some reviews written by people who experienced this sort of treatment as they might be helpful as well. They might shed more light on the topic and help you to familiarise with the concept of it. Also, you might want to ask around and see if somebody in your circle of family or friends experienced anything like that and what they might be thinking about it.

Sound Health

Sound health is one of the most essential aspects of the human life because, without it, not much can be accomplished. Being of good health is what enables you to walk around and do everything that you are supposed to do and also make your life better. However, it is sad that most people tend to overlook it and only care about their health condition when it’s already too late. They wait until that chronic illness hits them badly and that is when they rush to seek medical attention. Nonetheless, anyone who values their health will not wait till the last minute; instead, they understand that for them to be on the safe side, they need to take a proactive health approach by ensuring that they have a regular screening. If you are among the ones who wait till the last minute, then its time you know the benefits of proactive health screening and how it can actually help save your life. Read on to find out how.

What is screening?

Before we can get to the benefits which come with it, it is essential you understand what it means and how it applies to you. Screening is a term used to describe a number of health tests which are conducted on a healthy person to check whether they are at a high risk of contracting certain illnesses and if so help them get medication earlier. Below are some of the benefits which accrue to those who take that step.

Its life saving

When you go for screening, different tests are conducted on your body to determine whether you are at a risk of a certain disease. That will help you and your physician to detect any disease that is in its early stages and which if allowed to develop might cause death. For instance, proactive health checks will help detect conditions such as cancer while they are still at an early stage enabling you to begin treatment early and hence save you the torture which comes from the disease at its late stages, the expensive costs of medication and most importantly save your life.

They help create awareness

By ensuring that you go for screening regularly, you will be able to create awareness regarding the state of your health. For instance, you get to learn about things you did not know existed such as your bone density and why it is important. Additionally, being aware of how your health is helps you detect any changes that may occur after screening and hence allow you to seek medical attention again.

Peace of mind

Most people who are yet to attend even a single screening are always worried about the diseases which might attack them in future. They always tend to avoid anything they think is not healthy and have no peace because they do not know what is in store for them in the future. By having a check, they are now able to know whether they are at a risk of contracting the disease or not and hence they will no longer have any reasons to worry. Knowing that they are on the safe side gives them the peace of mind they need to continue with their normal routine.

Boost productivity, leads to better life

Because they are sure of the state of their health, people who have regular screenings can now focus on their work without worrying about different health conditions. This boosts their morale to work, and as a result, they are able to maximize their potential and boost their productivity, and as a result, they get to live a life they’ve always wanted.

Types of screenings

  • Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
  • Screening for pregnant mothers and also their newborn babies
  • Pap smears for women who are sexually active and those above the age of 21
  • Diabetes checks, these also include eye screening for people already suffering from the condition to test whether they are any signs of diabetic retinopathy
  • Mammograms for women above 40 and osteoporosis tests
  • Cancer screening, to test for the presence of various types of cancers ranging from breasts, bowel, cervical and even lung cancers
  • Checkup for STI’s

Conclusion

There is a wide array of proactive health checks which you can take to help you to be on the safe side. Although screening has a few of its shortcomings such as not always being accurate, leading to feelings of anxiety due to the condition you’ve just found you have a risk to, and also leading to difficult decisions, the positives outweigh the negatives and hence it is advisable that you start going for one if you are yet to do so.

For a health MOT in the UK then Bluecrest Health screening seem to be the major players

 

The Legal Side of Health and Fitness

The topics of health and fitness go far beyond just the ideas of staying healthy and being fit. Though that sounds like a little bit of a semantic puzzle, if you begin to unpack the words, you’ll begin to see how it’s relevant. And, the legal aspects of health and fitness are a big part of the equation.

Think for a minute about personal injuries, medical malpractice, professional licensing, and then unprofessional licensing. Within the health and fitness industries, all four of those categories of focus play a significant role in people’s connection with being healthy and staying fit. Consider each example.

Personal Injury

If you are injured somehow, then your health and fitness are immediately impacted. You may not be able to be as active. Your injury may mean that you are not able to eat in the same way. Those are direct correlations. So, if you are involved in some event where personal injury occurs, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. If you want to maintain your ability to stay healthy and fit, you may have to have some compensation from the person who caused your injury. Again, this kind of correlation and causation is important to keep in mind if you’re trying to be the most self-actualized person that you can be.

Medical Malpractice

Another type of event that could happen that affects your health and fitness but has a legal perspective to it would be if you have to sue someone for medical malpractice. If a doctor or surgeon does not do their job correctly, you have to take responsibility to put the proper legal activity in motion. Doctors and hospitals have insurance for this very reason, so if they caused an issue with your standard of living, particularly concerning health and fitness, there are ways for you to get your legal rights preserved and get money from the matter.

Professional Licensing

In the health and fitness industries, many fully licensed professional jobs contain lots of built-in integrity. For example, there are professionally licensed masseuses. There are professionally licensed nutritionists. There are professionally licensed fitness coaches. These are the people that have a certain standard quality and amount of knowledge on the topics that can be scientifically reproduced.

Unprofessional Licensing

On the other hand, there is a lot of unprofessional licensing out there that go along with health and fitness as well. If the FDA does not have specific oversight about particular industries, you should approach them with some caution. Some people will present themselves as life coaches. Other people present themselves as holistic healers, naturopaths, or as different types of health professionals, but ones that don’t have any particular oversight. Legally, these unregulated industries have free reign, so be careful when utilizing them for your health and fitness purposes.

 

What to do with Asbestos Exposure

Have you ever heard about asbestos and the consequences to being exposed to it? If yes, what did you think about while hearing the term? While this term might not be something you hear about often, you will come across it from time to time, especially if you happen to be in the legal profession. What is more, you might think that the times of mesothelioma are already over and that the number of those affected by it has decreased significantly. This is far from being true. Today, you can meet many people suffering from this condition and it seems that they aren’t getting any better. They know that their life is never going to be the same anymore. They know that since asbestos ruined their lives, they might not be able to live normal lives anymore and enjoy the activities they used to engage in the past. I do not wish anybody asbestos exposure. This is one of the worst things that can happen to a human being.

I have heard about another lawsuits in my company. This is like the third lawsuit during the last year. With this in mind, I opened an Internet browser only to find out that lawsuits such as mesothelioma lawsuits are also not rare among those who suffer from it. I have not sued anybody in my life yet, but I can understand why somebody might want to do it, especially if he suffers from mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer that develops after being exposed to a substance called asbestos. I would probably be angry if I found out that all the time while at work I was exposed to a dangerous source of a substance called asbestos. I would take all the necessary steps that I find all the guilty people who are responsible for creating such situations.

If you feel like you have been wronged by anything like that make sure that you contact the right type of lawyers immediately. They will be able to offer you valuable advice that will leave you satisfied with the outcome.

Ways to Recover and Heal Properly

For many people, knee injuries can be debilitating and difficult to recover from after an accident. It can often be challenging to perform daily activities due to a lack of mobility as the knee heals. If you want to recover more quickly and avoid reinjuring the knee, there are a few essential tips to follow.

Diet Aggressively

You’ll want to increase the number of nutrients that you consume each day to help the body heal your knee quickly. Consume a daily multivitamin and increase your intake of vegetables and vegetables to prompt the healing process. You can also incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods and limit your intake of processed sugar.

Use a Knee Brace

A knee brace is essential to use throughout the day to support the leg and prevent movement that can delay the progress that has been made. Purchase a custom knee brace Toronto that will offer a better fit and can allow the tendons to begin healing. The brace will also provide warmth and compression, which can increase the speed of the recovery process.

Perform Exercises

Recovering from a knee injury will require you to perform gentle extensions and retractions on your back to boost the flexibility of the knee. Lying on your back while performing the exercises will take any pressure off and can prevent the knee from becoming stiff over time. You may want to work with a professional who can assist you with physical therapy and offer guidance on more exercises to perform. Avoid performing stretches or exercises that cause pain in the knee, which can prevent it from healing.

Take Medication

Talk to your medical practitioner about taking anti-inflammatory medication that can reduce swelling and make it easier to heal in the coming weeks. You may want to begin taking aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen to help with the pain or discomfort that you’re experiencing. In the first few days of the injury, you’ll need to ice the knee every 30 minutes with an ice pack every four hours while using a compression sleeve. Raising your knee with a pillow while sitting or laying down will also prevent swelling throughout the day.

Although it can be discouraging and painful to suffer a knee injury, there are ways to recover and heal properly. By taking the right steps and avoiding using your knee, you can improve at a faster rate and enjoy restoring your mobility over time.

Four Ways to Get More Out of Squats

Squats are a great exercise for building strength in your lower body. When performed regularly, they can increase the amount of muscle mass in your hamstrings, calves, and quadriceps. Since they challenge your balance, they also strengthen your core and improve overall body strength.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your squats and get greater results from this exercise, there are several things you can do.

Perfect Your Technique

Proper technique is vital if you want to prevent injury and get good results. If you use weights when performing squats, don’t increase the amount until you’re sure your technique is perfect.

While squatting, keep your chest up, knees out, and hips back. If you have these three body parts correctly aligned, you’ll reduce your risk of injury while improving your likelihood of getting good results.

Improve Core Strength

Squats improve core strength, but it’s best if your core is already functioning well before you start an intense squat routine. A strong core will help you avoid injury while you build a lean, strong lower body. A weak core increases your odds of falling forward during a squat. This can cause injury, especially if you’re using weights.

A simple way to get the most out of the core strength you already have is to practice proper breathing techniques. Take a deep breath just before you start your squat. This will expand your chest and abdomen, which will build intra-abdominal pressure and help you retain proper form in your hips. On your way up from the squat, slowly exhale. Do this with each squat to make the most of your core strength.

Planks and crunches are good exercises for building strength in your core.

Take Care of Your Upper Back

You need a strong, healthy upper back to improve your squats and perform them safely. A strong upper back provides core support, helps you retain proper, and makes it easier to keep your elbows down while you perform a squat. This keeps your chest up and prevents you from falling forward.

Pull-ups, chin-ups, and seated rows are good exercises for strengthening your upper back.

Improve Hip Strength

Weak hips increase your chances of falling forward. They will also make it harder for you to keep your hips down when you’re coming back up during a squat. Strengthening your hips improves your hip extension, which is important for almost any exercise but is vital for squats. Strong hips keep your lower body healthy and allow for a greater range of motion. This helps you quickly build muscle mass.

Deadlifts, kettlebell swings, and rack pulls are three exercises that improve hip strength.

Takeaway

Squats are one of the best exercises you can do to build strength in your lower body. However, it’s important to do them correctly to avoid injury and get the most out of your exercise sessions. Maintaining proper squat form and building core, upper back, and hip strength are the best ways to get the most out of this exercise.

Way to lose belly fat

Let’s face it: many people in the UK are overweight or on the verge of obesity. As a matter of fact, various statistics show that the country is one of the most obese countries in Europe and the numbers are growing rapidly with more and more people joining the trend. It’s sometimes difficult to find those to blame for this sort of situation: the supermarkets are filled with affordable junk food while fruits and vegetables tend to be more expensive. Sometimes it might be too difficult to resist the temptation of indulging in something that is tasty indeed, although if you do it only once in a while you are good.

One area our bodies struggle with are usually our abdomens. When you gain weight, the first area that is like to be affected is your belly. This is why so many people look for an effective way to lose belly fat.

We all hear it everywhere: eat less, more more. While it might be working for some people, for most of us it isn’t, and this is where we might need extra help to lose those pounds. Sometimes, the only way to do it is to do it with the help of injections that contain pre-approved medication designed for people who have been trying to lose weight for years with no results.

One reason to use something that is available upon prescription only is the safety it offers. After all, if something was prescribed to you, you can be sure that you are free to use it. You will need to make an appointment to get this sort of injection and even still make sure that you are healthy enough prior to taking the injection. For example, if your BMI is lower than 20 you shouldn’t take it at all, but why would you need it anyway if you are already that skinny.

Before you give up thinking that you have to be obese, I would like to encourage you to look around at your options and see what you can find in your area. Never take anything for granted, including your weight. Only because you have been struggling with it for years doesn’t mean that it has to be like that anymore.

Creative Ways To Get More Exercise In Life

We all have times when we struggle to include enough physical activity in our daily routine.  Sometimes, life makes it easy to sit around and do nothing, but the key to longevity is staying active.

No matter your lot in life, there is always a way to stay active.  Take some time to check out a few of these creative ideas for including more exercise in your daily life, and figure out a few ways to enhance your lifestyle today.

Working around the house serves a dual purpose

Working around your house not only helps your “pad” look that much better, it helps you to keep active during downtime.  There are many benefits to sprucing up the place.  Think about it.

Simply painting a room of your home takes at least 4-6 hours of manual labor.  If painting was good enough for Mr. Miyagi and Daniel San’s workout, then it may be beneficial to you as well.  Just remember, “long strokes.”

Always take the stairs and park really far away

If you live in the city, then you probably see a bunch of stairs throughout your daily routine.  Take the stairs.  Stop telling yourself you do not feel like getting your heart rate up, and skip the elevator ride.

When you go shopping, park as far away from the front door.  Instead of driving around in circles looking for the closest parking space, park in the furthest spot.  You will get more exercise, and teach yourself a smidge of patience.

Keep lightweight dumbbells around the house

Keep a few lightweight dumbbells around the house, and pick them up whenever you have a free moment.  You will find that a few reps with the weights will help you to focus, and over time, it will help your muscles to become more defined.

If you want a little definition in your arms, but do not feel like going to the gym five days a week, then get yourself some 10 and 15 lb dumbbells to play with when you are just sitting around the house.

Plant a garden and tend to it often

Those of us who are lucky enough to have some green yard to play with could get plenty of extra exercise by investing our blood, sweat, and tears into the creation of a veggie garden.  Tending to a lot of plants is hard work.  Be ready for plenty of bending, stooping, and working on your knees.

Utilize public transportation more often

If you live in the city, use public transportation more often.  Not only will it benefit the environment and reduce your carbon footprint, it will help you to remain more active in your daily life.  Walking to and from the bus stop is a great way to collect your thoughts on your way to work in the morning.

 

Ways To Live A Healthier Life In New York City

Living in a city as busy as New York, New York brings along its own set of special challenges for those who choose to make it their home.  Your lifestyle may need a few augmentations if you want to sustain a happy, healthy existence in the city.

Unlike more rural areas of the U.S., NYC has very few areas of wide opened foliage and free roaming wildlife.  The concrete jungle has its own sort of landscape, and many find it fascinating.  Consider these few suggestions on how to live a healthier life in New York City, and see if you are up to the challenge.

Driving in the city is a futile affair

Owning a car in the city of New York is more of a burden than a privilege.  There are thousands of car accidents per year, and it is very expensive to own a vehicle in the city.  It costs to park, no matter where you go.  New Yorkers even have to pay to park their vehicles at home.  Driving even costs money as there are plenty of tolls to be paid.

It is much better for your health to utilize other forms of transportation.  The city requires you to be more active.  Walking to the train station, walking a few blocks to the corner store, and many other everyday occurences in NYC require a person to get some exercise.  Take advantage of the opportunity to get moving.

Protect yourself from the questionable air quality

The air quality in New York City is subpar to say it nicely.  Just living in the city exposes you to unhealthy levels of toxins in the air you breathe.  Air quality is a challenge other rural communities do not necessarily have to face, so it is important to be prepared for the change.

New Yorker’s are best served by having a few air purifiers around the house.  At least when you are at home, you can know that you are breathing healthy air.  Purification is a much less expensive solution to the issue than all of the medical bills breathing problems might accrue.

Food availability and diversity is immense

One of the coolest things about New York City is that you can get almost any type of cuisine almost any time of the day or night.  Food is easy to access in New York, but it is typically not very healthy food.

The best way to put only healthy food into your body is to cook or prepare more of your meals at home.  Pack your lunches for work each day, or scope out the closest vegan restaurant.  Be conscientious about your eating choices

Make time to connect with nature

Humans need interaction with nature to thrive.  Sunlight gives us vitamin D, and green plants give us clean oxygen to breathe.  Humans were not created to exist under the fluorescent lights of a dimly lit office space.  Go outside!

 

Traveling is a Healthy Activity

I am sure that I don’t have to convince anybody that traveling can be a healthy activity. When you travel, you tend to visit new places, and it forces you to move more than you probably usually do. Traveling is good for your mind too. You get to experience new things, and it keeps your brain active by absorbing all this new stuff happening all around you. I am sure that almost everybody would benefit from more opportunities and this is how this can be done:

1. Make traveling your priority. If you are short on money, make sure that you put aside every month a suitable amount that would allow you to go on holidays every summer. Remember that not all holidays have to be expensive as traveling even somewhere close to you can be a great experience that will leave you wanting more.

2. If you are afraid of traveling because you worry that leaving your home unattended is not safe consider storage units Denver. Storage units are perfect for storing more expensive equipment in them as they are properly locked and protected from unwanted visitors. Most storage facilities employ some very powerful security measures to ensure that only the right people have access to their belongings.

3. If fear of the unknown is something that prevents you from traveling know that many people experience just what you do. Remember that traveling is all about experiencing new things, and if you don’t want to do it then it’s fine. Nobody has to force you into doing something that you might not be enjoying. If you would rather stay at home and play video games that’s absolutely fine. Even while being at home you can stay healthy provided that you eat healthy food and exercise from time to time.

4. If you have nobody to travel with know that it can be absolutely fine to do it alone. When you are in your own, you are more likely to connect with new people in new places and it can be a very enriching experience. Don’t let the lack of family or friends wanting to travel with you prevent you from doing this very enjoyable activity.

4 Ways To Upgrade Your Look On a Budget

Everyone knows the feeling of looking in your closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear.  Even though it may be full to the point that you can hardly close your closet doors, there comes a point where you start to feel frustrated and bored with what you have.

Not everyone has the budget to able to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.  Being limited on resources can start to make you feel like there’s nothing you can do to update your look.  However, sometimes all it takes is knowing a few shortcuts to switching things up without spending much at all.  Here are some of the best ways to update your look without breaking the bank.

Accessorize

The same outfit can completely transform depending on what you pair it with.  Accessorizing can be a great way to make an outfit that you already have, take on an entirely new form.

Try to pair what you have with a long necklace, for example.  This can make even a basic t-shirt suddenly a chic yet relaxed look.  Wearing a watch with a sweater with rolled up sleeves can make your outfit pop and give it a little sparkle.

Since many accessories cost less than clothing, making a trip to the store and filling up your cart full of accessories can cost much less.  Not to mention, unlike clothing, you can wear the same accessory every day without having to wash it.

Thrift Stores

Going to second-hand stores can be a great way to update your look for a fraction of the price.  A common misconception can be that if something has already been worn before that it must be outdated or worn out.  However, the minute that something is purchased even without ever having been worn it’s considered second hand.

Therefore, you can potentially buy something brand new for a fraction of the cost simply because it was purchased by someone and never worn.

The nice thing about second-hand is that you can buy it online as well.  Try checking out sites like eBay to find second-hand treasures.

Trade With Friends

Trading with friends can be a fun way to upgrade each other’s closets for free. Sometimes the things in your closet which may seem old and outdated can be a huge score for someone else.  Sometimes things which you’ve been looking at for too long can just seem old and drab.  However, when someone else sees them for the first time it may be a special gem that adds something new to their wardrobe.

You can make a girls night out of it by planning a clothing trade amongst friends.