Better than ever
More than eight out of ten Americans over 65 now are able to take care of themselves in
routine activities of daily living, an 8.8% increase since 1982, according to a study
conducted by the Academy of Anti-Aging Research (A4M). The study analyzed data on the
elderly, chronically disabled from 1982 to 1999, and found a steady decline. In 1982,
about 26.2% of older Americans were disabled. In 1999, the percentage dropped to 19.7%,
about two out of every ten people over 65. Improved medical care. diet, exercise and
public health advances made in the last decade have contributed to a more active and
healthy old age. By following through with five key pillars, you too can be
better educated as you get older, take
better care of yourself than ever before, and take advantage of new medical knowledge.
According to board-certified physicians, proper anti-aging exercises, diet,
supplementation, stress reduction and hormonal replacement therapy are the key pillars in
an anti-aging plan. These and other methods of prevention can be discussed with your skin
care professional.
Natural healthy aging
Natural remedies for preventing premature aging and reducing the existing signs of age
have become more mainstream. Some of the herbs and natural extracts that achieve these
results and should be discussed with your skin care professional are: green tea; seaweed;
pure essential oils, particularly sandalwood, patchouli, ylang ylang, rose, chamomile,
lavender, frankincense and jasmine; ayurvedic herbs from India such as neem, sesame,
turmeric, lotus powder and gotu kola; and fresh unprocessed fruits, vegetables, dairy
and grains.
Tips on tipping
Unsure about what to tip for skin care services? Generally spas post a ‘no
tipping” policy or notify you beforehand if gratuity is included in the price of a
service package. If the spa is unclear about what to do with tips, ask. Usually envelopes
are provided with a place to write your name and the
professional’s name. Often, tips also can be added to a check or charge. For the most
part, any amount is appreciated, and it is generally accepted to tip 10—15%,
depending on the level of customer service received. The better the service, the more you
should tip!
Fitness identities
Sports fitness. Let’s face it, you like to compare and compete, especially if it is
physical, fun and with friends. The score, finishing time, speed, weight or distance is
the means of measuring the accomplishment. However, the real currency is in the
fulfillment of participating.
Stress fitness. For you, unwinding and de-compressing is the primary purpose of a
fitness facility. You want to exercise on equipment while reading a book, watching a
television program or listening to headphones, and you want to take a stretch or aerobics
class with your favorite instructor. Afterward, you want to soak in the hot tub, get a
body therapy treatment and go home. No fuss.
Fantasy world playground You thrive on change in the fitness environment. You quickly get
bored with a fitness routine, and no matter how great the last fitness trend was, you want
a new one each year. New music, new classes, new floor plan, new members, new toys and new
techniques ... the more the mental and physical environment is changed, the more you love
it.
Beat the aging clock. Love handles, stiffness, visual signs of aging, tiredness, aches and
pains—all signs of your greatest fears and concerns about maturing. Don’t fret!
In addition to the regular fitness programming and nutritional counseling, some fitness
facilities have added spa therapies such as skin treatments, hair and nail services to
accommodate you.
New World order. Country clubs and fine dining are important to some, when where you work
out, who you play with, and available amenities are what matters. Nouveau-cool,
cosmopolitan, baby boomer playgrounds are replacing country clubs of the past. A high-end,
first-class facility might have it all, including a restaurant, juice lounge, valet,
personal trainers, day spa, salon, laundry service, basketball and tennis courts, child
care and sport-excursion groups.
Yoga types
Bhakti—the yoga of love or devotion
Integral or puma—the yoga of relaxation
inana—the yoga of knowledge
Karma—the yoga of action
Kundalini—the yoga of unlimited potential
Tantra—for expanding the consciousness
Laya—a yoga that uses five main energy centers
Raja—the yoga of physical and mental control
Hatha—the yoga of vitality, which is most commonly identified as ‘yoga”
While it is more than 5,000 years old, yoga has been re-introduced in today’s society
as much-needed relief for the health concerns of our society. By faithfully following a
daily practice of 20—30 minutes and adopting sound nutrition and meditation, anyone
who practices yoga— called a yogi—can expect to:
· Develop strength and muscle tone in all areas of the body.
· Increase endurance and heighten resistance to many common disorders.
· Maintain lifelong flexibility in spine and limbs.
· Acquire greater control of the body through cultivation of balance
and poise.
· Overcome various negative conditions of the body.
· Promote the regulation and redistribution of weight.
The benefits are similar, hut the approach to yoga practice is totally different from that
of calisthenics. First, the mind and emotions must be quieted; yoga sessions should be
approached in a calm, meditative mood. Then, performing the exercises, move slowly, with
the poise, rhythm, control, grace and concentration of a dancer. Extreme positions should
be held for a brief interval while the mind is focused fully on what the body is feeling.
The asanas—the positions or poses used in yoga—can be done comfortably, at your
own pace, without strain. Practiced this way, the asanas and breathing techniques of
yoga can:
· Bring peace, balance and a beautiful posture.
· Eliminate tension and quiet the mind and emotions as necessary.
· Release trapped energy.
· Improve efficiency in all activities through steadiness of mind.
· Discharge emotional stress.
Yoga is the ultimate rejuvenator. Everyone can participate in yoga and reap the benefits
of a healthful and balanced extended life. Talk with your skin care professional about the
benefits of rejuvenative exercise.
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