Spa Music Setting the Scene

rejuvemedspa — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:16:47 +0000

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times did an interview with music label founder Nicholas Gunn. Gunn’s label, Gemini Sun, specializes in what he calls “lifestyle music” that is sold to spas, hotels and fitness centers across the globe. So what exactly is “lifestyle music?” Its closest genre companion is New Age music; Gunn’s artists are popular mainstays on Billboards New Age charts. But Gunn asserts that his label of spa tunes carries influences from a variety of sources including Celtic, ambient and even Native American music.
Usually, the role of music in a spa is to set the mood during a treatment. Music helps create a soothing, tranquil environment for patrons. Fridrik Karlsson, a musician from the UK who recently signed with Gemini Sun, also spoke with the LA Times. Karlsson’s opinion is that spa music should be inconspicuous, “the more successful it is, the less you notice it,” he said.
Next time you are getting a massage, or taking a yoga class, you might be getting a taste of Nicholas Gunn’s relaxing compositions. And if he did it right, you might even forget its playing.

Sea Shells in Skin Care

rejuvemedspa — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:29:31 +0000

In Romania, researchers recently discovered a natural compound that speeds up skin regeneration. Dr. Diane Badiu from the University of Costanza studied lipid extracts taken from the Mediterranean mussel and hard shell clam. Lab mice with induced burn wounds were treated with ointment containing the purified animal extracts. They were then compared to mice that did not receive treatment. Badiu and her team observed that the mice that received treatment healed almost twice as fast as and much more completely than the mice who received none.
The researchers surmised that the decreased healing period was the result of the fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, compounds which are prevalent in the shell dwelling sea creatures. Badiu stated that the fatty acids most likely helped because of their anti-inflammatory properties. The results of the study could mean a lot for the skin care industry. Clam and mussel extracts could very soon be incorporated into beauty products and spa treatments.

Get Fit and Boost Your Energy

rejuvemedspa — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:15:52 +0000

Feeling a bit lethargic? Or too tired to exercise? Maybe rest is the culprit. PARADE magazine reported this week that a study from the University of Georgia found exercise to be more beneficial than rest in terms of boosting energy levels. Participants in the study that exercised regularly (three times a week for twenty minute intervals) saw a 20% increase in energy as opposed to those that did not exercise. In addition, the participants that performed low-intensity workout, such as walking, saw better results than participants that performed high-intensity workouts, such as running. If you are ever feeling beat, consider taking a short walk. It will actually make you feel better.

A fitness medical spa, gym, or professional wellness center can help guide you into an energy boosting plan for optimal wellness.

What Olympic Athletes Chow Down On

rejuvemedspa — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:51:23 +0000

This year’s summer Olympics in Beijing, China showcased the strength and endurance of the world’s top athletes. With grueling training workouts and intense back to back competition schedules, Olympic athletes are required to maintain the highest levels of fitness.

That must mean they are all eating healthy right? Not necessarily.

American swimmer Michael Phelps revealed to news reporters that his suggested training diet is 8,000 to 10,000 calories a day. That’s five times the recommended daily intake for the average person. Phelps doesn’t restrict his food selection either; he eats everything from junk food to sweets.
High calorie diets are common for Olympic athletes, because food is simply fuel. Swimmers especially burn a large amount of calories in their workouts.

Shannon Miller, former Olympic gymnast, told CNN that while she was training, no food was off limits. She even ate pizza and Chinese takeout on a regular basis. But both athletes are careful to consume enough nutritious content to supplement their bodies’ needs. With the help of nutrition and fitness coaches, Olympic athletes keep healthy and energized.

Exercise Helping Kids in School

rejuvemedspa — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:44:07 +0000

An increasing number of studies are finding that physical activity leads to better school performance for young children. Researchers theorize that exercise helps students concentrate by getting rid of excess energy. In addition, exercise is believed to heighten self-esteem and mood levels while boosting blood flow to the brain.
James Pivarnik, a professor at Michigan State University, completed a recent study that showed middle schoolers who did better on fitness tests ended up doing almost 30 percent better academically. Pivarnik and others like him are campaigning to see more schools adopt physical activity programs as regular school curriculum.

When considering getting your child involved in more active hobbies, it’s important to remember that organized sports and elimination sports do not necessarily mean active participation. Kids are often sidelined and benched. Most effective is free play. Even at a young age, exercise is important, because it leads to fitness and wellness of mind and body.

Coffee Prevents Cancer

rejuvemedspa — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:13:07 +0000

Coffee can prevent cancer, at least according to researchers at Rutgers University who recently studied the effects of caffeine on skin cancer. In the study, a selection of hairless mice were subjected to ultraviolet radiation and given different topical treatments. One group received a combination of caffeine and acetone, another received just acetone. After 18 weeks, all the mice had developed skin tumors. However, the mice that received the caffeine treatments had 72 percent less than those that did not.

What’s remarkable about the findings is that the caffeine did not block the UV rays but seemed to prevent the formation of cancerous cells after skin damage had already occurred. Scientists theorize that caffeine inhibits the growth of abnormal cells by triggering cell death. Researchers are optimistic about the results and hope that the study will pave the way for skin treatments to be used after heavy sun exposure.
Currently skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. One million new cases are reported annually. It’s important to remember to take care of your skin with the proper treatments and skin products. A little sunscreen goes a long way.

Exercise in a Pill?

rejuvemedspa — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:33:26 +0000

Dr. Ronald Evans at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California in conjunction with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, just published a study claiming to have discovered two drugs that mimic the effects of exercise. The drugs, injected into mice, resulted in increased fat burn and greater endurance. Scientists do not yet know what the effect of the drugs would be on human subjects.

This new discovery has doctors and athletes in a tizzy. The subject of illegal doping for enhanced athletic performance was raised by the World Anti-Doping Agency. In response, Dr. Evans and the other researchers have reportedly already made a drug test to detect for the new “exercise pill.”

Many are questioning the drugs’ ability to give the same benefits as exercise. Skeptics point out that exercise and proper fitness result in not just fat burn but better overall health and emotional wellbeing. Whether a drug can do all this is doubtful. In the long run, professionals emphasize the importance of developing healthy exercise programs regardless of what the future of medicine holds.

Yoga Making Older Women Taller

rejuvemedspa — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:58:54 +0000

Doctors in Philadelphia have found another reason to appreciate yoga. Last week, podiatrist Dr. Jinsup Song of Temple University spoke with Reuters News about his study on the effects of yoga in elderly women. Song’s research found that after practicing yoga regularly for nine weeks, the women’s walking, posture and balance were measurably improved. The elderly women could stand for longer amounts of time on one leg, walk more quickly and make longer strides. Dr. Song attributes the changes to increased muscle strength and flexibility learned in the yoga sessions. Overall, the women gained an average of a centimeter in height. Dr. Song and his colleagues believe that yoga may be a useful method to increase walking strength in older patients and consequently prevent falling injuries, the cause of most elderly disabilities.

Dr. Song worked alongside yoga specialists to create a program tailored to the needs and abilities of older participants. Yoga instructors offer helpful assistance in designing workouts for specific individual body types.

Eating the right foods for wellness and health

rejuvemedspa — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:09:45 +0000

MSNBC recently did a piece revealing healthy, basic foods you should consume for wellness and overall health. Click here to read more about the foods MSNBC suggested, including:

Tea
Whole Grains
Berries
Yogurt
Soy
Fish

Med Spas across the country are increasingly offering wellness, diet, and fitness programs to allow their clients to regain and generate beauty and wellness from the outside in. At Rejuve Med Spa in La Jolla, a number of programs are available to help people achieve weight loss goals, anti-aging effects, a balanced lifestyle and more.

Acupuncture overview

rejuvemedspa — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:35:24 +0000

Many eastern cultures take a holistic approach to healing. One method, acupuncture, has been used in Asian countries for centuries. Acupuncture utilizes the body’s natural ability to rejuvenate itself, and is performed by inserting tiny needles into specific pressure points on the skin. The process is believed to restore the body’s balance of energy.

Recent studies have shown that acupuncture helps stimulate the body’s production of endorphins, a naturally occurring molecule in the brain that induces relaxation. Acupuncture can be used to relieve a variety of health conditions including headaches, back pain, sinus conditions, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, menopausal syndrome, PMS, and impotency.

Another method of holistic healing that comes from the orient is Chinese herbal medicine. Herbal medicine combines dozens of natural Asian herbs to provide treatments for various ailments. A professional certified herbalist can prescribe a diagnosis-specific herbal treatment regimen to help with anything from back pain to indigestion.

The advantage of natural healing is that the methods are virtually free of unwanted side effects. Acupuncture and herbal medicine services are gaining popularity in California. Specialists can be found in medical spas or wellness centers all along the coast.