www.jaimetam.com
www.barefootsanctuary.com

As an ethnic dancer, belly dancer, African dancer and yogi, I have learned much about the extraordinary power we carry in our hips and our pelvic floor.  It is when we become fully submerged with a physical discipline that we learn so much about our own body knowledge, kinesthetics, and just how powerful it is to move energy.

Moving our hips in a circular motion and exploring pelvic tilts, shimmies and sways awaken our innate primal energy.  This movement helps release toxins, frees up anxiety, and can also orchestrate the sound of live percussion as a sense of direction when leading a class or drum circle.

Every Thursday night our studio offers an Expressive Yoga Dance class that is highlighted with the primitive sounds of live percussion, rhythm sticks, and crystal healing bowls for the relaxing meditation at the close of each class.  Our drummer friend Joe Montelbano often says “I just follow your hips and they tell me the rhythm I need to play”.  The nature of the class is free form, yet guided with creative dance instruction.  Both women and men indulge in this class opportunity and together, we awaken our inner fire utilizing sound, dynamic animal movements, barefoot dancing, and a whole lot of hip action!

My most sacred experience while dancing with live percussionists was an evening where several artists had been displaying paintings inside a cozy lounge-type setting here in Las Vegas.  There was an inspiring energy in the air, lots of live music, and a fabulous group of drummers in a circle reaching these waves of ecstatic energy with one another. 

I was drawn to the musical circle and dove right into the sound bath of rhythm.  I began to dance, to let go, loosen and undulate, feel the music, and dance inside the music.  Together the dance and the live percussion wove a bridge of pure harmony; it felt as though each movement had been choreographed, yet we were only improvising and simply exploring while having fun.  As time passed it seemed as though a trance state came over us and we continued to express ourselves through movement and sound. 

It was then that I had been drawing slow circles through space with my hips in sync with the tempo and flow of all ten drummers.  It was like a slow trance movement, yet the music streamed faster like a deep droning sound, calming everyone in the room.  Other dancers became engaged outside the circle and the energetic journey progressed.  It was a very powerful feeling I experienced that evening, dancing in the very center of the drum circle almost guiding the percussion with the direction my hips would move.

Just then something fascinating happened.  I suddenly changed the direction of my dance.  My hips had been circling to the right for a few steady moments along with the movement of my hands, fingers and ribcage.  When I rotated my hips in the opposite direction the sound of the 10 drummers in trance state instantly disengaged and turned into the sound of a warped record playing in reverse motion.  All the parts collided and tumbled into a very brief moment of silence.  After a short moment of hesitation, the drums picked right back up and a new rhythm was created, just like that.

We laughed for a bit as we all found our way back in motion and on track.  The drum circle went on and on that evening and everyone enjoyed it.  I had walked away later on remembering that very special moment, the transition that had been dictated by the power of my hips.  I hadn’t been so aware until that night that the power we carry in our hips is like our creative life force, a pulse of fire that is so very powerful!  It was an incredible sensation and I realize now that we all carry that same primitive power in our hips, we just need to tap into it and bring it to life. 

I later learned from a few midwives during a pre-postnatal training that women preparing for birth are highly recommended to keep that circular movement alive in the hips and best done to the sounds of percussion or getting real earthy, like gardening outdoors to good music.  I soak in that advice now, as I am pregnant with my first child and dancing my way through all the emotions and joys of the full experience.  I also very much cherish my ability to enjoy a therapeutic massage regularly in my Human Touch® massage chair.  This combo of dance and massage has been very helpful for me in my pregnancy.

The year after I competed on the U.S. Olympic team I was on a track and field tour of Norway and Sweden.  I got to know several of the top athletes there, as we traveled together and competed about every 3-4 days.  At first, I ran some of my fastest times.  But by the third week, my new Scandinavian friends were finishing farther ahead of me, race after race.  One day, as we relaxed in the Sauna after a very hard race, one of the better runners from Finland divulged his secret: massage every day. He believed that he would not have achieved world-class status without these sessions.

After looking through the research on massage and distance running, I learned that tired/exhausted muscles could be returned to top capacity quicker by massage.  An exhausting workout or race damages several areas of the most-used muscles, such as the calf.  It may take 7-14 days to recover from one of these workouts/races without massage.  Several resource sources noted that massage can allow healing after a really tough workout in as little as 48 hours by moving the “junk” out of the damaged area.  This stimulates the muscle to repair itself and the recovery of the muscle is noticeable.  Experienced massage therapists can manipulate the muscle to promote better blood flow which delivers healing agents and rebuilding material.

I have found that the Human Touch® massage chair stimulates the muscles in the same way as a massage therapist.  Furthermore, you can choose the area of the body that you want worked on.  You are in control over the process, recovering more quickly. 

As one who likes to run every day, I appreciate my Human Touch® massage.

The Real World.

“We are very excited to see one of our most popular massage chair lines showcased on this national television show as a representation of what today’s most stylish and innovative living spaces offer,” said Andrew Corkill, Director of Product Management for Human Touch, LLC.  “We know the show’s producers had many choices in creating the ideal living environment for The Real World D.C., and so we are extremely proud that our iJoy® Massage Chairs were included in the home.”

About Human Touch®

In pushing the boundaries of its traditional massage chairs and wellness products through advanced proprietary technology and innovation, Human Touch® is focused on infusing health and wellness into everyday lives through high-quality, design-oriented and award-winning massage chairs, Zero-Gravity Perfect Chair® Recliners and other wellness products and solutions.  Human Touch® has been making people feel better™ for more than 30 years by developing state-of-the-art massage and wellness products, as well as by providing valuable consumer education about the substantial health and wellness benefits of regular massage therapy, relaxation and proper posture.  Stress relief, increased range of motion, pain relief, improved circulation, and increased immunity are just some of the valuable health benefits associated with regular massage therapy.  Human Touch® products are available at back care specialty stores, fine furniture stores across the country, through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, as well as online at www.humantouch.com.

###

Media Contact:
Rachel Neppes
BERKMAN
619.231.9977 x306 (office)
619.405.3917 (cell)
racheln@berkmanpr.com

Hello from Arizona. This is one of my favorite times of the year on the PGA Tour—Hawaii, Palm Springs, Florida, Pebble Beach. That is tough to beat!!!
My game feels really good at the moment. Thus far, I have played pretty solid with three finishes inside the top thirty and a runner-up finish in Palm Springs. I am doing a lot of good things in my game and feel that I am close to breaking through with a win.

I owe much of this to the fact that my body feels great right now. The disciplined training sessions with my trainer Cam is really paying off, and so are my regular massage therapy sessions on the road and at home in my Human Touch® massage chair.

I have found that training and massage remain an important part of my lifestyle in helping me to reduce stress, alleviate muscle aches and pains, increase circulation, as well as improve my range of motion. In addition, I have gotten a lot smarter about resting when I am home so that I am fresh for tournaments.

I will keep you posted on my progress. As always, thanks for the support!!

Cheers-
Tim Clark

This week, Tim Clark is playing in the WGC Match Play in Marana, Ariz., Feb. 15-21. To follow his game and the tournament, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r470/

Learn more about Tim Clark here http://www.humantouch.com/timclark-home.html

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, affects 73 million adults and two million teens and children.  Some people call it the “silent killer” because there are no symptoms, and the only way to know if you’ve got it is to have your blood pressure measured on a regular basis by a nurse, physician or someone else that is trained in taking such a measurement.

Once you have that number you have the power over hypertension.  Consider this: If your blood pressure is below 120/80, good for you!  That is considered normal.  If it is above 140/90, you have hypertension.  If your measurement falls between those two numbers, you may be at risk of developing high blood pressure.

The good news is that you can control your blood pressure.  If you have hypertension, it’s time to make some changes to drop that number.  If your measurement indicates a normal blood pressure, then work hard to keep it where it is.  Here are six things you can do to keep the silent killer at bay:

1. Lose excess weight. High blood pressure is a condition that puts pressure on your body’s arteries, which forces them to work harder.  Carrying around extra pounds is hard on your heart, which places extra stress on the arteries.
2. Quit smoking.Smoking raises a person’s blood pressure temporarily, but smoking does not cause high blood pressure in and of itself.  It does cause a narrowing of blood vessels from the chemicals in the cigarettes, which speeds up the process of atherosclerosis (the narrowing of blood vessels).  People who smoke therefore are at an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.
3. Limit your alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol in moderation is okay—it may even be healthy for you.  But ingesting more than a couple drinks a day can have an adverse affect on blood pressure. Though doctors aren’t completely sure how the two are related, they are very certain that excessive drinking does play a role in hypertension.
4. Exercise regularly. Maintaining good heart health naturally requires physical activity, which keeps the heart muscle strong. Exercising is also an important component in losing weight, and losing weight, as noted above, is necessary to keep extra pressure off the heart.
5. Minimize stress. The body’s response to stress is frequently characterized by an increase in hormones, which temporarily cause your blood pressure to spike.  This causes your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow.  Though there is no proof that stress itself causes long-term high blood pressure, it’s always a good idea to minimize stress so that your body doesn’t have to fight so hard every time it encounters something that puts it on high alert. Meditation, yoga and massage are three ways to help minimize stress.  Using a Human Touch® massage chair or Perfect Chair® can also help keep your stress in check.
6. Eat healthy foods. Certain foods cause build up in the arteries, which causes stress on the heart and increases blood pressure.  To reduce hypertension, adopt a diet that is low in salt (sodium) and includes sparse amounts of saturated and trans-fats.

Throughout the month of February in honor of American Heart Month, we are discussing high blood pressure at The Specific Chiropractic Center, with our eight locations around the country.  For more information on our upcoming hypertension workshops, please visit www.thespecific.com.

American Heart Month is an annual awareness month held each February focused on increasing consumer education and awareness about good heart health in order to help reduce the nation’s prevalence of heart disease and heart disease-related deaths.

A study conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine, Touch Research Institute, found a significant reduction in the stress-related hormones present in study participants before massage and a significant increase in relaxation-related hormones after massage.  This benefit has far-reaching medical consequences because stress has been proven to be a significant factor in heart disease according to the expert cardiologists.

“It’s a known fact that massage therapy can result in important stress relief benefits, which is an important part of helping to reduce the risks associated with heart disease and other serious health conditions,” said Naturopathic Physician James Rouse, N.D., who is a foremost authority on stress and relaxation and an esteemed member of the Human Touch® Wellness Council.  “Regular massage therapy has also been shown to improve a person’s circulation as well, which helps to improve blood flow throughout the body and to the heart.”  The Wellness Council is a group of compiled experts from various disciplines dedicated to educating people about how to achieve a healthier and happier life from their own experiences and practice of integrating massage, relaxation, sound posture, and balance into their daily routine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, and in 2006 631,636 people died of heart disease, causing 26% of deaths—more than one in every four—in the U.S.

David Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Human Touch® added, “One of our core missions as a company is to educate consumers about the indispensable health and lifestyle benefits that our  Human Touch massage chairs and wellness products provide, from our state-of-the-art robotic massage chairs and Perfect Chair® recliners, to smaller targeted-relief products, such as our CirQlation™ foot and calf massagers. 

We strongly believe that through increased education about how massage therapy, relaxation, and proper posture can help reduce specific health risks, such as heart disease, we will be able to encourage more consumers to use our massage and relaxation products as a tool to achieve healthier, happier and more productive lives.”

About Human Touch®

In pushing the boundaries of its traditional massage chairs and wellness products through advanced proprietary technology and innovation, Human Touch® is focused on infusing health and wellness into everyday lives through high-quality, design-oriented, and award-winning massage chairs, Zero-Gravity Perfect Chair® Recliners and other wellness products and solutions.  Human Touch® has been making people feel better™ for more than 30 years by developing state-of-the-art massage and wellness products, as well as by providing valuable consumer education about the substantial health and wellness benefits of regular massage therapy, relaxation and proper posture.  Stress relief, increased range of motion, pain relief, improved circulation, and increased immunity are just some of the valuable health benefits associated with regular massage therapy.  Human Touch® products are available at back care specialty stores, fine furniture stores across the country, through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, as well as online at www.humantouch.com.

 # # #

Media Contacts:
Rachel Neppes
BERKMAN
619.231.9977 x306 (office)
619.405.3917 (cell)
racheln@berkmanpr.com

Kelli Herwehe
BERKMAN
619.231.9977 x312 (office)
619.993.1286 (cell)
kelli@berkmanpr.com

I have just finished my long day of giving massages to several clients and am now sitting in my Human Touch® massage chair with such gratitude that I can also enjoy the benefits of massage therapy to relax and feel better!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already February and Valentine’s Day is this weekend! On this special day, many people take time to show their gratitude for loving and being loved in their lives. So as a massage therapist I sell a lot of gift certificates during this time. Giving the gift of a massage, and not just a massage but one with Aromatherapy, is a beautiful gift for a loved one.

Some of my clients have also asked me if I could provide some creative ideas about how they can share the wonderful gift of massage therapy and aromatherapy to their significant other, or husband/wife, prompting me to make it my topic for this week’s blog post.

One great idea is to surprise your loved one with a hot aromatherapy bath. Essential oils do not disperse in water. Simply take a handful of Epsom salt and put your desired essential oil in the salt and swish your hand in the water. This will create a magical and heavenly aromatic bath, making your loved one feel truly pampered and cared for. Some of my favorite Young Living oils to use in the bath are the Joy™ Blend, Sacred Mountain™, Peace & Calming™ Lavender, Ylang Ylang, and Orange and Sage. Light some candles, and drop some fresh rose petals into the water. It’s a gift they’ll never forget.

Then when they come out of the bath and dry off, give them a simple neck and shoulder massage or foot massage using plain oil-like almond or coconut oil. You can also put a few drops of Young Living essential oils on their shoulders and neck and feet.

Or, why not surprise them with a heavenly massage chair or Perfect Chair® Recliner from Human Touch®? Browse from many Human Touch® products at http://www.humantouch.com or check out the Human Touch® wellness gift guide, offering the perfect gift recommendations for Valentine’s Day!

Massage coupled with aromatherapy is a true gift of the heart your loved one will always remember.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Julie Chertow
http://www.juliechertow.com

But among all of the exciting new products on display, Human Touch’s new HT-Connect™ solution took center stage. Throughout the week, the Human Touch® Showroom was filled with furnishings retailers, buyers, and industry media all eager to check out this newest innovation in massage and wellness – the first web application designed to let users personalize the robotic massage chair to their individual wellness needs via iPhone or iPod touch.

Slated for availability in May 2010 as a free download from www.HT-Connect.com or the Apple App Store, HT-Connect™ will interface with Human Touch’s newest, most state-of-the-art massage chair, the AcuTouch™ 9500.  By seamlessly interfacing with HT-Connect™, the new AcuTouch™ 9500 massage chair will be the first robotic massage chair to offer individuals a fully customized massage and wellness experience by providing instant access to a wealth of massage programs, expertise, and user-friendly applications, all at their fingertips via Bluetooth wireless connection. People just loved it, and we’re so excited to bring it officially to the marketplace this spring!

In addition to HT-Connect™, Human Touch’s Perfect Chair® collection was also a big hit, not to mention the fish bowl.

Human Touch® will have more exciting announcements this summer, Aug. 2-6, at the next Las Vegas Market. So stay tuned…

Featuring Human Touch’s proprietary Figure-Eight™ Technology, the CirQlation™ Elite delivers the very latest in three-dimensional, robotic foot and calf massage with soothing vibration, ensuring a superior kneading massage that improves blood circulation to relieve sore, tired muscles. The Elite massager can be rotated to any angle and can be used with any chair for a rejuvenating massage at home or in the office. Human Touch’s patented Figure-Eight™ Technology ensures that calves are massaged in an upward, rolling or wave-like fashion, forcing blood away from the feet and toward the core of the body to improve blood flow and overall wellness. When you’re not enjoying a relaxing massage the CirQlation™ Elite rotates to transform into a comfortable ottoman.

The CirQlation™ Elite is available for purchase starting Feb. 1 (offered in black or espresso) at http://www.humantouch.com/ht-1360.html or at leading retailers throughout the U.S. and worldwide for MSRP $499.00.

“The CirQlation Elite represents Human Touch’s latest innovation in targeted relief massage products for feet and calves by providing more versatility and more comfort for today’s consumers seeking a respite from their hectic daily lives,” said David Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Human Touch. “One of our primary philosophies as a company is to develop state-of-the-art massage and wellness products that everyone can enjoy, regardless of lifestyle or budget. CirQlation Elite is a prime example of that because of its ability to offer effective massage therapy relief in an extremely compact, stylish and affordable package.”

Key features of the new CirQlation™ Elite include:

•  On-Board Control Console: Control all the massage functions with the simple press of a button.
• Choose from three automatic massage programs, plus three fixed speeds: Users can select relaxing kneading massage auto-programs that work out knots and tension in the foot and calf muscles. Plus choose the auto-vibration program, or two fixed vibration speeds for a soothing vibration massage that relaxes sore muscles and penetrates deep into the soles of the feet for a rejuvenating experience.
• Full 180-Degree Rotation to double as a Comfortable Footrest: To further enhance the relaxation experience, users can conveniently rotate the massager to the desired angle then lock it in place. When not being used as a massager, the CirQlation™ Elite can then easily rotate to become a stylish, comfortable footrest or ottoman.
• Patented Figure-Eight™ Technology: Human Touch is the only company in the world to offer Figure-Eight™ Technology, ensuring that calves are massaged in an upward, rolling or wave-like motion, circulating blood from the feet toward the core of the body. This allows fresh nutrients to re-enter the calves and feet for greater healing and soothing comfort.

“Many hip and back problems I treat often originate from people overcompensating for sore, tired feet and lower legs,” added Dr. Stephen Ward D.C., Doctor of Chiropractor and a member of Human Touch’s Wellness Council, a group of esteemed experts appointed to educate consumers about the health and wellness benefits of regular massage therapy, relaxation and proper posture. “The CirQlation Foot & Calf Massager is a great way to maintain foot and leg muscle and joint wellness, which contributes to overall physical wellbeing.”

About Human Touch^®

In pushing the boundaries of its traditional massage chairs and wellness products through advanced proprietary technology and innovation, Human Touch® is focused on infusing health and wellness into everyday lives through high-quality, design-oriented and award-winning massage chairs, Perfect Chair® Zero-Gravity Recliners and other wellness products and solutions. Human Touch® has been making people feel better™ for more than 30 years by developing state-of-the-art massage and wellness products, as well as by providing valuable consumer education about the substantial health and wellness benefits of regular massage therapy, relaxation and proper posture. Stress relief, increased range of motion, pain relief, improved circulation and increased immunity are just some of the valuable health benefits associated with regular massage therapy. Human Touch products are available at back care specialty stores, fine furniture stores across the country, through international retailers and distributors in more than 40 countries, as well as online at www.humantouch.com.

Media Contacts:

Rachel Neppes
BERKMAN
619.231.9977 x306 (office)
619.405.3917 (cell)
racheln@berkmanpr.com

Kelli Herwehe
BERKMAN
619.231.9977 x312 (office)
619.993.1286 (cell)
kelli@berkmanpr.com