Overall, my game feels good at the moment.  Mentally I have been sharp all year and my body is continuing to improve physically due to continual workout sessions, and regular massage therapy. With the help of my Human Touch massage chair, I am able to stay loose and relaxed on the course. Currently, I am the #8 seed entering the playoffs, so there is a lot to play for over the next month.

As always, I appreciate your support.  I hope to have some good results to report in the coming weeks.

Cheers-

Tim Clark

Long Beach, CA –

“The Award for Design Excellence is given annually to companies that exhibit an unwavering commitment to design and innovation,” said John Platter, Director of Awards for Design Excellence. “Human Touch® continues to set the bar high with its new massage chairs. Not only are they state-of-the-art in terms of features, but they also have a sleek design that is reminiscent of Le Corbusier furniture.”

The HT-5040 WholeBody™ massage chair received the highest honor of Platinum for its artful blend of advanced massage features and design, while the iJoy®-2310 robotic massage chair received a Gold award for its appealing and compact design, state-of-the-art massage programs, and affordability.

Offering the perfect blend of high-performance Human Touch Technology™ and modern design, the HT-5040 WholeBody™ massage chair beautifully complements any home or office environment. Key features include five professional massage techniques, three invigorating massage programs, full body stretching, a built-in foot and calf massager, comfortable accents, and more. Price: $2,299

The iJoy®-2310 Robotic Massage Chair offers a beautiful and ergonomic design that is compact enough to fit into any living space, and it doesn’t require deep pockets to enjoy a rejuvenating massage anytime of the day or night with the iJoy®-2310. Pull the recline handle and enjoy any of three intelligently designed invigorating auto-massage programs which incorporate four expert massage techniques to melt away stress, muscle soreness and tension. Choose from designer colors and options with classic lines and contrasting upholstery materials designed to fit any décor. Price: $499

“The ADEX Awards for Design Excellence is one of the most prominent awards granted by the home and furnishings architecture and design community, and we are extremely honored to have received this recognition for our innovative design oriented massage chairs for the past two consecutive years,” said Andrew Corkill, Director of Marketing for Human Touch, LLC. “Human Touch® is dedicated to bringing high quality, state-of-the-art massage chairs and wellness products to market, which not only look great in any living space, but also provide valuable health and wellness benefits to consumers everywhere.”

Last year, Human Touch® was the recipient of two ADEX awards – a Platinum award for its AcuTouch™ HT-1650 massage chair and Silver for the AcuTouch™ HT-7450 Zero-Gravity massage chair.

By Olympian

Now is a better time than ever to help someone get into a fitness habit.  Both you, the mentor, and recipient, will benefit.  Not only will you help him or her manage attitude, improve vitality, release stress and think more clearly, but studies show that helping others bestows a boost to the immune system. Even if the exerciser doesn’t lose an ounce, there is an enhancement to the spirit that improves the quality of life for both of you.

When tense, stressed or un-motivated family members or co-workers exercise, they tend to be more positive and more humane afterward. Do you want your kids to do their best in school? Studies show that kids who exercise regularly do better in school and in life. Here are a few tips to help improve motivation and success.

• Serve as a role model to motivate good exercise habits: As the coach, by doing so, you’ll also inspire yourself to learn more about fitness. Adults who serve as an exercise mentor find that they study and learn the principles of training better as they explain them to others.
• Get them a good textbook: My books WALKING, GETTING STARTED, & GALLOWAY’S BOOK ON RUNNING offer training schedules with support information. You can read more about these at www.JeffGalloway.com
• Start with a little exercise, and gradually increase: Children will often do a lot more than they should at first, then get sore and discouraged. Help them keep an even pace and they can be successful in every workout!
• Make each session enjoyable – especially during the first month: If your trainee is huffing and puffing, slow the pace, walk more slowly, and make other adjustments from the beginning of every exercise session. If there is any sign of struggle then stop for that day. Never push through pain.
• Make a massage in a Human Touch massage chair a reward for doing the exercise: Try warming up with a 5-10 minute “motivator massage” and cool down with an after-workout massage.
• Avoid low blood sugar: Before a workout, if you suspect that your trainee is experiencing low blood sugar, have pieces of an energy bar with water, diet drink, or coffee about 30-45 minutes before starting. Provide a reward after each session – especially a snack to reload the energy stores. The best nutritional formula for a booster snack is 80% carbohydrate and 20% protein.
• Find interesting areas where you can exercise – scenic areas, interesting exercise club, etc.: Convenient walking/running routes near office or home, or a nearby gym can lead to more exercise sessions a year. But once a week or so, take an excursion to an interesting area or fun health club. This can be very rewarding. It’s great to have variety, and you should give your trainee some choice.
• On each exercise session, tell a joke, a story or discuss a controversial issue: This will break the ice, inject some humor, and result in a positive bonding experience. With beginners (adults or kids) who are struggling with motivation, the humorous moments provide a series of positive reinforcement.
• Structure each session so that there is success: Don’t let the new exerciser overdo his or her workouts - especially during the first few sessions. If walking or running, take liberal rest breaks before you hear the huffing and puffing. If in a gym, move to another exercise before there is fatigue, or heavy breathing.
• Don’t push too hard, but encourage, and reinforce a good attitude: One of the most difficult decisions in coaching is whether to push or back off – whether to use a pat on the back or a kick in the butt. In general, it is important that the person stays consistent with the exercise routine. When motivation is down, reduce the intensity to reduce discomfort, and you’ll bolster success. The ultimate victory is realized when the new exerciser wants to do it.
• Reward good work: After a certain number of weeks, or after reaching a certain level of fitness, surprise the exerciser with a reward. It doesn’t have to be something expensive or exotic. The reward allows the new exerciser to focus on his or her progress, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes from steady exercise.  A Human Touch massage is a wonderful reward in every way–enhancing the experience and the recovery.
• Share your own challenges or mistakes: Most people learn more from a personal story that has a lesson, than a lecture on the same topic.
• Don’t over-sell exercise: The benefits of regular exercise are so powerful that almost everyone who stays with it for six months will continue. Walking or running with the new athlete on the tough days, and congratulating him or her for the dedication–are powerful reinforcers. But if your trainee is falling asleep during your one hour speech on the benefits, you know that you’ve stepped over the line.
• Your greatest reward will be an independent fit person: Take it as a real compliment that your trainee will need less and less of your guidance. This means that you were an excellent coach, and that he or she can find another person to coach. Another life can then be enriched.

Note: Olympian Jeff Galloway has coached over a million runners and walkers through his beach retreats, running schools, training programs (several in Atlanta) books and e-coaching.

“We are excited to welcome our newest Wellness Council members, each who provides his own unique points of view and areas of expertise in order to help consumers live better and recognize the benefits that regular massage therapy, relaxation and proper posture can bring to their daily lives,” said Andrew Corkill, Director of Marketing, Human Touch, LLC.

Human Touch’s newest Wellness Council members include:

• Bill Walton, NCAA, NBA & Sportscasting Legend: Walton, an NBA Hall of Famer and legendary sports broadcaster, has been a long-time sufferer of chronic back and foot pain. He says that his Human Touch® massage chair is a regular and invaluable part of his constant efforts to relieve his pain, increase relaxation, and achieve a healthier and more productive life. As a member of the Human Touch® Wellness Council, Walton helps educate others, pain sufferers in particular, about ways to achieve a healthier and more productive lifestyle from his own experiences.
• Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, D.C., Doctor of Chiropractic/Neuroacoustic Researcher: Dr. Thompson is a professional chiropractor who also specializes in researching and developing healing therapies that utilize sound frequencies and vibrations. In addition, Dr. Thompson is recognized as a worldwide expert in the field of acoustic pacing frequencies incorporated into musical sound tracks. A consummate musician and composer in his own rite, he has established a method for using modulated sound-pulses for changing states of consciousness for optimal “Mind-Body” healing.
• Dr. Hoon C. Kim, L.Ac, Dipl. Ac., Ph D., Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: Dr. Kim specializes in acupuncture and oriental medicine, treating patients at his acupuncture and wellness center called Tao of Medicine in Santa Monica, Calif. His specialization areas include treatment of acute and chronic pain, skin disorders, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, infertility, stroke rehabilitation, weight control, and anti-aging. Dr. Kim’s practice philosophy is to help people achieve a better quality of life with the least use of medicine alone, including not only disease treatment, but also prevention in mind and body, through qigong, meditation, body work, acupuncture, herbs (nutrients) and lifestyle.
• Dr. Jon Stucky, DC, Doctor of Chiropractic: Dr. Stucky is a chiropractic doctor with a thriving practice in Hyrum, Utah, where he cares for infants, senior citizens, weekend warriors, professional athletes, and more. Born in Minnesota, Dr. Stucky is a second generation chiropractor and is the 13th of 17 chiropractors in his extended family with his father and two brothers practicing. He graduated Cum Laude from Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, Georgia in 1993.
• Dr. John K. Maltby, DC, Doctor of Chiropractic: A 1977 graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, and practicing in Blythe, California, Dr. Maltby is a renowned chiropractic doctor and advocate. Beyond his successful practice, he is an experienced and popular instructor and a consultant to individual chiropractic practitioners and companies for documentation and credentials protocols, case-management practices, and chiropractic techniques. He served as past president and chairman of the board of the International Chiropractors Association of California (ICAC), and as the Chair of the Programs Committee for the ICA Council on Applied Chiropractic Sciences. Dr. Maltby is the immediate past president of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA), and currently serves as Chairman of the Board. In 2009, Dr. Maltby was selected Chiropractor of the Year by the ICA. Additionally, he is a highly requested speaker who regularly lectures worldwide on the many advantages of chiropractic.

Each week, a Human Touch® Wellness Council member offers his or her own health and wellness recommendations on Human Touch’s blog. For regular tips and recommendations on how to live better from Wellness Council experts, please visit http://blog.humantouch.com/category/wellness-council/.

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.

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Rod and his cat CeCe relax after a long day.

We recently received some very kind words from a customer in Sarasota, Florida. Rod Vaughan works in retail sales and says his job keeps him on his feet all day long. And he does mean long. An owner of the Ottoman 3.0® and an iJoy® massage chair, he said that making massage part of  his daily routine has not only made him feel better, but it’s made his wife happier, too. Rod said:

I used to come home and not want to do anything. I work 10-12 hours a day and I would come home and be too tired to do anything. I can take a 15 minute break and go out dancing with my wife for the rest of the evening. I love the product. It’s helped me in all aspects of life.

That’s what it’s all about, Rod, helping you feel better™ in every way.

A nice note also came in from Kim S. in Taylorsville, Utah. Kim’s a hoot. When we called her up to ask if we could share her comments here on the blog, she was surprised, saying “You mean these quotes are real? I always figured companies just made them up!”

We can’t speak for all companies, Kim, but Human Touch® is all about helping real people, and their stories are what inspire us to do better every day. Kim’s story is especially poignant. She said her iJoy® hasn’t just made her life better, but makes her life possible:

I was diagnosed in 2006 with moderate/severe Fibromyalgia and I had a hard time just walking. I was on Lortab for four months straight. The chair relieved my pain and relaxed me enough so I could sleep. It was such an amazing thing for me. It helped me get to the point I can live a normal life again.

It’s nice to know we could help, Kim.

As we age, we lose strength in our muscles and they become just a bit stiffer than they used to be in our younger years. Our range of movement may become limited, causing our muscles and joints to feel sore. When our tissues lose elasticity, we begin to tighten up, which leaves our muscles open to potential tears, aches and pains.

There’s a catch-22 effect that takes place as we grow older: We feel stiff and sore so we don’t engage in activities that force us to exercise and stretch our muscles. And when we don’t exercise and stretch our muscles, we feel stiff and sore. In order to maintain proper posture and normal muscle function, it is important that we retain the flexibility in our muscles.

Flexibility is our body’s ability to move freely and with its full range of motion. We need flexibility to lift, walk, stretch, bend, swim and go about our daily lives without hindrance. Maintaining full flexibility means that we are able to remain mobile.

Even though our muscles naturally lose suppleness, strength and size with age, we can take steps to improve our flexibility. Because flexibility helps to reduce soreness in the muscles, the most important thing we should do is stretch regularly, especially after exercising, in order to reduce any muscle fatigue that might set in. Incorporating massage into your routine also helps  move blood and nutrients to tissues, decreases the risk of injury and improves physical performance.

We need to make a cognitive effort to incorporate flexibility exercises into our regular workout regimen. To some degree, walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and strength training all work to increase flexibility and tone muscles. Yoga, pilates and regular massages are particularly helpful in increasing flexibility because the gradual stretching movements give us the time to push our flexibility slowly and safely.

One of the nice things about stretching is that we don’t have to set aside a specific time in our schedule to do it (though that would be the ideal situation). Rather, make it a habit to stretch while sitting at your desk, watching TV or doing the dishes. Work the larger muscle groups first—the shoulders, hamstrings, hips, lower back and calves—but don’t neglect the rest of the body.

For assistance in stretching, look no further than the Human Touch massage chair, which offers a “stretching” setting for increased flexibility. Staying strong and stretched has never been easier!

Of course, combining exercise with a balanced, healthy diet with minimal sugars and fats provides us with the energy and nutrients we need to help maintain joint and muscle health. It only makes sense to nourish our bodies with foods that give us the drive to stay active as we strive to remain flexible.

US Army Photo

Earlier this year, we received a polite and humble request from a military member asking if we might have a used massage chair we would consider donating to Minnesota Air National Guardsmen who were deploying to Afghanistan. It didn’t take us long to decide that, yeah, we did want to help but we didn’t think a single chair would cut it. So, after jumping through some bureaucratic hoops–Who knew you can’t just give a military unit massage chairs?–we ended up sending 47 massage chairs, 30 foot and calf massagers and 40 pieces of exercise equipment to the USO at Bagram Airfield, the largest coalition base in Afghanistan.

We called the project Operation Massage Chair and it seems to have been a success. We thought we’d share a few comments we’ve received from the troops who were kind enough to send us notes about how the chairs have helped them.

Lieutenant Colonel Bob Kotula, a C-130 navigator, wrote:

Thank you so much for your generous gift of message chairs. They are a huge hit with the troops!  After a hard day of flying nothing beats a 15 min back massage in a Human Touch chair. Thanks again.

Tech Sgt. Jill Shepard

Tech. Sgt. Jill Shepard is a C-130 loadmaster and the airman (and HT-125 fan) who first reached out to us. She says:

Can you even imagine!  What a morale boost for the troops like me who are experiencing their 5th, 6th and more deployment to have a company reach out in such a tangible way. It is heart-warming to say the least!

Chaplain (LTC) Gary Williams of the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade:

Thank you all for your VERY GRACIOUS donation to our Soldiers here at Bagram Air Field.  Your donated Human Touch Chair makes everything seem like HEAVEN.  We already have some who gravitate over here on a daily basis.  This is good because the more they come in the more opportunities for us to care for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well being.

Nick, who says he’s a Minnesota Air National Guardsman, wrote:

I am currently deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. I am writing to express my gratitude for your recent donation of massage chairs. You have given an amazing gift to my fellow airmen and I. I can’t explain how great it feels to come home from a long days mission and relax in these amazing chairs. It’s a great a moral boost and gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day. Thank you very much for all you have done, we truly appreciate it!

Nick, you don’t have to thank us. It’s we who owe a debt of gratitude to you and all of your fellow airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines.

It doesn’t take a truckload of massage gear to help out the troops, though. If you’d like to help, consider donating to the USO, answering a service member’s request for useful stuff at AnySoldier.com or by donating a “care package for the mind” through Books for Soldiers.

Summer’s almost over and it’s time to get back to

Whether you’re heading off to college, gearing up for a demanding period at work, or getting your kids ready to go back to school, saying goodbye to summer can be a stressful time for many of us. That’s why Human Touch®, the U.S. leader of massage chairs, Perfect Chair® Recliners and wellness products, wants to help you feel better™ by giving you a chance to win a FREE iJoy®-2310 Massage Chair!

To enter to win, please submit a short entry (300 words or less) along with a compelling photo OR tell us in a short, creative video (2 minutes or less) about what stresses you out about saying goodbye to summer. Your entry can be in the form of a short essay, poem, or just a plea for why you need a Human Touch® massage chair to relieve some of your end-of-summer stress. However, only entries with an accompany photo or video will be considered. In your entries, also be sure to incorporate the phrase “Human Touch® Feel Better™” and the following relevant keywords: massage, human touch, iJoy-2310 massage chair, stress relief, end of summer, back to school, etc.

You can submit your video link directly in the Comments Field below. Deadline for entries is Wed. Sept. 22 by 5 pm PST (the official last day of summer) and the winner will be announced on Thurs. Sept. 23 at 5 pm PST.

Other specific contest guidelines are as follows:

• All entries must be received in the form of a video, which must be submitted via a link from YouTube or another video sharing site.
• Please be sure to submit your name and email address along with your video link in the Comments field, so we know how to get in touch with you if you are chosen as the winner.
• Videos must be under one minute long.
• You must be a Fan of Human Touch® on Facebook at www.facebook.com/htfeelbetter.
• Videos should be as creative as possible.
• You must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

Don’t let the end of summer get you stressed. Stay relaxed all year long with your Human Touch® massage chair.

I’d like to nominate my husband, SPC Strande, because he is such a deserving and honorable man. We are currently in the midst of a 12 month deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has been gone for 9 months now, and will be soon be home for good. As an ARMY prison guard to some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, his job is very stressful.

Even though his job has long hours with 12-14 hour shifts, can be dangerous, and he is separated from his loving family and baby girl, he always gives his all, and is happy to sacrifice to guarantee our safety, and to support his family. He has missed the last trimester of my pregnancy, and the birth of our first child, Chloe Alexis. He has sacrificed so much for our family, and our country, and he is proud to be the strong man that he is, protecting our freedom and providing for us.

When he comes home from work every day, he is dead tired, and his back and neck are aching. Before the deployment, I massaged his back and neck for him every night to help relieve some of the tension. I even have bad carpal tunnel issues and it sometimes hurts me to do this for him, but I know how much it helps him, and I am so proud of him. It is a small sacrifice compared to his. He is so sweet that he even rubs my hands and wrists in return for me.

Every soldier deserves to be recognized for their service, and I know my husband would absolutely enjoy and utilize this wonderful gift. He would be honored to see how much we all appreciate his hard work and sacrifices, and he will LOVE the physical freedom granted by this massage chair!

Thank you all for your participation! We would also like to extend a very special thank you to all of the brave men and women who fight for our freedom everyday, all over the world!

Kristina’s reaction to the great news:

• Oh my goodness!!!! Erik will be THRILLED!!!! He is coming home in less than 2 months and will be so surprised! Thank you so much for choosing us as the recipients! I want you to know how much this will mean to him and that we both are so thankful! Thank you for recognizing Erik’s sacrifices as a soldier for our country! I cannot express how happy he will be.

Naturopathic Physician

Nature offers us amazing healing powers. And when it comes to reducing stress, increasing relaxation, and overall, improving health and wellness, regular massage therapy is one of my most recommended natural treatment options for patients.

In just 15 minutes a day, a therapeutic massage can make a significant difference in how you feel, whether your goal is to reduce pain in specific parts of your body, sleep better at night, reduce stress, or increase energy levels.

So what are the specific benefits of massage therapy and how can you make it a part of your daily life?

KEY BENEFITS

• Reduce stress: According to a group of researchers at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Wash., massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Those changes slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block your nervous system’s pain receptors. (Source: Health.com, “Massage, It’s Real Medicine,” by Kristyn Kusek Lewis, March 8, 2007
• Increase circulation: The movements of massage cause blood to flush in and out of muscles and joints, increasing the delivery of vital oxygen and nutrients. This process can, in some cases, aid recovery time from injuries and provide the entire body with a greater sense of wellness.
• Improve immunity: Studies show people with high stress levels get sick more often than the general population. Beyond the stress-reducing and sleep-promoting benefits of massage, regular massage has been shown to help increase the immune systems cytotoxic capacity (the activity level of the body’s natural “killer cells”) and decrease the number of t-cells, which improves the body’s overall immune functioning.
• Lower blood pressure: High blood pressure (or hypertension) is when the blood moves through the arteries at a higher pressure than normal, which can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. Regular massage helps to combat the effects of stress – a leading contributor to high blood pressure – helping to lower blood pressure and maintain the body’s natural sense of wellness.
• Reduce pain: Regular massage improves blood flow to oxygen-starved muscles and prompts the body to release endorphins – the body’s natural painkiller. The results are faster recovery and improved range of motion. Massage therapy is ideal for back pain and neck pain sufferers, people with arthritis, and other painful conditions.
• Improve sleep: The movements of massage cause blood to flush in and out of muscles and joints, increasing the delivery of vital oxygen and nutrients. This process can, in some cases, aid recovery time from injuries and provide the entire body with an improved sense of well-being.

MAKING REGULAR MASSAGE THERAPY A PART OF YOUR DAILY LIFE

Busy schedules can often make people shy away from committing to a regular massage therapy regimen. One way to overcome this challenge is to purchase an in-home massage chair, which doesn’t require scheduling an appointment with a massage therapist. Due to improved robotic massage technology, today’s massage chairs offer many similar therapeutic benefits of a real, professional massage therapy experience.

It is also much easier to make massage a part of your regular lifestyle routine by scheduling a consistent time/day to dedicate to your massage therapy regimen. When seeing your massage therapist, ask if you can schedule your treatments on the same day/time week after week, etc. Or if using a massage chair at home, find a quiet and relaxing place to retreat and make sure that your loved ones know not to interrupt you at that specifically scheduled time.

Finally, realize that by including massage therapy in your regular routine you are making a commitment to your health and well being, which can in itself be very motivational.

About the Author

Dr. James Rouse, A.K.A “Dr. James”, is a naturopathic physician with extensive credentials in the wellness field including post-doctorate work in acupuncture, Chinese medicine and transpersonal psychology. He is also a healthcare consultant to broadcast news stations, an iron man triathlete, a certified yoga instructor and an author. His television program, Optimum Wellness, is seen throughout the country on NBC affiliate channels and he recently teamed up with Izze bottled-soda company founder Greg Stroh to create Mix 1, an all-natural protein and antioxidant drink. Dr. Rouse speaks nationally and internationally to physicians, corporations, and the general public in the areas of medicine, health, wellness, and motivation and is the author of several books including Nourish, Grow Your Life From Average to Amazing, Health Solutions for Stress, Health Solutions for Sleep, Health Solutions for Restored Energy and Health Solutions for Weight Loss in addition to numerous articles that have appeared in popular magazines nationwide. He is also a member of the Human Touch® Wellness Council, a group of esteemed experts dedicated to educating the public about the various health and wellness benefits of regular massage, proper posture, stress relief, and other lifestyle practices.

Human Touch® is a company 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® 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.