Health Tactics

Joining health spas, fitness clubs, gym or any sports club could be a best way to improve your physical condition.

Nearly 34 million people are members of some 18,000 fitness centers in the U.S. today, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sports club Association. And, although many of the consumers who join health clubs are pleased with their choices, others are not. They've also complained to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about high-pressure of sales tactics, misrepresentations of facilities and their services, broken cancellation and refund clauses, and with the lost membership fees as a result of spas going out of business. To avoid these kinds of problems, it's good to look closely at the spa's fees, contractual requirements and other facilities provided before you join. Here are some suggestions to assist you to make the right choice.

Inspect The Spa

Visit the club during the hours you are normally use it to see if it's overcrowded. Notice whether the facilities are very clean and well maintained, and note the condition of the equipment. Ask about:

v Trial Periods - Is there sometime when you could sample the services and equipment for free?
v Number Of Members - Many spas there is no membership limits. While the spa might not be crowded when you visit, it could be packed during peak hours or after a membership drive.
v Hours Of Operation - Some health spas restrict men's use to some days and women's also to others. Some might limit lower-cost memberships to few hours.
v Instructors And Trainers - Some spas hire trainers and instructors who have particular related qualifications. If you're looking for professionals to assist you, ask about staff qualifications and the longevity.

Review The Contracts

Some spas may ask you to join - and pay - the first time you visit and offer incentives like offer rates to entice you to sign on the spot but you resist and wait a few days before you decide. Take the contract home and read it very carefully. Before you sign, ask yourself:

v Is everything that the salesperson promised mentioned in the contract? If a problem arises after you join, the contract probably would govern the dispute. And if something is not mentioned in the contract, it's going to be very difficult to prove your case.
v Is there a "cooling-off" period? Some spas offer customers several days to reconsider after they've signed the contract.
v Could you get a refund for the not used portion of your membership if you had to cancel, say, because of any injury? What if you just stopped using the spa? Would the spa refund your money? Knowing the fitness clubs cancellation policies is particularly important if you choose a long-term membership.
v Can you only join for a short time? It might be to your advantage to join on any trial basis, say, for a few months, even if it costs a little more each month.
v Can you afford the payments? Consider the money charges and annual percentage rates when you compute the total cost of your membership. Break down the cost to weekly and even daily figures to get an improved idea of what it really would cost to use the facility.

Research The Health Clubs History

And finally before you join a health club, contact your local consumer protection office, state Attorney General or Better Business Bureau to find out whether they have received any of the complaints about the business, or whether there are state laws regulating health club memberships. If problems arise after you join, then these offices also may be able to help you resolve.

Peaceful Offerings

Relieving Stress With Breath Work

The most vital of life forces, breath is taken away every day by the stress and other forms of trauma. Spa breathing lessons reclaim that energy, retraining the body to gather enough oxygen while identifying (and banishing) the emotional and physical habits which restrict us from fully experiencing our breath. The Relax 02 at The Well, the spa at Miramonte Resort -Indian Wells, California, heightens one’s sense of smell to encourage deep inhalations, while the Integrative Breathwork at Miraval Life in Balance at Arizona physically coaches guests to move the breath into different parts of the body to release tension and then convert it into the positive life force. Like a personal trainer for the spirit, life coaching is a form of psychotherapy-lite which encourages both action and introspection. From getting organized to getting real, the mentors guide clients through areas in their lives where they might feel stuck, whether in their professions or relationships.

One interesting spin on technique can be found in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy at Lake Austin Spa Resort - Texas, that uses the physicality inherent to the practice to help the body release issues and confront emotional obstacles which stand in the way of personal growth. Meditation, a mainstay at spas is enjoying renewed interest in the light of medical science having proven its health value, particularly in reducing stress. Spas are seizing the moment to share the most eloquent of take-home tools by offering the guests a variety of innovative techniques. At The Chopra Center in Carlsbad - California, Primordial Sound Meditation incorporates mantras into its harmonic-based path to quiet the mind, while the walking meditation through gardens at Willow Stream, The Spa at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which is at Arizona is the path to inner exploration during Mindfulness Meditation.

Forgiveness[Let It Be]

In the lifelong chase of mind and body happiness, don’t overlook forgiveness—it’s as helpful as yoga or a good night’s sleep. Research suggests that the discharge of negative emotions could untie the effects of stress, helping to ease depression, boost the resistant system, and improve cardiovascular health. “Forgiveness is important to maintain mental health and preventing disease,” says Dr. Steve Salvatore, medical director of Juva Health and Wellness Center in New York, where curative therapies have been designed to farm forgiveness. The act doesn’t essentially entail reconciliation or forgetting the past wrongs; rather, it’s an inborn understanding that these events can’t wound you today’s. The more you forgive, the more you exist—literally.

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