There are creams and treatments that lessen the severity of cellulite. Diet, coupled with exercise, has been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite, and practitioners of Bikram yoga claim that the exercise promotes lymphatic drainage, thus preventing cellulite or improving it so that it becomes less unsightly.

 There are however, other options that can deliver fast results, such as non-invasive procedures that employ machines and massages.

 The Spa on Bonifacio High Street offers Velasmooth Pro, a non-invasive body contouring and cellulite reduction treatment. Applied to problem areas, Velasmooth helps contour the body into better shape, using light energy and electric current in the form of radio frequency. The device is used on the hips, abdomen, buttocks, arms, calves, neck, and bra line; and treatments are meant to tighten the skin and improve its texture. Velasmooth is pain-free and requires no down-time. Eight sessions (at Php 6,000 each) of the procedure are recommended to achieve optimal results. Benefits last for eight months.

 The treatment starts with the application of a gel to the problem area before the device is applied to heat the skin with infrared light. Once the skin is warmed, the device employs a gentle suction or vacuuming action to help bi-polar radio frequency reach the deeply buried fat deposits up to 20mm deep. The rationale behind this is that it improves circulation and stimulates metabolic action, thereby causing fat cells to shrink.

 As a treat to The Spa’s loyal clients and in celebration of their 15^th year, they are offering the The Spa Privilege Pass which entitles members to discounts for Velasmooth and other procedures at its Skin Dermatology & Laser Center; day spa treatments and luxury pampering; and barre3, a workout program that combines the benefits of Pilates, yoga, and ballet. Those who sign up for an annual membership by December 30, 2011 will get additional three months’ access to membership perks. The privilege card comes with discounts and treats from The Spa’s beauty and wellness partners such as Pevonia Botanica, Selvert Thermal, Shiseido, GNC, and others.

To know more about its privilege cards or wellness, dermatological, laser, and contouring treatments, call The Spa Wellness branch nearest you. Or visit www.thespa.com.ph.

 Who’d think you could lose weight while defying the laws of nature? In an AntiGravity Yoga class, students are suspended in a silk hammock above the ground while stretching and working core muscles. The technique is a combination of yoga poses, coupled with acrobatics, calisthenics, and Pilates.

 AntiGravity Yoga was developed by Christopher Harrison as an acrobatic performance company with the mission of merging athletics and artistry.

 “AntiGravity Yoga has become so popular worldwide that there are already similar classes available,” says Alex Schlempp, managing partner of AntiGravity Yoga. “We’d like Filipinos to experience the real AntiGravity class, which is backed by over 10 years of research with acrobats and professional dancers.”

 Beyond Yoga, a leading yoga studio in the country, is AntiGravity Yoga’s exclusive Philippine partner. “AntiGravity Yoga brings the magic and fun to yoga. We are sure that men and women, young or old, will enjoy this new routine,” says Cara De Ocampo, Beyond Yoga director and head instructor.

De Ocampo adds, “It’s a good routine even for those who are not flexible because your poses are supported by a silk hammock.”

 Beyond Yoga is located at the 3rd floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato corner Scout Madrinian St., Quezon City. Visit www.igobeyondyoga.com or call (+63917)5BEYOND(5239663).

Known to carry the most exclusive, upscale fitness brands worldwide, Wellness Concepts now offers Power Plate, the premium Acceleration Training device that provides effective, versatile, and progressive exercise options.

 The Power Plate accelerates the body’s natural response to vibration, stimulating muscle response up to 50 times a second. As the platform vibrates, the muscles contract in multiple reflex actions, providing a full body workout composed of the five elements of effective training — stretch, balance, core, strength, and massage. It doubles workout results while requiring less training time and effort.

The Power Plate accelerates the body’s natural response to vibration, stimulating muscle response up to 50 times a second. As the platform vibrates, the muscles contract in multiple reflex actions, providing a full body workout composed of the five elements of effective training — stretch, balance, core, strength, and massage. It doubles workout results while requiring less training time and effort.

This innovative equipment can be used on its own, with accessories, or combined with other fitness protocols like circuits, boxing, yoga or Pilates. Moreover, Power Plate is a certified Class IIa medical device, meaning it is very safe to use, having met the highest possible European health and safety standards.

 Some of the benefits of the Power Plate include alleviating pain; reducing cellulite and abdominal fat; improving muscular strength and power, bone density, cardiovascular function, and circulation; and sustaining long-term weight loss.

Wellness Concepts also offers Power Plate programs to local fitness enthusiasts. Regular sessions are held one-on-one with a certified trainer and last for 45 minutes. Power Plate is available in all Wellness Concepts stores.

Even though I worked hard and attended class regularly, I just wasn’t able to keep up with the increasing demands of more and more advanced classes. I got accepted into the best dance school, but without some kind of conditioning program that just wasn’t likely to happen. Thankfully, one of the principal dancers who was also our teacher started that  we include  Pilates as part of our warm-up regimen, and that helped set me on the path to becoming a professional ballet dancer!

 As a teacher, I now see that many dancers have a difficult time developing the strength they need, and it’s not just the dancers with long legs who struggle. Rather, most dancers could use the additional core strength that Pilates provides. Here’s why it works: Pilates is a body conditioning method that is focused on developing a strong “core.” The term “core” refers to the entire abdominal region as well as the lower and mid-back. Frequently, dancers don’t learn how to properly hold this area strong, and so they end up with weaknesses – especially in the lower abdominal muscles and the lower back.

 This leads to poor alignment and poor alignment always equals poor technique. If you watch the other dancers in class carefully, you may notice that some of them stand with their backs swayed, often so they can achieve perfect turn-out at the feet. This is a very weak stance that will inhibit the dancer’s extension, balance, and stability. Pilates helps to fix those issues by creating an atmosphere where the dancer can isolate certain muscle groups and really focus on how to use them.

 In addition, Pilates exercises strengthen muscles in the upper legs and ankles, but all of the movements are initiated from the core. This means that even when you are working your legs you are also working your stomach muscles, and that’s exactly how ballet should be. There is never a time in ballet class when your core muscles shouldn’t be active – Pilates helps teach your body how to do that so that you don’t have to think about it during class. When proper alignment is developed through core strength, turn-out also becomes easier because the hip is freed up to rotate fully. In addition, balance becomes much easier because your bones and muscles are lined up correctly – imagine being able to do an adagio without wobbling, or being able to balance in attitude devant without a lot of difficulty!

 Pilates can be learned from one-on-one lessons with a certified instructor, through a class, or through a video or DVD. I highly recommend taking at least a few classes so that you can learn the basics and make sure you’re doing the movements correctly, but a good DVD can be great for working on your own once you’re familiar with the technique. There are two parts to Pilates: the part that most people are familiar with is the “mat work” which is done on the floor on a cushioned mat, and the exercises can be done pretty much anywhere. This is what you’ll learn on a video or from a book. The portability of the mat work is what makes it so valuable; it makes a great warm-up before your regular ballet class. The second part of Pilates is done on various apparatus and requires special equipment and supervision. This work is most beneficial to the very serious student who wants some quick, intense improvement. Whatever method of learning you choose, adding some Pilates to your repertoire of classes will help you become a stronger more adept dancer who is prepared for anything!

(The author of this article, Beverly Joan  P. Rolda,  is associate artistic director of En Pointe School of Dance at Alabang Country Club Dance Studio and teaches Adult Ballet and Ballet Stretch)

Stretching  improves blood flow, energizes and prevents muscle stiffness. Lots of people take it for granted, and that includes the fittest among us. Flexibility is a primary component of overall fitness, along with aerobic capacity and strength. But as hard as it is to get some people to work out, it’s even harder to get anybody to stretch.

I spent many years in ballet class where stretching was refined into a torture. I was always in so much pain — either from the rigors of the moves or the humiliation of trying to do them — that I never stopped to think about the therapeutic benefit of those long hours of excruciating stretches. But now that I have stopped to think about it, I realize that stretching’s therapeutic value shouldn’t include ending up in therapy. If stretching hurts your body or your self-esteem, you’re doing it wrong. Stretching should be smooth and effortless, and it should soothe your battered psyche.

 Basics

 Stretches to improve flexibility should focus on your body’s major muscle groups: calf, thigh, hip, lower back, neck and shoulder.

 Warm up first. Stretching cold muscles increases your risk of injuries. Walk while gently pumping your arms, or do a favorite exercise at low intensity for 5 minutes.

 Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds, or until you feel all the tension release from the muscle you’re working. It takes time to lengthen tissues safely. Hold your stretches for up to a minute for a really tight muscle or problem area. That can seem like a long time, so keep an eye on the clock to make sure you’re holding your stretches long enough.Don’t bounce. It can cause small muscle tears that can lead to even tighter, more painful muscles later.

I got advice from consultants at Marie France International and found out that they do have a solution to my cellulite problem called Vela Contour. After taking my measurements, they were happy to announce that my BMI or body mass index is fair and that all I need is contouring treatments, around 8-10 sessions of the Vela Contour. A trial had been set right away – one that involves a EL wrap in my tummy area for 25 minutes and the machine treatment that lasted for 15 minutes (it’s a trial by the way, but the duration for one full treatment is 45 minutes). Each treatment may be set for the upper body or the lower body but since my problem area is the midsection, they suggested I incorporate more lower body sessions into my program.

I did ask the consultant what I have been doing wrong. She says post-pregnancy cellulite is normal but there are other factors that causes cellulite formation among them genetics, too much salty food that can bloat the body, some bad eating habits (well, I can admit to that).

I was surprised that over dieting could also be a factor in cellulite production in the body so when I got home I started my food journal right away, something that I had done in the past especially at the height of what my mom calls “diet binge.” I made a mental note to eat small frequent meals and not to skip breakfast, which I sometimes do. What’s important is to eat frequent meals so you get a steady burn of fat, otherwise, the body compensates by storing fat when you starve it. When you deprive yourself of food, the body doesn’t know when it will next get its source of energy so this signals the body to store more fat.

I took comfort in the knowledge that cellulite does not only affect heavy or big people, but also thin people like me. To combat it, Marie France recommended Vela Contour. How does it work? VelaContour’s attack on cellulite and fat uses Electro-Optical Synergy (ELOS) that combines infrared light and bi-polar radio frequency (RF) together with skin-contouring action through positive and negative procedure. They further explain that what infrared light does is it increases circulation so that energy stored in fat becomes available for burning. Then, the bi-polar RF concentrates on the fatty areas pre-heated by the infrared so that it is focused only on the target area. Lastly, the positive and negative pressures stimulate connective tissues to replace fat mass with lean mass. It also improves lymphatic drainage to increase metabolism.

My therapist for the first treatment said that Vela Contour is for the body as Refirme of Facial Care Center, their sister company, is for the face as both uses infrared light and RF. I’ve had positive results with Refirme so maybe Vela Contour could do the same to my body.  And it did. I noticed that apart from the loss of 1-2 inches after my treatment, the wrinkled skin and stretch marks has started to improve and there is a noticeable tightening and lightening of the skin. You can’t bath for 4-6 hours after treatment but when I’ve had my treatment I let the solution stay in my skin until the next morning because I figure the longer it stays the more effective it becomes. They offer me one glass of warm water after each treatment as a way to help me eliminate waste. I noticed that I pee so much more after the treatment.

The treatment consists of a cold lotion applied on the area to be treated so that the hand piece of the machine easily glides over the skin. You feel a mild pinching sensation from the rollers as soon as they turn it on. It actually feels very relaxing and feels as good as a deep tissue massage. You also feel your skin begin to get warm like a hot compress placed on the surface of the skin. The therapist uses the machine in different areas of the body — the back of your thighs, the butt, inner thighs, the stomach, the flanks, the bra line area of the back, and on the inner and outer arms.

 Fact is, for people like me who have a fear of needles and being operated on, Vela Contour is safe as it can get since it is non-invasive and has no downtime. They say the effect is permanent unless you go back to bad eating habits. Vela Contour or regular dieting, Marie France recommends at all times to avoid carbohydrates eight hours before your intended sleep because the body will just store it and convert it to fat.

 Wheatgrass. This wonder plant, so rich in chlorophyll, has anti-bacterial properties that purify the blood, regenerate cells, and strengthen the immune system. Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass Powder uses its award-winning indoor aeroponic cultivation technology to combine both the leaves and roots of wheatgrass and preserve it.

In each sachet are all the nutrients and more than 100 active enzymes of this super food needed by the body to ward off heart diseases, cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. It is available in juice powder, coffee, and soy milk and can be bought at leading drugstores, health stores and supermarket. Call 890-1111 for free delivery.

Malunggay or Moringa. Korea has ginseng while China and Japan has green tea. Here in the Philippines, we have the moringa olifera, more popularly known as Malunggay. Consider this list of healthy benefits and you will agree that the Filipinos are lucky to have this local health treasure:

 * Among the 14 species of malunggay (moringa) in the world, the best are native to the Philippines.

 * Pure oil from pure plants: all our malunggay is from organic plantations in the rural Philippines, where both water and soil are free of chemical contaminants.

 Manila Nature’s Link Corporation, makers of the Malungai Life Oil, a food additive that has all the benefits of the moringa plant, was established in 2008 to bring top-quality, scientifically produced moringa oleifera oil to consumers at an affordable, sustainable price. MNLC is the pioneer in the innovative use of moringa.

 Not all malunggay/moringa supplements are created equal. Most capsules contain only dried powdered leaves rather than oil. This leads to variations in quality and the strength of the nutrients you are taking in. Malungai Life Oil is the only oil-form malunggay supplement in the Philippine market. It features behenic acid, which smoothens skin and enhances sperm motility. Found mainly in the seeds of malunggay, this acid is absent in powder capsules which are made from leaves and stems.  It is also concentrated which means that your body absorbs and distributes more nutrients, more effectively, than from powder capsules. A potent antioxidant than powder, it is more stable when in oil form.

When hitting the beach, there’s so much to do rather than lying on a sun bed and getting sun- kissed. Plunge into the water, swim, do kayaking with the kids, or get an adrenalin rush as you run on the sandy shores for the more strenuous Frisbee and beach volley. If fish and coral watching is your thing, you can also dive under the waves for some snorkeling.

 Racquet sports like badminton and tennis will do a great job in giving you arms and legs that are worth flaunting. Same with baseball and soccer that are slowly gaining popularity among the youth now.

 Whatever your sport is, Toby’s Sports, a leading sports retail chain in the Philippines, makes sure you have the right equipment you need. As Toby Claudio Jr., VP for operations for Toby’s Sports, aptly puts it, “To be constantly trusted and patronized over other sporting goods stores, we make it a point to really stock up on the widest array of gear and accessories for a lot of different sports.”

 So, engage in sports now and visit the nearest Toby’s Sports outlet to check out what’s in store for you. Visit www.tobys.com or www.facebook./Tobysstore.