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.

Mogambo Springs uses Algotherm products for all its treatments

Mogambo Springs in Plantation Bay Resort, one of the best spas in the island of Mactan Cebu, adds another premium treatment to its menu of services, the sports massage. According to spa manager Colleen Barcelona, Mogambo Springs is the only resort in the country that offers this unique treatment.   Zen Lee, a trained Singaporean therapist, helped introduce the sports massage and train some of the staff.

The sports massage is a deep tissue massage that involves a combination of shiatsu and swedish massage to heal strained muscles, relieve swelling and drain away fatigue. Colleen shares that each sport uses muscle groups in a different way and the sports massage may differ according to the sport the athlete plays. Its main goal, however,  is to condition the muscles to reach peak performance while minimizing the risk of injury. Once confined to health clinics and hospitals, the sports massage is now offered at Mogambo Springs to non-athletes who may want to avail of the service, which can be modified to suit the needs of the client. The Dorn method, also offered at Mogambo Springs, is focused on spinal alignment and is ideal for individuals suffering from chronic back pains related to scoliosis, poor posture and joint paints. Mogambo Springs is the only resort spa that offers this German healing method.

Aside from the sports massage, the spa also offers a 4 to 7 days detox program called the Loving Life Program, voted by the Asia Spa and Wellness Festival 2010 as the Best Spa Experience in Asia. It is a total wellness package that  guarantees weight reduction. The program adheres to the Fit for Life philosophy, which is based on the idea that eating foods in specific combinations at certain times of the day will result in weight reduction, increased energy levels and improved digestion. The package includes resort accomodations, a carefully planned menu during your stay, yoga and tai chi exercise, massages and spa treatments and colonic cleansing to complete the detox program. Mogambo Springs is the only five-star resort spa that gives this kind of treatment in Cebu.

Zenyu, which means complete healing in Japanese, does not only offer pampering and relaxation services, but also healing through its antioxidant properties and facilities.

Zenyu ecospa’s negative ion hot bed is made of heated ceramic tiles that were treated with this special technique from Ecoparadise. The spa and Hotel H2O, where it is located, are also painted using negative ion technology.

“The entire spa and hotel emit negative ions so you always feel refreshed and rejuvenated,” says Dr. Eric Tan, spa manager, Zenyu ecospa.

The only one in the Philippines, the hot bed emits large quantities of negative ions that are absorbed by our bodies through our skin and through breathing. At a room temperature of 42-45°C, guests are able to sweat and detoxify while they relax.

“The hot bed is able to replicate the natural environment where thousands of negative ions are found. When antioxidants are released, we instantly feel revitalized. Our capillaries open and nutrient transfer improves,” says Takanobu Unno, CEO, Barbarian Co., Ltd., owner of the Ecoparadise trademark.

Zenyu ecospa also offers the first fish spa jacuzzi in the country. This whole body jacuzzi, commonly found in Europe and most beneficial to psoriasis and eczema sufferers, is filled with small doctor fish that feeds on dead skin to reveal clean and exfoliated healthy skin.

Good thing my mom had a friend who is a “manghihilot”, an old lady trained in the Filipino traditional massage. I remember when we were young, she would bring me to the hilot when we had colds and cough. The hilot would then massage our back and chest and recommend boiled lagundi leaves to drink at home. She would use coconut oil that smelled of “latik”  and I would say I smell like an old lady and wanted to take a bath right away. But no. My mom would wet a towel with hot water instead, no bathing as ”lamig”  would enter our bodies.

Now the traditional hilot has been modernized and is now available in spas.  If you have back pain and colds that won’t go away, you are likely to have “lamig” in your body. This is extra air that sometimes gathers in our body that goes and stays inside the muscles. This “trapped air” sometimes results to muscle and body pain.   The solution would be to help the body heal itself through a massage therapy called ventosa. It’s a  form of massage therapy performed by placing glass in specific accupoints on your back with a technique used to create a vacuum inside the glass. The vacuum created will “suck” out excess and unnecessary air that is inside your body. The result?  Instant relief and a sense of well-being.

So remember, next time you feel a cold coming on, don’t reach for that cold medicine just yet.  It might be best to load up on vitamins instead and get a ventosa massage.

After taking his leave from the royal palace to start anew in a place called Burma, Aw Chu Kin further refined the exquisite balm with his two sons in his humble medicine shop.

Made from unique herb ingredients, this remedy would be the medicine man’s legacy not only to his clan but also to the rest of the world.

Tried, tested and trusted by generations of users, the topical pain reliever is what the world knows today as Tiger Balm.

When Aw Chu Kin’s sons brought their father’s legacy to Singapore and established it as a company, Tiger Balm (named after his offspring Boon Haw, whose name in Chinese means ‘Tiger’) has slowly but surely become a leading brand in the world, with customers in more than 100 countries who use this super balm as their ointment of choice.

Through the years, people turn to Tiger Balm for the most effective way to relieve the following woes: headaches, inflammations, rheumatic or arthritic pains, muscle strains and sprains. Tiger Balm is also ideal for the relief of stuffy nose, insect bites and itchiness.

Aside from its versatile external medication, what also set Tiger Balm apart from other heat rubs are its analgesic properties which work rapidly to counteract all the hurt and pain.

Tiger Balm also comes with cassia oil so that it feels warm upon application, further relieving over-stressed muscles and trauma areas.

This fast-acting formula has firmly established Tiger Balm as a household name. “Works wherever it hurts” is catchy slogan in the Year of the Tiger.

As the acknowledged specialist in pain relief, Tiger Balm continues to be innovative in coming up with other pain solution products.

Right now, focus for the Philippine market is on its flagship line of ointments which is known all over the world — Tiger Balm White, primarily effective in relieving headaches, stuffy nose, even insect bites and itchiness; and the Tiger Balm Red, which comes with cassia oil for a warm feeling, perfect for relieving muscle aches and pains especially for those with an active lifestyle.

Tiger Balm Red and Tiger Balm White are available at Mercury and other leading drugstore chains and major supermarkets nationwide.

The bestselling FitflopElectra

You see people wearing them in the mall, at the gym and every where you go. What’s the big deal about wearing Fitflops and Shape Ups these days?

The name Fitflops was of course coined after “flipflops” and was the rage among Hollywood celebs until it was introduced locally. Since then, women young and old have taken to wearing these ergonomically designed flipflops despite being as expensive as a pair of designer shoes.

Skechers Shape Ups for Women

Skechers Shape Ups for Men

Skechers and Reebok, not to be outdone, have joined the bandwagon and came up with their own line of exercise shoes they now call Shape Ups and Easy Tones. The selling point of course, is that by wearing ‘em you get in shape without setting foot in a gym. So you wear them everywhere, even to church.

We cannot dispute the health benefits of walking as it is the one exercise we do on a daily basis. It boosts energy levels and decreases health risks.Walking is also the best way to jumpstart a fitness program specially for sedentary people since it builds resistance gradually and prepares them for more high calorie burning exercises such as jogging or running.

Reebok Women's Simplytone Fitness Shoe

Personally, I believe walking or a good stroll in the mall for a few hours is more enjoyable than spending 20-30 minutes walking on the treadmill looking into space or infront of a TV. And a pair of specially designed sandals or shoes that increases the fitness benefits of walking even more  may be worth the expense. Besides, they look quite fashionable since they come in a variety of colors and designs.

The functionality of course far outweighs the aesthetics of these fitness sandals/shoes.Health experts seem to agree on this. Fitflops has received the American Podiatric Medical Association’s seal of approval while Studies in the USA and Japan have concluded that wearing Shape Ups while you walk can provide a number of benefits to wearers.

What are these benefits? What’s common about these new exercise shoes/sandals is that it replicates the sensation of walking barefoot on soft, yielding ground – like lush grass or sand. Less stress on the feet mean less or even no pain in your back, knees and calves. Heel spur pain is also prevented, one of the complaints most walkers talk about when using standard flipflop-type sandals. Apart from strengthening the back and abdominal muscles, you get toned calves and legs as well.

So the next time you hie off on your shopping spree, do yourself a favor and get a pair of these walking sandals or shoes, whichever u prefer. Get a pedometer while you’re at it so you can monitor your progress and start walking your way to fitness and a great body.

photo from allezhop.net

When I was a kid I would often hang from a tree branch in our front lawn imagining myself a gymnast or a circus performer. I would use the metal bar on the double-deck bed and do as many flips as I could until my arms would go numb or, when out on the playground, spend as much time as I can at the monkey bars. Such childhood memories were brought back when I saw a trainer demonstrate the use of the Pilates Cadillac machine, one the many equipment Joseph Pilates invented.

Named after the famous automobile in America, the Cadillac was devised by Pilates to rehabilitate his bedridden patients when he was a hospital orderly during World War 1. Also, known as “The Rack”, this piece of equipment looks like an orthopedic bed; a  four-poster bed frame with various bars, straps, springs and levers that may be adjusted variably to help facilitate more movement and flow into your Pilates exercises. It also has a push-through bar, which can be sprung from above or below, a roll-down bar, a trapeze or cross bar, arm and leg springs, thigh and ankle cuffs and hanging loops that you grab to raise your body up the table.

If you’re the adventurous  kind and fancy yourself a trapeze artist, you will be surprised at how you are able to make your body move in ways you never thought possible while suspended in mid-air. Through its repertoire of exercises, the Cadillac stretches the body, strengthens the back and spine, making it more flexible, while further developing the core abdominal muscles. Its a bit more complicated than the Reformer, another Pilates equipment mentioned in my previous post, so you definitely need a trained instructor to guide you on how to use it safely and effectively so you get the most out of your workout.

Most hospitals are equipped with the Cadillac but few regular fitness gyms have this type of equipment. Allez Hop Wellness and Balance Center tailor-fits their Cadillac Pilates program based on their clients’ needs, be it as a form of regular exercise or rehabilitative therapy. Either way, imagine how much fun your work out would be sans the hospital setting.

I myself have begun to think about getting myself re-acquainted with Pilates, which is offered at the gym I regularly go to, if only to get out of the exercise rut I’ve been in the past few weeks. It pays to really inject something new and different into your exercise regimen so you don’t slack off, and eventually lose interest in going to the gym altogether. And one thing about going around and finding places such as Allez Hop is that you are able to discover new ways to exercise.

photo from allezhop.net

I have only tried Pilates thrice since I became a Fitness First member if only to find out why some people get hooked on it. Body Balance/yoga classes being offered at the gym remain one of my favorites, along with Retro, Latin and Body Jam. Only last year has Pilates Ball beeen included in the menu of classes owing to its growing popularity among gym enthusiasts.

There are many kinds of Pilates, differentiated only by the type of equipment they use. At home you can do basic Pilates using an exercise mat, very much like yoga. Pilates Ball uses an inflated ball that allows the movement of limbs to increase core strength by strengthening the abdominal muscles along with increasing flexibility in the limbs. There exists, however, another kind of Pilates that uses a machine called the Reformer,giving one an increased range of motion and support, or helping one ease into some of the more complex Pilates movements. I got acquainted with it when I went to Allez Hop Balance and Wellness Center, a boutique gym located in Makati.

Its close proximity to Makati Medical Center  makes the center an alternative to those who may want to undergo rehab therapy. The center, however small, is surprisingly better equipped than most regular gyms I’ve been to. The Reformer alone costs around USD2,300 and the center has two machines which requires quite a bit of floor space when in use.

At first, the Reformer might look like a rowing machine I regularly use at the gym. It looks simple enough, yet upon close inspection and while observing a client at the center using it, I found it to be well-designed as to allow the user a full range of motions, from the basic movement to the most difficult and challenging. It actually assists the user into doing the exercise the proper way, with supervision from a trained instructor.  Like most  of the other Pilates equipment, the Reformer helps to improve core strength and, in turn one’s balance and posture.

Resistance is key in doing Pilates exercises with the Allegro Reformer and its sliding platform and color-coded springs allow the user to change the level of resistance when doing Pilates exercises.  Surprisingly, most of its users are one in saying that the less resistance there is, the more difficult it becomes because it is your own body that does the work. With more tension in the coiled springs, you have more assistance performing a particular exercise. Using less tension on the springs means using more tension in your own muscles. 

These strengthening exercises make it best for those who want a strong and well-defined body without being bulky.  Apart from the aesthetic benefits however, enthusiasts are one in saying that most rewarding thing about Pilates is increased srength that allows one to perform day-to-day tasks such as lifting or going up a flight of stairs with ease.   Some clients regularly come to the center for pain management after having gone through an injury or accident. The Allegro helps them in that respect, allowing them to move and function without pain or discomfort.

In a world where our body is under constant stress it pays to keep the mind and body in top form. Don’t you agree?

Maybe you ought to take that vacation, doc says. He guessed right. Think about the times when you got off from work and still feel edgy because that report is due tomorrow, or times when you can barely sleep at night because you worry about the most inconsequential things, like how to squeeze in as many activities you want and yet never having the time to do it since you are swamped with work. Sound familiar?

Stress is the silent killer of all and stress-induced complaints without any identifiable somatic or bodily problem are called psychosomatic disorders—arising from the mind and spilling over to the body. We are constantly exposed to all sorts of stressors every day and generally it can be a positive stimulus for us to achieve our goals, to be as efficient and effective as we could. Up to a level of stress is deemed healthy and for those who can handle them properly, such as athletes, it pushes them to do remarkable feats.

But for those who can’t handle them properly, or are overwhelmed by it, the result is a breakdown of physical and mental function when the body reacts negatively and produces signs and symptoms which interfere with our activities. We become dysfunctional. The stress becomes distress. Recurrent unmanaged stress over a period of time can actually lead to heart disease, diabetes and other medical problems called metabolic syndrome. And the higher the stress level, the greater the chance of developing metabolic syndrome. Those under stress are also prone to ill health when they acquire health damaging behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking, poor diet and lack of exercise.

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They are users of Phiten titanium necklaces, a new product to relieve pain and promote over all wellbeing.I heard about this from a friend and though a bit skeptical, I checked it out and ended up buying one myself. My first visit, the salesladies where handing out the 2 inch Titanium tapes as product samples. I had shoulder pain and a stiff neck that day and on their suggestion I placed the tape on those areas when I got home. The following day, the pain was gone.

Photo of Phiten titanium necklaces and bracelets

The next visit, I was fortunate enough to meet Emerson Noceda, Phiten Rakuwa supervisor, who explained to me the benefits of the product. He says anyone can benefit from wearing Phiten to help aid in counteracting stress and fatigue. First worn by US major league baseball players, professional athletes, even the King of Pain Todd Medina when it was introduced several years ago in the US, these athletes found out that they tire less easily and recover faster from intense physical activity.

The secret, Noceda says, is titanium and silica, which is evenly distributed at the front and runs along the sides of the necklace. A Japanese by the name of Yoshihiro Hirata, discovered a process that allows carbonized water-soluble forms of titanium, gold and silver to be incorporated into fibers and fabrics. This water-soluble material called Aquametal helps the body maintain a relaxed state by influencing, restoring and balancing bio-electricity in the body. When worn, it helps improve blood circulation, promote the natural healing process of the body and enhance performance during physical activities.Silica was later on added for its ability to boost the immune system.

Since they opened the flagship store in Edsa Shangrila in 2007 there has been a steady increase in sales so they opened another one in  Mall of Asia (tel# 5567243). Phiten’s official distributor is the Lhuillier-owned Sports, Entertainment, Event Management, Inc. (SEEMI). Planetsports, Chris Sports, Sporthouse, Toby’s and other sports hobby shops also carry Phiten products. But to ensure that you are buying original products, as there are China-made imitations now flooding the market, you have to look for the dealership sticker prominently located at the store counter.

They have the very classic-looking high end necklaces:Lleyton Hewitt (Php11,995), X-30 Players Plate Crepe (Php7,495) and X-50 (Php2,995). This is recommended for professional athletes since the titanium content is larger. The slimmer and more fashionable-looking X-50 Regular and 3-Line necklace are for everyday use and retails for Php2,295. I got the 3-Line necklace instead because it is waterproof, the same one I had seen worn by Richard Gomez at a media event.

The first week, I ran, played tennis and went to the gym. I slept late nights writing articles for this site and at the back of my mind, I realized the lack of sleep might lower my blood pressure, a recurring ailment since college. Nothing happened by end week. I passed the necklace on to a friend who was having her period at the time. That same day I cajoled her into running the length of the baywalk at Mall of Asia with me for the first time. Guess who was feeling leg soreness and lower back pain the following day? By noon, my friend was asking me to play tennis. I, on the other hand, was lying in bed feeling dizzy and still sore. My late nights have finally caught up with me.

Other items in the line are the Phiten Rakuwa bracelets: 3-Line Skeleton (Php1,595) and the Rakuwa Leather strap (Php2,895). They also carry the Aqua Titan Belt Single (Php4,795) for women and supports/guards and apparel for pro athletes.

The items are pricey, yes, but you have to take my word for it. One reason I was out looking for a product to relieve pain is because my mom has osteoarthritis that causes pain in her knees. She goes through physical therapy at least twice a week. For regular everyday pain, of course, quick fixes such as popping a pill or warm compress may do the trick. But before you reach for that bottle of Ibuprofen or paracetamol, you might want to consider other ways to relieve headache or pain that not only offers relief but with an added bonus, overall wellbeing.

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