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The Yoga Way to Health and Well Being

Posted by admin on May 22nd, 2010 | No Comments »



Yoga is not a recent practice. It is a practice which through time, has developed and increased in significance and appeal worldwide. The rationale behind the appeal is greatly to do with the physical and psychological benefits experienced when integrating yoga into one’s daily schedule. Yoga can be viewed as a breath of fresh air in this fast paced lifestyle that we live in.

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language and means “to integrate”. Yoga promotes a harmonious working together of the body’s components leading to both physical and mental training. Despite the fact that there are numerous forms of yoga; Hatha Yoga is still presently seen as one of the more commonly practiced yoga styles. Hatha Yoga consists of non strenuous physical exercise which aids in strengthening, stretching and balancing the body’s joints. Regular breathing is performed at the same time which aids in providing oxygen to the muscles, and in turn positively affects bodily structures and organs. The awareness required during yoga practice, ensures that mind and body have to work together to create a mind-body harmony which in turn promotes healing.

Yoga will not be a quick fix for all your aches, worries and pains. However, with regular yoga practice your body will rebalance slowly and steadily, leaving you discovering the results for yourself. Physical benefits which you can anticipate are improved efficiency of the lungs, better use of your respiratory muscles, improved flexibility of the joints, improved coordination and muscle tone, maintenance of bone density, reduced risk of injury as well as the prevention of weight gain. Psychological benefits can also include an increase in self-confidence, decreased cravings for tobacco and food, better sleep, an increased ability to relax, improved concentration as well as a reduced likelihood of depression. Yoga differentiates itself from other exercises as it draws on the entire person as a whole.

Half an hour of yoga a day, or 15 minutes of yoga twice a day, can easily be incorporated into any daily schedule. Some breathing techniques can even be practiced while working or driving home after a long day. A short routine for those of you spending hours staring at a computer screen is to take a few moments every day to glance at a distant object. This allows your eyes a moments rest from glare and a change of focus. Look left and right, up and down at least 5 times, blink at least 8 times to moisten your eyes and if it is at all possible, rest your elbows on a comfortable surface and close your eyes whilst covering them with the palm of your hands. If you can incorporate this with or without some breathing exercises, you will already be on the way to a healthier and possibly more focused lifestyle.

Baby steps everyone…no one expects you to transform overnight.

Find spas and more wellness related information at: http://healthspaguru.com


Filed under Yoga | Tags: , ,


Guidelines for Health Risk Assessments (HRAs)

Posted by admin on May 18th, 2010 | No Comments »



Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) are tools that identify and quantify an individual’s risk of

morbidity or mortality using demographic, medical and lifestyle information. “Health Risk

Assessments (HRAs) and Medicare”, an evaluation report completed by RAND for CMS, reached the

following conclusions.

• Effective Health Risk Assessment (HRA) plan have demonstrated beneficial effects on behavior,

physiological variables and general health status

• Interventions that combine Health Risk Assessment (HRA) feedback with the provision of Health

Plans are most likely to show beneficial effects

• To be effective, Health Risk Assessment (HRA) questionnaires should be accompanied by follow-up

interventions (e.g., information, support and referrals)

High quality Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) offer, a computation for individual risk from the

following most common diseases and risk factors.

• Asthma

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseaase (COPD)

• Diabetes

• High Blood Pressure

• Ischemic heart disease

• Major depression

• Stroke

• Overweight/Obesity

• Use of Tobaccos Products

• Mental health

• Immunizations

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) collects and reviews information to predict a member’s

likelihood of experiencing the most common diseases.

Health Risk Assessments (HRAs): Demographic characteristics

A person’s age, gender and ethnicity are indicators of elevated risk for certain diseases. At

minimum, the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should collect information, to the extent allowed by

law, information on the member’s age, gender and ethnicity.

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should include queries addressing the individual’s personal and

family history of diseases or risk factors for common diseases. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA)

must include queries to assess health risks related to the highly personal health characteristics

and behaviors listed below.

• Weight Management

• Nutrition

• Use of Tobaccos Products

• High Blood Pressure

• Cholesterol

• Exercise

• Alcohol consumption

• Traveling by motor vehicle

• Stress Management

• Mental health

Perceived Health Status

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should include queries that assess A person’s self-perceived

health status. The queries should allow an individual to rate their own health status on a

relative scale.

Disclosure of use of Health Risk Assessment (HRA) information

The organization should disclose how the information obtained from the Health Risk Assessment

(HRA) will be used and to whom it’ll be disclosed. The organization may offer the disclosure and

use information within the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) tool or reports or through written

communications.

Ability to save and print Health Risk Assessment (HRA) results

Internet-based Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should give the member the ability to save and print

his or her Health Risk Assessment (HRA) results. For paper-based Health Risk Assessments (HRAs),

the organization should have a mechanism in place for the member to receive a written copy of the

results.

Health Risk Assessment (HRA) Results

Companies should offer a printed or printer-friendly internet-based report for each individual

participant. The report may emphasis on either individual risks for specified diseases or on

Health.

Health Risk Assessment (HRA) computations may emphasis on either individual risks based upon

personal risk factors or on overall risk or health. The report should offer an explanatory

information to help them understand the outcome. Reports should clearly identify behaviors that

can lower risk for each risk factor, and recommend targets for improvement. Reports should

include resources (e.g., community plan, internet-based information and materials) that can help

members change to a healthier lifestyle. At minimum, the organization should give computation for

individual risk from the following most common diseases and risk factors.

• Asthma

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseaase (COPD)

• Diabetes

• High Blood Pressure

• Ischemic heart disease

• Major depression

• Stroke

• Overweight/Obesity

• Use of Tobaccos Products

• Mental health

• Immunizations

Health Risk Assessment (HRA) report

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) should give internet-based print-friendly results and the

ability for the user to print the results. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) report should include

a profile of individual risk level for personal conditions or diseases according to age, gender,

ethnicity and risk factors that were identified in the questionnaire. The report should clearly

identify behaviors that can lower the risk for each risk factor and recommend targets for

improvements.

Available Resources

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) report should also include references to resources that can help

the member understand the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) results and assist the member in changing

to a healthier lifestyle.

The resources can include references to relevant internet-based information, materials and

community plan.


Filed under Wellness | Tags: , ,


HEALTH COACH WELLNESS COACH

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2010 | No Comments »



A Health and Wellness Coach can help you:

Increase profits Attract and retain more customers Expand your reach beyond your facility Increase services without adding staff Greatly differentiate your gym from your competitors Improve the health and wellbeing of your customers A Health and Wellness Coach can expand your reach and increase profits without expanding your resources

Imagine that your members interacted with a health and wellness coach every day.  With consistent personalized attention, members would become more dedicated to their fitness regimen, feel better about themselves and their health, and be more satisfied with your fitness center—all of which makes them more likely to maintain their program and less likely to leave.

The Health and Wellness Coach solution from InfiniteHealthCoach.com

Our Health and Wellness Coach program is an affordable Web-based “virtual club and personal training studio” designed to help members succeed in achieving their fitness goals. It is a powerful and practical way for members to have daily interaction with a certified health coach, giving your fitness center an innovative advantage in member retention and profitability.

Each new member who joins your facility provides additional revenue that goes straight to your bottom line. In today’s aggressive market, it may just be the unique member benefit your fitness center needs to “outmuscle” the competition.

Boost Member Retention with Health and Wellness Coaching

By increasing your ability to provide personalized attention, InfiniteHealthCoach.com helps you reduce attrition, turning “at risk” members back into active members who renew at the end of their contract.

This high-quality health and fitness resource lets you target high-risk dropout candidates by offering them their own online personal trainer and health and wellness coaching service that…

Makes it easy to set goals and track progress Demonstrates proper exercise techniques Motivates and engages members regardless of their location

Satisfied members stay members longer, and each month they work with a health and wellness coach generates additional revenue for you.

Extend Your Reach with Health and Wellness Coaching

The anywhere, anytime the online convenience of health and wellness coaching allows you to expand your core services beyond the walls of your fitness center to reach non-traditional members who might not otherwise come into your facility. Offering a Web-based membership program to these individuals also helps you develop a feeder system for new traditional memberships.

Plus, you’ll be able to better serve corporate clients with a proven behavior-changing program that proactively addresses their rising health care costs. The system’s flexibility allows you to tailor a program to virtually any topic your client companies may request;from simple tobacco cessation or stress reduction to full-scale health and wellness coaching.

A Small Investment in Health and Wellness Coaching Yields Exceptional ROI

For a small per-member investment, InfiniteHealthCoach.com can help you provide a service that enhances your members’ success. As a result, members develop a better appreciation for your fitness center and the added value you provide. By giving clients fast, convenient access to their health and wellness coach, you can generate additional revenue over a longer period of time.

Health and Wellness Coaching for Fitness Centers

A Health and Wellness Coach can help you: Increase profits Attract and retain more customers Expand your reach beyond your facility Increase services without adding staff Greatly differentiate your gym from your competitors Improve the health and wellbeing of your customers A Health and Wellness Coach can expand your reach and increase profits without expanding your resources

Imagine that your members interacted with a health and wellness coach every day.  With consistent personalized attention, members would become more dedicated to their fitness regimen, feel better about themselves and their health, and be more satisfied with your fitness center—all of which makes them more likely to maintain their program and less likely to leave.

The Health and Wellness Coach solution from InfiniteHealthCoach.com

Our Health and Wellness Coach program is an affordable Web-based “virtual club and personal training studio” designed to help members succeed in achieving their fitness goals. It is a powerful and practical way for members to have daily interaction with a certified health coach, giving your fitness center an innovative advantage in member retention and profitability.

Each new member who joins your facility provides additional revenue that goes straight to your bottom line. In today’s aggressive market, it may just be the unique member benefit your fitness center needs to “outmuscle” the competition.

-

Boost Member Retention with Health and Wellness Coaching

By increasing your ability to provide personalized attention, InfiniteHealthCoach.com helps you reduce attrition, turning “at risk” members back into active members who renew at the end of their contract.

This high-quality health and fitness resource lets you target high-risk dropout candidates by offering them their own online personal trainer and health and wellness coaching service that…

Makes it easy to set goals and track progress Demonstrates proper exercise techniques Motivates and engages members regardless of their location

Satisfied members stay members longer, and each month they work with a health and wellness coach generates additional revenue for you.

Extend Your Reach with Health and Wellness Coaching

The anywhere, anytime the online convenience of health and wellness coaching allows you to expand your core services beyond the walls of your fitness center to reach non-traditional members who might not otherwise come into your facility. Offering a Web-based membership program to these individuals also helps you develop a feeder system for new traditional memberships.

Plus, you’ll be able to better serve corporate clients with a proven behavior-changing program that proactively addresses their rising health care costs. The system’s flexibility allows you to tailor a program to virtually any topic your client companies may request;from simple tobacco cessation or stress reduction to full-scale health and wellness coaching.

A Small Investment in Health and Wellness Coaching Yields Exceptional ROI

For a small per-member investment, InfiniteHealthCoach.com can help you provide a service that enhances your members’ success. As a result, members develop a better appreciation for your fitness center and the added value you provide. By giving clients fast, convenient access to their health and wellness coach, you can generate additional revenue over a longer period of time.

The Results-Oriented Approach To Health and Wellness Coaching

InfiniteHealthCoach.com offers members unlimited access to their own health and wellness coach and therefore are able use the service as often as they like, with no additional cost to you.

Through our health and wellness coaches employees not only learn what they need to do, but more importantly, they learn how to sustain their new, healthy lifestyles. The health and wellness coach is there to provide positive reinforcement, advice, additional information and support at every step.

The results speak for themselves.  Of those who used the InfiniteHealthCoach.com health and wellness coaching model…

94% of participants reach their primary goals 89% reported improved overall health and well-being 75% experienced fewer stress-related physical symptoms 56% improved aerobic conditioning 50% increased their healthy eating choices 72% of those who lost weight lost more than five pounds 40% remained tobacco-free at 6 months

Filed under Wellness | Tags: , ,


Keep your Appetite in Check with Weight Loss Pills

Posted by admin on May 14th, 2010 | No Comments »

Many people are dieting, it’s no wonder, half of all Americans are overweight. Some are overweight by a little, some are very overweight. Fatty, high calorie foods are both inexpensive and taste good. Luckily, most people can afford at least these unhealthy foods, so we eat them, often to excess.

Our overweight population in America has created overweight people that are desperate to find weight loss pills. Most people would prefer a miracle weight loss pill that let you eat all you want and not exercise. It’s too bad, they don’t exist. The weight loss pills that make this claim are lying. There really is only one way to lose weight. You need to take in less calories that your body burns and you will lose weight.

Hardly anyone sticks to a diet long however. Most people say they get hungry, and they go off the diet for good. This is where the best weight loss pills can help. Weight loss pills help keep the appetite under control. The less hungry you feel, the less likely you’ll be tempted by high-calorie foods. The best weight loss pills also keep your blood sugar levels balanced naturally. This will help keep your appetite in check. Weight loss pills are not miracle drugs, they just help people stick to their diets.

Filed under General


Individual Health Plans Advantages and Disadvantages

Posted by admin on May 13th, 2010 | No Comments »



Whether you are self-employed, have one or two jobs or retired, you need a good health insurance plan for yourself and your family. It is important to get good health insurance coverage against unexpected medical expenses in order to avoid to be buried in debt. However, a plan that is good for someone else may not be the right one for you. In industrialized countries like the US, where the health insurance companies constantly change their policy, it is necessary that you have adequate information before choosing a health insurance plan. This article explains the different types of health insurance, their advantages and disadvantages so that can choose wisely if you shop for health insurance.

Individual health insurance

Individual health insurance is a form of individual contract between you and an insurance company to guarantee the repayment of all or almost all medical expenses. This may includes hospitalization, medications, dental care, seeing a specialist, and certain therapies (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc.). This service may be provided by a government-sponsored social insurance program (mostly for individuals with low income), or from private insurance companies.

What is the history behind health insurance?

Some hundred years ago, before the appearance of health insurance, all patients used to pay their health care costs. Around 1694, Hugh the elder Chamberlen (1630-1720) introduced health insurance. At that time, the idea was not widely known and welcomed by the public. Around the end of the 19th century, health insurance took an expansion, and other forms insurance such as accidental or disability insurance started being available in certain states in the United States.

Franklin Health Insurance Company of Massachusetts was the first company to provide accident insurance in the United States. However, it covered only injuries caused by railroad and steamboat. As the insurance industry grows, in 1866, there were approximately sixty companies offering accidental insurance in the United States. Today, there are more insurance companies than we can count.

Although there are numerous insurance companies, health insurance plans are grouped into three main categories:

Fee-for-service – also known as indemnity plans is a type of insurance plan where you, patient, have to pay all medical expenses out of your own pockets, and then request a reimbursement from your insurance company. These types of plans have their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages: they offer more flexibility in choosing your own doctor. You can decide the time to see your health care provider, and what type of treatment you want; as long as you remain in the limit that your insurer will pay

Disadvantages: in indemnity plans, most doctors require upfront payment, so you have to submit claim forms to the insurance company to receive a reimbursement. That requires paper work, and sometimes many phone calls. Fee-for-service plans offer limit benefits; they do not cover annual physical exam and educational programs.

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) – Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are managed care plans that offer health care coverage to their members through hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers that are in their network. That is, having their service, you are limited to members of their network.

Advantages: unlike Fee-for-service plans, you do not have to pay up front; although some of them require a copayment. You do not need to submit forms after forms to receive reimbursement. In addition, HMOs usually charge a lower cost.

Disadvantages: you can use only health care providers who are associated with the organization. Most HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) tend to refuse to approve certain treatments. Although some HMOs accept their members to see physician or specialists who are not in their network, they often charge you additional costs.

(PPOs) participating provider organization, also known as Preferred Provider Organizations – is a form of managed care organization of physicians , hospitals, clinics and other health care providers that sign a contract with an insurer to provide health services to its member at reduced rates . Usually, PPOs cost more than traditional HMOs, but offer more options to their members.

Advantages: Preferred Provider Organizations provide more flexibility to their members; they have a bigger network of doctors and hospitals. You can take service from health care providers that are not part of their networks (certain charges often apply). You pay Lower copayments for care from primary care physicians. In addition, you do not need a referral to see a specialist.

Disadvantages: PPOs cost more than traditional HMOs. You will more likely to make co-payments (usually from $10 to $30) when you visit a health specialist.

Do some health insurance companies offer better service to their members than others?

Yes. Some insurers offer better service to their members. To learn more about health insurance companies that provide satisfying individual health insurance plan in the US, visit our top rated list on www.individualshealth.com


Filed under Medicine | Tags: , ,


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