Dry Scalp and What to Do about It

Did you know your hair gets thirsty? Moroccan oil products are committed to quenching that thirst and hydrating your hair and scalp.  Instantly transform your hair from damaged to shiny, smooth and manageable. Your hair can be naturally smooth and shiny and become stronger with each use.  SalonAspen is offering the Moroccan Oil hair care line.

Argan trees have been growing in Morocco for millions of years but the trees and the cottage industry were dying out so UNESCO made the argan forest in South-Western Morocco into a Biosphere Reserve in 1999.  This combines conservation with sustainable resources.

Some Western women have heard a myth that most of the oil is derived from nuts excreted by goats and dislike the idea of using the oil.  Some oil is produced this way but the strong goat smell remains, making it of vastly inferior quality.  Extraction consists of a labor-intensive, long process.  Nuts are cracked and squeezed to produce the oil.  It used to take several hours to crack enough nuts to produce one litre of oil but now machine presses are increasingly used.

Argan oil contains many ingredients which are often praised by cosmetics companies. These include vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and plant sterols. Argan oil has twice as much vitamin E as olive oil.  The antioxidant Vitamin E is often regarded as having healing and anti-ageing qualities.

The oil’s essential fatty acids include Omega 3 and 6 – Omega 3 is believed to reduce skin inflammation and Omega 6 helps prevent dryness.

For more information on these products, check out this link.  http://moroccanoil.com/products

Check out this link at http://www.schwarzkopf.com/sk/en/home/hair_repair/sensitive_scalp/hair_related_problems/dry-scalp.html

SalonAspen carries the full line of Schwarzkopf products for color, full/partial highlights, grey coverage and home hair care.

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Glen McLeod

Dear Michael,

I just finished a month of doing physical therapy with Glen McLeod for a very painful inflamed bursa in my right hip.  I thought the program which Glen set out was just extraordinary.  First of all, he is genuinely knowledgeable in his profession and knows what he is treating. I had a gradual increase in the intensity of exercises each time I came in with a great variety.  But the most important quality Glen has is that he sincerely cares and wants you to get better.  I have gone to other therapists and this is not always the case.

Every once in a while one meets a person who performs well over 100%.  I think Glen falls in this category and I thought you both should know about it.

My husband and I have been coming to Aspen for almost 35 years.  Tomorrow we return to Connecticut where I hope to continue the exercises Glen has taught me.

Thank you, Nancy Gilbert

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Let’s Move in Aspen!

-Deanna Martinez

This week Michelle Obama will celebrate the two-year anniversary of her Let’s Move! Campaign. Mrs. Obama’s efforts to eradicate obesity in one generation have underlined this growing health crisis in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1/3 of Americans today are obese. Medical costs associated with obesity and obesity related disease, were estimated in 2008 to be $147 billion dollars. While Colorado is ranked as one of the healthiest states in the nation, there is no doubt that obesity is a pressing health care concern for the future of America.

The good news hidden within these statistics is that more than almost any other health care concern today, obesity is a problem that every American can take proactive steps on a personal level to avoid. Programs like Let’s Move! offer education and information to assist individuals making good decisions regarding their health. These programs also create and focus pressure to make positive changes within the marketplace, society and schools to benefit the general health of the county.

To date, Mrs. Obama and her Let’s Move! program have broken the World Record for the most jumping jacks in one day, encouraged new USDA nutritional regulations for school lunch programs, pushed for commitments from major food distributers to expand stores into areas of the country with limited access to fresh and healthy food, received commitments from many of these same companies to cut calories in food, lower prices on fruits and vegetables and to clearly label foods on the front of their packaging to help families make healthy choices.

The Let’s Move! program also encourages families to get active together, reminding parents that they are the best and most important example of healthy living for their children. Kids need on average 60 minutes of physical activity per day, and adults should be getting at least 30 minutes of physical exercise each day as well. Many families struggle to make exercising as a group work, balancing the need to get enough of a challenge for some family members and not pushing others in the family beyond their capabilities.  Not to mention that added constraints of scheduling and meal times. However, health clubs offer a variety of solutions to these challenges.

Baby & Me group exercise classes are a great way for new parents to bond with their baby and to teach them from the cradle the importance of physical activity. Furthermore, these classes are a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect with other families in their areas. Often these relationships continue beyond one exercise class into a lasting friendship based around physical activity. Exercise has also been shown to be an excellent way to combat Post Partum Depression and the more mild form, Baby Blues. Boosting endorphin and nor epinephrine levels in mothers has been shown to improve mood in mild and moderate depression. Of course, exercise is not a substitute for professional help; those suffering from depression should talk to their doctor for a complete treatment plan.

Clubs that offer a Kid’s Camp/Gym are a wonderful option for the modern family. Rather than simply providing child-care for children while the parents exercise, Kid’s Gym allows activities for children at their interest level and capability, while still ensuring exercise is fun! The entire family can go to the gym together, but pursue their individual interests while there. The Kids Gym format allows parents to meet up with children between activities for a quick drink, or healthy snack, to check in, reconnect and to make sure everyone is still enjoying himself or herself.

A climbing wall is another great way to encourage families to exercise together. Throughout the country climbing walls placed in common areas or at the front of the building take up a small amount of space while offering a great family activity. People of all ages enjoy the challenge of climbing as high as they can. Climbing walls also offer a wonderful way to mark improvement for every member of the family.

Follow Michelle Obama in fighting obesity and being the healthiest you and your family can be! The Aspen Club and Spa has many wonderful opportunities for you to be more active together. Come on down, take a look at the Kid’s Camp/Gym and check out the gym, facility and the group exercise classes today!

Posted in aspen, Aspen Fitness, aspen fitness class, aspen yoga class, cardio, cardio workouts, fitness class, fitness instructor, fitness program, fitness routine, Health and Fitness, healthy habits, healthy lifestyles, Let's Move, staying healthy, weight loss, weight loss goal, weight loss program, working out, workout | Leave a comment

Rehab a migraine in Aspen

-Amanda Perusse

After a brutal migraine headache, I went to see Dr. Pete Scher for a chiropractic adjustment.

He asked about all the facets of the migraine in regards to blurry vision, tingling in extremities and numbness on one side of my face. Then he took my blood pressure to make sure I was in the normal parameters of 120/80.

He explained that spikes in blood pressure can cause migraines and people with blood pressure issues can be frequent victims of a migraine.

He then proceeded to do a light adjustment to make sure the headache did not return and told me that as I am on medication for high blood pressure, I should always be careful and mindful of harsh neck adjustments.

He also told me to do lots of stretching and to make sure and get a massage to help loosen the muscles around my spine (which felt like a brick wall) as my body was in a flight or fight response to the migraine.

I immediately booked an 80 minute massage with Carmen Kane in my own spa, SpaAspen.  I had heard great things from her clients and thought she would be the best match for me. WOW!

I was not disappointed. I told her about my migraine and chiro appt and that my back felt like “a brick wall”.

She was intense in a good way. I was breathing through the massage, but in the end, I felt very relaxed and even a little taller. I slept like a baby that night.

The following day I felt even better. It was the best deep tissue service I have ever had.

We have such an amazing team of therapists at the Aspen Club, why go anywhere else?!

 

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Range of Motion in your Joints

-Robin Severy-Pfautz

“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

It is important to maintain the available range of motion in all your joints.  Over time, it is common to use only the motion we need for everyday life, but this usually does not include taking our joints into their end range.  What ends up happening is that over time, the tissues around the joints (muscles, ligaments, etc.) begin to adaptively shorten and we slowly lose a few degrees.  This is compounded by other problems such as arthritis and the next thing you know, you can’t turn your neck to look over your left shoulder to check your blind spot while you are driving.

What do we do?  A few times a week, look over both shoulders, raise your arms over your head, touch your heel to your bottom, etc.    Remind your body that your joints have a wide range of motion.  This will stimulate the receptors in your joint capsules, ligaments, muscles and tendons that are necessary for coordinating muscle activity and acknowledging the accurate placement of the limb in space.  It will also stretch the muscles and help them maintain their proper length.

Just remember to make sure you stay within a pain-free range of motion.  Our body is amazing and can tell us that we may be doing some damage if we push into pain.

Posted in aspen, Aspen Chiropractic, Aspen Physical Therapy, joints, physical therapy, range of motion, rehab, sports medicine, sports medicine institute | Leave a comment

Pilates Physical Therapy in Aspen

- Liza Bakken


Twelve years ago, as a newly licensed physical therapist, I was looking for a niche that I could bring to the Roaring Fork Valley. I knew since there were so many talented therapists in the area, I would need to incorporate something that nobody else was doing.  I decided along with taking ongoing continuing education for manual therapeutic techniques, I would investigate a certification for Pilates.

A few years prior, I attended my first Pilates mat class.  My mind was racing.  I thought the content, flow and focus of the class was so pertinent to physical therapy.  It gave me so many ideas of what I could do with my patients.  I decided to take private classes with an instructor using the Pilates reformer equipment while I continued taking mat classes in order to learn as much as I possibly could.

The effect on my own body was profound. I felt immediate increased postural awareness and shortly after that, many improvements in my performance as a climber a runner as well as my body’s tolerance to an extremely physical job.  Things felt effortless.  My episodes of low back pain were fewer and further in between and my knees didn’t hurt going down the stairs after skiing.  Wow, could all of this be the result of Pilates?

It was indeed.  Pilates offers a physical therapist like myself endless opportunities and ideas to work with a patient who has any type of orthopaedic injury, especially but not limited to, the spine. The benefits of working with a physical therapist are extensive knowledge of associated pathology with injuries. We have a clear working knowledge of movements that are supportive to the body through a person’s healing process. Equally as important, the movements that would be contraindicated and potentially harmful.

Benefits of Pilates include core strength and stability, improved kinesthetic awareness, flexibility, and breath control.  How does this translate to performance in life? As we move on in life (aka get older), we tend to be repetitive in our movements.  This comes from doing a specific job, having preferences for specific sports, and “the daily grind” (computer work, driving, lifting a child, etc).  What can happen because of all this repetition?  Imbalances in the body.

Pilates is a balanced, integrated “workout” to let your body move with support in a physiologic, safe manner.  With the guidance of an instructor, the body is not taken into extremes of motion until it is ready and stabilized for that range of motion. Pilates is an excellent wellness and fitness system as well as a rehabilitation program. See your body restore function and transform, and feel amazing with Pilates!

Posted in aspen, Aspen Colorado, Aspen Physical Therapy, Aspen Pilates, physical therapy, pilates, pilates instructor, Pilates Reformer Classes, sports medicine institute | Leave a comment

Facials in Aspen

Quench your skin with one of our amazing facials. Did you know that facials have a variety of benefits?  Not just for the face, but for your health as well. Facials can improve your immune system, help detoxify the body, reduce fluid build up in the body and relieve stress. The massage incorporated in most facials increases blood circulation which leads to relaxation of the facial muscles to help slow the onset of wrinkles on the face.

“A facial is a spa therapy that leaves your skin cleaner, softer, younger and truly transformed. Your skin is the body’s largest organ and a direct reflection of internal wellbeing.”

We use only the best organic products in our facial services from Arcona, ABskincare and Tara products

Book in conjunction with a massage and receive 20% off your facial for the month of January.

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Yoga in Aspen

Since the very first Veda, the oldest written text in the world, the philosophies of yoga have promoted a proactive attitude toward the entire being, body and soul. This meditative form of exercise has subsequently benefitted the lives and health of its practitioners for the last five thousand years. Although still a relatively new form of exercise in the West, particularly the United States, the rate of those using yoga to build strength, increase flexibility, decrease stress and improve mood has grown exponentially in recent years.

Over six percent of all Americans practice yoga to date, while 8% express a great deal of interest in the yoga and another 4.1% expect to try yoga within the next year. These numbers indicate a two-fold increase in yoga since 2004 according to a Harris Interactive Service Bureau study published in the Yoga Journal in early 2008.

Since its steady increase in popularity in the Western world, yoga has been acclaimed for its effectiveness in strength building. Holding poses in precise positions builds strength throughout the body, without the damage of high impact exercise or stressful weight workouts. Yoga allows individuals of any age and ability the opportunity build their strength through its various exercises without feeling inadequate or limited. While some poses are advanced and require a great deal of strength and balance, even the most beginner in yoga can participate and benefit from an entire yoga session by repeating poses they can hold, or simply focusing on deep breathing and appropriate stretching.  A complete yoga regiment strengthens the core, arms, legs and back on all participants, giving a well balanced workout.

Improved flexibility is also frequently cited as one of the most noticeable improvements experienced by those who practice yoga. According to a study published by WebMD, yoga practitioners experienced a 35% increase in flexibility after just 8 weeks of regularly practicing yoga poses. This improved flexibility stems from yoga’s ability to release built up lactic acid in the muscles of the body.  This stored lactic acid causes pain, muscle stiffness and limits range of motion. Releasing the lactic acid trapped in the body enables the body to regain smoothness of motion. Some also cite yoga exercises as improving joint mobility by increasing lubrication within the joint.

Another extremely important aspect in the practice of yoga is the stress-relieving component. The Mayo Clinic recommends the use of yoga for its focused and calm routine, which “draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and toward calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.” It is this element of focused movement on a series of movements repeated again and again, almost like a meditation in and of itself, which allows the mind to release stress and refocus the mind. Deep breathing exercises also contribute to a decrease in stress levels.

Oxytocin levels in those who have just completed a yoga workout tend to be higher than in those who do not practice yoga. Oxytocin is the hormone commonly referred to as the ‘love hormone,’ or bonding hormone. Levels of this hormone are elevated in breastfeeding mothers, those touching or being touched by another person, and even those dining together. Boosting these levels naturally through yoga improves mood, staves off depression and even combats eating disorder behaviors such as binge eating and emotional eating tendencies.

The increase of yoga in Western society has encouraged scientists and doctors in the West and throughout the world to study the scientific and medical benefits of a regular yoga workout. There is hope within the medical community that yoga will help individuals with chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, insomnia and chronic fatigue to more easily manage these conditions.

While the science races to catch up to what some cultures have known for centuries, The Aspen Club & Spa is offering a new, special yoga membership for only $125 per month. There are over 20 yoga classes per week to take advantage of, so sign up now for this very special offer! Yoga classes include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Hatha, Kundalini and much more! Learn more today about this membership and the wide selection of yoga classes available. Be happy, be healthy and start your yoga journey today!

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Staying Healthy All Year Long

-Deanna Martinez

It’s that time again – time to make those New Year’s Resolutions. The number one resolution for many is to lose weight and exercise more. Virtually everywhere one looks during the month of January there are books describing the hottest trends in dieting, from low fat, to low carb, to vegetarian, and high protein diets – the list goes on and on. Videos and exercise equipment bombard dieters from every angle, often more concerned with selling a product or idea than truly helping individuals to live a healthier lifestyle.

Not surprisingly, many who follow these, often extreme, dieting methods that restrict entire segments of food, struggle to see results or to find a healthy lifestyle they can maintain in the long run. In many cases, these struggles derive not from failure in an exercise program or with counting calories, but rather from the idea that some foods are ‘bad,’ while others are ‘good.’

On the flip side, others seeking weight loss, refuse to closely examine their food choices at all, with the erroneous idea that what they eat will be cancelled out by extreme exercise or a rigorous adherence to specific calorie calculations.

Such extreme views of food often result in dieters who fall back into unhealthy habits and give up on their resolutions entirely, due to lack of success with weight loss and low energy levels. The most critical aspect of resolving to lose weight and live a more healthy lifestyle, is a whole life approach, meaning individuals must implement an exercise routine, count calories and replenish and fuel their bodies with all kinds of healthy food at appropriate times throughout the day.

In recent years carbohydrates have been treated like the proverbial redheaded stepchildren of the food groups. However, not all carbs are created equal. Simple carbs, according to the Livestrong website, are simple sugars often found in fruit, processed breads, candy and cereals. These simple sugar foods provide a quick burst of energy. Generally, they have a greater effect on blood sugar levels, with sudden surges and crashes. However, in the case of fruit these simple sugars offer a wonderful source of vitamins and fiber and ought not be overlooked or excluded from a dieter’s menu. Fruit is an excellent choice in conjunction with protein or a more complex carbohydrate to offer a quick initial boost of energy to get one going. Fruit is also a great choice right before or after a workout to boost or replenish the body’s energy levels and in turn avoid feeling sluggish.

Whole grain carbohydrates, or complex carbohydrates, are found in vegetables, legumes and whole grain products. These too offer great source of energy, with more sustenance. Slightly more difficult to digest, the complex carbohydrate is an important component to feeling energetic all day long. Many experts recommend whole grain carbohydrates in small portions at every meal to maintain a consistent supply of long-term energy.

Protein, found in meat, eggs and fish, helps to build tissue within the body, such as skin and muscle. Consumption of lean proteins stabilizes blood sugar levels and in turn energy levels. Healthy levels of protein ensure exercise performed has the desired effect of burning empty calories while simultaneously strengthening the body. The body tries to reserve protein for building up the body, and relies on carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates to provide the body with stable energy throughout the day. If dieters do not consumer enough carbohydrates and fats, the body resorts to stealing protein from healing and strengthening the body in order to fuel it. As a result, rather than becoming stronger through exercise and regimented eating, the body actual becomes weaker.

Fats, like simple carbohydrates, provide the body with lots of energy. Due to the 9 calories per gram within fat, fats provide great energy for endurance exercises. Of course, over-consumption of fats makes weight loss difficult, as they are harder to burn off.  Livestrong.com recommends restricted consumption of fats in combination with an active lifestyle.

The key to long-term weight loss and a healthier lifestyle is a complete and balanced approach to food and exercise. The experts at Aspen Club and Spa would love to help you find that balance. Come on in; discuss your fitness goals with a professional trainer and get started on a new you today!

Posted in aspen personal training, colorado, diet, exercise, fitness, fitness program, fitness routine, health, healthy food choices, healthy habits, personal trainer, staying healthy, weight loss, weight loss goal, weight loss program | Leave a comment

New Year’s Resolutions

-Deanna Martinez

Take a look in the mirror; the 2012 edition of you is waiting to ring in the New Year. If you, like most of us, are not completely satisfied with the reflection staring back at you, the New Year is a great time to turn over a new leaf and to makes some changes, inside and out.

At least forty-five percent of your fellow Americans will be right there with you, according to a study performed at the University of Scranton in 2002. Researchers John C. Norcross, Marci S. Mrykalo and Mattew D. Blagys found that making a New Year’s Resolution was not simply an empty ritual. In fact, simply resolving to change or improve an aspect of your life increases the likelihood that these personal goals will be met by ten times. Forty-six percent of those individuals who make a New Year’s resolution are still going strong on their resolve six months into the year.

It may come as no surprise that the number one New Year’s Resolution for 2011 was to lose weight. Numbers four and five were also health related, enjoying life to the fullest, and staying fit and healthy, respectively. However, other popular New Year’s Resolutions are to take better care of our bodies and selves and to reduce stress (www.2011resolutions.org).

The best way to help you lose weight, be healthy and fit and to get the most out of life is to integrate exercise into your daily routine. A good place to start is at the gym, where personal trainers can help you design an exercise routine that is ideal for you, your body and lifestyle. For many just getting in the gym can seem like an overwhelming task. The gym with all of its equipment and mirrors can be intimidating. Group fitness classes with strangers, in which you don’t know what to do or how to move, can seem like an overwhelming hurdle. However after getting through the door, many find that the people on the other side are a lot like themselves – seeking a better, healthier life. Many find support and encouragement from trainers and fellow gym-goers. Lifelong friendships forged at the gym and more than one romance has blossomed over the weights, which could help many attain number nine on the top New Year’s Resolutions; to fall in love.

Perhaps 2011 has worn you ragged, the tough economy, long hours at work, the everyday stresses of life have made you feel exhausted and depleted; to resolve to take better care or yourself is a worthy goal. Many can’t remember the last time they had a great haircut or color. Gray hair peeking out, dull, dry skin and broken and unpainted nails tell people that you really don’t care about your appearance – even if you do! Resolve to carve away time for you, to pamper yourself and replenish yourself in the salon with a pedicure or manicure. All of these things can improve your productivity, mood and help you to really live life to the fullest, all the while looking fantastic.

Your physical appearance is only a fraction of your whole. Stress affects your body negatively by reducing your immune system and stealing your mental peace. It can cause physical pain and poses a potential threat to your health. Most people can’t quit their jobs, leave their families or move to a remote island in the South Pacific to escape stress, but you can learn to cope with the stress of life better this year. Exercise is a great stress reducers, simply resolving to get into better physical shape is one way to cut back the stress in your life. However, some forms of exercise can help even more. Yoga, for example is a wonderful way to release stress, refocus the mind and calm the spirit. Massage is another way to find relief from the everyday tensions of life. Creating a regular ritual of massage in your life can help you to cope with life’s stresses. A strong relationship with a massage therapist is incredibly beneficial. As you regularly receive massages, your massage therapist will get to know you, your body and your triggers, enabling him or her to help you truly reach a life with less stress and anxiety.

This year, as you welcome the dawning of a new year, perhaps it is time to celebrate the dawning of a new you at the same time. The Aspen Club & Spa would love to help you reach all of your New Year’s Resolutions. From more exercise, to great beauty care, massage and yoga, The Aspen Club & Spa has the staff, facility and resources to help you find the healthiest, happiest version of you, ever!

 

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