January 2012 Newsletter
Let’s All Have a Healthy 2012!
Do you start every new year with a list of changes to make? These lists almost always have health issues – either losing weight, eating better, getting more exercise, at the top. If there’s a health problem you’ve been ignoring or putting up with, now is a great time to take action. The now is important, as it will be just a few weeks before resolutions vanish as life happens and those lofty goals drift away. What can you do to keep your new found interest in being healthy?
Lao Tzu, Chinese Taoist philosopher, comes to the rescue with two quotes: “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading,” and “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
To change the direction of your health, take small steps, and continue on the path. Be reasonable about what you can accomplish and give yourself credit for what you do well, while gently resolving to continue making changes. Life, like good health, is a journey made up of many steps that you can take anytime. Resolutions are ways we want to be but often they are too difficult to obtain and result in frustration and inaction.
If you’re reading this newsletter you’ve already started on your path to better health. Know that eventually all your small, direction changing steps, can lead you to a new place of better health, more awareness of your body and the habits that need to be changed, and awareness of improvement you have made. As an acupuncturist, it is my job and pleasure to help you along this path. Part of this job is to reflect all the changes I see in your body and health and to offer suggestions on what you might do to continue your journey.
This newsletter offers ways you can start on this path – through committing to treatment by giving yourself a package of care and by taking care of your muscles when they are tired, sore and aching. Throughout this year each newsletter will continue to offer tips, suggestions and information that can help you on your journey. Please feel free to offer any suggestions or ask any questions about acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, and how it can help you.
Here’s to a great 2012!
Treatment Packages Now Available
We now offer a variety of treatment packages to make taking care of yourself even easier. Purchasing a package of treatments not only saves you money, it ensures that you will continue to get care. It also increases the chances of lasting and significant results from treatment.
Choose one of the following options:
1. Series of Six – for new patients this includes the first treatment and 5 follow up visits. Normally $475, save $30 off when you buy the package for $445. Or you can purchase a package of 6 follow up treatments for $420 ($450 normally, $30 off).
2. Series of Ten – for new patients this includes the initial treatment and 9 follow up visits. Normally $775, save $60 when you purchase the package for $715. Or you can purchase a package of 10 follow up treatments for $690, saving $60 off the regular price of $750.
3. Monthly Treatment Package for a Year – Plus One! Get 13 treatments for $900 (one per month, with an extra treatment that you can use when you need it or give to a friend!). This is a perfect package for folks who come monthly and might need an extra treatment per year, or would like to give the extra treatment to a friend. These treatments must be used monthly and the 13th can be added at any time.
4. Year of Health – 25 treatments per year (two per month), normally $1,875, package price is $1,725 (two free treatments). These treatments can be used weekly or bi-monthly, as you need, and you can give one to a friend if you would like.
Tips for Taking Care of Sore, Tight or Painful Muscles
Did you start a new workout routine with the New Year? Your body is really glad you did, but it might be sore, tired, or tighter than normal. If you are sore, happy, and want to get right back into exercising, consider these tips:
1. Stretch before or after working out. Even though stretching is controversial – some say do, others say don’t, if it feels good to you, do it. And if you are starting to work out again after a break, take it slow and adjust accordingly. If there’s a specific part of your body that feels sore after working out, you can stretch those muscles – ask at your next treatment for muscle-specific stretches.
2. Hydrate – with plenty of water and electrolytes. You can do this by drinking mineral water, coconut water, or Gatorade. It is especially important to hydrate if you sweat a lot during a workout. Electrolytes are also found in fresh fruit and vegetables, and bananas are especially potassium rich.
3. Take an Epsom salt bath. This is especially helpful to soothe muscle pain and exfoliate your skin. Dissolve 1-2 cups of Epsom salt in warm, not hot, water, and soak for 15 minutes. To read more about the benefits of Epsom salts, click here. Epsom salt baths are not for everyone – especially those with hypertension, heart disease or diabetes. Please check with your doctor if you have these conditions and want to use Epsom salts.
4. Get a treatment. Finally, if you have injured yourself working out, we can help. Listen to your body and make sure you know the difference between sore muscles and muscle strain. A timely treatment can help and get you back to working out sooner.