Tag Archives: health

3 Easy Ways to Strengthen Your Relationships Through Relaxation

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Just 15 minutes a day will help you and those around you to be much happier.

couple relaxing togetherEver notice how relaxing it is to take a walk, soak in a tub, listen to music, or anything that helps you relieve stress?  Relaxation centers your mind, and helps put things into perspective.  It not only works for you as an individual but can also work in relationships with your family or significant other.  You’ve heard the saying, “The family that plays together, stays together.”  Relaxing together can result in interactive time and positive communication.

Every relationship has its issues and stress intensifies them even more.  In fact, stress is really at the root of most arguments.  Taking a little pressure off, even if only for a few minutes, strengthens relationships.  Here are three easy ways to take relieve stress, both for yourself and those around you.

  1. Take some time to focus on yourself and your coping skills.  Take a moment to visualize the times when your relationships have been the most enjoyable.  Chances are the stress level was pretty low.  What coping skills brought the pressure down at those times?  Managing your own stress will go a long way toward avoiding or diffusing fights or bickering with others.
  2. Let it go ahead of time.  Accept the fact that there will be some stress and things that go wrong.  You can visualize perfection but expect the imperfections that are inevitable.  If you can prepare for things not being just so, you’ll be less likely to act out of frustration and feel the need to make things perfect.
  3. Make time for some quality time.  This doesn’t have to be hard.  Even fifteen minutes of deep relaxation goes a long way toward relieving stress in your relationships.  Take a walk around the block, tell an interesting story, soak in the hot tub, or just give a hug.

Enjoy your moments of relaxation.  Make them happen, then take things as they are.
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    Improve Your Home Value and Health at the Same Time

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    There are many reasons to purchase a hot tub. Most people think of relaxation or having a place to escape everyday. This video illustrates 2 more benefits customers report from simply by putting a hot tub in your backyard, better health and increased home values, not to mention that you and your family will love it. And of course, when you go with a Bullfrog Spa you get the best quality and warranty.
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      3 Easy Techniques for Maximum Relaxation

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      Maximum Wellness: Combine Hydrotherapy With Relaxation Techniques

      woman enjoying yoga and a spaYou finally found some time to relax in your hot tub.  The swirling waters warm your muscles and increase your blood flow.  Make the most of your hydrotherapy by adding some additional relaxation techniques.  These three techniques practiced in the spa can increase the benefits of hydrotherapy and make you feel great:

      Body Inventory.  Focus your awareness on your body, specifically areas that are uncomfortable.  Let the water work its magic and let go of the stress.  As you master this technique you will become aware of where your body stores stress.  Releasing the tension in these key areas will give you an experience of increased energy and a sense of well-being.

      Breathing.  Breathe in letting your abdomen expand.  These deeper breaths are more relaxing than the ones that stay higher in your upper chest.  Focus on the sound and feeling of your breathing as you become more relaxed.  You will find that you can relax your body, calm your mind, and better cope with the stresses in your life as you learn this breathing technique.

      Progressive Relaxation.  Start at your feet and feel the water swirling around them.  Tense and relax the muscles.  Next, move your awareness to your calf muscles and tense then relax them.  Then on up to your upper thighs, abdomen, arms, shoulders, neck and head.  With each section of your body, feel the hydromassage of your Bullfrog Spa loosening the muscles and bringing relief.  You will feel a deep state of relaxation when your awareness progressively focuses on all of your major muscle groups.

      As you practice these methods you will become more proficient and your Bullfrog Spa will be complete relaxation therapy for your body and mind.
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        People Who Need Hot Tub Time

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        People Who Could Stand To Spend Some Time In A Hot Tub

        Life is full of stress and, as we all know, some quality time in a hot tub can work wonders for the soul and bring us back to good. That said, below is a list of high-strung people that could stand to spend some time in a hot tub — far far away from the stresses of the world.

        1. Crazy Phil the Candidate

        Although anyone in politics could probably stand for some classic rest and relaxation, this particular candidate seems a bit more high strung than most. Hey Phil, You should take a soak sooner than later – you’re scaring more voters than you’re attracting.

        2. Jack Bauer

        If you haven’t seen the TV series 24, you don’t know stress. The protagonist Jack Bauer is on a constant race against the clock with the future of America on his shoulders. Across any given season he gets in hundreds of physical fights, kills 50-plus people, dies and comes back to life more than once and loses all that he loves. If that’s not deserving of a relaxing soak in the hot tub, I don’t know what is.

        Jack Bauer Needs a Hot Tub

        3. Mel Gibson’s Agent

        Between the anti-Semitic comments after a DUI arrest and the recent domestic abuse controversy gone public, it’s no secret that Mel Gibson and his career, to put it kindly, have fallen from grace. That said, Gibson’s agent needs to turn and walk the other direction, away from Mel and toward a soothing water massage that will help him put this entire train wreck behind him.

        Mel Gibson needs a hot tub

        4. The Mother of a Problem Child

        Granted, there might be some parenting classes in this lady’s future, but if you watch her son closely, you’ll also feel for her. This kid is pure evil; full of hate, angst, anger and the seasoned manipulation skills of serial killer. When raising a problem child like this, in an effort to stay sane, everyday needs to end with some re-group alone time in the spa.

        5. Bobbi McCaughey

        You’re probably asking yourself, Who? Well, Bobbi McCaughey is an Iowa woman that gave birth to a set of septuplets – four boys and three girls – all at once in 1997. Even if her kids were the sweetest angels on Earth, raising seven infants simultaneously is an undeniable free pass into any spa – no questions asked.

        Bobby McCaughey needs a hot tub

        6. The President of the USA

        Love ‘em or hate ‘em, each and every president of the United States of America deserves to have a hot tub placed in every room of every home from the White House to Camp David. As if running an entire country (where you can never please everyone) wasn’t hard enough, imagine the stress of running the most powerful country on the planet with all eyes fixated on you!? Relax Mr. President.

        President Obama needs a hot tub

        7. Coaches Everywhere — Especially Him

        Sports are full of highs and lows, wins and losses but when the business outweighs the sport itself, the pressure can break even the strongest of wills. While many coaches have lashed out under pressure, Dennis Green clearly needs to go to the locker room and evaluate his team’s loss in a private hot tub – far away from reporters and cameras.

        8. Air Traffic Controllers

        There are many stressful jobs in the world of employment but topping many of the lists is the behind-the-scenes folks known as air traffic controllers. These people are responsible for regulating the arrival and departures of all flights in and out of an airport and any glitch in their judgment could cost hundreds of lives. Without a doubt, after a long day of trafficking the skies, air traffic controllers deserve their hot tubs.

        Air Traffic Controllers need a hot tub
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          Hot Tub Testimonial

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          Hot Tub Reviews by Real Hot Tub Owners

          Dear Bullfrog Spas,

          I just wanted to say how happy my wife and I are that we own a Bullfrog Spa!  We use our hot tub at least 2-3 times per week year round, and every time we get in the hot tub we say to each other that this is one of our best purchases we ever made!  Our Bullfrog spa is both physically and mentally relaxing.  I purchased our Bullfrog spa in March of 1999, and have only had to do some minimal routine maintenance that would be expected.  The specific design of the Bullfrog spa was a big selling point to me initially, and has proved to be a great choice.  I would highly recommend a Bullfrog spa to anyone!

          Rick
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            New Research: Hot Tubs Improve Overall Health and Wellness, Part 7 of 7

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            Hot Tubs Improve Health, What Does This Mean for Me?

            friends enjoying a hot tubRecent studies by the National Aquatics and Sports Medicine Institute and others offer a look at the enormous potential for improving health and wellness through aquatic therapy, especially warm water immersion such as hot tub therapy. For some time there has been evidence that suggested that it was good to soak in warm water. Now science is actually proving that warm water immersion improves the function of our autonomic nervous system leading to decreased stress and a greater sense of balance and overall wellness. Water also has a significant beneficial effect on our heart and circulation. It improves blood flow to the muscles which reduces pain and speeds healing. Warm water relieves symptoms of diabetes, lowers blood pressure, and may even make you smarter by increasing brain circulation and function.

            They’re finally getting to the bottom of why warm water makes us feel so good. Ongoing studies in aquatic therapy will certainly uncover more valuable information about the health benefits of warm water. For now it would appear that if you are not spending some time relaxing in a hot tub that you are probably missing out on your chance for better health.

            This is the final installment of a 7 part article series. Please visit the Bullfrog Spas Hot Tub Blog for preceding  articles.

            Becker, B., Hildenbrand, K., Whitcomb, R. K., & Sanders, J. P. Biophysiologic Effects of Warm Water Immersion, International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 2009, 3, 24-37 © 2009 Human Kinetics, Inc.

            Popke, Michael. Calming Influence. Athletic Business, March 2010, http://www.athleticbusiness.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=2894&zoneid=43
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              New Research: Hot Tubs Improve Nervous System and Physical Health, Part 2 of 7

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              Benefits of Hot Water Therapy and Hot Tubs for the Nervous System

              Well-being from hot tub therapyAmong the many discoveries of the studies by the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute, perhaps most interesting are those relating to the positive effects of hot tub therapy on the regulation and balance of the nervous system.

              The autonomic nervous system, “the motherboard for human bioregulation” (Becker et al.), is comprised of 2 parts that affect and regulate numerous body functions including our moods, emotions, organ system function, and physical state. The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Each has an important function in keeping the body and mind in check and safe. Dysfunction in the form of too much influence by either system can have negative effects on our emotional, mental, and physical health.

              The sympathetic nervous system controls our fight or flight reactions keeping us, essentially, on our toes and safe from harm. The parasympathetic nervous system controls our relaxation and repose responses. (Becker et al.) The body functions optimally when these two systems are in balance. Too much influence from the sympathetic nervous system can lead to harmful stress and several related physical, emotional, and mental problems. Too much influence from the parasympathetic side can lead to depression, obesity, and other related issues.

              Studies performed by immersing subjects in 102° F water show that during warm water therapy sessions the influence of the sympathetic nervous system is diminished. This effect occurred in all individuals tested although the degree can vary somewhat according to age and other factors.  This observed decrease in sympathetic dominance allows the parasympathetic nervous system to balance with the sympathetic and leads to a greater sense of relaxation, peacefulness, calm, and well-being amongst those tested.

              Perhaps even more remarkable is that this balancing effect seems to last well after the individual leaves the water. It may indeed show that regular soaking in a hot tub can help an individual retain a balanced state of nervous system function, which leads to a greater sense of well-being throughout their daily activities, helping them to lead more balanced, happy, and productive lives.

              This is part 2 of a 7 part series. Part 3 will explain the health benefits of hot tub therapy for the cardiovascular system.
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                New Research: Hot Tubs Improve Nervous System and Physical Health, Part 1 of 7

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                New Research on Hot Tub Therapy Uncovers What the “Ahhh” is All About

                Research by leading physicians and scientists shows that the body and mind undergo significant changes while soaking in warm water and that these changes can be greatly beneficial to health and wellness.

                Roman Hydrotherapy Bath

                For thousands of years it has been understood that soaking in hot water provides health benefits and helps individuals achieve a greater sense of well-being. The Romans and various other cultures discovered that soaking in warm mineral springs seemed to soothe and rejuvenate the body and mind. It just wasn’t known exactly why warm water immersion in hot springs, hot tubs, and jetted tubs provided these benefits. More recently researchers and physicians have set out to scientifically uncover the physiological effects of warm water on the individual and why it just feels so good to relax in a hot tub or bath. Results of their studies now show empirically that soaking in hot water does your body good.

                Dr. Bruce Becker, a physician and research professor at Washington State University and director of the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute (NASMI) is leading these recent efforts to understand the effects of warm water immersion and to use this information to create new and effective therapy applications. Dr. Becker explains the goals for these studies, “You know when you come home from a long day at work and you’re stressed out?” he asks. “You want to sink into a hot bathtub and go, ‘Ahhh.’ I’m trying to figure out what the hell that ‘Ahhh’ is all about.” (Popke)

                Hot Tub Relaxation

                Warm water immersion research is ongoing but the studies by Dr. Becker and ASMI finished to date show many impressive and beneficial health results from soaking in warm water. This ongoing research should continue to provide medical and therapy professionals the information required to provide warm water treatments that will ultimately benefit patients in recovery and therapy situations. For the average person this research seems to show that soaking in hot tubs, spas, and warm baths can lead to better mood, increased cardiovascular health, pain relief, lower blood pressure, better mental and emotional health, along with a sense of balance and overall wellness. These studies are producing scientific confirmation that the soothing feelings experienced for years during warm water therapy in warm springs, hot tubs, mineral spas, and warm baths feel good because they actually are doing good things for our bodies and minds.

                This is part 1 of a 7 part series. Part 2 explains the nervous system health benefits of hot tub therapy.
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                  Hot Tubs Help You Sleep Better!

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                  It’s Not a Hot Tub Time Machine – It’s a Hot Tub Sleep Machine

                  The National Sleep Foundation has several tips on how to sleep better in their Healthy Sleep Tips and guess what made it on the list, yep, you called it, hot tubs!

                  #2 Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.

                  hot tubs help you sleepA relaxing, routine activity right before bedtime conducted away from bright lights helps separate your sleep time from activities that can cause excitement, stress or anxiety which can make it more difficult to fall asleep, get sound and deep sleep or remain asleep. Avoid arousing activities before bedtime like working, paying bills, engaging in competitive games or family problem-solving. Some studies suggest that soaking in hot water (such as a hot tub or bath) before retiring to bed can ease the transition into deeper sleep, but it should be done early enough that you are no longer sweating or over-heated. If you are unable to avoid tension and stress, it may be helpful to learn relaxation therapy from a trained professional. Finally, avoid exposure to bright before bedtime because it signals the neurons that help control the sleep-wake cycle that it is time to awaken, not to sleep.

                  To find out more, read all the tips at the National Sleep Foundation’s Healthy Sleep Tips.
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