I am very grateful for the support we continually receive from all of our devoted customers. We are constantly looking for ways to improve your experience at Vive!. As a part of that effort, we are excited to announce that we will be open on Sundays starting Sunday May 4th. I am, however,  committed to the family lives of my customers as well as my staff. Because of this, we will be closed on holidays such as Mothers Day and Fathers Day. 

Talking about changes at Vive!, I am also very pleased to announce that 3 outstanding therapists have joined the Vive! team. Hector, Dan and Susan all have fantastic skills in the healing art of massage. They have already been getting rave reviews. Please check out their bio's.

I am also excited about a few other changes we have made recently. They are a bit more subtle, but are just as important to improving your experience at Vive!.

• Additional soundproofing has been added to two rooms to help keep out unwanted noise.
• New massage tables have been installed in the final 3 rooms. Every room is now equipped with some of the best professional tables on the market. Not only are these tables very strong and stable, but each one has electric lift features. People with disabilities will appreciate that we can now lower the table to knee height for easy access. The therapist can then adjust the height of the table as needed for treatment.
• We have upgraded our linens. Better quality sheets are now being used, and of course they are laundered and sanitized to hospital quality standards.
• We have started to stock a variety of self care items, including tools such as trigger point balls, aromatherapy, and pain relief products from BioFreeze.
• Earlier this year we announced that we replaced bottled water with an outstanding filtered water system served in bio-degradable cups. Yes, we are looking out for your health and the environment at the same time.

As you can see, we have been very busy and we have plans for more improvements later in the year. Thanks again for being a Vive! customer. I hope to see you soon.


Wishing you good health,
Geri Balazs

Your immune system works hard to protect you from colds, flu, and other illnesses, so why not give it a little help? Imagine your immune system as the first line of defense against an invading army.  First, the proteins in the bloodstream look for foreign bodies (antigens). Then, the proteins call for reinforcement from phagocytes which devour bacteria and viruses. T cells in the lymphatic system take note of the invasion and increase white blood cells to further fight off the enemy (Build a Better Immune System by Brandi Schlossberg, Massage Magazine, 12/07). When the process is working properly, the germs are flushed out through the lymphatic system and you are not even aware of the battle within. 

How do we keep the system humming? Boost your immunities to bacteria and viruses by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to a Harvard Special Health Publication, the immune system requires balance and harmony to function well. The report makes the following recommendations:

• Don’t smoke.
• Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in saturated fat.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Control your blood pressure.
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
• Get regular medical screening tests for people in your age group and risk category.

(http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.htm)
 
Whole foods , adequate protein, and plenty of water to flush out toxins will help keep your body in top form. For additional information, Dr. Jennifer Collins offers many dietary tips on the website www.alternativemedicine.com (http://www.alternativemedicine.com/alternative-medicine/departments/holistic-tips-boost-your-immune-system ).
 
In addition to these common sense recommendations, Schlossberg suggests herbal remedies, vitamin supplements, aromatherapy and massage to keep you feeling your best. Stress is particularly harmful to your defenses, and massage therapy is a great way to combat those debilitating effects. Deep tissue massage slows down the production of cortisol – the stress hormone. The skin’s receptors respond to moderate pressure and your immune system benefits. Essential oils of lavender, sandalwood, tea tree, eucalyptus and rose oil can be incorporated into massage lotions or diffused in to the air to offer additional immune system support. In addition, you might try herbal teas like Yogi Tea’s Echinacea Immune Support or Traditional Medicinal’s Echinacea Plus to stimulate and support the immune system. Schlossberg cites studies that show that even severely compromised immune systems, such as those weakened from HIV and leukemia, benefit from massage through the increase in white blood cells counts.  
  Stay in harmony with your body by eating well, getting enough exercise and sleep, and  helping your immune system do its job of protecting the body from invading bacteria and viruses.  The reward for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular massage, is a healthier immune system.