Need a lift?
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The Stimulating Lift Treatment at Signature Medical Spa uses microcurrents to get your complexion glowing again. |
Have a special occasion coming up? Why not get a face-lift? No, really. Signature Medical Spa calls it a Stimulating Lift Treatment; we call it face-lift evolution.
The only provider of this service in Charlottesville, Signature has certified aestheticians who treat your entire face, focusing on the eyes, forehead, neck and those little wrinkles you get around your mouth from laughing. The Spa’s Director, Jackie Busa, says the treatment “exercises your [facial] muscles and stimulates your muscles to contract by using a microcurrent.”
That same microcurrent is also said to remove toxins from the face and increase cellular activity. The result? A glowing complexion and an instant face-lift. The procedure is very temporary, Busa reminds us, but for $125, we’re thinking that’s a great reason to celebrate.—Daven Ralston
Click, drag, get focused
Gluing your eyes to the tube is a classic kiddy no-no, but these days it’s YouTube putting strain on your peepers. Between work and play, it’s easy to spend too much time at your computer, so eye strain is serious business. Instead, offset those hours of Twittering, Googling and squinting by putting these pointers into practice:
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It might be your computer, not your work, giving you a headache. |
1. Keep your distance: Your computer monitor should be about 20 to 28 inches from your eyes—about arm’s length. Can’t read the type? Increase your font size.
2. Drop and give me 50…blinks, that is. Since one of the main causes of eye strain comes from focus fatigue, looking away from your screen for 15-20 seconds every 20 minutes will reduce your chances of strain or visual “lock up.” Try focusing on objects that are farther away, and remember to blink to prevent dry eye.
3. Lighting up ain’t the answer, kids. When it comes to computing, avoid facing your screen towards windows or harsh interior lighting, which creates glare and, in turn, eye strain. Bright white walls can have a similar effect, so consider closing the curtains, getting a more matte paint job, or installing an anti-glare screen on your monitor.—Lucy Zhou
Cell conscious
Want to get healthy? Then trade in your Bowflex for a smaller and less complex device: a blender. Megan Borishansky says this is all you need for good health and weight loss. The local wellness coach uses all natural health products and plans a program to your specific preferences, whether it’s living healthier or losing weight.
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Wellness coach Megan Borishansky has a recipe for health. |
Borishansky is particularly enthusiastic about her weight loss programs, declaring that “basically everything in the program is based on cellular nutrition.” In her program, she uses multivitamins, cell activators, and nutrition shakes to supplement the weight loss plans. These products are meant to “get the nutrients your body needs directly to your cells.”
In addition to her tailored programs, Borishansky also started a community Weight Loss Challenge. This 12-week consultation program covers a new topic of nutrition—vitamins, proteins, and effective meal planning—each week. The challenge only takes $35 out of your wallet. Plus, at the end of the 12 weeks, the three members who lost the most weight will win a percentage of the total collected fees.
Think you can step up to the challenge? To register or get more info call Megan Borishansky at 466-2023.—D.R.
Naturally misled
The organic lifestyle is harder to live than you might think. USDA-certified organic produce is clearly labeled in the store, but when it comes to body products, you might be surprised that your “organic” body lotion isn’t as natural as it sounds.
According to the Organic Consumers Association, many personal care products are falsely labeled as organic, even though they may contain synthetic preservatives, petrochemicals and even the carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane. That’s because certification for shampoos and other such products is more lax than it is for foods. As a consumer, it’s easy to be misled by these dubious uses of the term “organic.”
The OCA’s “Coming Clean Campaign” urges folks to check for the USDA-certified seal on the packaging, and also provides a list of safer product lines at its website, organicconsumers.org. Two brands that made the list: Dr. Bronner’s and Organic Essence.—Caroline Edgeton
Can’t sleep? Get online
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If you’re having trouble sleeping, a new online program might be able to help. |
Counting sheep is for squares: Therapy for poor snoozers has gone digital with Internet-based programs designed to treat insomnia. Based on cognitive behavior therapy, these online programs—such as SHUTi, developed by Lee Ritterband of UVA—call for nine weeks of online diaries, “readings, vignettes, animation and interactive exercises” to coach you through your sleeping woes.
The result? Participants reported a 16 percent improvement in sleep efficiency (the proportion of time asleep to time in bed) and a 55 percent decrease in how long they were awake at night. Add in the convenience of at-home, 24/7 therapy, and the convenience factor shoots through the roof.
While SHUTi has yet to go public, other options include “Overcoming Insomnia” from Michigan-based HealthMedia, and CBTforinsomnia.com, brainchild of an UMass insomnia specialist. For more info, check out http://tinyurl.com/lw5ynb.—L.Z.