Blog Posts by TheDailyZeel

By: StacyAtZeel

Stretching is just one way you can maximize the effect of your massage!Not long ago, we spoke with valued Zeel Expert Rogelio Medina - founder of the Organization of Massage Therapy Professionals (OMTP) - about the importance of choosing a qualified bodyworker. (You can read the blog in its entirety here.)

Even the best massage sessions can be jeopardized by making less than ideal decisions after it's over. Planning on heading straight back to the office? Bad idea. Is there a chance you'll be sitting in traffic? Even worse idea. Did you schedule your toughest workout of the week for that evening? Perhaps the worst idea of all!

At the end of the day, the quality of your massage may actually rely just as heavily on the measures you take following your session as on the skills of the therapist. Rogelio tips us off to five secrets for prolonging that sense of relief long after a session is over.

1. Stretch. Perform specific stretches that can be done throughout the day and at work. Not all stretches require a yoga mat

By: StacyAtZeel

Even the busiest of moms find simple, sneaky ways to stay healthy between packing brown bag lunches and tucking the kids into bed. This Mother's Day, why not take the opportunity to get the entire family involved?

"Depending on the age of your child and their interests, there are a few options," says Zeel Expert and Smarter Bodies co-founder Kim-Lien Kendall. "One is cooking a healthy meal with your child or baking a healthy snack."

While there are many indoor activities that can be arranged, from blending up delicious green smoothies for breakfast to making a vegan carrot cake for dessert, Kim and V-Method founder Vicki Vara also encourage families to take advantage of this year's unseasonably warm temperatures. Bring your baked goods to the park, for example. Have a picnic; fly a kite.

Another great way to cultivate healthy habits in the great outdoors: plant flowers or, better yet, a garden. "Gardening is a great activity the whole family can get

By: StacyAtZeel

When it comes to avoiding wrinkles, or preventing those tiny cracks of wisdom before they even occur, there isn't much that women-and hey, men too these days-wouldn't do. Nightly creams? Check. Injections? Sure, why not. The list of available modalities for saving sullied skin goes on…and on, and on.

That's why we're currently enamored by the idea of facial acupuncture-a natural, holistic therapy that rejuvenates facial skin without the need for expensive products or invasive treatments.

Licensed acupuncturist and certified health coach Toni King knows all about it. A Zeel Expert, Toni was kind enough to delve into details on how facial acupuncture, in some ways, has been utilized as an alternative to the age-old facelift. Here's what we learned.

What exactly is facial acupuncture?

There are a few different types of acupuncture that help with facial skin renewal and freshening. I prefer Mei Zen, which has been called an acupuncture facelift,

By: StacyAtZeel

Falling asleep at the desk? A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that nearly one-third of the American work force is deprived of those precious few hours of sleep.

Here's the deal. 30 percent of professional adults noted that they get (or don't get) six hours of sleep (or less) per night. In terms of ethnicity, those who classified themselves as "white" or "Hispanic" got the most shut-eye, whereas individuals who checked off "black," "Asian," or "other race" got the least.

Blood line wasn't the only element at play either; marital status and whether an individual had received a high school diploma were also measured in the study.

Getting your best night of sleep yet may be as simple as making small dietary tweaks. Rest easy (well, easier) with these five nutrition-based tips for nipping insomnia in the bed.

Eat a big breakfast. While it can be tempting to chow down on a handful of nuts, crackers and,

By: StacyAtZeel

What's going to be in season?After a winter-full of root vegetables and starch, there is nothing like the prospect of fresh farmers' market finds come spring. As the weather continues to warm, fill your environmentally sustainable carryalls with these seven delicious farmers' market eats, from spinach and rhubarb to snap peas and more.

(Zeel reports back from the northeast. Check what's fresh at your local farmers' market here.)

Spinach: Available early May to early July

Get your daily dose of, well, nearly everything. Spinach, a "nutritional powerhouse," contains high levels of vitamins A, C and K as well as folate, protein, iron and magnesium. While this dark leafy green was formerly made popular for its use in mainstream meals like salads and soups and pasta, more recently, it's been making its way into smoothies and juices while still in raw form. Drink up!

Rhubarb: Available late May to late August

Low in calories and high in water content, rhubarb is best when

By: StacyAtZeel

For best results, make sure it's done with a licensee!Don't get us wrong. Spas serve their purpose too, at least, when it comes to primping and pampering. But as many Zeel Experts can tell you, massage isn't just a "luxury"; in fact, more and more, it's taking on a central role in preventative health care.

For the pregnant mom in search of prenatal relief; the musician with arthritis; or the athlete with a strained muscle, booking an appointment with a massage therapist serves a far greater purpose than the chance to "relax and unwind." Sure, massage does that. It also, however, offers the opportunity for its recipients to significantly improve the quality of their lives too.

As you can imagine, with the prevalence of spas and luxury venues, finding a truly dedicated, independent massage therapist can be a real challenge. That's why Zeel Expert Rogelio Medina established the Organization of Massage Therapy Professionals (OMTP), a one-stop web-based hub for educated and dedicated bodyworkers.

We

By: StacyAtZeel

Dress your best for acupuncture!There are so many times throughout the day that we find ourselves contemplating what to wear-to the gym, to work, to dinner with friends, to drinks with a hot date. But acupuncture? Some might consider the dress code for an hour of this Eastern-inspired therapy to be a bit less obvious.

Be prepared for your next appointment with these five tips for appropriate acupuncture attire, as recommended by experts of the ancient art.

Slack pants; no socks or shoes. "To best prepare for you treatment with your acupuncturist, wear loose-fitting but comfortable clothing. You should be prepared to take your socks and shoes off," says Angelica Drum, a licensed acupuncturist based in El Dorado Hills, Calif. She adds that your acupuncturist should be able to access points on the lower abdomen or lower back.

Shorts or loose fitting trousers. Lone Star State acupuncturist Dale Tope says, "The best thing to wear would be shorts or loose fitting trousers." Dale, a

By: StacyAtZeel

Pilates at a glance.We ask trusted Zeel Expert Halle Clarke-owner of New York City's Mongoose Bodyworks-for her take on fusion Pilates. What eccentric Pilates-inspired classes are out there, and are they as effective as the original? Halle tells it like it is.

Pilates is an exercise technique that was developed about 80 years ago and has grown in popularity in the last 20. In recent years, it has become common to combine Pilates with other techniques such as yoga, ballet or even tango.

So what exactly does that mean? It probably means something different in each case. There are a lot of attributes that make Pilates "Pilates." There is the choreography (the movements themselves), the specialized Pilates equipment and the principles (the philosophies behind the movements).

Some of these fusion techniques are simply adding in Pilates mat exercises into the movements of yoga or fitness training. Other times, fusion classes may be incorporating the idea of engaging