Blog Posts by TheDailyZeel

By: StacyAtZeel

National Migraine Awareness Month has made us particularly, well, aware of those head-pounders that can knock us out for hours at a time. As many a migraine sufferer knows, treatment of the condition can be tricky. Pills and prescriptions can often render you achy and lethargic, while the unique ingredients required for home-brewed remedies can be sometimes difficult to find.

Says licensed acupuncturist and Zeel Expert Aram Akopyan, when recognized during the prodrome phase, which is the foremost stage of the episode, gentle movement-like a 10-minute walk in fresh air-can help to lessen oncoming stress while reducing the severity of the migraine. He also adds that rigorous exercise should be avoided, as it can expedite the onset and exacerbate the intensity.

Feel a migraine coming on? Aram encourages you to try this:

1. Stand legs shoulder width apart with your back straight. Gently stretch your spine to an erect position and elevate the vertex

By: StacyAtZeel

Whether the result of one too many aces or an especially tough day on the links, one thing's certain; shoulder tendinitis-often caused by an inflammation of the rotator cuff-is no day at the park.

One Zeel member, who's shoulders hurt when so much as swinging a racket or tossing a baseball around, asks, "What are the best exercises for shoulder tendinitis?" We turn to our experts for advice.

Plank pose. Tribeca-based Pilates instructor Nicola Yvette explains that the rotator cuff might be the cause of this pain. "I would strengthen the shoulders and arms by holding plank position," she says. "I would hold for 30 seconds and build up strength so the muscles support the problem area."

Pendulum swings. "For that, what is important is to do simple pendulum swings and to avoid overhead swinging or lifting," suggests Los Angeles' yoga instructor Steven Metz. "When it comes to shoulder pain, I recommend working directly with a doctor and a qualified

By: StacyAtZeel

Most of us could go through an entire day - weeks even - slouching in our desk chairs without realizing for a single moment that we've done our bodies not-so-good. By the time we've determine that our backs, necks and shoulders are aching, and that it might be time to book a massage, we can hardly recall where the pain came from in the first place.

Licensed massage therapist and OMTP founder Rogelio Medina sees tons of these kinds of clients at his practice, and, without judgment or conceit, simply explains that they need to "be more aware" of their bodies. "Most clients do not realize that the front of their body is pulling the back, which is overstretching the back," he goes on to describe. "This causes a misalignment."

What do massage therapists look for and ask themselves when identifying muscular imbalances that may be causing their client pain or discomfort? Rogelio explains.

1. Client's career: Of course, there's a huge difference between

By: StacyAtZeel

In honor of National Running Day 2012, the following article was contributed by Zeel Expert Christian Cruz, a exercise physiologist, running coach and former division I cross country and track athlete.

What separates us from animals is our ability to stand upright and run for long distances. When most people decide to start running, however, they do not quite run-they jog, or worse, they plod.

Runners are more silent, fluid, efficient and graceful, like gazelles, in their running form. Runners are faster and tire less quickly. Plodders, on the other hand, bounce up and down more so than glide forward. When plodders land, they make a loud thud announcing their activity. But more importantly, plodders are more likely to get injured, advance more slowly, tire faster and be more overweight.

How can you progress from plodder to runner? Here are five tips for improving your stride.

1. Focus on form. Proper form consists of slightly leaning

By: StacyAtZeel

National Running Day is one of our favorite holidays of the year, but as any runner (or non-runner!) knows, mastering the art of logging miles without boredom and exhaustion can be tough! If this sounds familiar, then we've got the antidote: certified personal trainer and Zeel Expert Greg Doyle.

New to the track? A New York City trainer, Greg's worked with everyone from newbie runners to NYC marathoners, and knows just what it takes to get moving without pain, injury or tedium. Get your run on in celebration of this worthy national holiday with these four key pieces of advice, from Greg to you.

1. Balance your body. Greg works with many endurance athletes, and a seemingly simple yet crucial factor when beginning to run is to master single leg balance. As Greg reminds us, "When running, you are never on two feet, and having single leg stability will not only improve running performance but also prevent injury."

Practice your balance by bringing

By: StacyAtZeel

With National Migraine Awareness Month well under way, we look to natural ways to stave off those mammoth headaches without the use of prescription medications. As licensed acupuncturist and Zeel Expert Dr. Aram Akopyan explains, alternative modalities of treatment like acupuncture can often be enhanced with nutritional, dietary and lifestyle modifications in an effort to truly thwart this debilitating condition once and for all.

If you're someone who suffers from migraines, then be sure to check out these small adjustments with big time results, from basic home remedies and simple supplements to dietary tweaks and more.

Dietary Adjustments

• Keep it real. Eat wholesome foods with no preservatives, additives or artificial compounds. Artificial coloring agents and preservatives have been known to cause headaches.

• Eat clean. Consume whole grains, fiber-rich foods and green leafy vegetables. Parsley, chrysanthemum flowers, mint, green

By: StacyAtZeel

Zeel Expert, movement educator and SMARTer Bodies co-founder Melissa Gutierrez shares her insights on breathing, visualization and recognizing internal cues.

Tight shoulders, neck and upper back muscles are common complaints amongst our clientele; and sometimes, massage, trigger point therapy and even fascial release are not enough to address the underlying issue.

An option that is often overlooked when addressing tight muscles and limited movement is finding a solution from the inside. Getting a sense of (or listening to) one's organs-like the lungs, for example-can actually provide an internal sense of support overtime that may help alleviate the external manifestation of stress and poor postural habits.

Step 1: Create an image in your mind.

This can be done in many ways, but one of the methods with which you may be most easily able to connect with this idea is by imagining the physical quality of the lungs as spongy or elastic (which

By: StacyAtZeel

All we have to do is step outside the office to get it; between skimpy tanks and strapless dresses, summer has arrived.

Zeel Pilates Expert Halle Clarke should know. "It's right about now that I start to get requests for exercises to tone the arm muscles, especially the back of the arms," says Halle, owner of Soho's Mongoose Bodyworks.

Halle adds, "The best shaped bodies are the best aligned bodies. So reaching-and thereby toning-the shoulders and arms is best done when the alignment of the upper body is correct."

From your pre-workout stretch to choosing the right weights, Halle offers up six simple steps for sexy summer arms.

Step 1: Humor us.

In order to tone the backs of the arms, your humeral head (translation: the top of the arm bone) needs to sit properly in the joint. Something else that affects your quest for a lean, mean right-left-hooking machine? Your shoulder blades, which should not be protracted or rounded forward while