WELCOME TO AQUA FLEX'N STRETCH!!!

Experience 'All in One' combo classes of strength, cardio, and flexibility training with Aqua Flex'n Stretch as well as specialized classes for Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, and other muscle conditions. Our certified instructors are top in the Los Angeles area and focus on overall health and wellness in small classes for maximum personal attention in salt and chlorine pools! The secret to success is having fun, making social connections, feeling good, and being energized. Take the plunge!


DON'T WAIT ---- CALL 818-383-4400 OR EMAIL AT AQUAFLEXN@SBCGLOBAL.NET FOR MORE INFO


2013 CLASS SCHEDULE

**PROVIDENCE/TARZANA OUTPATIENT THERAPY CENTER SALT-WATER POOL (5359 Balboa Blvd., next to 101 Freeway, Encino)
RSVP TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!!!!
818-383-4400
All classes limited to 6 participants per class! Lots of 1:1 instruction!! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!
Open to the community.

Private and semi-private sessions.

Chair lift is available. Towels, all equipment, locker room and shower provided.
AQUATONE (1-hour):
(Work your whole body-cardio; strength and flexibility/balance; Adjusted for Arthritis Foundation as needed)
MONDAY: 4:30pm

MONDAY/WEDNESDAY: 5:30pm

TUESDAY/THURSDAY: 11:30am

THURSDAY: 7pm
SATURDAY: 11:15am

Fees: $150/8 classes; 1-month expiration
$20/drop-in with reservation
NEW YOQUATIX on Sundays!!!

45 minutes of restorative land yoga PLUS
45 minutes of restorative aqua

9:30 am and 10:30 classes

Half-price 1st class--only $20!!

Fees: $40/90 minutes; $150/4 classes

**BRAEMAR COUNTRY CLUB (Tarzana):
Beautiful outdoor heated pool in
Santa Monica hills.
HIIT The Water! Hi-Intensity!

SATURDAY: 9:30am - 10:30am

Aqua Tone

TUESDAY/THURSDAY: 11am - 12pm

Members:
Group: 1 class: $20; 8 class package: $150
Private: 1 class: $90; 4 class package: $350
Semi-Private: 1 class: $45; 4 class package: $170

Non-Members:
Group: 1 class: $22; 8 class package: $155
Private: 1 class: $95; 4 class package: $375
Semi-Private: 1 class: $50; 4 class package: $195
$29 one-time non-member fee

Free parking, towels, lockers, equipment

CALL 818-383-4400 OR EMAIL aquaflexn@sbcglobal.net

**FOUR SEASONS CENTER FOR HEALTH AND LONGEVITY (Westlake Village)
Private and semi-private sessions are available at this first-class heated indoor pool for members and hotel guests.
**AT-HOME PRIVATE/GROUP SESSIONS:
Want the convenience of a private class at your home? Or, put together your own group, and we'll come to you!
CALL 818-383-4400 or EMAIL at aquaflexn@sbcglobal.net
http://www.linkedin.com/

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Aerobic Exercise in Fibromyalgia Patients Improves Memory Efficiency



Article Date: 14 Nov 2011 - 1:00 PST
Georgetown University Medical Center
 

Areas of the brain responsible for pain processing and cognitive performance changed in fibromyalgia patients who exercised following a medication holiday, say researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center. They say the changes indicate brain functioning is more streamlined after an exercise intervention because less of the brain's resources is devoted to processing bothersome fibromyalgia perceptions such as pain. 

The study, presented at the Society of Neuroscience's annual meeting, Neuroscience 2011, used functional MRI scans to assess changes in the brain. Researchers observed a decrease in brain activity in areas responsible for memory and pain control after fibromyalgia patients took part in an exercise regimen. 

"The decreased brain activity we see in the area of cognition suggests that the brain is working more efficiently," explains Brian Walitt, M.D. M.P.H., director of the Fibromyalgia Evaluation and Research Center at Georgetown University Medical Center and senior study author. "We also see less brain activity in areas responsible for pain processing which might be aiding that efficiency." Walitt cautions that more research needs to be conducted before suggesting a change in clinical care for fibromyalgia. 

Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, disordered sleep, and cognitive changes. It is regarded as an interoceptive disorder in that it has no apparent cause, Walitt says. "In conditions like this, the body perceives something by mistake." The pain is not psychosomatic, but is real and likely produced by the central nervous system, he says. 

To that end, the research team used fMRI to "provide a definitive measure of cognitive functioning, so that we can more scientifically measure the effect of exercise," says Manish Khatiwada, M.S., who will be presenting the results. "This is a novel approach to the study of fibromyalgia." (Khatiwada is working in the laboratory of co-author John VanMeter, Ph.D., director of the Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging.) 

For this study, the researchers enrolled eighteen women with fibromyalgia, and gave them a baseline fMRI to assess working memory and questionnaires about their well-being and pain while they were on medication. They then were told not to use their medications for a "washout" period, and had a second fMRI and memory testing. After six weeks, they had another assessment. The final scan was taken after the volunteers engaged in a six-week period of exercise, which involved three 30-minute sessions of aerobic exercise each week with a trainer. 

Memory and pain typically worsen in patients after stopping their medication - which was the experience of patients in this study. After six weeks of exercise, however, patients reported an improvement in overall well-being. However, their performance in the memory task did not change significantly when compared to their baseline study measurements. Despite a change in memory test performance, brain activity in the memory task and pain processing areas of the brain decreased. 

"What we see is a less interference by pain activity which could be contributing to the decrease in activity in the memory section. Basically, the brain is using less energy for the same task," Walitt says. 

Conclusions: Our results indicate that as the patients discontinue their current medication treatment and transition into the exercise treatment their subjective rating of change in pain initially increases and then decreases. Neuronal activity in areas recruited for an Nback working memory task follow an inverse pattern with an initial drop following medication cessation that increases on subsequent visits. These results are suggestive of the effect exercise on not only self report of global change in pain sensation in FM but also improvement in the network of cortical areas recruited in working memory. Thus, exercise may have benefit in both reducing FM symptoms and improving cognitive capacity. 

Support: American College of Rheumatology Investigator Award; MedStar Health Women’s Auxillary Intramural Grant.
The authors report no personal financial interests related to the study. This research is supported by an American College of Rheumatology Investigator Award and a MedStar Health Women’s Auxiliary Intramural Grant.
Georgetown University Medical Center

Thursday, November 10, 2011

SHED THOSE POUNDS!

Guidelines recommend that or people with chronic conditions, including arthritis, achieve 150 minutes/week of moderate or vigorous activity each week, which can be achieved by 30 minutes/day on five days of the week.

Extra Pounds??

Did you know that 1 pound of weight puts an additional 4 pounds of pressure on knees? Time to exercise and shed those pounds!

Monday, November 7, 2011

More Reasons to Eat Choclate


Do we even need reasons??!! It tastes great and really is good for us so indulge!!

http://www.realage.com/health-tips/more-good-reasons-to-eat-chocolate?eid=1010648608&memberid=22733187