Massages Are More Than Just a Luxury – Real Health Benefits of Massage

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Posted on 7th April 2010 by Sebastian Ressen in Politics

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There are many health benefits of stress, but could you list even one of them? If not, don’t feel too bad. Most people today consider massage a luxury that only the higher classes can afford on a regular basis, but there are some very substantial health benefits that come with the luxury. For instance, it is a great way to relieve stress and increase your ability to properly handle stress. Since well over half of the symptoms people go to the doctor complaining of today are induced by stress or improper stress management, this is a very beneficial reason to get a massage regularly.

The benefits conferred by getting a regular massage are mainly stress related, but they are many and diverse at the same time. These include: -Enhanced blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues. This leads to greater vitality as well as an enhanced immune system. -A calmer mind which allows for deeper, more restful sleep, which is a vital key to full health and wellness and maintaining top mental powers. -Treatments of such diseases and health problems as arthritis, chronic back pain, cancer, fibromyalgia, muscle pains, stiffness, and strokes have been clinically shown to be enhanced or accelerated by regular massage (in this case, therapeutic massage). -Increased range of motion physically. This prevents strains and tears of muscles and ligaments. -Enhancement of nervous system functioning and better muscle tone. -Reductions in inflammation. Inflammation causes arthritis and is the root cause of all cancer. -Mental or emotional health problems such as anxiety, depression, grieving, and the effects of too much stress can all be alleviated.

Massage is essential for those who are on their feet for the bulk of the day or who regularly workout at an intense pace in order to stay in shape. The muscles, tendons, and joints of the body are put under extreme stress from these workouts or from the strain of using the muscles on a consistent basis for hours on end at work. If massage is not used to care for the muscles, injuries are likely to occur. There could even be more serious damage that results in lower ranges of motion capability, strains in the tendons, pulls in the muscles, and cramps that can be quite painful.

If you have been in an accident or have some other physic injury, you may very well benefit from regular therapeutic massage. This is usually prescribed by a doctor. Therapeutic massage is used for treating a specific condition or injury. A massage therapist has been trained in advanced medical massage techniques beyond what a relaxation massage performer knows.

Massage therapy is more of a medical procedure than a relaxation luxury. It can be used to correct whiplash and other physical conditions that come after accidents as well as treatment for more substantial conditions.

Americans are chronically stressed out. Our ambitions are wondrous and drive us to the heights of achievement, but too much stress has a plethora of negative effects on us. Regular massage is one of the simplest, and most effective, ways of eliminating a lot of the effects of stress.

Some people now use medications to relieve stress, but there are serious flaws with that method. If you take over-the-counter products you have to suffer with some not-so-pleasant side effects and prescription medications run the risk of becoming addictive. If you want effective stress relief with fewer risks, massage is the way to go.

Never underestimate what a massage can do for you. Whether you need serious stress relief, deep muscle tissue massage as an athlete, or help recovering from physical trauma, regular massage can help you.

If you are in need of a massage in Rogers MN than look no further then Orion Wellness Center. They are experts in the field of massage in Rogers MN.

A Legend of English Soccer: Sir Bobby Robson

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Posted on 21st February 2010 by Ross Everett in Politics

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One of England’s most beloved sporting figures, Sir Bobby Robson, yielded to his courageous fight with cancer recently at the age of 75. British soccer fans mourned his passing after a lifetime in the game, first as a player and then a team manager and elder statesman. Even the often snippy British press had nothing bad to say about the universally respected Robson, headlining their obituaries with adjectives like The Bravest Knight or simply The Legend.

Robson enjoyed a productive career as a player that spanned 20 years and was spent primarily in the English Premier League with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion. He also competed for England’s national team on twenty occasions, netting four goals in international play.

After his retirement in’68 as an active player, he found more fame as a team manager both in England and on the international level. In the EPL, his guidance transformed Ipswich Town from a laughing stock to a league powerhouse and he would lead the club for well over a decade. He would also serve as the England National Team manager for 8 years, as well as managing club teams in Portugal and Spain. He ended his career in British football with a stint as manager of Newcastle United that ended in 2004.

Robson earned even more respect and admiration due to his public battle with cancer. Although a brain tumor left him partially paralyzed in 2006, he never wavered in his commitment to English football or to raising money and awareness for cancer treatment. After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2007, he dedicated the rest of his life to helping others with the same diagnosis.

Such was the respect for Robson that two other soccer icons not known for seeing eye to eye were quick to pay their respects. Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho gave this tributes shared his thoughts on Robson:

“I wanted to and I will keep with me always the Bobby Robson of every day, a person who had extraordinary passion for life and for football, with an extraordinary enthusiasm. Bobby Robson is one of those people who never die, not so much for what he did in his career, for one victory more or less, but for what he knew to give to those who had, like me, the good fortune to know him and walk by his side. My thoughts and embraces go to all his loved ones.”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson shared his own touching comments:

“In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above him. I was never too big or proud to ask him for advice, which he gave freely and unconditionally. And I’m sure I am speaking for a lot of people when I say that. I mourn the passing of a great friend, a wonderful individual, a tremendous football man and somebody with passion and knowledge of the game that was unsurpassed.”

“His character was hewn out of the coalface; developed by the County Durham mining background that he came from. His parents instilled in him the discipline and standards which forged the character of a colossal human being. He added his own qualities to that which he passed on to his sons. The strength and courage he showed over the past couple of years when battling against his fifth bout of cancer was indescribable. Always a smile, always a friendly word with never a mention of his own problems.”

“The world, not just the football world, will miss him. Let’s hope it won’t be long before another like him turns up because we could never get enough of them.”

Many EPL clubs will honor Robson in some form or another during the upcoming season with a number of more lasting tributes planned.

Ross Everett is a consulting soccer handicapper for Oddsbay sportsbook directory. He has written extensively on World Cup soccer betting, travel, fencing, harness racing and falconry. He lives in Las Vegas with two dogs and a a pair of retired racing wombats.

Rio De Janerio Becomes First South American City To Host Olympic Games

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Posted on 1st November 2009 by Ross Everett in Politics

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South America will host the Summer Olympic Games for the first time in 2016, as Rio De Janeiro, Brazil was awarded the honor on Friday. Rio beat out the US choice of Chicago, Illinois along with Tokyo, Japan and Madrid, Spain to earn the right to host the games. Despite a high pressure effort from the American power elite–ncluding President Barak Obama and TV gabfest queen Oprah Winfrey–Chicago was the first city eliminated from contention. Tokyo was the next to go, before Rio got the nod over Madrid in the final round of balloting.

Bookmakers offered odds on the host city choice, with Rio listed as second favorite at +200. Chicago had been the wagering favorite at most books, particularly after President Obama got involved personally in the US bid effort. Chicago was bet as high as a -300 favorite, while Madrid and Tokyo were priced in the +250 range. Some suggest that Tokyo didnt deserve to have such short odds, but was the beneficiary of regional pride from the notoriously enthusiastic betting population of Japan.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, got the better of his US counterpart with a passionate speech that stood in marked contrast to Obamas typically baleful collection of talking points. The Brazilian leader stressed the unfairness that South America had never hosted the games in his speech to the committee;

“It is a time to address this imbalance. It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country.”

The Olympic committee was apparently swayed by this presentation and paid no mind to Rios many downsides. It is without a doubt the most dangerous of the finalist cities, where drug cartels and armed bands of thugs roam without impunity. Well do to Rio citizens are used to removing watches and jewelry before they drive anywhere lest they be targeted by carjacking brigands. Rios murder rate is also one of the highest in the world. Brazilian bid officials have stressed that security will be a priority at the games and it better be lest the Olympics turn into a bloodbath.

Some IOC members suggested that the summary dismissal of Chicagos bid was more of a rebuke of the notoriously corrupt USOC. The last two Olympics held in the US were tainted by crime and corruption. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics were disrupted by a terrorist bombing, while the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games were marred by a well known bribery and corruption scandal.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected sports betting authority. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports betting theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, boxing and dog training.

Boxing Great Alexis Arguello Remembered

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Posted on 29th October 2009 by Ross Everett in Politics

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Alexis Arguello, one of the greatest boxers to ever compete at 130 pounds, was found dead in his Managua, Nicaragua home in early July of an apparent suicide. He was 57 years old. Arguello was found with a gunshot wound to his chest, but his high political stature in the country meant that an investigation would be forthcoming to verify that it was indeed self inflected. Arguello was the mayor of Nicaraguas capital city at the time of his death.

Known for his class outside the ring as much for his tenacity inside the ring, hes best known to casual fight fans for his epic war in 1982 with Aaron The Hawk Pryor when he moved up in weight after dominating at lighter weight classes. Ring Magazine not only named it Fight of the Year, but later would dub it Fight of the Decade. Promoter Bob Arum offered these thoughts on Pryor/Arguello:

“It was a brutal, brutal fight. That was something I will never, ever forget as long as I live. That was one of the most memorable fights I ever did.”

While the first Pryor fight may have brought him the most mainstream notoriety, boxing cognoscenti are aware that Arguello is arguably the best lightweight and junior lightweight in the history of the sport. Arguello never lost a fight at 130 pounds and would end his career with an astounding 82-8 record with 65 knockouts and championships in three different weight classes. At the time, he was only the sixth man in boxing history to hold title belts at three different weights.

Ironically, Arguellos career didnt get off to a good start and he lost his debut in 1968 via first round TKO. After that, he seldom lost again and would go on to be respected as one of the best pound for pound fighters of his day. He was at his best against his toughest adversaries including Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares. Bob Arum remembered him not only as a great fighter, but as a great man:

“Not only was he one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever seen, he was the most intelligent fighter. He was a ring tactician. Every move was thought out. And he was a wonderful, wonderful person.”

The articulate, intelligent Arguello was also a quote machine on the fight game and how champions should conduct themselves. Here, he speaks of his attitude toward his opponents:

Of course after the fight you want to make sure that youre okay and so is the other guy, its a brotherhood in there, so you want to make sure everyone is okay after the war is over.

Arguello didnt fight for his first title until hed had 58 fights, and would frequently admonish boxers who didnt show the same respect for the sport or their status as champion:

When you won that title you should know now that you are representing a whole country or nation with your actions and you are now in a glass house or under a microscope and you better be ready to make your people proud.

Most importantly, Arguello loved boxing and sought to protect it from those who would undermine its greatness:

I respect boxing because it has given me so much and thats why I will never allow anyone to mistreat the sport of boxing if I can help it.

While the modest Arguello would never say it himself, that was for from a one sided debt and he contributed more than his fair share to the sport of boxing with his grace, intelligence, talent and toughness.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer who has written on sports betting and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, mixed martial arts and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a wombat.

How Banning Sports Betting Undermines The Constitution

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Posted on 27th October 2009 by Ross Everett in Politics

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The Federal ban on sports betting has been blasted by anyone who knows anything about the subject for a number of different reasons. Though the US professional leagues suggest that sports betting threatens the integrity of their games, the opposite is the case. The professional bookmaking industry is usually where any type of compromised or fixed game is discovered. Ultimately, the best case for legal sports betting is Constitutional.

The Congress of the United States has shown very little respect for the Constitution in recent years. Were it to abide strictly by the role outlined for it by the founding fathers, the Legislative Branch of our government would have to relinquish any number of its powers in a variety of areas. The primary problem with our Congress is that it has increasingly become a collection of career politicians rather than a body representative of its constituency. Every increase in power at the Federal level must be brought about by a usurpation of state and local sovereignty and, more alarmingly, personal liberty.

The Federal prohibition of sports wagering which was enacted a few years back is of very dubious Constitutionality. Were it not for the grandfather clause, which allowed it to remain legal in jurisdictions in which it already existed, it would have certainly been struck down as unconstitutional on a number of different fronts. Ironically, the Nevada gaming industry wasnt too concerned at the passage of this law; indeed, they certainly liked the fact that they could go about business as usual while potential competition from other states for the sports wagering dollar was completely curtailed.

The mere fact that a proposed law or initiative is unconstitutional offers no protection for the citizenry. If a politician can suggest that a law is for ‘the children’ many will swallow the bait hook line and sinker. In many cases such prohibitive legislation contradicts one of the most important concepts in the Constitution–that of the right to sovereignty and self-determination of the individual states:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Under the 10th Amendment, unless the power in question has been expressly given to the Federal government by the Constitution, and/or unless it has expressly been prohibited to the states to govern as it sees fit. If an individual state chooses not to regulate a certain activity, it is the right of each individual citizen to make their own decision.

So, you should be asking yourself at this point, where exactly does the Constitution delegate to the Federal government the right to make policy on sports gambling? The answer is that it doesnt, and it is very questionable that they have the Constitutional authority to do so. The sanctimonious blowhards who oppose sports betting would like to think they know best, but fortunately for all freedom loving Americans the founding fathers would beg to differ.

The entire premise of a social contract between a government and the governed is that individuals give up a certain degree of personal liberty for a certain degree of protection. The problem is that too many Americans are willing to give up just about any freedom for even the illusory promise of protection. If theyre not personally willing to cede this freedom, theyre often indifferent or unconcerned about it. The danger to broader concepts of personal liberty may seem a million miles away, but with each additional law intended to protect us from this or that the Federal government becomes larger and more powerful and the rights of the sovereign states”and the individuals that comprise them”are shrinking and being weakened.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer specializing in boxing, college football and NFL betting. He serves as a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is a noted authority on Internet sportsbook betting of all forms. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and several pet iguanas.