1.  Social Networking – Facebook Business Page, Blog, Twitter, and more

Most people have heard of it, but few know how to effectively utilize it.  Social networking is about connecting with like-minded people through an internet venue.  By connecting with individuals who are health and fitness oriented, you in turn reach out to their friends who are, and so on.  This helps you to establish relationships with prospective clients, and keeps you in the minds of others who may refer individuals to your services.  The great thing is, there are plenty of completely free social networking venues out there to get started with, so there is no financial investment involved.  All you need is a bit of time to put together content, and you are on your way.

Facebook Business page – Facebook is a great resource to help establish any social network.  You can even start by creating a Facebook business page (also known as a “fan page”) for your services.  Facebook makes it easy to design a page for yourself.  You can add content regularly on your wall, add photos of you working with clients, and even tag those people in photos to get more exposure to their connections on Facebook as well.  If starting out fresh, ask your current Facebook friends to add your business page to their “like” list to help you build a fan base.  Offer some individuals you know a free session in turn for allowing you to take photos with them as you train them.  Again, this is all about getting your name out there, so take advantage of whatever resources possible to spread the word.

Blog – A blog can also provide a great social network to find prospective clients.  The advantage it has over a Facebook business page is less restrictions in design and structure.  The disadvantage it has is that it can be more difficult to get your feet off the ground with a blog.  The key is to keep adding high quality, original content to your blog regularly.  Also, provide links to your blog in any other online resources you can to bring more traffic to the site.  More visitors to the site will help you to get bumped up on search engine results.  You can direct people to your blog through any forums you use (add the URL to your forum signature), as well as add links to new blog posts on your Facebook wall.

Other Resources – Once you have established a social networking resource for yourself, this is when you can really start promoting it.  Though twitter on its own is not typically the best way to try to find prospects, it can be a great way to bring more traffic to your website by providing links to new content.  Also, look for forums that discuss topics involving health and fitness, become involved, and provide your website in your URL.  Though the people visiting your website may not be local, keep in mind more traffic to your site means a better chance at reaching the top of the local searches for personal trainers in your area.  Though it takes time, it is a worthwhile investment.

2.  Building a website

This is a strategy used more often by freelance personal trainers, since if you are working in a fitness facility, more likely than not, they already have a website.  Regardless, even if you work for a company with their own website, you can use that to your advantage, as you will soon see.

Personal Website – Though the strategies used to establish a website are similar to the ones used for a Facebook business page and blog, a personal website offers some distinct advantages.  For starters, a website has no design restrictions at all, allowing you to customize your page exactly how you’d like.  Secondly, you can set up a website to allow clients to pay through your site, as well as even book the sessions with you through an online schedule.  About the only disadvantage a personal website has is that unless you are familiar with web design, you will most likely have to invest in a web designer to create one for you.  However, depending on the demand in your area, a well-designed website alone can sometimes be enough to fill up a personal trainer’s schedule and then some.

Company Website – If you work for a business that already has a company website, find out how you can get involved.  Offer to contribute monthly fitness tips, or help add more content to the personal trainer section of the site.  For those who visit the company website frequently, seeing your name or face on there can go a long way.  This can spark up conversations in the gym, or even lead to promotional opportunities within the company through your contributions.

3.  Free Demos/Consultations

Offering prospects a free taste of what you have to offer may be just enough to reel them in.  This can be done as a free consultation, free session, or a free demo class for an upcoming program.  If you are currently employed in a health club, look into what programs your facility doesn’t offer that you’d be interested in.  Boot camps, cross-training programs, weight loss contests, and the list goes on.  Even if your company is running a program similar to what you’re interested in, see if you could run one at different times than what is currently offered, or think of a spin-off that offers a unique twist to the program.

For those who are freelance, as well as those working for a health club that are motivated enough, you can reach out to the community with a free demo.  You can put together a promotional flyer that can be placed on local community boards found in churches, grocery stores, and other retail stores.  Contact your city’s website and see if they have a community calendar or other way they could assist you in notifying the community of your upcoming program or service.  Ask your local newspaper if they would mind promoting your service as a free upcoming event.  There are countless resources to promote something like this, it’s just a matter of reaching out to the resources available to you.  If you are persistent and patient, rest assured, your efforts will be rewarded.

Speaking for myself, summer happens to be my favorite time of year. I love going outside without a coat, I love people walking around with little clothes and big smiles, and I love the look of sun-kissed skin. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t cautious about how much of that sun they allow to kiss them, and when it comes to clients getting sunburned, it can result in cancellation calls on Monday morning.  What’s a massage therapist to do? It is perfectly logical and understandable that a client who is in pain is not going to want you kneading their sensitive skin, but you do have to make a living too … so what’s the solution?

If somebody is in absolute agony, all you can really do is wish them well, suggest aloe, and reschedule the appointment. But make sure that before you let that appointment go, you’ve thought this problem through ahead of time and can offer a soothing solution.  If a client calls and says their skin is too sensitive, suggest adjusting to your special sunburn strategy; offer to use oils that heal and cool, and suggest that a cold stone massage will bring instant relief to overheated skin. If you describe a massage that will not only provide relaxation but also skin therapy, you may find that the idea of aloe all over or a treatment that is heavy on healing jojoba oil is one that brings them in and may even make them refer their friends. Just remember if they do come in, you must be mindful of how painful burned skin can be. A light touch is essential.

One of the problems with giving a massage after extensive sunburn is peeling skin. The good news is that once the skin is peeling, your client is probably not in as much pain as they were when the burn was fresh, but the loose, shredding skin does make for a mess, and your hands are not going to glide across their skin quite as smoothly as you are used to. It’s a good idea to be prepared for this eventuality throughout the summer months.  Using a loofah or brush before the massage begins may cut down on the mess a bit, and if you want to avoid constantly having to sweep up the remnants of the skin that has rolled off of your client from the floor, it’s a good idea to carefully roll up your sheets and take them outside for a good shaking before you put it in the wash.

Making the most of a situation like sunburn or heat is a great way to innovatively market your practice; once you’ve come up with a sunburn solution you can advertise it as a special, and you may find that the cold stone massage becomes popular for those who live without the luxury of air conditioning. Stay cool and have a great summer!

Microderm is one of the most popular and easy anti aging treatments that are becoming increasingly popular. Microderm is known to soften fine lines on the face, get rid of wrinkles, and can help smooth out the skin. Microderm is also known to decrease scarring, and decrease the size of pores in the face that allow imperfections. Talk with your clients to see if Microderm is right for them.

Clients interested in Microderm should understand that this procedure is basically a mechanical exfoliation of the skin. There are different types of technology used for this particular procedure. They can use original crystal technology or the newer diamond tip, microdermabrasion.

Like any procedure, there are advantages and disadvantages that clients should consider. One of the benefits to Microderm is that they remove the uppermost layer of dead skin cells from the face, chest and hands. If clients seem a little uneasy regarding undergoing the procedure, you could also talk with them about the benefits to using a day spa microdermabrasion. The results are easier than undergoing an official procedure, and more effective than home methods. Some of the home methods can be too abrasive and can seriously irritate the skin.

The newer diamond-tip microdermabrasion is becoming more popular. The benefit to this process is that it provides the same results without the discomfort. However, this will be up to your client, and what makes him or her feel more comfortable during the treatment.

It is important for professionals to educate their clients on their options. You should tell your clients that if they want the best results they should commit to a series of treatments. You will need to explain to them their skin type, and which particular method will work best for them and why. They should be prepared for at least six treatments usually two weeks apart. People with sensitive skin should be made aware that they can be treated as well. The machine can be adjusted accordingly to work on various skin types.

When pricing a single microdermabrasion treatment, you should usually offer treatments between $100 to $150. You can even offer a free treatment if they commit to the entire session. When scheduling, remember to allow at least thirty to forty five minutes for each client per session.

When your client is finished remind them that treatment has been done to the protective layer to the skin, and that they should avoid staying in the sun at least for a few days. Otherwise, this can cause serious skin damage. They should avoid exercise the day of the treatment, and that they should always wear sunscreen to protect the skin.

The inability to get a good night’s rest will plague all of us at one time or another. As a health professional or natural wellness advocate, it’s important to understand and identify the differences between insomnia, sleep apnea, and intermittent night-sleep disturbances. If sleep apnea is not indicated, it then becomes prudent to encourage natural means of relieving the causes of the sleep disturbance over the potentially addicting, and sometimes disturbing, side effects of prescription sleep aides on the market today. Mild sleep disturbances are likely to occur during times of hormonal, stress, and life changes but there are several drug-free options to recommend that can relieve symptoms for these types of temporary, yet still bothersome, sleep woes.

Identifying Insomnia – The Mayo Clinic identifies insomnia as a sleep disturbance that affects sleep more than three days of the week. Individuals with insomnia often struggle to fall asleep for thirty or more minutes and may only claim 6 or fewer hours of sleep. Fatigue, irritability, headaches, as well as general loss of function are byproducts of insomnia, so finding the right course of treatment is important to improve overall wellness.

Is it Sleep Apnea? – According to the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, there is no specific test that can be performed to identify sleep apnea, due to the “mechanical” nature of what happens during obstructive sleep apnea – a collapsed or blocked airway. The sufferer of sleep apnea may feel exhausted in the day and almost always unaware of this potentially dangerous sleep disturbance while it is occurring during sleep.  However, many times a family member will complain of the loud snoring or possibly notice the shallow or paused breathing that occurs with sleep apnea. The client should be encouraged to follow up with a specialist if sleep apnea is suspected because untreated sleep apnea can bring with it a myriad of dangerous heart and health concerns.

Melatonin – Under the care of a medical professional, taking melatonin can be a successful option to naturally treat sleep disturbances. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, melatonin has been shown by a few clinical studies to be more effective than a placebo at aiding patients in falling asleep. Melatonin is a hormone produced within the human body from the pineal gland that works in conjunction with other hormones to regulate natural sleep cycles.  Melatonin can be a great natural alternative to prescription medications as it will work naturally with the body’s circadian rhythm to encourage sleep.  

Relaxing for Sleep – While supplements such as melatonin are shown to aide those with sleep disturbances to get a better night’s sleep, getting to the root of the problem of the cause of tension or anxiety may prove even more helpful in the overall long-term success of treating sleep troubles to begin with. The Mayo Clinic has identified stress, anxiety, and depression as potential causes for insomnia. Treating a patient’s stress and anxiety can prove to be invaluable – even if the anxiety is simply over falling asleep itself, such as with “learned insomnia”.

Music has observable impact on promoting relaxation and sleep. In the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports the findings that, “Relaxing music can induce a relaxation response, thereby reversing the deleterious effects of the stress response.” The heart and respiratory rate were compared with the control group and showed significant differences, even a full sixty minutes later. Therefore, the use of music can be an important aide in falling asleep and potentially act as an intervention between insomnia and the first time use of prescription sleep aides.

In addition to the use of relaxing music to induce restful sleep, the relaxation response can further be encouraged with the use of physical tension-relaxation techniques such as those used in “progressive relaxation”.  There are varying techniques described for progressive relaxation, but essentially the individual will produce tension followed by completely relaxing the muscle group. This procedure will be accomplished one area of the body at a time, typically beginning with the toes and eventually working up the body to the face and scalp. The purpose of this exercise is two-fold. One, to physically relax each muscle group which certainly aides in relaxation for sleep. The other important result of using the techniques in progressive relaxation is that the individual will begin to learn to identify what relaxation verses tension truly feels like. Tense back and neck muscles can be carried into sleep, causing even more discomfort and discouragement to a restful night’s sleep, therefore learning to relax muscle groups while identifying tension can prove invaluable to not only rest but daily activity as well. It is the quintessential way to “wind down” after the stressful activities of the day.

As health and wellness advocates who understand the mind/body connection and how tension can be interchanged between the two, it is invaluable for the clients we serve to recognize, advocate, and counsel toward the use of proven natural methods. In addition, being able to identify the potential of larger health concerns, such as sleep apnea, is also an important aspect of “whole person” care.  Insomnia and intermittent sleep disturbances will likely affect every individual at one point or another but as shown, there are proven natural ways to induce a more restful night’s sleep without the use of narcotics and prescription drugs.

“Insomnia”. Mayo Clinic.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/insomnia/DS00187/DSECTION=symptoms

“What is Sleep Apnea”. National Heart and Lung Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/

“Effects of Relaxing Music…” U.S. National Library of Medicine”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10392221

“To stop for a moment and meditate on the passage of time, to feel time moving inside you,” is, according to the Chinese Medicine scholar Father Larre in his commentary on the Nei Jing, ” to practice the value of the winter season, when movements appear underground, when earth’s energy has gone downward and inward.”

The sun too is on holiday low in the horizon, and cool Venus appears triumphant in a dazzling triangle alongside Jupiter and the waxing and waning Moon in mid-winter. To stop for a moment and meditate on the passage of time, to feel time moving inside you, is to practice the value of the winter season, when nature’s

In the Yellow Emperor’s Classic or Nei Jing Su Wen, http://www.amazon.com/Huang-Nei-Jing-Wen-Knowledge/dp/0520233220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324613928&sr=1-1the oldest surviving classic of the Chinese medical literature, (around 200 B.C.E.),the three months of winter are called “closing and storing.” Here closing refers to the “closing” of plant life, in which the sap, or life force of plants goes deep underground. In fact, clinically, we see that in the transition from late autumn to winter, Americans, people ever-on-the-go, complain of being tired, less ambitious than usual. By the end of December many have become internalized, and start to think in terms of reform, of New Year’s resolutions.

After winter solstice the break that began in autumn is fully realized. The land turns barren. The trees and bushes, but skeletons of their former selves serve as stark reminders of the greens and yellows and reds that once were. So don’t be surprised if you have a little melancholy during this transition. But it is a transition, a movement of forces that passes, and as we reach the longest darkest nights of late December we celebrate festive holidays full of fire and light and gift giving. In fact, this cold dark time is exactly when love between people passes most freely in our society with family visits, gift giving, and acts of charity to the less advantaged.

The Nei Jing goes on to recommend going to bed early in winter, and getting up late. “Everything must be done according to the light of the sun.” Just as nights are longer, so commands our own biorhythms.

The text speaks of “exerting the will, as if buried….” This a reference to the Neolithic practice in China of living inside earthen rooms, like the sod huts of the American north mid-west, and restricting bodily movement, by necessity, as if buried, due to cold, due to enclosure, and due to the swaddling in warm clothes and blankets. We even have a phrase in English, about being buried in one’s blankets.

Winter was not a time to travel, or even to be outside that much, which is still true in places more North than San Diego, but a time to “store,” when everything that was grown in spring and summer and had been collected was used, but wisely and judiciously. 

Another idea of “winter storage” is to store our Qi, especially the Qi that is lost by sweating. Contrary to the practice in summer, when our Qi likes to escape outside, when we sweat to cool ourselves, and can do so safely, in winter our Qi is stored beneath the skin, allowing it to be as concentrated as possible, acting as a barrier against infectious attack. There is a reference here to the “Wei Qi” the aspect of the immune system that protects against common cold, bronchitis, and flu.

We mustn’t deplete that Qi with excessive sweating, or do so and allow a chill. Once spring returns, the Qi that is controlled tightly within the body will be able, with assistance from loosening practices like Tai Qi and aerobic exercise, to surge out strongly again.

So paying heed to the “correspondences with the winter Qi” ensures we maintain “the storing of life.” For, “to go against this will injure the Kidney Qi causing, in spring, impotence and weakness, through insufficient supply for the production of life.”

If we live in winter as if it were summer, acting as if surrounded by hot centrifugal Yang energies, rather than cold centripetal Yin energies, our Kidney Qi will weaken, year after year, weakening our immune systems and lungs.

In Chinese medicine the Kidney energy is the root of all energies. It is the energy of development, growth, structure and reproduction. The kidneys supply the energy for the bones and teeth, for the hair of the head, for healthy sexual function, for fertility, for the immune system, for the lungs, and for wisdom. And the Kidney energy is associated with the energies of the Water Element, which is dominant in winter.

So if in Winter the Kidney energy loses its support by “counter-current” living, there will be injury and a cascade of effects. As the Lungs and immune system are taxed already in winter, there the effect will most quickly be seen, especially in folk with a tendency to Asthma, Bronchitis, Allergies, Colds, and Flu. And once you become ill, the body cant store Qi well, and in spring there will be a feeble supply for opening and growth.

After the pregnancy is over and now when your baby has arrived, you are probably eager to lose those extra pounds and enthusiast to get back to your “pre-pregnancy shape” as soon as possible. This is a known phenomenon that, weight loss after pregnancy is often slow and some may find it frustrating. That is why it’s imperative to understand that it is a very tantalizing and vital stage of life, so it is better to take it easy and make it step by step.

What  to aim?

An average weight gain during pregnancy is approximately between  20 to 35 pounds,  out of which 10 to 15 pounds is lost immediately during delivery. The rest of 10-20 pounds can easily be lost within 7 to 8 months. It all depends on how much you have gained; plan your weight loss gradually as quick loss of these extra pounds can be dangerous for your health. So don’t aim to lose lots of weight over a short period of time.

When to Start?

Your body has been through a tremendous change and it takes some time to return back. That is why Health practitioners, usually advice to avoid any weight loss plans until you are through with your six week post partum check up. It is highly recommended that you should wait for 2 to 3 months before you can start a healthy low fat diet along with some vigorous exercises.

What to eat?

American Medical Association highly recommends a nutritionally sound diet for lactating mother, which should include a diet full of vitamins and minerals, a high fibre diet and low fat diet. Making an intelligent choice while selecting a diet plan can promote healthy weight loss after pregnancy.  Although you are not pregnant any more, your body is still in need of adequate nourishment especially if you are breastfeeding your little one.

Your baby’s nutritional needs outweigh your need for a slim body, so talk to your physician about what diet you should be following and what nutrients are important for better health of you and your baby.

You need to focus on nourishment, not on weight-loss diets alone and that can be achieved by following certain steps like,

• Avoid crash dieting as mothers who are breast feeding, burn up to 500 additional calories by producing breast milk and crash diet can reduce the milk supply.
• Space your meals; make sure that your calories are spread evenly around the clock. This will help you to improve your metabolic rate.
• Breakfast is the most important meal of your diet plan
• Avoid all kind of temptation, specially for junk food and high sugar content food items
• Most fish, beans, skinless poultry and lean cuts of beef are good sources of protein.
• Add fibre to your diet
• Eat nuts, as they take longer to digest keeping you saturated for a longer time
• Combine items from all food groups like eggs with muffins and fruits, salads with chicken etc.
• Drink plenty of water; replace high sugar beverages like sodas and juices with water and fresh lemon.
• Count your calories, but let yourself have a treat once in a while too!

Which Exercise Fitness Workout?

You already know that getting back to exercise should be a gradual process, It’s very important that you wait for six to seven weeks after a normal vaginal birth and up to nine weeks in the case of a C-section to start exercising. But you can always start some simple exercises after you are through with your four week of post partum mark.

Few simple exercises are,

• Kegel exercises to help gain back the bladder control and pelvic floor strengthening. That is by simply tightening the muscles of the vagina as if trying to interrupt the flow of pee for few seconds.
• Walking can help prepare the body for more vigorous exercises

Come up with some personal exercise routine and then stick to it. Start gradually with a 10 minute exercise drill and then increase to 30-45 minutes when you feel more confident.  Walk your baby in the stroller and aim for at least five times a week for at least 30 minutes.

It would be a good thing to join a fitness club where they have a special group of new moms.

• Pilates and Yoga may also help you gain the strength and flexibly. By avoiding some poses like inversions, but basic moves like warrior, supported bridge and pelvic tilts, are a great place to start.
• Pelvic tilts may help you reduce the belly fat, by slimily lying down on the floor with your legs bent; slowly tighten your abdominal muscles.

• Bridge exercise helps to tighten abdominal muscles and strengthen your core muscles. Lie straight on back with your knees bent and back in a neutral position, your hips off the floor until your hips are aligned with your knees and shoulders.

• An exercise ball is a great tool for tummy exercises after pregnancy as this is the most effected area.

What remedies you can follow?

• Apple cider vinegar in hot water help to reduce extra fat (2-3 times a day)
• Lime and honey in water as a natural weight loss remedy (1-2 times a day)
• Leaves of the Indian plum also have fat burning properties ( boil them and use twice a day
• Green tea has excellent properties that can help in weight loss (3-4 times a day)
• Cabbage is good for weight loss, as it is low in calories and high fibre diet ( once a day in any form)
• Acai berry juice is also effective to lose weight (twice day)
• Eat negative calories food like Tomatoes and Cucumbers

Losing weight after a baby is a tricky job, so patience may be your new best friends as it will probably take a bit longer to shed those additional pounds. So give your body the time it needs to get back in shape.

Skin lightening isn’t a new trend.  Skins lightening and whitening creams have been available and popular in Asia for years.  But, it is the first time that American women are opting for the creamy white look over the California tan that has been popular for so long.  Could it be that snow white is the new burnt sienna?

It seems that the trend in Asia has finally hit U.S shores and American women are notice.  Where once a deep tan was seen as desirable, a creamy pale complexion is now all the rage.  Because of this new trend, Asian companies have begun offering their skin lighteners here in the U.S; and other companies are popping up with their own versions as well.  Walk into Sephora and you can at least a nice size display devoted to skin lighteners.

The only difference between the use here in the U.S and the use in say, Japan, is that American companies aren’t marketing the lightening cream as a means of getting skin whiter, which is what Japanese women are using the lighteners for.  In Japan, it is considered elegant and fashionable to have lighter, whiter skin; but here in the U.S beauty experts are pushing skin lightening creams to create even skin tones, a youthful radiance, and erase any acne scaring.  None of the products available on the market are meant to bleach the skin, but instead work with individuals of all skin tones to create the desired effects.  This is great news considering how previously available skin lighteners used an ingredient that damaged the skin, sometimes permanently, giving not a youthful and healthy glow, but a sickly pale blue.  This ingredient is called hydroquinone, and although it has been banned in most countries, and is noted to have been left out of newly available skin lighteners, should still be watched out for.  If hydroquinone is in any product you’re thinking about purchasing or using, put it back and try for something else.  New skin lighteners are touted to work without this harmful ingredient, and in a way that doesn’t just lighten to an indiscriminate pale, but works with the tones of one’s skin to lighten it in the most flattering and evening way possible.

That being said, it should be noted that each cream utilizes different ingredients.  This is especially true when comparing the products coming out of Asia versus those created by American and European companies.  For example, some Japanese products target melanin production, which is actually aimed at slowing the growth and creation of color in the skin (melanin being responsible for the color of the skin).  In contrast, European and American products utilize extracts, vitamins, minerals, and various molecules for which they will not release the details (secret ingredient style).

So, when choosing a product, be sure to evaluate what goals you’re looking to achieve in using them.  If you’re naturally tan and looking to lighten your skin tone to achieve a natural cream tone, try using a cream more geared toward lightening and whitening the skin.  If you’re simply looking for something to aid in creating a more even and clear complexion, try dark spot reducers and soft lighteners that are more likely to work with your skin tone without drastically changing the overall color of it.

Having a baby is one of the biggest changes a woman can go through in her life. A post-baby world can seem scary and a post-baby body can seem unfamiliar. One way to bring back a sense of wellness and equilibrium is with the following post-baby tips:

Start Slow

In this fast-paced world, we want everything yesterday. Celebrities seem to have a baby one day and then sashay down the red carpet at their pre-baby weight the next. This is not realistic for most women and, more importantly, it is not a healthy approach to recuperation. Give yourself time to heal physically and adjust psychologically.

Instead of running to the gym the first post-baby week, try going for a (short) walk. Gradually build up your stamina and set short-term, realistic expectations for your progress. With time, you’ll reach your goals. There’s no rush.

Treat Yourself

This is often the hardest tip for new mothers to follow. You’re up all hours of the night, you’re feeding your wee one on demand, and you’re changing upwards of 10 diapers a day. Sure, it’s rewarding, but who has time for a “treat”?

You should try to make that time. Even if it’s a 10 minute bath while the baby is napping for a few moments, or some solitary time with a guilty-pleasure magazine; it makes a big difference. If you work a few simple “treats” into your routine, you’ll start to feel like yourself sooner rather than later.

Sleep (as much as possible)

The biggest cliché there is about parenting, of course, is the sleep deprivation. This is another tip that might sound impossible, but will be well-worth it if you find a way to make it happen. If you can’t follow the old adage “sleep when the baby is sleeping”, don’t be afraid to ask for a nap. Have your partner take the lead for a little while, or recruit a close friend or family member (a lot of loved ones are more than willing to help out with a new baby, but you have to ask).

You might not be able to get the full 7-8 hours a day that you once enjoyed, but even an extra hour here or there can make a big difference to your overall well-being.

Reconnect

Though you’re sure to be busy with your new little girl or guy, don’t forget about the other things or people in your life that you love. If you used to attend a book club once a month, try to make the meetings. If you and your partner have a weekly movie tradition, try to keep it (though you might have to move the session to your leaving room). You won’t be able to do everything exactly the way you used to, but rediscovering old habits and passions can help you cultivate a sense of balance as a new parent.

Last but not least  

The most important tip of all for a new parent is to cut yourself some slack! Now, more than ever, moms are expected to be superheroes that raise their children by the book. The vast majority of us mere mortals, however, won’t be able to do everything exactly how we envisioned. This is okay. If you approach your new role with a sense of self-forgiveness, the remaining big changes won’t seem quite so daunting.

Resent research indicates that 50% of the world’s population are men.  Whether they admit it or not, all men like to look and feel good; and while they may not admit it, men are often intimidated going into salons to seek the services they want.  If your salon is not actively marketing and providing services to men, you are missing out on a huge financial opportunity.  Men want a place that provides the beauty services they desire, and they are willing to pay top dollar for these services.  Here are some tips to make your salon more appealing to the “other 50%”:

Hire a Professional Barber

Men do not want a hairdresser, they want a barber.  Stemming from the Latin barba, or “beard”, a barber is a person who cuts and shaves the hair of men.  While there is really nothing precluding a barber from cutting women’s hair, barbers are often up to speed on fashionable men’s cuts, including:

• Military Cuts
• High and Tight Cuts
• Flat Tops
• Fades

Offer Straight Razor Service

Few cosmetic services are more appealing to men than the classic straight razor shave; in addition to looking great, it is a relaxing, therapeutic service.  Most all straight razor shaves are required to be provided by state licensed barbers and follow a similar process:

• Steaming hot towel on the face to soften whiskers
• Facial massage with a cleanser designed to open pores and further soften whiskers
• Re-apply the hot towel
• Application of warm shaving cream
• First shave with straight razor, hot towel and second application of shaving cream
• Second shave
• Cold towel to close pores
• Application of Toner and Aftershave

Most straight razor shaves take roughly 15-20 minutes and cost between $20 and $30 dollars.  In addition to straight razor services, consider mustache and beard trimming, coloring and waxing.

Facials

Facials designed to relive stress and make men look and feel younger are appealing, but intimidating to men.   Combined with a trip to the barber for a hair cut and shave, facials tend to become less intimidating and more appealing.  Often, men need to be reassured the service is not feminine, and intended to relive stress and improve health and self-esteem.

MANicures and pedicures

The condition of most men’s finger and toenails are not pretty.  Professional fingernail and toenail grooming for men not only improve the look of hands and feet, it is also a sanitary and relaxing process.  Feet and hand massages are nice touches to complete the service.

Massage, acupuncture, hair coloration, body waxing and hair removal are other services that are just waiting to be marketed to men.  Draw men to your business by offering Men’s Night, Couples Night or Date Night at your salon.  The salon and cosmetic industry markets 90% of their product and service towards women.  Take your salon to the next level by marketing your products and services to men, the other 50%.

In analyzing the demand for health practitioners as a whole, it is opportune to question our individual motivation. Why have you decided to join the community of wellness professionals?

If you’re fresh out of licensing school, it’s easy to understand your drive to begin your wellness business. But what brought you to hit the books? Where did that spark come from that has ignited your work’s passion?

Perhaps you have been practicing for so many years, that you’ve forgotten what brought you here in the first place. Take this time to reflect on your original inspiration.

As I sought the answers to my own quest for healthiness, I began to ask around to other practitioners in my area. I interviewed not only fellow yoga instructors, but also massage therapists, chiropractors and nutrition consultants. Despite the diversity of wellness fields, through their stories I began to identify and weave a common thread.

Before getting started in the health industry, they wore many different hats. Most had traditional 9-5 desk jobs. One used to be a cushy banker, another was a sweaty factory worker. Now they are united through their desire to help others be healthy.

Yet each one arrived here in a unique way. You may have walked alongside them at one point in your path to the wellness practice. Or you may have a completely different story to share on why you got started.

When frustrations arise, as they certainly will, or when your optimism and energy levels flounder, as they occasionally do, in your daily practice, think back to the days leading up to the start of your practice. Remembering our initial inspiration will help us maintain that motivation and stay passionate.

Q: What inspired you to start your wellness business?

A: Received treatment

A job well done brings you personal satisfaction, repeat clients, good pay and positive referrals—but it also may dramatically turn someone’s life around. Admiration of a job well done is what has inspired many working professionals to completely change their career.

Dr. Scott Andersen was a banker who went in for a back injury and came out a chiropractor.

Sarah Ripperger suffered from sore muscles and felt tight from her demanding factory work. She got a massage and “thought it felt so great, I wanted to do it myself.”  Now a massage therapist, at the time she “didn’t know the benefits, it just felt good.” There’s no need to overwhelm your patients with technical details, just make them feel good!

Dr. Beau Browne was a star point guard on his college basketball team. He went to a chiropractor for a tight low back in the beginning and felt better for the rest of the season. Asking himself, “how can someone push and poke and make me feel better?” Beau decided to change colleges and now does chiropractic work for other athletes.

A: Read a book

Your body may be in top condition, but your mind can always use extra stimulation. Fuel your brain, and your body, by picking up a good book.

For Kelly Lawson, it changed her career. She was already teaching other exercise classes, and her supervisor had been on her case to teach yoga too. She picked up a copy of Journey Into Power by Baron Baptiste, and confidently made her decision. Kelly now incorporates the power yoga vinyasas she learned in the book in her new job as a yoga instructor.

A: Asked to teach

Anne McCullough Kelley was also asked to teach yoga, not by a boss but by friends. “When people learned I practice yoga, they asked me ‘would you teach’?”  Her friends became her clients, for they convinced her to take training and is now a fully certified yoga instructor.

Share your passions with your friends, and what was once just a hobby can turn into a full-blown career.

A: Led to serve

If you volunteer your time and energy, it is because you are passionate enough to want to share your ability. That altruistic drive is what motivates many wellness professionals, as they are drawn to help others.

Dawn Core first reached out to her mother, and she spurred her on to give geriatric massage to folks at the hospital and in hospice. ” I wanted to serve, to give people a healing type of touch.” Dawn is now a paid massage therapist.

A: Wanted to help

Dr. James Punke decided to become a chiropractor because “people were hurting, and I want to help them feel better.” There is “too much to do in life to let pain slow you down, to suffer ailments that you don’t have to suffer from.” He wanted to help in the health field, to help naturally.  Reflecting at the end of the day, “what better way to go home, knowing you made people feel better, that their life is better.”