Its effects may be gradual, but yoga, when practiced regularly, will rock your mind, body and spirit.

Why Yoga?

The longer you go without stretching, repeating the same basic muscle movements every day, the more likely you will lose your range of motion and be unable to move freely.  Yoga can help balance your body and keep it free of aches of pains.  Even women in nursing homes who regularly participate in yoga classes have fewer complaints of aches & pains than women who are sedentary.  It has also been proven to reduce medication requirments in those with asthma and has long been know to be more effective than splinting patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.  If you have arthritis in your hands, you can reduce tenderness, pain during activity, and improve range of motion.

One of the major benefits of yoga is its effect on anxiety.  Because yoga practice involves breathing and meditation, yoga practitioners are more likely to be calmer and less likely to react negatively to outside circumstances.

Getting Started in Yoga

First you need to do a little research and decide which type of yoga will best suit your personality, lifestyle and current level of fitness.  I have taken yoga classes at yoga studios and at the gym, and I also have several yoga tapes for home practice.  I enjoy both and choose whatever works best for my schedule and mood.  I use my tapes every morning before breakfast.   AllegroMedical.com’s most popular yoga DVD is Everyday Yoga – Hips and Knees DVD.   It includes 5 different daily yoga practices that can be performed Monday through Friday, to keep it fresh.

Note to those who think they can’t do it:  Even after practicing yoga for years I am by no means a pro at this, and if I can do it, anyone can.  It’s how it makes me feel that keeps me going.  I’ll never be able to bend like a pretzel, but hey, I do what I can and that’s enough.  Remember, it’s called yoga ‘practice’.

To find a class in your area, check out the Yoga Journal Directory or your local paper.  If you’re just starting out, a hatha or vinyasa class would probably be best.   You can try other ones down the line.  I have friends that swear by the “hot yoga” classes. 

Yoga Equipment, Videos and Clothing

Yoga Mats - Also called sticky mats.  You can sometimes rent or use a mat at a yoga studio or gym, but really you will want your own mat for hygiene reasons.

Yoga Starter Kit - This has everything a beginning yoga student needs, including yoga blocks, a tote bag to take to class, a sticky mat, straps and a postures poster for reference.  You can also buy these essential yoga props, yoga foam blocks, yoga straps, a yoga mat and a small pillow or blanket separately.

Yoga Balls - Besides the essentials, there are some fun exercise balls and a FitBall Yoga DVD you might want to try at home. 

See all Yoga Videos/DVDs

See all Exercise Books and Videos

Pants – A pair of shorts or sweatpants will do, but you might look for special yoga pants that are fitted but give full range of motion.  Some are fitted at the top but slit at the bottom so you can check your alignment.

See all Yoga Equipment

See all Exercise/Fitness

The effects on your body from yoga are quite different that those you’ll find from traditional exercise.  Yoga is slow, dynamic, static.  Effort is minimized and awareness is internal.  The parasympathetic nervous system and the sucortical regions of the brain dominates.  Traditional  exercise is the opposite.  It involves maximum effort, muscle tension, cortical brain domination, forceful movements and external awareness.  Yoga carries a low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments.  Less so with exercise.

If you can, do both.  If you want to get started on something that will unite your mind, body and spirit.  Something that helps you find harmony, then I suggest yoga.

Namaste (I bow to you).

For me, worry manifests itself in racing thoughts or “mind chatter”.  It happens at night, mostly, when I’m trying to sleep or early morning when I’m having lucid dreams.  It drives me crazy when I’m having a totally irrational dream and I keep having it over and over again.  It usually means I need to face the problem and deal with it.  But what do you do when you just can’t stop thinking about your situation or problem?   Here are a few things that work for me:

1.  Stretch and Breathe.  I know it may sound hokey, but I’m telling you it’s changed my life.  Get yourself a DVD – I have several but the one I started with is AM/PM Yoga for Beginners.   You can get this used (1998 VHS)  for under $2 bucks on Amazon.  You’ll can also get more updated versions as well as DVDs for stretches for bad backs, weight loss, abs, etc.  Do it every day and you’ll start feeling calmer, among other things.  Your mind will be on the exercises and not on your problems.  Many workouts include at least a few minutes of meditation and breathing exercises.  The morning yoga tape only takes 15 minutes and it’s a great way to start your day.  Need some gear?  Get a Yoga Starter Kit (my favorite) or see all of Allegro Medical’s Yoga Equipment.  Need something more concrete?  See 10 Products to Help you Relax.

2.  Get into nature.  Go outside and walk around.  Plant something or dig around in the dirt.  Go to the park and sit in the grass or swing on the swingset.  Get out of the city if you can.  Reconnecting with the earth does wonders for your psyche.

3.  Focus on things you can control.  Most of our worry is wasted on things we can’t control, or things that never come to fruition.  Read Managing Stress: Practical Advice from a Pro.  This article will also help you become a constructive problem solver.   

4.  Find your safe harbor.  I use this type of visualization when I’m having trouble sleeping because of racing thoughts or recurring dreams.  It’s all about having a place to visit, in your mind, whenever you want to relax.  It might be a warm beach, a field of flowers (that’s mine but I’ll share) or a sidewalk cafe in Paris.  Whatever.  Whenever you need to escape you just close your eyes and visualize it. 

5.  Meditate.  Okay, this may actually happen for some people.  You sit down and just be quiet and have a matra or you do breathing exercises, etc.  But unless I have someone making me do it, I don’t.  If this is you, I suggest you go to a class or listen to a tape or something while you’re doing it.  I’m all for it, I just never can get myself to stick with it.  Let me know how it works for you.

6.  Be nice.  Turning your focus to others ALWAYS makes you feel better and stops the mind chatter.  Go a step further and help out with a local charity.  Just find one that you fancy and call them to see if they need any help!  A few hours of doing nice things for other people can completely change the way you look at your situation.  Even simple acts of kindness or random acts of kindness make you feel better.  Start by saying something nice to the next person you see. 

Bonus:  When I can’t get a song out of my head, I break the cycle by singing a foreign tune.  Freres Jacques is a popular one, but anything foreign will do.

Ahhhhh…. Ommmmm….  Hmmmmm….

Check out our most popular stress relievers:

1.  Spa-N-A-Box Portable Whirlpool Spa - Perfect for just you, a couple, or the whole family.  Accommodates 4-5 people.  Put it on your deck, patio or even inside your house, cabin or apartment.  Sets up in 20 minutes and plugs into a regular outlet.  You’ll have your own heated spa at a fraction of the cost of a traditional hot tub.  We sell a ton of these.

2.     Ergo Beads Hand Exerciser & Stress Ball - A stress ball for the stress ball.  Sometimes you just need something to hold onto, right?  In fact, doing something physical often gets your mind off your worries.  For $6 bucks its worth it to find out.  If nothing else, you’ll have a stronger hand.

3.     Deluxe Handheld Shower Massager- They’ll call you pruney after a week with this thing.  You’ll never want to get out of the shower!  The cool thing about this particular shower head is its tangle-free, extra-long 84″ hose lets you sit or even lay down in the shower or tub.  Spray all your nooks and crannies and get a massage as well, with the three spray options.

4.    Hand Rollers – For Cutaneous Stimulation – Use the large roller for broad areas to help your body deal with stress, increased blood flow, stiff joints, sore muscles, back & neck pain and headaches.  The small one is for your face, ears, between the fingers & toes.  Stimulates the meridian or acupuncture points on the body.

5.    Dr. Riter’s Real-Ease Neck & Shoulder Relaxer - I haven’t tried this product yet, but it’s selling like crazy and getting great reviews.   It is a patented, scientifically contoured headrest designed to let you deeply relax.  Kick back and use it for 10 to 15 minutes a day.  Forced relaxation…  Sign me up!

6.      Eye Pillow with ergoBeads- Like I always say, everything is better with ergoBeads.  Freeze it for headaches and sinus relief.  Or how about wearing it during your 10 minutes on Dr. Riter’s Neck & Shoulder Relaxer?  Huh? Huh? That’s what I call doubly relaxing.  Want silk?  Try Dr. Riter’s Silk Eye Pillow

7.      Spine Worx Back Support Alignment System - This is more of a back pain reliever than a total stress reliever, but if you’re like me, you carry your stress in your lower back and neck.  The Spine Worx definately works out the kinks.  It’s all about proper alignment.  It feels weird and not very comfortable at first, but you get used to it quickly and it feels like heaven.  Another very popular product.

8.      Travel Wal-Pil-O – If you travel a lot, this 4-in-1 cervical pillow will make your trips a whole lot more comfortable.  Properly aligns and supports your neck whether you’re a side-sleeper or a back sleeper.  Read Bed Check for Better Sleep for more ideas.

9.    Fitball Stress Buster Ball - Be careful not to say it wrong…  Okay, so, if you move around on this knobby ball and it gives you a massage!  You can improve circulation, reduce stress and relax muscles at the same time.  Just lean against the wall with the ball sandwiched in the middle and move around until you feel your muscles relax.  Outstanding! 

10.    Allegro Medical Lomi-Lomi Massager- Bring out the big guns baby and have yourself a REAL massage with Allegro’s own Lomi-Lomi.  Maintenance free and economical, this will keep the whole family in a state of bliss.

See All Stress Relievers in our Shop by Condition area.  If you’re looking for some other kinds of relief, check out our Sexual Well-Being area. 

We wish you the best in your quest for relaxation.  For the latest advice in stress relief therapy read Managing Stress: Practical Advice from a Pro.  Not sure if you’re stressed?  Take the Stress Test!

Thanks for being an Allegro customer.  Take care!  -v

Most of us already implement stress reduction techniques- some helpful, and some harmful.  Examples of helpful stress management are exercising, meditation, prayer, massage and visiting friends, to name but a few. On the other hand, at the same time, we engage in gossip, develop a cover your own butt attitude, obsess, over-eat/drink/smoke/gamble – all not helpful stress management techniques.

How do we determine if our stress management techniques are helpful or harmful?  Someone in one of my seminars said a six-pack is helpful but a 12-pack is harmful.  Exactly!  I usually ask myself three questions to determine if it is a good way to deal with something or not.

1) Does it calm me down = increase a sense of peace?

2) Does it make me feel good about myself?

3) Does it lead to action?

If your stress management activities do any or all of these three things, it is probably helpful.  Let’s take the example of “talking to someone”.  It really depends.  Some people will just rile you up some more, while others have the ability to calm you down.  Some get you fretting about things you have no control over, while others motivate you to do something for someone else.  We also tend to keep doing the same thing over and over, not stopping to see if it is helpful or harmful. Try to check in with yourself and ask yourself if your actions are helping or hurting.

We all function within a big circle of concern (things that impact us) and a much smaller circle of control (things we impact).  If I spend my stress management time in the big circle of concern (things that I have no control over), I tend to obsess, worry and see doom and gloom. Think of it as an anti clockwise energy drain – it spins around its own axel. On the other hand, no matter how small the action that I take, if I function in the circle of control, I will feel better about myself. If you can not drum up enough energy to do something for yourself, do something for somebody else. It will allow you to feel good about yourself and, once again, it is action.

However, if things are getting out of control, contact someone for help. Help can be practical, action oriented help such as budget creating, or peace oriented help such as speaking to a counselor. There are many free resources at the moment to help you deal with your stress. Make use of it! It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of activity which is, in itself, stress reducing. And, if all else fails… remember the old adage… “this too shall pass.”

- Marita Klein

About the Author:  Marita is an organizational development consultant who has helped many private and organizational clients live the lives they want through her forthright, no nonsense approach to management and life. She has a Ph.D. in organizational psychology and has worked effectively as executive coach and consultant in South Africa, Canada and the US. She can be contacted at:  maritaklein (at) cox (dot) net.

A couple weeks ago I had just popped the pill when it struck me that I hadn’t checked my BP in a while.  I took it and it was 91/59.  Woah!  Yikes!  I called my doc and got an appointment for a couple days later, and in the meantime I was told to monitor it and not take the medication if it was too low.  It was mostly normal-to-low the next day.  The night before my appointment it was running really, really low – like 87/54.  Freaked me out a little. 

At the doctor’s office, they took my blood pressure while I was lying down, standing up, sitting up – about 3 times and confirmed it was running normal-to-low.  I showed them the readings from my home wrist monitor which keeps results in its memory.  They were amazed at the readings and said I was officially off the Diovan but I needed to keep an eye on it and see them in a month.   I was totally excited (don’t get too excited, Valerie), but danged if I know what caused the change. 

Four years ago, my blood pressure was consistently in the 160s, 170s and over 90s and 100s.  It was kindof a fluke that we discovered this so I suggest that if you don’t have yours checked regularly, no matter how old you are, you at least get an inexpensive home unit.  I was 42 years old and in good shape.  No family history.  No signs of a problem.  As is my nature, I fought against traditional BP medication and my doc tried salt pills and beta blockers instead – but they weren’t working.  Then, I had to go into the hospital for an unrelated outpatient surgery and my BP clocked in at 207/107 so they had to admit me.  They put me in the telemetry wing to monitor my heart and after a bunch of tests they couldn’t find any reason for such high blood pressure.  So they brought it down with strong drugs, did my surgery and released me with an Rx for Diovan. 

My doctor said it’s called essential or primary hypertension when the they are unable to find a specific cause.  She said it was probably stress and reminded me of my “extreme lifestyle”.  

I pulled out the big guns and resolved to lower my stress.  To see what I did, read 15 Stress Tips that Could Save Your Life.

The only other thing that might be helping are my spinal adjustments.  In fact, my chiropractor, Dr. Mike, is taking full credit for lowering my blood pressure.  At first I just laughed, thinking he wasn’t serious, but he was dead serious.  

I started seeing him to help ease occasional spasms in my back.  No more than 8 treatments later, I’m off my blood pressure meds.  Coincidence?  Maybe, but honestly it is the only really significant change I’ve made in my life recently.  His name is Dr. Mike Henriksen, Spinal Correctionn Center, tel. 480-460-1177. 

He said that lower blood pressure due to his treatments are not uncommon. It has to do with my atlas bone (1st cervical vertabrae) coming into alignment.  In fact, he’s helped people get off all kinds of medications.  I’m sure if you called his office he, or his assistant Kathy, would be happy to explain.  He uses his patented Turbo Drop Table to make the adjustments and doesn’t “crack” your back or neck (he says crack kills).  Dr. Mike is world-renowned and trains chiropractors all over the world so maybe one of his trainees is near you.  Plus, he’s a really nice guy.

But I digress.

All I know is that I must be doing something right.  Whether it’s the yoga, the hiking, the multi-vitamins, the spinal adjustments or the happy, healthy life I’m leading, I can’t say.   Perhaps it is the alien visit I had last month . . . kidding . . .

I’ll be writing a series of stress-relief blogs over the next week, so if you want to take control of your stress - stay tuned!  Don’t know if you’re stressed?  Take the Stress Test.

It may be time for a new pillow for several reasons.  Here’s a really good one . . . it is probably crawling with fungi and buggies.  Yes, it’s true.  The journal “Allergy”, published in 2006, says that pillows as young as 18 months old contained up to 47 different kinds of fungi!  The researchers found about four to 16 fungi species per pillow, with synthetic pillows having more.  In that case, if you have allergies or asthma, your pillow is probably not helping matters.   Besides, it’s gross.  Consider tossing your old pillows and replacing them with a new fungus free or anti-microbial pillows.  While you’re at it, you might as well choose your pillows according to the most important criteria:  how you sleep.

At AllegroMedical.com we display about 70 bed pillows in our Pillows category.  To save you the trouble, I’ve separated them according to sleep type and specialty pillows.  I’m searching for the perfect pillow myself, so I’m hoping this endeavor will bear fruit for us all.  

 The perfect pillow will keep your head aligned right on top of your shoulders when lying down – not too far to either side, or up and down.  Therefore, the thickness of your pillow is important, depending on how you sleep.  Think you need the biggest, longest, fluffiest, most expensive pillow every made?  Au contraire.   In fact, pillows that are too dense, fluffy or wide merely create tension in your neck and shoulders.

Pillows by Sleep Type

Side Sleeper Pillows are lofty and thick so they keep your head staight by filling in the space between your head and shoulders.   Our most popular pillow, the Better Sleep Pillow was originally designed for side sleepers, but it also works great for back sleepers and stomach sleepers because of it’s mult-positional, multi-functional contoured design.   This is also true of our Sleepmatterzzz Dual-Valve Cervical Pillow, a super popular pillow with 5 star reviews.  See all Sleepmatterzzz pillows.

Back Sleeper pillows are designed so that when you are lying on your back your head stays neutral – perfectly aligned with your spine, sitting squarely on your shoulders.   We have several pillows that support both side and back sleepers by automatically adjusting as your sleeping position changes.  If you alternate between your back and your side (or your side and your stomach) be sure to get one that works in multiple positions.  

Stomach sleepers are just weird.  Okay, that’s what I tell my stomach sleeper boyfriend Todd anyway.  Seriously, though, experts say it is not the best way to sleep because if your bed is soft and you use a pillow, then you are not keeping your head neutral.  But if you must sleep on your stomach then please use a specially designed pillow, a very thin pillow or no pillow at all.  The Sleepmatterzzz Dual-Valve Cervical Pillow would be perfect for sleepers who switch from their side to their stomach. 

Specialty Pillows

Allergy-Free Pillows and Covers are a must for allergy sufferers.  We even have an Anti-Allergen Mattress Cover. 

Anti-Snore Pillows:  The Snore-No-More Anti Snoring Pillow is our most popular,  but from reading the reviews, it either works or it doesn’t work at all.  It was featured in Woman’s World Magazine as the “best snoring pillow” though, and it seems to help a lot of people.   See our Snoring Section for all of our anti-snoring products.

Bed Wedges and Body Positioners are ideal for helping your body maintain a comfortable body position while you sleep.  They are often used for post-surgery bedrest , footrest or blank support as well.  The leg/knee wedges and back wedges are especially popular.  You can put them between your knees for side sleeping, or under your knees, or behind your back.

Body Pillows are especially good for side sleepers and pregnant women who like to keep their spines aligned, and circulation going by sleeping with a pillow between their knees.

Cervical Pillows come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all designed to support the neck.   Cervial pillows help relieve pain associated with muscle tension, stress and strain by promoting proper alignment and support.   

Cooling Pillows/Covers are heaven for hot summer nights and hot flashes.   I have two Chillow Pillows that I use all Arizona summer long.  They are super popular and I highly recommend them.   

Water Pillows allow you to personalize your pillow by filling a water pouch inside the pillow for soft, medium or firm support.

You can’t tell what’s going to work until you sleep on it so try to get the one that fits the best with your sleep style.  In my case, I’ve kissed a lot of toads, but I will continue to seek out the perfect pillow.  Even punching and feeling it in a retail store doesn’t make much of a difference. 

See our new category, Beds,  and also read how to retrofit the rest of your bed in my blog Bed Check for Better Sleep.

At least we have a lot of products to choose from, right?  Happy shopping!

-v

Everyone experiences stress and responds to stress differently. How you handle it depending on your physical and mental health at the time. What totally stresses you out might not even faze the next guy.

So, how do you know if you have too much stress, or badly managed stress?

If any of the following situations sound familiar, and you experience them frequently, then you may be headed for some serious health problems.

If some of these things sound just a little too much like you, or someone you love, then it’s time to take action to reduce the stress.

We all experience short term stress once in a while, things like taking a test or giving a speech or trying something new – things that make your heart pound or your palms sweat. As soon as the event is over, though, the physical signs disappear quickly, usually before resulting in serious health consequences.

Then, there are those guaranteed stressors like losing a job, getting married, having a baby, getting divorced, changing jobs, buying a house…. Again, these are usually manageable in the short term but you should definitely incorporate some stress relieving activities to get you through the rough spots.

The real scary problem is your prolonged or long term stress. The constant daily pressures that you “just live with” can be the path to disease and even sudden death.

Here are 15 Stress Tips that Could Save Your Life. Be sure to consult with your doctor as well.

There are also some really great stress reducing products to help you stay on track. Here are Allegro’s 10 Most Popular Stress Relief Products.

Another thing I highly recommend is monitoring your blood pressure at home. It’s super easy and takes, like, a minute.

Hey, we care about you, so do the right thing and take care of yourself and the ones you love. Besides being your one-stop shop for medical supplies we can help you find products by medical condition, including stress. See All Stress Management Products.

As always, we appreciate your business.

1. Exercise. Even a little bit of exercise relieves tension like nothing else. You don’t have to go to the gym or even do anything structured or super strenuous. Walk around the house, the neighborhood, up and down the stairs (or even 1 stair). Get a pedlar exerciser or some hand weights and use them while you’re watching TV. Get a yoga tape or DVD and make it the first thing you do every morning and the last thing you do every night. See your doctor first if you have health issues. See All Exercise Products

2. Get out of the office. You’re not doing yourself, your customers or your boss any favors by working 10 hours a day. Besides, life’s too short.

3. Go to bed in time to get 8 hours of sleep every night. Just do it.

4. Take a vitamin with antioxidants. I also take Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM for my joints. If you have high blood sugar, consult your doctor before taking Glucosamine.

5. Get certified to SCUBA dive and do it as often as possible. Just thinking about it brings my stress level down.

6. Stop eating crap. Go to a nutritionist. Having a sound eating plan will help reduce your stress.

7. Stop dieting. It’s so stressful. Your diet is “what you eat” not “what you do”. Cut the portions if you have to. Have a protein shake for breakfast. When you need some cake, take a bite or two, just not the whole slice. Your body will fight to keep the weight on if you’re stressed.

8. Get regular massages and pedicures. Don’t think of it as a treat, but as a necessity.

9. Don’t lose yourself to your husband/wife/kids/job. Force yourself to go out with the girls, or play an instrument, read books, take classes, get involved in a charity that you love.

10. Learn to say “no”. Try it a few times and you’ll realize that the world doesn’t come to a screeching halt. People will respect you for it.

11. Stop worrying about what other people think. You’d be surprised at how much you’ll relax when you realize that you don’t have to be perfect, or dress perfect, or have a spotless house.

12. Have more sex.

13. Relax as hard as you work as hard as you play. I used think balance was all about playing as hard as I worked. So wrong. You have to add ‘relax’ to the mix.

14. Stop working when you’re on vacation. Leave your computer (or anything else you’re constantly typing stuff into) at home if you have to. Just put it down and walk away. Bliss.

15. Do an honest inventory of the situations, events and people that stress you out. Decide whether they are energy givers or energy zappers. Eliminate or avoid the energy zappers.

Don’t know if you’re stressed? Take the Stress Test!

Here are Allegro’s 10 Most Popular Stress Relief Products.

See All Stress Relief Products.

Take care and as always, thanks for your business.

-v

Don’t know if you’re stressed? Take the Stress Test!

Shop by Medical Condition. See All Stress Relief Products

It’s getting hot in here. Phoenix, that is. Thank goodness for the Chillow Pillow. Regular pillows trap heat, which can make for a really uncomfortable night. The Chillow’s patented technology provides a unique fluid-cool, cushioning memory foam effect that is steady and long lasting. It requires no electricity, is noiseless, non-toxic and requires no refrigeration. Double the effectiveness with the Chillow Pak which includes the original Chillow and the ChillowPlus. I use the regular Chillow under my head and the ChillowPlus under my back or between my knees.

Chillows are perfect for lounging on the couch, relief from hot flashes, headaches or aching muscles. If only it covered my whole bed. And my lawn chair. I wonder if I could just strap one to my butt, for the car…

Hold up. I spoke too soon. No need to craft a ‘sit-upon’ out of your Chillow Pillow when Allegro is offering the Comfy Cruise Self-Cooling Cushion. Perfect for home, office, car or wheelchair use.

And what about Sparky? The Canine Cooler provides the same cooling comfort in a pet bed. If you don’t get one for your pet, guess who’s sharing your Chillow Pillow this summer?

For You Outdoorsy Types

Campers and beach bums: Don’t leave home without the Wheeleez Folding Beach Cart. It hauls up to 165 lbs of gear at a time over sand, soft grass or rough terrain. Use it at home, too, to tote stuff from your garage to your garden, or to move sensitive camera or sound equipment. Adjustable handle. Folds easily for storage. Get the smaller, lighter version, the Mini Beach Cart to move up to 77 lbs of gear at a pop.

Kayakers and Kayak Rental Shops: The Wheeleez Kayak Canoe Cart is about to make a whole lotta lives easier, especially if you’re transporting a large kayak or canoe on the beach. Go for the smaller, lighter Mini Kayak Cart for touring kayaks. It collapses and fits right in most kayak deck hatches. I really need to sell these carts to that kayak rental place we used in Kauai. I know, I’m a wus. But…but…sniff…I got a blood blister AND I scraped the skin off my hand before we even got in the water. Poor baby.

See all of our great Wheeleez Products

Golfers: If you’re serious about improving your golf game, you have to get the Bionic Golf Glove. This high tech glove is based on the anatomy of the hand, eliminating the natural mistakes the hand makes during the golf swing. The intricately placed padding of the Bionic Glove evens out the surface of the hand on the club, which prevents a too tight grip, keeping the hand from easily tiring. Makes a great gift.

Gardeners: Don’t let tired hands prevent you from working in your garden this summer. These do more than keep dirt out of your fingernails. Bionic Gardening Gloves add padding in all the right places to prevent fatigue, and help stop calluses and blisters from forming. Protect your hands and prolong your strength while gardening, with the best thing to come along since Miracle Gro. Try the reinforced Extended Wear Bionic Gardening Glove for heavy gardening and yard work). Men’s and women’s sizes available.

Take a look at Allegro’s whole line of gardening tools and products, all designed to make gardening easier and more fun.

Cast Wearers and the like: Nothing puts the kibosh on a day at the lake like a cast. Not any more! You’re safe to go in the water with the amazing Dry Pro Cast Protector. Keep your arm or leg cast or bandage completely dry while you are swimming or bathing. Dry Pro has the only completely waterproof cast cover in the world, with a patented vacuum system that ensures protection. So jump in! The water’s fine.

Allegro also carries the Dry Pro PICC or IV Line Protector and Full-Leg Prosthesis Cover.
For the shower, try the ShowerSafe Cast and Bandage Protector.

One more thing and I’ll shut up about casts. It’s summer. Casts get itchy and stinky. Please spring for a Cast Cooler.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Hot Tub

Oh…oh…oh… I love these. Check out these bad babies. The Spa2Go Inflatable and Portable Whirlpool Spa and Spa-n-a-Box Portable Spa. Did you ever think you could just put a big ‘ol hot tub anywhere you want? How cool is that?

Your Feet Are Showing

Cool off your hot, tired feet with Neat Feat Cool Foot Spray. Instantly refreshes and energizes your smelly (did I say smelly? I meant sweaty) feet after a long summer day, and keeps them dry.

Get your tootsies ready for summer sandals with a home pedicure. Own your own massaging foot bath and paraffin wax bath (pure heaven) for a salon pedicure at home.

When your feet are all purty slip them into a pair of these super popular Supracor Sandals and let your pampering continue as they massage your feet and absorb shock.

For those required to actually go closed-toed, I suggest you get a new job. If that’s not an option, do yourself, your shoes and your feet a favor and throw a nice pair of Super Feet Insoles in there. You won’t believe how much longer your shoes will last and how great your feet will feel.

Kidding Around

Wouldn’t be summer without kids on bikes, trikes, scooters and pedal cars, now would it? We have a bunch to choose from. Imagine your little princess pedaling in the park in her Pink Lady Pedal Car or your little astronaut zooming around the yard on his Radio Flyer Retro Rocket. Awww. I just want to pinch their chubby cheeks.

While you’re grilling New Yorks in the back yard, watching Bo destroy your flowers with his Hot Rod Pedal Car, go ahead and secure little Ian in his handy dandy Cozy Portable Playard Tent plus Cabana Kit. He won’t be wandering around, playing with dog poo, falling down, getting eaten by bugs, eating bugs. He’ll be secure in his own little see-through UV coated tent with a see-through lid… playing quietly…just like he was told to.

Get Fit, Stay Fit, even on the Road

Tired of coming home from vacation or business trips feeling like a slug because you hadn’t exercised? Keep up your exercise program no matter where you go this summer with an AquaBells Combo Set! Simply fill the 26 ounce super tough dumbbell pouches with water and instantly have up to 16 pounds for each dumbbell. Then empty the AquaBells when it’s time to hit the road. The kit also includes Aqua Bells Ankle Weights that go from 8 ozs when collapsed to 8 lbs when filled with water. Nice.

Another great travel fitness product is the Perfect Pushup Travel Edition. The pushup handles are so small you can put them in your briefcase or backpack, and they have the same great rotating motion as the original Perfect Pushup.

It’s the perfect time of year for outdoor jogging and biking, and now you can bring baby with you on that morning run, with a jogging stroller. I find 4:45 a.m. a nice time to get out in Phoenix in July. Allegro has great pricing on jogging strollers and bike trailers.

If you’re going to ruin your hair and make-up in the pool, you might as well get some exercise. Get a low impact, effective workout with water exercise equipment. Allegro has everything from water weights to underwater treadmills, to complete water exercise kits for men and women. Great for weak, painful or arthritic joints, and to add a twist to your workout routine. Use water’s natural resistance to get your body in shape.

While you’re in there, take your tunes with you with a SwiMP3 Surf Waterproof MP3 Player. Listen to up to 60 songs for up to 10 hours on each charge. PC and Mac compatible. Surf, swim, kayak or just get wet. Your SwiMP3 will stay high and dry while you’re down with your bad self.

Roll in Style

Need a lightweight wheelchair for trips to the zoo, or vacations at the beach? Get a Folding Transport Chair from Allegro. Or, check out this cool 13 lb. Nissin Travel Wheelchair. They’re convenient and comfortable for short trips.

Get ON the beach, in the sand, with a heavy-duty Rolleez All-Terrain Chair. You can also use this cool PVC chair in the park, at the campgrounds and in the snow – anywhere you have difficulty rolling. 250 lb. capacity.

Or, you can use the Wheeleez Monster Beach Cart to get you, your wheelchair, and a bunch of other stuff (up to 400 lbs) across soft sand, soggy grass or any other unstable or uneven surface. Hang out on the beach. Pop a cold one. Chill.

And don’t let your wheelchair stop you from hanging out at the pool. The rust-proof, water-proof Pool Wheelchair is exactly what you need.

Hey, it would be really cool if you ordered some of this stuff NOW. Thanks for your business. We appreciate it. –Val.