Even on the most expensive exercise equipment, despite the lights and gizmos, it’s generally impossible to forget that you’re still sweating, breathing hard and working nearly every muscle in your body. It’s much easier to sit back on the couch and play a video game.

That’s why exergaming, which weds video game technology with keeping fit, is poised to become the next gold mine for exercise-minded entrepreneurs. It may not be everywhere yet, but give it time.

In homes, people of all ages are exergaming enough that the California Athletic Trainers’ Association recently put out a warning that overdoing it can leave participants with sports-related injuries similar to those experienced by traditional athletes. In gym classes at schools across the nation, stationary bicycles are attached to PlayStation video game consoles, Nintendo Wii game stations are linked to wide-screen TVs, and then there’s Dance Dance Revolution, a popular dance video game, which took off in Japan in 1998 and has spread to the rest of the world.

And in some gyms, exergaming equipment isn’t merely an offering; it’s the focus.

Mike Hansen, 30, and Kevin Bolden, 37, are two pioneers of the pastime, not to mention competitors. Hansen and his business partner, Lenny Lowenstein, 52, own iTech Fitness, headquartered in Denver, which produces exergaming equipment, such as the XR Board that simulates snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing, and licenses its XRKade name to 24 clubs. The gyms, which are aimed at the tween and teen market, let exergamers track how many goals they can score during Goalie Wars or how many knockouts they can rack up during Power Boxing.

Meanwhile, Bolden and his wife, Suzanne, own NexGym, a chain of three fitness centers in Texas, which is also marketing to children. Along with traditional karate and yoga classes, kids can play seven high-tech games, ranging from combat challenges to wall climbing, intended to get them in shape and improve their hand-eye coordination.

At a time when parents are more concerned than ever about their children getting enough exercise, this niche is likely to continue growing. “Childhood obesity is a global phenomenon,” says Bolden. “I expect that eventually you will see capabilities in most schools, as well as in convenient locations–malls, shopping centers. Eventually the large fitness facilities will target the same 6-to14-year-old kids [that we target].”

Hansen concurs that the exergaming industry has a lot of room to expand. In 2008, he expects to license XRKades to more than 100 additional gyms and envisions increasingly chasing the adult market as well. “The average video gamer is 30 years old, and 19 percent of the gaming audience is over 50,” says Hansen. “The 13 million baby boomers will affect a lot of the thought and process that goes into what we’re doing.”

Hansen also has seen interest from executives at large companies, eager to get their employees’ exercise habits up and their health insurance costs down. Besides, adults want just as badly as children to make exercise fun. “Everyone’s so engaged with these games, they don’t realize that their heart rate is going up, and that they’re burning up calories,” says Hansen.

These days, you can easily immerse yourself in a game and forget that you’re not actually boxing, skiing or snowboarding. But the potential for virtual adventures goes far beyond sports. Expresso Fitness, which makes a stationary bike that uses virtual reality, already has released Proving Grounds, a bicycle game in which the rider is cycling through a fantasy world. Cyclists chase dragons, score points and can completely forget that they’re exercising. And because the stationary bikes are linked to the internet, the games can be updated and retooled through downloads.

The more dragons chased and the more Wii boxing and bowling, the better, says fitness guru John Hayley, president of Hayley Fitness Consulting in Chicago. “The competition of the game allows them to get lost in the moment,” he says. “All of the sudden, when the game is over, they find themselves dripping in sweat and can’t believe how hard they worked. It gets people to do something, which is far better than the alternative.” Concerned parents and gym owners would agree.

Herbal Remedies is where you can buy herbal remedies, vitamins, natural medicines, nutritional supplements, herbal supplements, diet pills, weight loss pills and many more herbal products.

Herbal Remedies have been used for thousands of years. The Western world is just waking up to their effectiveness.Herbal Remedies offer safe, natural remedies that are remarkably effective for maintaining health Explore the healing power of herbal remedies and the joys of natural healing.

Learn more about herbal products today at AskWellness.com.

About the Author
J. Ratliff is an article writer. This article may be reproduced as long as all links stay intact.

Alpha Lipoic acid is a special antioxidant that recycles both vitamins C and E in the human body. This is helpful to many age related diseases.

Avena Sativa is an extract for sexual health and vigor, also known by the name “green oats”
Bee Pollen is a substance produced by bees when they pollinate flowers. It’s a great energy and immune system booster, and can be used as a weight loss aid.

Beta Sitosterol is a substance used for prostate health. More powerful then saw palmetto, this nutrient occurs in plant and vegetable matter.

CoQ10 is a nutrient, short for Coenzyme Q10 that is used in heart health and anti aging.

DMAE is a special nutrient that is known to increase mental function, as well as being known for elevating moods and fighting depression.

Dong Quai is a root remedy that many women take to help fight menopausal symptoms

.
Epimedium, also known as Horny Goat’s Weed, increases the body’s testosterone and can be used to help the libido.

Fish oil is a naturally occurring chemical in the bodies of fish that contains omega 3 fatty acids that work wonders for mental and physical health.

Lutein is a carotenoid nutrient that helps eye health, curbing macular degeneration. Royal Jelly is a nutrient found in the hives of bees. It has a broad range of vitamins and nutrients that can help keep your body working in tip top shape.

Wild Yam is a root remedy that helps curb menopausal symptoms.

Now that you know some of the basic herbs and remedies that go along with supplements, you can help yourself with choosing the ones that are right for you. If you are on any medications, it is best to ask a doctor before beginning a supplement regimen.

About the Author
John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com
An updated website and blog dedicated to quality nutrition.

Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by abnormal lung condition in which accumulation of mucus in the lungs is found. Natural asthma remedies are the most preferred way of treating asthma since the conventional methods of treatment for asthma may have a lot of side effects.

Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness are some of the symptoms caused by the narrowing or obstruction of the airways. Airway inflammation, a condition which makes the airways in the lungs turn red, swollen and narrow is one of the causes of narrowing or obstruction of the airways.

Herbal asthma aid is a natural product that is formulated with the medicinal herbs which is one of the most effective natural asthma remedies. Garlic, ginger and mustard are said to prevent the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and hence these are taken as natural asthma remedies. Herbs such as licorice have the tendency to expel the mucus from the lungs. This is used to clear the lung of mucus accumulation.

The ingredients of these products contain the herbs like Elecampane, Ginger, Garlic, Mustard and Licorice. The herbs mentioned above have medicinal properties that appose asthma symptoms. Licorice is an herb that clears the mucus accumulation from the lungs. If the patient is having high blood pressure he should not use licorice separately.

Before choosing any herbal remedy for asthma the patient has to consult a doctor to perform several diagnostic tests to confirm that he is having asthma. After the confirmation the patient can choose an herbal remedy for asthma in consultation with the doctor. The choice of the remedy depends on the condition of the patient.

Most of the people prefer an herbal remedy for asthma as it is known fact that they are more effective on a person without any side effects. It is the choice of a patient to choose an herbal remedy for asthma in consultation with a medical practitioner. They should consult a doctor before taking up any herbal remedy for asthma. Visit : http://www.natural-treatment-guide.com/asthma/herbal-remedies-for-asthma.html or http://www.natural-treatment-guide.com/asthma/herbal-remedy-for-asthma.html for more information about Asthma prevention.

** Attention Webmasters / Site owners ** You can reprint this article on your website as long as you do not modify any of the content, and include our resource box as listed above with all links intact and hyperlinked properly.

When the immune system in our body finds or realizes anything as foreign to the body, it immediately releases some antibodies like histamines to fight against the foreign substance. This causes inflammation which is called allergy in our body.

There are many natural remedies for allergies available. Although natural remedies are easily available without prescription, it is better to consult a doctor before to take up any medicine as a remedy for allergies.

When a person is taking natural remedies or any other medicines for allergies, it is better to concentrate on the environment in which they live. Avoid moist environments. Moist environments aid the growth of molds that are one of the causes of allergies. Cleanliness of the beds and the carpet plays an important role in treating allergies. Food restrictions also help in treating the allergies well. Certain types of foods should be avoided and certain foods can be taken. A proper nutritional supplement to aid the treatment is also recommended.

Foods like wheat and chocolates cause allergy symptoms like headaches which can also be migraine in nature. Hay fever, hives, childhood allergies, asthma, and eczema are also caused by such foods. Garlic and Onion can be taken daily to treat allergies. It is found that these herbs contain Quercitin which is effective in curing allergies. This is found to reduce the production of histamine that causes allergies in us. Green tea extract which is rich in phytonutrients is used to ward off cellular attacks. It is an excellent anti bacterial and is used to cut down the cholesterol level and to regulate the blood sugar.

Bromelain is used to assist in digestion of vegetable protein. Papain contains an enzyme that breaks down protein is effective in curing allergies. The acidic stage of the allergic reactions can be controlled effectively with Magnesium (Citrate). This is also used in treating asthma which has strong bonding with allergies. Calcium (Citrate) which balances the acid and the alkaline levels in our body is good in curing allergies. Calcium also reduces the production of histamine in our body.

Air filters and dehumidifiers can be used to prevent mold that is present in the humid environments. It is known that onions, garlic, and citrus fruits contain natural antihistamines. Having these would help you prevent and cure allergies. Natural nasal rinses are also available for treating allergies. Allergy can be controlled with the help for a proper diet. You have to note down the food items that are taken by you. Avoiding certain foods and taking some foods would help you in controlling the allergies.

Certain food supplements would also help in treating allergies positively. Natural antihistamines are taken to control allergy. You should know that the histamine released by our immune system is responsible for the allergic reaction. It is also better to know what leads to allergies. It is found that in babies the eating habits during the first year play an important role in a baby’s sensitivity to allergy. Lack of breast feeding and feeding babies with solid food too early may lead to such conditions.

** Attention Webmasters / Website Owners **

You can reprint this article on your website as long as you do not modify any of the content, and include our resource box as listed below with all links intact and hyperlinked properly.

About the Author

Visit http://www.natural-treatment-guide.com/allergy/home-allergy-remedies.html to learn more about treating allergy naturally.