...And the Survey Says....

A BIG Thank You to all of you that took the time to fill out our studio survey sheets! We appreciate your honest feedback. We hope to use your feedback to make your time at Conditioning Specialists more comfortable and positive. We hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy the massage we gave you, and if you haven't please give them a call - they will still take the gift certificates.

The number one request from the survey was to have sweat towels at the studio.

Actually, Conditioning Specialists supplies towels to all its clients. We're sorry if you were not made aware of this, but towels can be found in the white storage unit near the back of the studio under the radio.

Here are the Top Seven reasons you love Conditioning Specialists:

7. The welcoming, friendly atmosphere
6. Flexibility of scheduling
5. Personalized attention
4. A non-crowded facility
3. Knowledgeable and professional trainers
2. Challenging workouts
1. And of course, GREAT RESULTS

A few other comments and suggestions we saw:

A/C temperature: Some like it hot, some like it cold, some think it’s just right. We'll continue to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible while you work you're tails off.

Music: This is the number one point of contention at most fitness facilities, so we were happy to hear that most people thought the music was just fine. If you crave your favorite Madonna tune or Rolling Stones song when you sweat it out, bring along a CD; we’re always looking for some good tunes. Hey, we're here all day and appreciate the variety.

Location: Sorry, we can’t move to Goleta (yet!) Maybe someday a second location could be in our future?! Thanks for the complements though!

Conditioning Specialists Clothing Line: This was perhaps the most surprising request. Our trainers will be sporting an amazing fall/winter collection soon!

Group Classes: We have a number of group classes coming down the pipe: hiking group, walking group (starts on Monday), small group classes, a men's bootcamp, indoor circuit, and much more.

More Glossy Photos of Jesse: Coming right up! :)

We'll continue to take your suggestions and improve upon the services we offer you.

Sleep Soundly Tonight

Sleep Soundly Tonight

Your partner snores. Your neighbors are loud. Your pillow is too hard and your mattress is too soft. You have a lot on your mind. Sound familiar? After a long day a plush ensemble of linens and cushions often seems like the ultimate reward. So what happens when our head hits the pillow, the lights go out, and sleep only becomes a distant hope? The answer may lie in the form of three essential supplements: calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

Some of us have adapted to a lack of sleep and consider our energy levels throughout the day as normal even though we are functioning at far less than 100%. Calcium can help remedy this. However, Calcium prevents us from tricking our brains into short bouts of stimulation, and instead lets our minds kick back, relax, and fall into a more restful sleep. It helps produce Melatonin in the brain faster, which slows down the traffic in our nerves, letting the mind and the body take the right kind of R & R before bed. The Calcium stored in our cells can even help regulate the speed that fat is broken down in the rest of the body; more calcium, less body fat! The supplement also helps reduce pain and stiffness, especially in regards to leg cramps, restless legs, and muscle spasms that often keep us up throughout the night.

Where calcium serves as a soothing supplemental blanket at night, magnesium only adds to the warmth. Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system, preventing every little "bump in the night" from sounding like an earthquake. It works with Calcium (which stretches our muscles at night in preparation for the next day) by providing the "relax" sequence of the muscle contraction while we sleep. Without it, our muscles become tense and tight, making us edgy and irritable, and thus, more likely to struggle with sleep. Lack of Magnesium can also alter electrical activity in the brain, causing agitated sleep and frequent awakenings throughout the night.

Our supplemental sanctuary cannot be completed without Zinc. While calcium produces Melatonin, Zinc makes that possible by creating Serotonin, which is necessary for the production of Melatonin. Serotonin is the "happy" piece of our brain, disallowing us from feeling depressed and stuck in an oblivion of insomnia. In addition, low levels of zinc can interfere with the thyroid hormone production, leading to a lower metabolic rate and therefore making it hard to shed body fat.

Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc provide a much better alternative than counting sheep every night, and it is clear that they all work together. Zinc helps produce Serotonin, which allows Calcium to produce Melatonin, which stretches the muscles that Magnesium then allows to relax, while your body burns fat! So kick your shoes off, fluff your pillow, and grab your dreamy supplements to have a sound night and an energized day.

You can find a mixture of the three supplements at many specialty health and nutrition stores as well as at Conditioning Specialists' downtown private training studio.