Monday, January 30, 2012

Back Trouble? 5 Benefits of Zero Gravity

Do you - or someone you love - experience back pain? Maybe something NASA figured out long ago can help. Upon lift-off, an astronaut experiences terrific levels of G-Forces (multiples of the force of gravity). That's why they are on their back, with legs in an elevated position; like sitting in a chair tipped over on its back.
For those of us who are not strapped into a rocket, here are 5 terrific benefits of sitting or lying down the same way, for at least 10 minutes a day:


  1. Relieve Strained Back Muscles

  2. Reduce Stress

  3. Reduce Blood Pressure

  4. Reduce Heart Rate

  5. Improve Blood Circulation
Here at RC Willey, I have helped a lot of customers relieve back pain, by guiding them to the right type of mattress. For those who are looking for all 5 benefits above, I can help with that too, with a mattress equipped with an adjustable foundation, or with a zero-gravity chair. Either solution will get your body into proper position, and deliver.
Keep Smilin'!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Do You Toss and Turn?

The 1999 sleep study performed at the Sleep Disorder Center of Georgia found the following:

  • The average person tosses and turns 40 to 60 times every night.
  • 70% of the time you move, your partner moves within 30 seconds.
  • Partner tossing and turning reduces your deep sleep by 20%

    If reducing motion transfer from one side of the bed to the other is a priority for you, consider a memory foam mattress. These mattresses have no metal in them at all.
    The next best is a pocketed coil mattress. If you're going to have metal in your mattress, make sure the wire is not connected together, wire upon wire.
    The worst is the mattress in which metal springs are wired together. These mattresses transfer a lot of motion side to side.
  • Wednesday, January 18, 2012

    What's Wrong With This Room! Is it Color?


    Even the untrained eye has training. We may not be trained to understand why or why not things look good, but nature seems to always get it right. Whether it's a mountain forest, or a red-rock desert, nature produces beautiful colors, patterns, and textures that work perfectly together. In your room, it's you - not Mother Nature - that makes those choices.

    This post is about color.

    Color Definitions:
    Hue: another word for color
    Tint: Adding white to a color
    Tone: Adding gray to a color
    Shade: Adding black to a color
    Value: Lightness or darkness of a color
    Cool Colors: Greens, Blues, Violets (also called receding colors)
    Warm Colors: Reds, Oranges, Yellows (also called advancing colors)

    Color Effects:
    Receding colors tend to enlarge spaces.
    Advancing colors tend to shrink spaces.
    A Complementary combination uses any two colors directly opposite on the color wheel.
    A Split Complementary combination uses a "main" color, and the two adjacent colors to its complement.
    Related or Analogous colors are any three to five adjacent colors on the color wheel.

    Color scheming is not just about selecting colors you like; it's also about color schemes that create the effects you like.

    Unified Scheme
    If you want to make small spaces feel larger, use a unified scheme. Use the same background color throughout the house, and introduce variety by using several tints (lighter) and tones (deeper) for furnishings. Going from room to room, you can also use different accent colors. Use varying textures to make it more interesting.

    Positive/Negative Scheme
    One room uses a dark background and light accents. The next room uses a light background and dark accents. Use different amounts of each in these rooms to make it more dramatic.

    Tips
    • To make a room look bigger, use light cool colors. Paint all surfaces the same color. Match upholstery to the floor. Use contrasting textures to make it more interesting.
    • To make an average-sized room feel more cozy, use medium-tone, warm neutrals.
    • To square off a long, rectangular room, use deeper, warm neutrals on long walls, and lighter, cooler tins on shorter walls.
    • If a room has varying heights, such as a basement with its duct work, paint the dropped ceiling the same color as the wall. Paint the raised ceiling white, or a light contrasting color. The dropped ceiling will seem to disappear.
    Comments and questions are invited.

    Keep Smilin'!

    Thursday, January 5, 2012

    Sleeping with Dust Mites?

    Dust Mites are microscopic arachnids (like spiders, scorpions and the like). Speaking of the type that thrive in America, dust mites are about 1/100th of an inch long. They feed on dead flakes (cells) of human skin that we shed by the hundreds of thousands each day. Dust mites thrive in room temperatures, and are commonly found in mattresses, pillows, sofas, rugs, and carpets.

    A typical used mattress contains 100,000 to 10 million dust mites, plus their fecal matter. It is commonly rumored that a typical 10-year-old mattress will be double its original weight due to the sheer volume. But there is little scientific evidence to support the claim.

    Dust mites do not attack people; nor do they bite. But an enzyme found in their fecal matter is a powerful allergen. It is related directly to asthma, coughing, and wheezing.

    Prevention/Elimination
    Allergy sufferers often find significant relief by eradicating dust mites from their home. Some steps that can be taken:

    Mattresses:
    Fully encase your box spring - and your mattress - with a dust-mite proof "Allergy Cover". The threads in these covers are woven tight enough that even a dust mite cannot penetrate.

    Chemical treatment:
    Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate), which may cause eye irritation

    Upholstered Furniture:
    Vacuum and clean often

    Carpets: Replace with as much hard surface flooring as possible

    Keep Smilin'!

    Sources: