Island rhythms

Longing for a deep massage that offers more than one-day relaxation, but wary of the “no pain, no gain” approach? Say “aloha” to lomilomi massage, which has come to Charlottesville all the way from the Hawaiian islands. Practitioner Gabe Gavin spent eight years living in that balmy place (he just made it through his first […]

Zap me!

Unwanted body hair got you down? A laser might hold the answer. Using pulses of high-energy light to make hair follicles inactive, laser hair removal is touted as a permanent fix for your smooth-leg dilemma. However, says Charlottesville Skin & Laser Center’s Laser Technician Stephanie Snell, results really depend on the person. “Things like hormones […]

Spring cleaning

The master cleanse is a fasting technique that cleanses the body of all toxins, and—proponents say—makes you happy, healthy and energetic like you’ve never known. Online research of testimonials suggest that it’s a love-it-or-hate-it experience. Few people deny that they are healthier, look better, and feel lighter—but all stress that it takes dedication to complete. […]

The new backup

As we all know, our first choice for contraception doesn’t always work as intended. Virginia has been a little behind getting on the emergency contraceptive bandwagon, but since 2006 there’s a new option. Should you wake up to a worrisome morning after, here’s a possible fix: Plan B is available statewide. Basic info is at […]

Deep-down workout

Many women don’t know much about Kegel exercises—unless they’ve been pregnant, in which case, they probably received cursory instructions about restrengthening their pelvic “floors” after childbirth. Well, it turns out that some of that information may be wrong, or at the very least, a lot less comprehensive than it should be. Passages Physical Therapy offers […]

Fat days: Nope, you’re not crazy

Finding a good pair of pants is the shopper’s equivalent of playing Goldilocks. Some are too big, most are too small, and a few (if you’re lucky) are juuuust right. But, catch a woman on a “fat day,” and even the formerly good pants are cast aside in favor of sweats. But wait—a “fat day”? […]

Sex Files: Role reversal

Growing up in Denmark and being a teenager in the mid-’70s, I remember Lasse Hessel spreading the word about healthy living. The doctor hosted a popular, government-sponsored TV series and wrote books, newspaper columns and articles, all focused on teaching us Danes how to live well—Lev Vel was the title of his health magazine. In […]

March 08: Drive me home

Need to get away from it all? Need a new easy chair? Says we, these goals are entirely compatible. We all know there’s lots of great shopping here in Charlottesville, but sometimes it’s fun to turn home-related quests into mini-adventures. Hop in the minivan, crank up the tunes and venture out to some of the […]

March 08: Driving forward

Many of the neighborhoods around town are stately or old or both. Some stretch back a half dozen generations. But the neighborhood of Pantops, a sprawling mass of office parks, shopping strips, car dealerships and 2,100 people is definitely not one of those. It is a neighborhood of changes—land and buildings and people transitioning from […]

March 08: Situation normal

Adjusting mortgage rates, national foreclosures on the rise, threats of a looming economic recession…times are tough. Just ask the Georgia man who donned a ski mask and walked into a bank, pointed a gun at the teller and said, “You took my house, now I’m going to take your money.” The FBI is still looking […]