If you want more information about Basketball Training with Austin Johnson, please visit his webpage at http://www.daclub.com/basketball-training.html

by Dominic Zumbrun - More by Dominic Zumbrun

There are as many reasons that are compelling you to go to the gym as there are compelling excuses that are keeping you away. Your desire to get those killer abs vies with your aversion to having to deal with people who do absolutely nothing other than sit in a gym and work on getting killer abs. Additionally, as a busy professional or parent, you don’t have the time to play the waiting games that are normally associated with trying to work out at a gym. For Amarillo, Texas residents who are looking for a completely new gym experience, the Downtown Athletic Club offers a unique experience for getting healthy without having to deal with the hassles of a traditional gym experience. At the DAC, it’s more than working out. Of course, you will have access to state-of-the-art workout equipment, nationally certified personal trainers, professional massage therapists and fun group fitness classes; but you will also meet new people and learn new things about yourself along your road to health.

The Whole Experience

Whether your fitness goal is to lose weight, build strength, increase energy, or improve endurance, a world-class health club offers a variety ways to help meet those goals. Setting goals, designing plans to achieve those goals, and maintaining the level of enthusiasm required to complete that fitness journey requires dedicated cheerleaders that will celebrate each fitness milestone with you. You will find that in the DAC’s instructors and personal trainers, along with your fellow gym-goers.

From free weights to Zumba classes, having the right equipment and the right program is critical to making the gym experience more than an activity the falls quickly to the bottom of  the to-do list in the face of most people’s busy schedules. Whether you are looking to blow off some steam with a couple hours of basketball after work, or your doctor has recommended much more cardio that you typically get on your couch, a membership to an upscale health center such as the Downtown Athletic Club provides the outlet, passion, and equipment to deliver on your health goal.

Grunting and pumping iron is not the end all of a healthy workout regime. Indeed, good nutrition, a vibrant social life with like-minded thinkers, and mental clarity are all part of the holistic approach healthy people are looking for to improve their overall physical well-being. Finding a workout refuge that offers all of that is now easy in Amarillo, Texas.

When it’s Time to Get Fit, Fit in a Visit to the Downtown Athletic Club

Amarillo residents looking to get fit and enjoy a new, healthy lifestyle are turning to the expert fitness staff at the Downtown Athletic Club.  At the DAC, our highly trained staff of personal trainers is standing by to answer your fitness questions and to give you a tour of our inviting and modern facilities at 320 S. Polk Street in the heart of downtown Amarillo. 

The DAC is a judgement-free place where people of all shapes and sizes work hard to reach their maximum potential. In addition, our group classes and group training sessions are a perfect opportunity to meet new people and socialize. Cafe DAC offers healthy, satisfying snacks and meals. Contact the DAC today to schedule a tour of our health club.

by Dominic Zumbrun - More by Dominic Zumbrun

The term "massage" refers to the manipulation of muscles and tendons for therapeutic purposes. It encompasses a range of styles and is known to be an effective remedy for many different conditions. Massage therapy has been used for thousands of years and in many different parts of the world including China, Greece and India. When working out and eating right, a massage is a great way to reward yourself for your efforts. Not only will a massage help you mentally relax, but it is also good for your muscles and body to recover and rejuvenate after working out.

The Benefits of Massage

There are many benefits to massage, such as:

• Stress Relief: Massage can help you to relax by stimulating the release of brain chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin. Moderate pressure applied by a professional massage therapist causes both your heart rate and your blood pressure to go down. Additionally, the stress-relieving effects can help to reduce pain.
  
  
• Rehabilitation: If you have been injured playing sports or working out, massage therapy can help with your rehabilitation as well. For example, massage can eliminate the tightness that comes with a hamstring injury and speed up your recovery.
  
  
• Mood Enhancer: By reducing stress hormones, massage can actually improve your mood.
  
  

Different Types of Massage

The most popular types of massage are:

• Deep Tissue Massage: With a deep tissue massage, both the upper and lower layers of your muscles and tissues get manipulated. This style of massage involves hard pressure and slow strokes by the massage therapist; it is used to relieve intense pain and tension in the muscles. It is not uncommon for people to have a lingering soreness for a day or two after a deep tissue massage.
  
  
• Swedish Massage: This the most common form of massage. It helps you to relax with the use of long kneading strokes that are applied with moderate pressure. It relieves sore and stiff muscles and improves circulation. The five basic strokes in Swedish massage are:
  
• Effleurage: Gliding strokes with the palms
  
• Petrissage: Kneading, squeezing motions
  
• Tapotement: Tapping to ease tension
  
• Friction: To create heat and stimulate nerves
  
• Vibration: To relax muscles

• Hot Stone Massage: With this technique, hot stones are placed on various parts of the body. The heat and pressure from the stones alleviates muscle tension without the hard strokes of some other massage types. It is often used to ease back pain and for stress-relief.
  
  
• Prenatal Massage: Also known as “pregnancy massage," this massage type can help pregnant women to handle the stresses that come with carrying a baby. Your body is specially positioned to ensure comfort; this may mean lying on your side or on a special table with a space for your belly. The extra weight of pregnancy can cause knee problems and other joint issues; pregnancy massage can help to relieve those problems as well as cramps and muscular discomfort. The massage therapist will know the places that are likely to be sore and will focus on them.
  
  

Massage may not cure all your problems in a single session, but its health benefits are time-tested and well known. If you are interested in experiencing those benefits, contact the Downtown Athletic Club in Amarillo, Texas today. Choosing the right type of massage can help you to feel better and improve your quality of life. 

The Spa at the Downtown Athletic Club employs three certified massage therapists who specialize in deep tissue, Swedish, prenatal, hot stone, stress relief and myofascial-release massage. You do not have to be a member of the DAC to book a massage. 

Whether you’ve been working hard with your new exercise routine and want to reward yourself with a relaxing massage, or you’re an athlete needing relief from sore muscles, our massage therapists can help. Contact the DAC today to schedule your massage or click here to schedule one online.