Next time you’re thinking about going for a jog, skip the treadmill and go for a run in the park.  Here are the top four benefits of exercising outdoors.

1.  Get away from dust-ridden indoor air.  According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, an enormous percentage of health problems can be blamed on poor-quality indoor air.  Mold, pet dander, bacteria, odors, chemical contaminants, and even the humidity level in your home can have a powerful effect on your health and how you feel (without you even realizing it).  The dust kicked up by outdoor allergens, construction, or a tree service Bellevue doesn’t compare.

2.  See some variety.  Tired of staring at the wall for the entire duration of your run (or worse, the sweaty back of the person on the treadmill in front of you)?  Running in the park gives you a huge variety of things to check out while you’re exercising.  Seeing kids climbing trees and other runners jogging or doing yoga is hugely motivating.  Plus, running around a big track versus a stationary piece of equipment gives you more things to look at as well as a greater sense of having really gone for a run.

3.  Boost your mood and self-esteem.  A study at the University of Essex in the UK found that light exercise performed outdoors can elevate your mood and your self-esteem within the first five minutes.  The study participants who saw the most benefit were in the 30-50 age groups, and exercise performed around water (such as along a lakeshore or near a pond in the park) was noted to be the most uplifting place to work out.  It’s an incredibly fast way to get happy and healthy.

4.  Maintain your own green space.  If you have a backyard or shared outdoor space, you can maintain your own little green space to practice yoga, let your kids play, or do any other type of outdoor activity.  For Washington residents, a Bellevue tree removal service or Seattle arborist can help kick off your project.

“How2Connect.com’s groundbreaking approach to behavioral healthcare – paired with our advanced portal technology – is a perfect combination for effective healthcare delivery in the internet age,” says John Deutsch, CEO and founder of Medical Web Experts.

How2Connect.com is a new therapeutic and social networking site that allows users to connect and get behavioral health services all at affordable prices while using the anonymity of the internet.  Members are able to seek behavioral health therapy, explore questions in spirituality, and improve their health and wellness with advice from real medical professionals.  Users can use the site as a viable resource to improve their health and gain balance in their lives through the robust Wellness area, which features the Medical Web Experts Patient Portal.  Experienced in medical practice and hospital patient portal design, this new wellness portal will allow patients to log in over a secure, HIPAA-compatible connection and communicate directly with medical staff to ask questions and find new solutions to improve their health.

“We needed genuine experts to help us realize our vision and that is exactly what we found with the aptly named Medical Web Experts,” said Tracy Wood, President of How2Connect.com. “Bringing affordable therapeutic healthcare services plus a rich social networking experience to people who might otherwise not have access to what they really need is a tremendous reward in itself, but the frosting on the cake has been this collaboration with true professionals,” she said.

Selected due to its customizability and advanced medical records integration system, the portal also allows users communicate their health needs to their online wellness coach as well as incorporating online medical records.  The portal allows for video eConsultations and secure messaging with medical staff; Health Tracker software to keep track of vital signs or weight loss; interactive education resources and more.  Users of How2Connect.com will also enjoy weight loss help; men’s and women’s wellness resources; recipes and nutrition education; and spiritual guidance to help find both mental and physical balance in their lives.

“I see a tremendous amount of opportunity in this partnership,” adds Deutsch.  “Patients are putting additional importance on wellness and spiritual well-being as a form of preventive medicine.”  The Medical Web Experts Patient Portal helps How2Connect incorporate spiritual, social, mental and physical health and offers users a new way to enrich their lives through an interactive online community.

About How2Connect.com
How2Connect.com is an interactive online Behavioral health, wellness site and interactive site that offers users many ways to improve their spiritual, emotional and physical well-being with resources from medical professionals, therapists and a community of like-minded individuals.  Members can seek online therapy and health consultations, explore their spirituality, engage in the interactive portal, and create an “avatar” to interact in a virtual world with other How2Connect members.  The site launches in early 2012.  For more information, visit http://www.How2Connect.com.

About Medical Web Experts
A subsidy of New Wave Enterprises, LLC, Medical Web Experts offers healthcare web design for physician practices, hospitals, and all other healthcare organizations.  Their totally customizable Enterprise Patient Portal allows healthcare organizations of all types to incorporate a HIPAA-friendly login portal on their websites, improving their patients’ experience as well as boosting revenue and efficiency.  For more information, visit http://www.medicalwebexperts.com.

1. Most people favor the favorite.  When a favored team has a lot of people betting on it, the line gets pushed unreasonably high.  Sometimes, the team with the skills to win is actually the underdog because the public favors the more popular team when making their bets.  Pay attention to the team and do your research – don’t judge by the public’s favorite team.
2. No matter the score, winning means winning.  Most coaches aren’t willing to risk injury or burnout by smashing an opponent in the first half of the game.  In football more than any other game, a significant lead can be broken down in the second half.  Even if the team is known for early leads, they may not be the best choice for expert picks against the spread.
3. “Any Given Sunday.”  Almost all the NFL teams are on even ground – that is, all teams are equally well-equipped to win.  Many of the past Super Bowl winners were teams that weren’t supposed to succeed.  Don’t pay attention to which teams are classically considered “winners” and which are “losers.”
4. The other team may let their guard down.  When facing an underdog team, the favored team may not feel the need to play at 100%.  Take advantage of this.
5. Show your courage.  A lot of sports betting aficionados aren’t brave enough to bet on an underdog.  This can create extra line value for bettors who do have the guts to bet on the underdog.  Don’t pay attention to what your peers perceive as a “good” or “bad” team.

1. Do your research (keep watching the games).

2. Pay attention to schedules and injuries. Take into account who the team has played against in the previous weeks. If the team has only played against losing opponents and is then matched up with a tougher team to beat, the line will become inflated because others will be betting on them based on their great results. With injuries, look for key players going down. While an o-lineman may not make or break a game, an star QB or RB on the bench can make a difference. The spread will normally adjust based on this, but not always enough, or often too much.

3. Don’t bet on your favorite team just because they’re your favorite. If you want to actually make money, avoid betting on games involving your favorite team altogether – betting is stressful enough without having to worry about your favorite team winning at the same time! Sure, it’s fun and we all do it sometimes, but if your in it to win money, steer clear or be very objective.

4. Consider the quarterback. The quarterback is the most central player in the game, and more than anyone else his abilities will determine how the game turns out. Last minute touchdowns scored with the help of a star quarterback can turn a game around in seconds – or at least help you cover a spread.

5. Remember the cliché: Any given Sunday. More than any other game in sports, football is a game that can go either way no matter what each team’s record is like. An 0-5 team is not destined to lose their 6th. Do your research, follow the above advice and bet with caution. For more information on how to pick winners and NFL expert picks against the spread, looking into paying a professional who does research around the clock to help you pick the best. Check out http://www.smpicks.com for free and paid NFL picks.

HRT in the Media
Hormone replacement therapy, often abbreviated HRT, was a standard treatment for the symptoms of menopause for many years.  Menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, irritability and vaginal dryness are due to a drop in the hormone estrogen, and replacing lost estrogen can help relieve the unpleasant symptoms.  HRT (in the form of estrogen plus progestin, a synthetic form of the female reproductive hormone progesterone) was also thought to have long-term benefits for the prevention of osteoporosis, a loss of calcium (and subsequent weakening) in the bones caused by lower-than-normal estrogen levels.

A widespread clinical trial in 2002, however, found that HRT actually put women at an alarmingly increased risk of a number of life-threatening conditions.  Women on hormone replacement therapy programs had much higher rates of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, blood clots and abnormal mammograms.  Doctors immediately began prescribing the treatment much less often, and the results of the clinical trial frightened many women into stopping treatment without even consulting their physicians.

What is Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Medical clinic Houston IMC recognizes that reproductive hormones are not the only hormones that decline with age, and replacing other lost hormones in the body can help reduce the effects of aging.  Adults suffering from low thyroid hormone levels may experience sleep problems, weight gain, low energy, or hair loss; supplementation with natural thyroid replacements can help these symptoms.  Cortisol, testosterone and DHEA are other common hormones whose supplementation may benefit the patient.

It’s important for patients to pay attention o their bodies and take note when they are experiencing unusual symptoms.  Recognizing low hormone levels is different from recognizing the symptoms of a disease in that patients often attribute their condition to aging or stress or work – but often there is a simple and natural solution with hormone replacement.

Whether (and to what degree) you need to winterize your trees depends on several factors, and a Redmond arborist can help you decide what measures are necessary.  The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ISA – the International Society of Arboriculture, the society that certifies arborist Seattle services – also certifies professional inspectors who examine trees for weaknesses that may cause problems in the future.  An arborist can also recommend and help plan a course of action for preventive care.

1. Pruning: Trees should be strategically pruned to avoid branches falling during a storm.  Strategic pruning includes the removal of weak branches, damaged branches, dead limbs or branches, and parts of the tree with dead wood.  These areas of the tree may be brittle and more prone to breaking off.  Trees that are pruned widthwise will also be more streamlined in the event of a storm, preventing breakage from high winds.
2. Root Problems: Have your arborist check your tree’s root system for damage or problems.  Damaged roots mean a tree could simply blow over sideways during a winter storm.
3. Leaning or Off-Balance Trees: Trees that lean to one side, have an odd balance or branches, or one section of the tree that is overgrown compared to the rest are more likely to be damaged in the winter.  An arborist can often prune the tree accordingly.
4. Cracks: Trees with deep cracks that surpass the bark into the soft wood are a bad sign.  Cracks could deepen and cause the tree to split.  They could also indicate structural problems with the branches.
5. Poor Planting: It’s important to plant your trees in the fall or early spring to prevent damage.

To learn more about Seattle and Redmond tree care or ISA-certified arborists, visit the ISA website or Certified Arborist Tree Care online.

1. Pruning and trimming removals. This is probably the service that you are most familiar with. Pruning and trimming make sure that all trees on your property remain slightly.

2. Cabling and bracing. This procedure is for mature, valuable trees that have major structural damage.

3. Hazard risk assessment. Think of this option as preventative medicine for your trees.

Find an experienced arborist to give you a free consultation. They will work with you to keep your trees pretty.

These programs, such as corporate wellness Houston program Healthy Start MD, are a supplemental plan that can be implemented by the company in addition to medical insurance.  The plans offer each employee in the company an annual checkup with preventive tests and screenings, consults with a dietician and exercise therapist, and access to an online patient portal.  The patient portal is a login screen that allows patients to communicate and consult with their physician, track their health and vital signs daily, view their test results, and track their exercise and diet progress.

Though these programs are often extremely affordable and can start as low as a few dollars per employee per month, they do more than simply boost employee morale and promote the company as a positive work environment.  Many companies are reporting huge savings on preventable medical expenses for their employees as a result of the preventive care offered by the corporate wellness programs.  Companies can also see improved productivity and fewer sick days with healthier employees.

Georgia- and Texas-based WIKA Instruments decided to implement a corporate wellness program in 2008, and their program has been a huge success both financially and with the employees who participate.  WIKA chose to make participation optional, offering a 10% discount of health insurance premiums to employees who joined the program.  99 percent of employees opted to participate in the program, allowing them to save between $400 and $1,200 the second year.  Environmental Health and Safety Manager Cathy Bochenek reports that the money the company saves far overshadows the meager $45,000 spent on the corporate wellness program in the last year.  “We probably saved $300,000 just last year,” she says.

Wellness programs aren’t guaranteed to catch on among employees, so it’s important for companies implementing them to take measures to motivate employees to participate.  In WIKA’s case, they offered financial incentives for taking part.  Research by Leonard L. Berry of Texas A&M University suggests that employees may be more motivated to join a wellness program when they see individuals of high authority in the company joining – such as CEOs and other high-ranking executives.

Studies calculate the average return-on-investment for a corporate wellness program to be between 3:1 and 6:1 – that is, between three and six dollars saved for each dollar invested in the program.  That’s an enormous amount of benefit for the company as well as an excellent way to give back to hardworking employees who deserve the best.

For more information on corporate wellness programs Houston, visit www.healthystartmd.com.

EliteHealth has official locations in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paolo, Brazil.  A Chilean international insurance provider has recently selected EliteHealth to provide medical services for its members, solidifying their position as a leading provider of concierge medical care in South America.

EliteHealth’s concierge and corporate medical services surpass ordinary healthcare providers by offering 24-7 worldwide access to the most qualified specialists in their fields, both in-person and online.  The myEliteHealth Patient Portal offers users a way to track and store medical records online, securely message their doctor, request appointments or prescription refills, and know that they always have a way to get in touch with their healthcare provider should an emergency arise.

EliteHealth patients are also assigned a personal Health Care Advocate to help manage all aspects of their healthcare experience, including finding doctors and hospitals while traveling or working abroad.  Members can alert their Health Care Advocate of their travel plans in advance so that their advocate can find medical centers along their route, and patients requiring medical assistance need only phone EliteHealth to find a suitable hospital and discuss emergency evacuation.  EliteHealth membership includes the services of AirMed International, an “air ambulance” service that transports patients to medical centers closer to home in the event of a medical emergency.  AirMed planes are staffed with emergency medical personnel, and their services incur no additional fees.

EliteHealth’s concierge plans heavily emphasize preventive medicine and screenings in addition to rapid service and international access.  And beyond personal and family concierge plans, EliteHealth’s executive health and corporate health programs offer corporations a way to keep their staff healthy and secure.  For more information on EliteHealth’s concierge services, doctors, and locations, visit http://www.elitehealth.com.

About EliteHealth
EliteHealth is an international network of concierge medical providers offering worldwide access to top physicians and emergency response care.  Offering concierge plans for the entire family as well as executives and corporations, their myEliteHealth patient portal offers 24-7 access for members.

The flavor-of-the-week viral video being passed around the surfing community doesn’t feature a crazy surfing move or a star athlete.  The video, shot in Florida’s New Smyrna Beach, features a decent-sized shark jumping over a surfer.

An Orlando Sentinal cameraman reportedly shot the video by accident while filming footage for a story about surfing.  Sharks are a common sight at New Smyrna Beach during this time of the year, and they are known to jump – sometimes a few feet – over the surface of the water.  The inlet is populated by a small breed of shark called the “spinner shark” that preys on fish and are not known for being harmful to humans.

The video shows a camera pan of a heavily-populated wave, and a few seconds in a four-foot shark can be seen jumping over a surfer on his board.  The surfer continues to ride his wave, and it appears that the people on either side of him did not even notice.

For an amazing vacation and a chance to be jumped over by sea life, Beach Travellers offers surfing adventures to Latin America, Thailand, and Bali.  Their sejours thailande are available in English or in French, and travelers are guaranteed a one-of-a-kind trip and an experience like nothing else.  For more information, visit http://www.beachtravellers.com.

More and more companies are recognizing that corporate success is dependent upon the strength of the corporation’s staff – and keeping employees healthy is the best way to improve productivity, reduce sick leave, and prevent sub-par performance while at work.  Offering employees a higher-level healthcare plan also increases employee satisfaction in the workplace and reflects upon the corporation’s positive attitude toward its staff.  By selecting programs from EliteHealth, Holman Automotive Group is demonstrating its dedication to caring for its valuable employees.

The wellness program selected by Holman Automotive Group for their managerial staff serves around 70 managers and features a range of exclusive concierge healthcare services.  Managers will enjoy an annual executive physical exam, which features CIMT cardiac testing, a heart scan, advanced lipid profiling, and chest x-ray; a thorough medical history evaluation; and nutrition counseling.  This intense focus on preventive cardiology and healthcare acts to “ensure they’re not missing any diseases,” says Dr. Perry Krichmar, M.D. and Chief Operations Officer at EliteHealth.  “Holman recognizes this because we had done this last year and it rolled so well with their executives.”  Holman’s managers will also receive priority medical appointments with their physicians as well as a personal Health Care Advocate to help them make appointments, find physicians, manage their medical records, and navigate the healthcare system.

In addition to healthcare and wellness programs for executives and managers, EliteHealth also specializes in Corporate Wellness Programs which offer comprehensive lab testing, 24/7 online access to an ER physician plus their personal medical records through EliteHealth’s patient portal myEliteHealth.com, in-home or in-room doctor visits while traveling, and personal health consultations.  Starting at under $6 per month per employee, these programs offer corporations an extremely affordable way to ensure that the entire staff is well-cared for.  Holman Automotive Group’s southern division has taken a smart step toward total employee health by offering their executives and managers care plans from EliteHealth.

About EliteHealth
A leading provider of concierge medical services, EliteHealth offers comprehensive and affordable healthcare plans for individuals, executives, and corporations as well as executive physicals geared towards improving the health of busy executives.  For more information on care plans, visit http://www.elitehealth.com/executive_healthcare.php or http://www.elitehealth.com/executive_corporate_programs.php.

Its all about resacas, maple syrup, hot sauce and omelettes – mexican style.

Learn more about Magdalena’s Party at their facebook page.

An established practice since 1997, Philadelphia’s Sobel Medical Associates specializes in internal medicine services for a diverse group of patients.  Having been selected by EliteHealth as a prime location for concierge healthcare in Philadelphia, Sobel Medical Associates can now offer both classic internal medical care programs and premier concierge health services through EliteHealth.

Sobel Medical Associates’ new concierge medical services specialize in providing extremely high-quality medical care to patients looking for a more complete, preventive, and comprehensive medical program without interference from red tape and waiting rooms.  Patients have access to priority appointment times and scheduling, 24/7 phone and email access to their physician, and access to their VIP lounge as well as a nationwide network of trusted physicians and hospitals.  EliteHealth members also have access to the patient portal myEliteHealth.com, which allows patients to log in securely and video chat or message their physician, request appointments and prescription refills, track their health, and more.  Members are also provided a personal Health Care Advocate to manage all aspects of their health care experience – such as arranging appointments and finding a specialist, organizing medical care while the patient is traveling, managing medical records, and helping the patient navigate the health care system.

EliteHealth offers a range of other plans, and their Executive and Corporate Wellness memberships provide similar services for companies looking to maximize their employees’ health to improve morale, wellness, and workplace productivity.  Executive Physicals offer another excellent option for employers, employees, and even non-members of EliteHealth; patients will receive a thorough physical exam, lab workup, EKG screening and chest x-rays, nutritional counseling, and more.  Patients can also have a wide range of lab tests performed at Sobel Medical Associates.

“I am very excited to join EliteHealth,” says Dr. Sobel.  “I know my patients will enjoy the personalized care and attention.  The alliance will provide access to care nationally.”  This new location also anticipates a new in-house pharmacy for added patient convenience, plus echo and ultrasound services as well as in-house nutritional consulting.  For more information on EliteHealth’s newest location, visit http://www.elitehealth.com/location/philadelphia_pa_medical_office.

About EliteHealth
EliteHealth is a premier, international concierge medical provider aiming to offer high-quality healthcare with VIP service to patients looking to get the most out of their healthcare.  The Philadelphia office is the newest in a series of offices serving patients around the world.  For more information, visit www.elitehealth.com.

Et les déesses des vagues? Ces aventurières intrépides? D’où sortent-elles? Si on jette un coup d’oeil sur les gagnantes des championnats de surf mondiaux féminins, c’est certainement les Américaines et les Australiennes qui dominent les plus hauts niveaux compétitifs. Toutefois, il y a des amantes du surf de tous les niveaux et des des quatre coins du monde, et de plus en plus à chaque jour, tel que témoigné par l’immense croissance de ce sport nautique dans les dernières années.

Si c’est depuis les années 1700 que le surf est observé en Polynésie par les grands voyageurs européens, et que les femmes y ont toujours fait partie intégrale, ce n’est que lors des années 50 qu’une planche plus petite, légère et facilement manoeuvrable pour les femmes a vu le jour. Armées d’un nouvel outil adapté à leur réalité physique, les femmes transforment le monde du surf et réclament une juste reconnaissance de leur maîtrise et grande contribution à l’avancement du sport.

Qu’elles veulent un jour s’unir au monde compétitif du surf, ou tout simplement s’initier à un sport fantastique, jamais n’a-t-il été aussi facile et accessible pour les femmes (et les hommes) d’en faire, et jamais n’y a-t-il eu un meilleur moment de s’y lancer. Pour en savoir plus sur les sejours Thailande et sejours de surf au Costa Rica, le groupe de voyage canadien Beach Travellers vous offre des voyages en Thailande, au Costa Rica, au Brésil, Bali, et encore plus. Faites un petit tour au www.beachtravellers.com pour de plus amples renseignements.

Here are some of the most popular things to do and see on sejours thailande:

• The Bridge over the River Kwai.  Brought to fame by a 1957 movie of the same name, the bridge has a historical connection to WWII.  Over 15,000 Allied prisoners were forced to perform back-breaking labor here as prisoners of war and died in captivity.  Today the bridge represents their memory and serves as an important historical marker for the country.
• Beaches of Phuket.  Phuket is one of the most beautiful and important islands in the country.  The beach runs along tropical rainforests and is studded with waterfalls, resorts, and spas.  Whether you’re a beach bum or not, this is one attraction not to be missed.
• Duty-free shopping.  Centralized in Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the airports, these shops provide a range of luxury and everyday items at great prices.
• Nightlife.  Bangkok, the capital city, hosts a range of restaurants, bars, clubs, parties, cocktail lounges, and more.  Many places are open all night, and there’s never a dull moment at night in Bangkok.

For sejours thailande and sejours du surf au costa rica (en francais or in English), Canadian tour group Beach Travellers offers trips to Thailand, Costa Rica, Bali, Brazil, and more.  Visit them online at www.beachtravellers.com for more information.

While having completely different causes, symptoms, and treatments, these two conditions share certain nutritional needs.  Board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Hector Lopez, MD, MS, CSCS, FAAPMR holds a Masters degree in nutrition and has extensive knowledge of the human body’s needs for all manner of health-related situations.

Dr. Lopez describes heart health as very centrally dependent on the right intake of fats.  There are many fats that raise unhealthy serum cholesterol fractions and have a negative impact on the heart – such as the trans-fats, high-fructose corn syrup and non-fibrous, high glycemic load carbohydrates in highly processed foods, and certain hydrogenated oils.  A healthy heart depends on limiting the intake of these bad fats and balancing the intake of essential fatty acids – the “good” fats necessary for life on a molecular level which cannot be produced by the body.

It is most important to balance the intake of omega-3 and -9 fatty acids (found in finfish, shellfish, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, dark leafy greens, and certain nuts, olives and avocado) and the intake of omega-6 fatty acids (found in refined vegetable oils, many processed foods, and meat).  The American diet tends to be deficient in omega-3’s and overloaded in omega-6 fatty acids, causing a number of chronic health conditions – including heart disease.  A good diet for heart disease prevention and treatment would attempt to rebalance omega-3 to 6 ratio.

Omega-6 fatty acids are also known to have pro-inflammatory properties, making them an equally poor dietary choice for a chronic pain patient.  Increasing the intake of omega-3’s, which have anti-inflammatory properties and can help supplement a more aggressive pain treatment program. Dr. Lopez describes a typical nutrition for pain relief program as comprehensive and optimized for the patient’s specific needs.    A patient being treated for pain or injury may be prescribed fish oil, increased vitamin D, flavanoid-rich supplements, like extracts of teas, herbs, spices, and botanicals.  Patients can also benefit from reducing their intake of soybean & corn oil, refined carbohydrates like, high fructose corn syrup, sugar and foods containing trans- fats.

Dr. Lopez offers nutritional counseling, regenerative injection therapy, transforaminal epidural injections, and PRP therapy at his practice.  By using nutrition to treat chronic pain, patients can enjoy fewer symptoms, better heart health, and a longer life.

About Dr. Hector Lopez
Hector L. Lopez, MD, MS, CSCS, FAAPMR has advanced higher education in nutritional biochemistry and exercise science and takes an integrative orthopedic approach.  His comprehensive programs help ease pain, reduce recovery time, and enhance the recovery process.

Starting this February, Canadian travel company Beach Travellers will be offering one of its Facebook fans a free summer 2011 trip to Bali, Brazil, Costa Rica, or Thailand with their online “Hunt for the Golden Ticket” contest.  The winner will receive a pair of sunglasses from Spy, clothing from skating line DC, and a free trip to the Beach Travellers’ destination of their choice.

Eager travelers can enter by “liking” Beach Travellers on Facebook, filling out a brief entry form, and giving an amazing answer to the question, “what’s most important to you while traveling?”  They’ll then be entered in a draw, from which ten finalists will be selected.  After sending in a photo and a write-up of why they should win, the public will vote on their favorite finalist and the winner will spend the summer du surf au costa rica, on the beach in Brazil, on exotic sejours thailande or exploring a whole new culture in Bali.  “We’re trying to see who our audience is,” says Costa Rica guide Mitch Martin.  The Beach Travellers team hopes that the contest will help them learn more about their followers.

So which trip is the best choice?  According to Mitch, Brazil is his hands-down winner.  “I’m a surfer, so there has to be good surfing,” he says, citing the food and the language as other top motivation.  “Plus, my best friend is the guide…I think it would be cool.  I’ve always wanted to go to the Amazon.”  Beach Travellers, which has just released a new Costa Rica surf camp video on their blog, offers amazing guide jobs for people with expertise in travel and an adventurous soul – and as a guide, Mitch loves showing people Costa Rica and “seeing the looks on people’s faces when they learn how to surf.”

Contest entries will be accepted until early April, with the winner’s dream trip kicking off in the summer.  And Mitch’s answer to the official contest question of “what’s most important to you while traveling?”  Short and immediate.  “Surfing.  And food.  And cheap beer.”

Founders TJ Hermiston and Graeme Barker founded Beach Travellers after an epic trip through Southeast Asia.  Reflecting on what they had learned and what they’d do differently, they wondered what would happen if they could bring the same feeling of excitement and adventure to others – and with a team of experienced guides leading trips with constantly changing itineraries, their careers were born.

Beach Travellers currently organizes trips to surf au costa rica, sejours thailande, Brazil, Bali, and El Salvador.  Varying in length from one week to 36 days, the trips are guided by experienced and like minded adventurers who know all about the region – and can help you get the most out of your trip.  Enjoy surfing in Central America, rock climbing, hang gliding, and experience a new culture that you may have never known existed.  Parles-tu francais? Beach Travellers’ bilingual guides can give tours in French or in English, plus help travelers get around in their countries.

Perhaps one of the best features of a Beach Travellers vacation is the security of paying up front and knowing that your trip is going to be fantastic – as TJ and Graeme themselves admit, they wish they had the opportunity to take one of their own vacations and not worry about a thing.  Making the decision to open up your life to new experiences is what helps someone grow as a person, and taking an amazing vacation makes it even sweeter.

Check out the video here, and visit Beach Travellers online for more information and upcoming trip dates!

Irons had been en route to seek medical treatment for a battle with dengue fever, a tropical disease contracted from insect bites that can be fatal if untreated.  However, police discovered the drug methadone hidden in a Zolpidem bottle on the bedside table in his hotel room – indicating that his death may have been caused by something less innocent.

Irons’ widow’s reaction to the situation makes things look even guiltier.  In December, she arranged for a court injunction to be issued blocking the release of Irons’ autopsy results to the media until May of 2011, stating that the results would destroy the brand associated with his name that currently supports her and her son financially.

At this point, it’s almost undeniable that – even if they didn’t cause his death – Irons was using a substance of mass reputation destruction.  But his fans have until May to relish in his good name, and a lifetime to miss him for his accomplishments.  The surfing community has suffered a great loss, whether Irons was a drug user or not.

Interested in joining the surf community – or just learning how while traveling?  Canadian tour group Beach Travellers offers tours de surf au costa rica – not to mention sejours thailande and trips to Bali – with an experienced guide and a group of fun-loving, like minded youth.  Trips are year-round and a great way to escape the cold (or spend the summer).  Visit Beach Travellers online for more information.

That actually might be an exaggeration.  I’m not a tour guide or a pilot or an elephant tamer.  But the growing trend of doing business online – combined with the lax deadlines and freelance nature of my job – means that I can work from any place and in almost any time zone.  Living out of the country has been a great way to travel while making my living doing what I love.

I’ve just gotten back from two months in Costa Rica and I’m home for the holidays a bit reluctantly.  I was living in a small town in the west called Santa Teresa-Mal País known for amazing surf, a great environment for travelers, and great hotels.  I’m not normally one to enjoy anything other than skyscrapers and screaming car horns, but the feel of living here was something so tranquil yet so interesting that even I could enjoy it.

My companions and I chose to rent a room at the Fuego Lodge was clean, beautifully decorated, close to the beach, and – even if I hadn’t gone in the off-season – totally affordable.  The common space and pool were relaxing without being boring, the staff was fun to talk to and knowledgeable about the area, and having a maid clean our rooms daily was almost worth it in itself.  With the tropical weather and year-round surfing, there needn’t even be an off-season – and at times it was just us and the lodge’s employees, building a certain convivencia based on a mutual need to surf in the morning, work all day, lay around the pool, and spend the evening feeling truly alive.

As far as a great environment for working, traveling, or a family vacation rental Costa Rica could not have dropped a better hotel into our laps.  Working abroad is exciting by nature, but my stay at Fuego in Santa Teresa has been one of the most memorable two months of my life.

The origins of surfing are not completely known, but can be traced back to Polynesian peoples and existed before the first Europeans arrived to the Pacific islands.  Surfing was first described by a crew member of the HMS Endeavour in 1779, who noted that locals wooden boards made from long trees on the waves.  The upper classes were afforded the best surfboards – and took control of the best parts of the beach.

Ancient Hawaiian culture was also richly involved in surfing.  Considered an art form, surfers would begin their surf by praying for protection and visiting a preist if necessary to provide them a strong wave and protection from the ocean.  Surfers also placed fish as offering to the gods in the holes left by the trunks of trees that they dug up to fashion their surfboards.

Surfing spread by means of word-of-mouth and modern transportation to Australia and North America, and around the early 1900′s it began to grow in popularity in Hawaii and surfing was revived as a sport.  Today, interested French- and English-speaking young surfers can surf au costa rica with Canadian tour group Beach Travellers.  Enjoy all the best surf spots Costa Rica has to offer with the fun and security of a guide as well as a group of like-minded individuals.  Beach Travellers also organizes trips to Bali, Brazil, and sejours thailande.  Visit them online for more information.

The cuisine relies heavily on locally available staple foods, such as plaintains, bananas, zucchini squash, peppers, and a mixture of rice and black beans called gallo pinto.  Tortillas are also common.  Breakfast often consists of foods that other cultures would normally consider dinner items – such as fried plantains with gallo pinto.  As corn is also a huge crop, corn soup and corn pancakes called chorreadas are also frequently served dishes.

Orange juice and other fruit juices are common as beverages.  Another common drink is agua dulce, a water made with a sweet brown-sugar-like paste.  Fruits are often liquefied and mixed with water to be served with lunch.  Coffee and shaved ice are also staple beverages.  The national liquor of Costa Rica, guaro, is often served alone or mixed with soda.  The country also produces and exports excellent rum.

For adventurous French and English-speaking travelers interesting in organizing a voyage du surf au costa rica, Canadian tour group Beach Travellers provides surfing trips and sejours thailande, bali, et bresil.  Enjoy a fun trip with like-minded young travelers – a great way to see the world.  Visit them online for more information.

There are some great spots to surf in the far North, but one of the greatest is in Montreal, Quebec.  Habitat 67, in Lachine Rapids, hosts two surf schools and a series of fantastic waves formed by rapids running over underwater boulders.  The weather is great in the summer – and best of all, it’s in Montreal!

For Montreal residents – or anyone, for that matter – who enjoy surfing here and are looking for a new place, Canada travel tour company Beach Travellers offers amazing tour packages for surfing enthusiasts.  If you parles le francais and you’re looking to surf au Costa Rica, consider their Costa Rica adventure tour package.  Surfing excursions are all-included and guides take you to all the best spots – making this the best way to enjoy foreign surfing.  Interested in a longer, different excursion for some French-speaking fun?  Beach Travellers also offer sejours thailande (Thailand tours) of all the best beach, party, and must-see spots.  Visit them online for more information.