Tag: tourmaline technology

Pinched Neck Be Gone!

Published on by Nikken

Your neck holds up your head, one of the heaviest parts of the body. Approximately 10-11 pounds (4.5-5 kg) for an average adult, this weight is from the skull and the brain, and relies on the neck muscles for support.

The neck is clinically known as the cervical spine, made up of seven flexible vertebrae. Not only does it support the heavy head, but it also protects the nerves that start from the brain and fan out to the rest of the body. Since the neck plays such a critical role in the overall function of the body, it is of utmost importance to provide it with ample support to decrease the risk of aches and pains from poor positioning during sleep. Any misalignment can strain the neck muscles, resulting in stiffness and achiness once you’re awake. It can also produce more serious issues, including nerve compression and decreased blood flow to the brain.1

How you sleep plays a role in what type of pillow is more beneficial to you. If you are a side sleeper, a firm pillow helps to keep your neck aligned with your spine. If you’re a back sleeper, a medium-firm pillow is more supportive of the natural curve of your neck. If you sleep on your stomach, you will do better with a soft, thin pillow to reduce strain on the neck.2 Most sleep experts advise against sleeping on your stomach, as it is believed to cause the most neck strain.

To keep your neck aligned with your spine, the pillow most beneficial for your sleeping position will be neither tilted upwards nor downwards. In other words, the pillow will be high enough to support your neck without angling your head up or down.3

Nikken is a pioneer in sleep technology and continues to innovate. In 2022, Nikken launched the Kenko Naturest® Makura, a partner product to the Kenko Naturest® Fit. The Fit is a topper that comes in different sizes to fit snugly on virtually any mattress, to help provide luxuriously deep sleep.

Made with the same technologies as the Fit—magnetic cocooning, soothing, calming tourmaline, and temperature-regulating Rubberthane nodules—the Kenko Naturest® Makura is unlike any other pillow. Here’s why:

The Makura (Japanese for “pillow”) is made with three removable layers. This means you can customize it to your personal needs. No matter if you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper, you can tailor the Makura to the height that provides the ergonomic support you personally need to keep your neck and spine aligned.

            1. One outer foam layer contains the Rubberthane nodules of natural latex, magnets and tourmaline. This side provides you with a firm pillow and a massaging sensation.

            2. The middle layer acts like a thin traditional pillow.

            3. The other outer layer has smooth Rubberthane without the latex nodules. It holds the magnets and tourmaline. By removing the latex nodules, this side provides a softer, cushioned pillow that still supports your head.

With the Makura, you get three pillows in one. In a household with people who sleep in different positions, the Makura can even be shared! For example, a side sleeper could use the firm side while the stomach sleeper could use the middle layer, and a back sleeper could use the medium-firm side! You won’t find anything like it elsewhere, because the Makura is exclusive to Nikken.

From now through the end of October 31, receive free ground shipping on any Makura Sleep Pack and select Kenko Sleep Products, including the Kenko Naturest® Makura—once you try this pillow, you’ll never sleep on another one again!

1,3 https://synergyrehabinc.com/neck-support-while-sleeping/

2 https://pillow.app/article/the-importance-of-pillow-support-for-neck-health-and-sleep-quality

You Can Create a Sleep Sanctuary

Published on by Nikken

Sleeping well is a challenge for many people. Often, it’s because keeping up with the demands of family, friends and work can cause a huge amount of stress. The result is that neither body nor mind can decompress enough to get a good night’s sleep.

Fortunately, there are actual steps you can take to create a “sleep sanctuary,” some place pleasant and cozy, relaxing and soothing:

1. Perhaps the most important item in a sleep sanctuary is the bed. Regardless of the type of frame you choose for your bed, the mattress is important and should suit your personal needs. Do you like firm, medium or soft? More importantly, what type of mattress suits your spine? For example, even if you prefer a soft, cushy mattress, if your spine is weak, you would probably be better off with a firm mattress, because it affords more support.

Solution: No matter what type of mattress you currently have, the Kenko Naturest® Fit is a topper that sits right under your fitted sheet, in twin, full, queen or king sizes. The Fit is made with sculptured rubberthane latex, which provides massaging effects while allowing for air circulation and ceramic reflective fibers that help regulate body temperatures. 800 gauss magnets create a magnetic field which cocoons the body for relaxation to help improve sleep. Tourmaline gives off electrons that help create calming effects when exposed to pressure, heat or motion, which is provided by your own body as it lays on top of the Fit.

2. Just as the Kenko Naturest® Fit supports your comfort, what your skin actually touches also can make a difference in how well you sleep. Choose linen that feels the most comfortable for you. Invest in natural fabrics, such as cotton, flannel, flax or even silk. Manmade fabrics do not allow air to circulate as freely and may even cause itchy or sweaty skin. Natural fabrics help regular temperatures—cools in hot months and warms in cold ones.

3. Do the breath test of your bedroom or wherever you want your sleep sanctuary to be. Inhale in and out slowly. What do you smell? Since you will be spending all night in the sleep sanctuary, you need to make sure the air is fresh. Stale or unpleasant odors are not conducive to restful sleep. If there is a window, make sure to keep it open at least for a few hours every day so the room has outside air flowing through. Indoor air often contains more contaminants than outdoor air! Dust, pet dander, pollen and odors are typically in household air. Mold, mildew and dust mites may be present. Even gases such as radon and carbon monoxide are found in measurable quantities in many homes.

Solution: Whether you have a window or not, the KenkoAir Purifier®provides multiple-stage HEPA filtration, is energy efficient and includes a deodorizing filter. It operates quietly, is ozone-free and has a negative-ion generator.

4. Many people enjoy the aroma of essential oils. Lavender and cedarwood are examples of essential oils that people choose to de-stress and relax for better sleep.

5. Is your sleep sanctuary dark? Sleep scientists agree that a cool, dark environment is ideal for sleep. You can use black out curtains or wear a sleep mask.

Solution: The Kenko Power Sleep Mask not only helps block out light like a typical eye mask. It also helps relax the entire eye area, using similar technologies to those found in the Kenko Naturest® Fit. The Power Sleep Mask is made with patented Dynaflux® magnetic technology, ceramic reflective fibers and tourmaline technology which helps produce a calming effect. When your eyes are relaxed, you have a much better chance at sleeping through the night.

6. A sleep sanctuary is for rest. Your best bet is to create an environment that is natural—you might want a few green plants, but try to limit the clutter. For example, you don’t need to keep piles of books or clothes in a sleep sanctuary. Instead, hang simple photos or art on the walls and limit the amount of unnecessary furniture or accessories. In other words, create a space that you look forward to retiring in every night!

From now through October 31st, take advantage of free ground shipping on any size Makura Sleep Pack and other select Kenko Sleep products!

Feel Naturally Beautiful with the Right Statement Piece

Published on by Nikken

What we wear affects how we feel. Think about how you feel when you get “all dressed up” versus being in your favorite pair of denims. In both these cases, chances are you have a certain “attitude,” positive but in different ways. When you add the right statement piece in the form of jewelry, it can enhance that feeling of self-confidence and gratification.

Jewelry in ancient times were made from bone fragments and other things provided by nature: twigs, leaves, the pits of fruit, pebbles, vines, raw gemstones and so on. Even Neandertals wore jewelry! Although contemporary fashionistas use “Neandertal” in a derogatory way, new studies in the United Kingdom have identified a connection between ancient collagen protein and archaic artifacts, creating a portrait of Neandertals as beings who already knew how to adorn themselves to enhance their beauty.1

We’ve come a long way since ancient times! The Kenko line of jewelry is not only beautiful and beautifying, but it also imparts a sense of well-being. Limited editions that are currently in stock, there are the Serenity Duo, Universe Duo, Venus Set and the Nova Ring that comes in either silvertone or goldtone. Each of these pieces are also available individually.

The Universe Duo with necklace and matching bracelet aims to help you look great while reaching for your total balance. Made with abrasion-resistant Stainless Steel 316L, the rose goldtone necklace and bracelet are great accessories with restorative magnetic technology and the naturally calming effects of tourmaline.

If you prefer the subtle elegance of silver, the Serenity Duo with necklace and matching bracelet provide the same complementary magnetic and tourmaline technologies. Also made with abrasion-resistant Stainless Steel 316L, the silvertone duo matches virtually every outfit!

The Roman goddess Venus is the inspiration for the elegant Venus Set. Available in matching hematite faux pearl necklace and earrings, they are made with Stainless Steel 316L and nickel-free. The earrings are 8 mm while the necklace boasts 18 inches of the same high-quality craftsmanship—both with natural magnetic and calming tourmaline technologies.

The Kenko Nova magnetic rings are made with high-quality copper and zinc alloy. Nickel-free, both silvertone and goldtone versions have naturally calming tourmaline technology and 400 gauss magnets. Both rings adjust to fit sizes 5 through 8 and are comfortable to wear.

A gift of Kenko Jewelry is a gift from the heart.

1 https://www.science.org/content/article/neandertals-made-their-own-jewelry-new-method-confirms

Loving Our Furry Family Members

Published on by Nikken

We love our pets so much and our affection is reciprocated in ways that melt our hearts. In North America, the two most common pets are dogs and cats. Not only do those who live with pets receive that special love from their furry family members but cohabiting with them teaches children how to treat non-humans with kindness, care and respect. This in turn shows children how to treat living creatures, big and small, as part of planet Earth.

Since 1998, the pet population in the United States has almost doubled, with two thirds of the country being pet owners.1 Similar to humans, dogs and cats that sleep well, live a healthier lifestyle than those that don’t. Not only that, but a good night’s rest can help improve your dog’s memory and can even make your pooch smarter, according to a study published in a 2017 edition of Scientific Reports.2

Domestic dogs and cats sleep an average of 12-15 hours daily, with up to 20 sleep cycles, each lasting 15 minutes. In contrast, humans average four to five sleep cycles, each lasting 90 minutes. Cats and dogs reach REM less, so they need more sleep to obtain adequate rest.3

Humans spend a lot of time searching for the perfect mattress that provides us with ample support, good circulation and all-night comfort. The Kenko Naturest® Fit supports quality human sleep and the Kenko Sleep Pet Pad does the same for our furry friends. Both are made with magnetic, rubberthane and tourmaline technologies. Together, these technologies impart a gentle massaging effect that is activated by the sleeper’s natural movements. The breathable fabric helps with temperature control by allowing air circulation and helping your pet to maintain a comfortable level of body heat. And because we know well how much shedding and staining can occur with any pet, both the small and large Pet Pad have removable covers that are easy to launder.

Keeping our pets healthy and happy also makes it easier for us to live the Active Wellness lifestyle. Recent studies suggest having a pet can actually help reduce our blood pressure, alter the course of heart disease and decrease our stress levels.4 By taking good care of our pets, we are actually taking better care of ourselves! Astounding numbers show that this reciprocal relationship between humans and their pets is growing:

• According to the National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association from 2017-2020, there were approximately 95.6 million pet cats and 89.7 million pet dogs in the United States as of 2020.

• In Canada, there were about 8.1 million pet cats and 7.7 million pet dogs in 2020.5

Contrary to common belief, some cats and dogs live together happily, proving that interspecies “siblings” can love each other as much as we love them! It’s a win-win situation!

1 https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Nation-Affair-Changed-America/dp/0593083865

2 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/the-importance-of-a-good-dog-bed/

3 spacecoastpetservices.com/2020/01/09/how-much-sleep-dogs-cats/#:~:text=Dogs%20and%20cats%20go%20through,lasting%20up%20to%2090%20minutes.

4 https://thezebra.org/2021/04/05/the-love-affair-with-our-pets/

5 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1015882/number-of-pet-cats-and-dogs-canada/