The great thing about beginning the New Year is that it’s rife with possibility. People are more willing to shed the old and try on the new. If you’re reading this magazine chances are you’re open to new approaches about how to look and feel great year-round.

With 2008 marking a fresh start, January is the perfect time to focus that very simple concept: to look as great as you feel. Traditional methods work for some people – treadmills, biking, weights, etc. – but they’re not for everyone. The key is to focus on your goals: for some it’s about slimming and toning; for others it’s strength and endurance; others want to better manage pain. Women are always concerned about cellulite; men have trouble with abdominal flab; and then there are athletes who simply want to better their game – through improved power and flexibility.

No matter which column you fall in, here’s where two new approaches can make a difference – Endermologie® and its associated protocol, Endermo®therapy. Endermologie is the first patented process and technology cleared by the FDA as a therapeutic massage technique to tone the body and reduce the appearance of cellulite and abdominal fat. Treatment is provided by trained, certified technicians and feels like a deep-tissue sports massage. It’s also as relaxing as it is beneficial.

The LPG Endermologie machine – powerful rollers aided by a quiet, mechanized suction action – is endorsed by many plastic surgeons and dermatologists and produces results that other invasive processes, including liposuction, cannot. The massage markedly increases blood circulation under the skin – up to 400 percent – which can result in a smoothing and tightening effect of the treated region, including hips, thighs and buttocks for women and abs and waist for men.

EndermoTherapy, based on the LPG Endermologie process, focuses on pain management and flexibility through completely different massage techniques, and can be enhanced by working with a chiropractor or other health professional. It is gaining popularity for use in chronic pain relief – whether from fibromyalgia, lower back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic shoulder conditions, and knee and ankle pain.

EndermoTherapy works by stretching the contracted (painful) muscle fibers as well as increasing blood and lymph circulation, which can lead to more rapid healing. The process also mobilizes soft tissue (muscles, ligaments), making it more flexible and functional, and leading to a faster return to normal physical activity.

It is also effective because it can decrease the amount of chemical irritants around the muscle – and thus pain – by reducing swelling through increased metabolism and blood circulation.

No matter what your goals, a series of massages, combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet and plenty of hydration – may produce the best long-term results.

Both protocols work for men and women, though many women seek out Endermologie simply to treat cellulite alone. Because each increases blood circulation, they can help burn fat and can lead to a more contoured or “defined” body.

So while the possibilities for 2008 are boundless, here’s to new thinking – and looking and feeling great in the New Year.