Fiji’s first massage and spa parlor run by blind or visually impaired therapists has opened in Suva.

The U-Sabai Thai Traditional Massage and Spa is the first authentic Thailand Spa in the country.

Owner Grahame Southwick says the idea to open the place came following one of his numerous trips to Asia – where the practice to use blind or visually impaired people is common.

Southwick says he held talks with the Fiji Blind Society on the possibility of having visually impaired persons to be trained on giving this treatment and run a parlor.

Two people were then brought in from Thailand to provide training to a number of visually impaired persons - who graduated this week.

The spa is located on 15 Pender Street, Suva and open from Monday to Sunday.

For further information, please contact U.Sabaithaispa@gmail.com

Professional physiotherapists celebrated World Physiotherapy Day on 1st September 2008 with a walk from the Colonial War Memorial Hospital down to the Suva city centre. In doing so, they hoped to bring awareness of the importance of physiotherapy in Fiji for its rehabilitative work on patients such as stroke victims diabetics, as well as their work relating to sports injuries, the elderly and ante-natal clinics.

The profession is not currently regulated by the Government in Fiji and the Association President, Ms Maria Waloki, hoped that the walk would bring public awareness and action in this regard. View a map of Suva.

The Coral Coast Chapter of the Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association has contributed yet again to the local community with a donation of Fiji’s first rapid response rescue and fire tender to the National Fire Authority of Fiji (NFS). The keys were handed over to the NFS on Thursday, 26th June 2008 following an address by the Chairman of the Coral Coast Chapter, Mr Robert Wade.

The resorts - Hideaway Resort, Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, The Warwick, The Naviti Resort & Spa and Shangri La’s Fijian Resort and Spa - have now collectively raised in excess of one million dollars worth of community projects, with many improvements and facilities at the Sigatoka hospital.

The funds were raised primarily from donations by tourists staying at the resorts and hotels towards the special Health and Safety Fund.

Read more about the Coral Coast of Fiji

Ocean's Edge Fitness & Spa in Nadi Fiji has appointed a new personal trainer, Nick, who has just arrived from Melbourne, Australia. A cocktail party is to be held on Friday 28th September for members to meet the new trainer.

Friday Bar Nights are also to be a new feature for this popular workout centre by Nadi Bay. Ocean's Edge is frequented by local and expatriate residents in and around Nadi, has a well-equipped gym, outdoor pool, spa, changing rooms, and pleasant semi-enclosed cafe and bar area. In addition, the property has new double-storey villas for short or long term rental. A great opportunity to combine a Fiji holiday with keeping fit!

Mokosoi has done it again ... winning another medal at the 2007 International High Quality Awards in Barcelona.

Mokosoi Fiji is Fiji's First, Fiji's Finest Pure Natural Coconut Collection; handmade multi-award winning soaps and toiletries from Fiji's Pure coconut oil; winner of 17 Gold Medals and International High Standard awards since 1988 at the Brussels-based Le Monde World Quality Selection.

Experience the Natural and the Pure Sensations of Mokosoi Fiji. Why not treat your special loved ones with Pure Sensations of Mokosoi for your virtual escape to the South Pacific islands.

The Western Pacific Region, one of the six regions of the World Health Organization, is home to approximately 1.6 billion people, nearly one-third of the world's population.

It stretches over a vast area, from China in the north and west, to New Zealand in the south, and French Polynesia in the east. One of the most diverse of the WHO regions, the Western Pacific constitutes some of the world's least developed countries as well as the most rapidly emerging economies.

The WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific provides technical support to many Pacific island countries and areas, including Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Mariana Islands (Northern), Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis & Futuna.

Main focuses include combating communicable diseases, building healthy communities and populations, the health sector development, and 'reaching out' (IT, external relations and public information).

More can be read about WHO at their website.

The South Pacific Academy of Beauty Therapy celebrated its 9th Graduation Ball held at Mocambo Hotel in Nadi. A total of 170 guests attended the function in support of the 47 students graduating from both the Nadi and Suva Academy training centres. Distinguished guests included chief guest - Mrs Sokoveti Nakabuniceva, Senior Education Officer (TVET, Ministry of Education), and Mrs Annie Ritchie, Examining Representative (AABTH - Advanced Association of Beauty Therapy, Cidesco Section Australia).

Director/Principal Mrs Debra Sadranu expressed that the demand for professional and qualified Beauty/Spa therapists was evident with a 95% success rate of employment opportunities. This is due to the rapidly growing Spa Industry with the Tourism Sector.

Mrs Sadranu also owns the very successful Senikai Spas, which was awarded the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards in the Activities Category in 2003.

For enrolment details or any further information, contact the South Pacific Academy of Beauty Therapy, P.O.Box 10670, Nadi Airport, Fiji Islands. Tel: [679] 6725 280. Fax: [679] 6725 208

More information on Spas in Fiji, click here

The latest popular trend in keeping fit in Australia is working out - Bollywood Dancing style! Available on DVD and sometimes in local fitness centres, participants get to learn a wide variety of moves from the energetic and exotic world of Bollywood movies. Not only does this provide an aerobic cardio workout, but can be great fun.

Dr Ram Raju, a leading medical practitioner based in Nadi, added voluntary support to a Nadi-Sigatoka Health Walk relay held yesterday in Fiji Islands. The walk was supported by a number of local organisations (such as the Nadi Rotary Club) and its aim was to highlight to members of the public, how healthy walking exercise is an excellent way of improving health and fitness. The volunteers, such as Dr Ram Raju, helped to emphasise the benefits of regular brisk walking as well as raising awareness of the dangers of smoking, dangerous driving and littering.

Following the release of statistics by the Ministry of Health relating to the high proportion (83%) of deaths due to non-communicable diseases, a vigorous anti-smoking campaign has been underway in Fiji over the past couple of months. Smoking on public transport such as buses and mini-vans, for example, has been banned, and the public asked to support the cause by reporting to authorities any breaches of this policy.

The Nadi-Sigatoka health walk relay conducted at the weekend has helped to emphasise further the benefits of adopting more healthy lifestyle practices.

With its balmy tropical climate, gently swaying palms and laid-back lifestyle, the beautiful island atmosphere of the South Pacific is more soporific than stimulating. Sega na leqa (no worries) they say in Fiji. There is always mataka (tomorrow). Most citizens of the South Pacific islands notices views with wonder or amusement at the person who is in a hurry.

As many expatriate residents will tell you, it is very easy to slip into the relaxed lifestyle, and regular exercise is often forgotten - especially given that one can break out into a sweat with the mildest form of exercise. Alarmingly it is equally possible to start gaining inches on the waistline.

The western media attention on lifestyle programmes, keeping fit, losing weight, makeovers and the like is infiltrating the South Pacific communities and in Fiji, at least, one can now more easily find gym equipment for sale -such as treadmills and exercise bikes. There are also a number of new gym and health centres cropping up, such as the Ocean's Edge facility in Nadi. Gym facilities have been available to visiting tourists at the larger resorts for some time, but for the local residents it seems that more options are now available for turning to a healthy lifestyle.