by Rick Mattoon

Long before indoor tanning salons existed--in fact, before the Industrial Revolution--beautiful, golden tans typically belonged to those in the ranks of manual labor. Pale, porcelain skin was in vogue only because the very rich stayed indoors, shielded from the warm embraces of the sun's rays.

To be golden brown in those days meant a person belonged to a working class engaged in outdoor work. However, as increasingly more machines were introduced into society, the working class left their outdoor assignments for the factories.

By the early 1920s, medicinal exposure to the sun's rays gained in popularity. Daily exposure to the sun was touted as therapeutic for a host of ailments. The cosmetic appeal of a gorgeous tan wasn't fully appreciated until later that decade, when fashion designer Coco Chanel returned from a trip to the Mediterranean with a beautiful tan. Chanel's bronzed skin instantly became one of her most famous symbols of fashion and elegance.

The Next Level

When we are happy about our personal fashion choices, whether they are the outfits we wear or the great-looking tan we exhibit, we naturally are consumed with an overall feeling of goodness. Sporting a golden tan conveys a wholesome earthiness. What Chanel taught us is that a tan makes us look rich, refined or even elegant. Someone with a tan conveys the attributes of simplicity, friendliness, dependability and health. But what carries this cosmetic enhancement to an even deeper level of our well-being?

Most everyone agrees too much of most anything can have potential for harm. Photobiologist Dr. John Ott, while discussing the benefits of moderate exposure to ultraviolet light, says giving too much oxygen at birth can blind a baby; however, it would be foolish to jump to the conclusion that oxygen is hazardous to your health or that you should live without oxygen, he says.

This same premise holds true for tanning. In indoor tanning, the practice of moderate, sensible and responsible exposure to UV rays should be a mantra. If a person is genetically able to acquire a tan, the potential benefits of sensible tanning could enhance the fashionably impressionable aspect of your golden color.

Although a tanning salon cannot promote the potentially healthful benefits of UV light, many researchers have uncovered probable health benefits associated with moderate tanning. Past research has shed a better light on why indoor tanners have the advantage of looking and feeling better while engaged in a tanning program.

In a study published in 1971, Robert Neer and associates conducted research on a group of elderly veterans to determine whether extra exposure to UV light would increase their ability to absorb calcium from their diets. Members of the group who received UV exposure during the study absorbed 40 percent more calcium from their diet than those who received no UV exposure.

Another report from the 1953 Meeting of The American Society for the Study of Arteriosclerosis found patients with hypertension and related circulatory problems who were exposed to UV light had almost a 13-percent decrease in serum cholesterol levels. Within this same group, it was reported that 86 percent maintained this level 24 hours later. It is also important to note other types of fats implicated in heart disease also were reported reduced by exposure to UV light. Researchers felt this occurred because the body requires UV light to help break down cholesterol.

Self-Confidence Builder

Self-confidence affects our entire life. In general, the rougher the going gets on the outside, the greater the need for self-worth on the inside. Your ability to overcome obstacles is enhanced if you have self-confidence. You are who you think you are--no more, no less. That's why it pays to think, feel and look your best.

Confidence in adulthood is often an elusive quality; however, people know it when they see it, and it's totally irresistible. There is no person sexier or more beautiful than one with full confidence in themselves and their abilities. Confidence from a well-tanned individual radiates like a light, drawing opportunities and admirers in compelling ways. Expressing a sincere and honest belief in yourself and your abilities doesn't mean you are conceited. Just take a good, long look at yourself and know what your strengths are. Then, use them to project the utmost confidence.

Adults always have looked for ways to boost their self-confidence by physical enhancements. For example, if we have a great smile people compliment us on, we may consider whitening our teeth to make them even more noticeable. To even further enhance their smiles, women may use only top-quality lipsticks in flattering colors. People also keep their lips soft and supple with top-quality lip balm.

Is thick, rich hair one of your best assets? To build self-confidence in this area, you may have considered highlighting your hair to bring out its natural beauty. You undoubtedly use only the best hair products and aren't afraid to spend money on them. If hair is one of your best natural qualities, you have probably experimented with a variety of styles to find which are the most flattering and best match your personality.

Maybe you have a trim figure. If so, you wear clothes that show it off. You have developed the self-confidence that allows you to strut your stuff without being afraid of looking good. While most people envy you, they also respect you for having the courage to live up to your greatest potential.

Taking Time To Relax

Finding the time and place to practice relaxation techniques has always been a challenge for people trying to cope effectively with stress. The indoor tanning bed can be an ideal location for just such a time-out. The typical tanning session lasts anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the unit and tanning schedule--allowing for just enough time to escape the demands of everyday life while practicing relaxation techniques.

People with recurring symptoms of anxiety and nervous tension usually are barraged with a constant stream of negativity. Throughout the day their conscious mind may be inundated with thoughts, feelings and fantasies that trigger upset emotions. Many of these thoughts replay unresolved issues of health, finances, or personal and work relationships. This relentless mental replay of unresolved issues can reinforce the anxiety symptoms and lead to exhaustion. A tanning session can create the perfect opportunity for a person to quiet the mind. Therapists suggest a meditation program that easily can be adapted for use while building a golden tan.

Here is how it is done: Lie comfortably in the tanning bed. Breath deeply, taking slow and relaxed breaths. Focus all your attention on your breathing and pay close attention to the movement of your chest with each breath. Block out all other thoughts, feelings and sensations. If you feel your attention wondering, focus on your breathing. Continue this exercise until the end of your tanning session or until you feel sufficiently relaxed.

To get the most of your tanning session while practicing relaxation techniques, drink plenty of cool water before and after the tanning session to reduce heat-related discomfort. Avoid alcoholic beverages because they can be dehydrating as well as disorientating.

Anyone using an indoor tanning device to treat a health disorder should consult a healthcare professional first. Although many scientific articles discuss the positive aspects of reasonable tanning, a salon owner or operator is not allowed to promote the potentially healthful benefits of indoor tanning. Until the federal government changes its policy, tanning salons only can promote the wonderful tanning properties of ultraviolet light within the tanning facility.