BeaconMediaNews.com
8 MARCH 19, 2012 - MARCH 25, 2012
Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas and Spa in Indian Wells
By Greg Aragon Spring is a great time to visit the Palm Springs area. The weather is beautiful and crowds are small, especially compared to winter, when snow birds from around the world flock to myriad hotels and resorts. Thanks to a love of tennis a friend and I recently discovered the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas and Spa in the city of Indian Wells. I found the place on my way to the Tennis Garden, home to the BNP Open, the fifth largest tournament in the world. The 530-guestroom Hyatt is nestled on 45 lush acres of gardens, trickling fountains, tree-lined walkways, and Romanesque columns. The resort is highlighted by 43 private one- and two- bedroom villas with 24-hour butler service, the award-winning Agua Serena Spa, seven pools, a championship golf
course, tennis courts, gourmet restaurant, full bar, more than 88,000 square feet of flexible function space, and more. It’s no wonder the resort has received an AAA Four Diamond Award for more than 20 consecutive years. Our room was spacious and featured two queen beds, large flat screen TV, separate tub and shower, coffee-maker, a work station with free wireless Internet, and a shady patio. The patio came with a table and chairs and overlooked one of the pools and had a great view of nearby San Jacinto Mountains, and even a few wild bunny rabbits. Beyond the room, I discovered that the resort has enough activities to keep the entire family occupied. Besides a children’s area, there are private poolside cabanas, tennis and golf lessons from certified professionals, shopping, bicycle rentals, a night spot with live entertainment and classy dining at the hotel’s signature restaurant Lantana. Lined with walls of palladium windows and
comfortable banquettes, Lantana provides expansive views of the grounds and offers alfresco dining against a backdrop of mountains and lush rolling fairways or indoors in intimate style. During our dinner, we sat outside and enjoyed warm spring air and cold Lantana martinis. With this we had Caesar salad with fresh anchovies, spicy tuna tartar, lobster pasta
with shrimp and scallops, and New York steak. For dessert we split an awardwinning dessert made with local dates. After dinner we relaxed at Agave Sunset, the hotel’s hip lobby bar. Agave Sunset features signature desert-inspired cocktails, an impressive wine collection and its very own private label Agave Sunset Tequila. This super premium, private label tequila is double
barrel tequila created by Herradura especially for Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. The bar’s comfortable atmosphere features Corinthian leather banquettes and cool desert tones in both the indoor and outdoor areas. Besides great food and drink, the resort also offers guests relaxation at Agua Serena Spa, and the renowned Medical and Skin Spa, a skin clinic that
blends art and science to renew and restore skin health. Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas and Spa is located in Indian Wells. The hotel is currently offering special packages such as Amour Romance, Bed & Breakfast, Spa Package and more. For more information and reservations, call (760) 341-1000 or visit www.hyattgrandchampions.com.
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Heel Pain Comes on Slowly, Afflicts Growing Numbers Dr. Yu-Chin Chiu El Monte, CA
Common Causes of Heel Pain and Injury
Surgery: NOT Needed in Most Cases
One of the most common consultations I encounter as a podiatrist in my office is heel pain. The demographics of this population range from active athletes to your 30 to 50 year olds. Onset is often insidious, classic symptom presents with pain upon first step in the morning, lessens with some walking and often symptom exacerbates with prolonged weight bearing activities.
Common causes of heel pain range from over strain on the plantar ligament due to increased load on the plantar ligament or abnormal foot mechanics. Patients are often concerned with other organic cause of the heel pain or worried about the growth of heel spur causing the pain. Patients could present with localized pain to the focal point of the heel or complains of diffuse pain under the heel pad. Possible differential diagnoses of heel pain could be heel fracture, seronegative arthridities, or nerve entrapments. However, history of the presenting heel pain would help narrow the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.
Heel pain can be managed with conservative treatments majority of time, rarely, I think heel pain requires surgical intervention. If patient comes in with exacerbating pain affecting daily function for some time, I will treat it with cortisone injection, taping, Ibuprofen and orthotics. Physical therapy also is an important adjunct therapy that helps rehabilitate heel pain. For long term management, especially patient population with occupations that require prolonged standing or walking, a pair of custom orthotics that is well molded to the arch of foot is efficacious in preventing and controlling symptoms of heel pain.
Heel pain does not need to stop you from living your life. It can be treated. We can help. Dr. Yu-Chin Chiu practices in El Monte and also is a wound care certified physician specialized in diabetic foot ulcer and limb salvage.
Dr. Yu-Chin Chiu El Monte, CA
10516 Lower Azusa Rd. El Monte CA 91731 (626)443-2020