Holistic and complementary therapy wonderland (healthypages.net)

Member Name: moonpoppy

Product:	healthypages.net
Date:	15/04/06 (314 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Informative, lively and up-to-date resource for anyone interested in health and spiritual wellbeing

Disadvantages: Once you step into the forums, time slips away ...!

HealthyPages.Net is a "complementary health and healing guide with directories for therapists, courses, self-help and self- development for the mind body and soul" (as they describe themselves).

From my point of view, it is a veritable wonderland! The website is a joy to use, quick to upload and refresh as well as easy to navigate.

I have used this website on a daily basis since finding it some 15 months ago and is a constant source of entertainment and enlightenment, as well as a fantastic resource for my training and personal wellbeing. I have met some wonderful people through the forums and find the website (and free weekly bulletin) is an excellent way to find out the latest health news and products available.

The HealthyPages community is made up of a vast number of members (all subscribe for free), most to be found in the UK although I have seen more and more International members popping up recently, bringing a more global perspective to the holistic community. Members come from all walks of life, bringing with them their own particular wisdom and a desire to share their knowledge and also learn more.

Site layout:

The first page (home page) which pops up when you enter their link gives you a view of how busy their site is, in terms of information and also what is available to access.

The tabs at the top of the page link through to the various options available to you, including Directory, Events, The Shop, News, Classifieds, Forum, Login (for members) and Contact (HealthyPages staff).

On the right-hand side of the home page is a list of the most recent discussions. Any person browsing the 'net can read these discussions but in order to post a reply, you need to sign up as a Forum member (please see Forums section below). At the bottom of the Recent Discussions column you are able to sign up to the free Weekly Bulletin newsletter, which is very useful. I've never had any problems with spam via HealthyPages and have never received anything from them other than my Weekly Bulletin subscription (not always the case in other websites, I know).

The middle section of the home page shows the latest health news which is updated on a daily basis, and also provides a search engine within HealthyPages to find the nearest complementary/holistic therapist in a wide variety of therapies, and which you can narrow your search by selecting the appropriate location (such as Berkshire). This information may also be accessed via the Directory tab at the top of the page. Below the Therapist search engine is a list of the latest - or most popular - products available in their shop (always a source of fascination for someone who can't resist all manner of gadgets!). This information may also be accessed via The Shop tab at the top of the page.

The right-hand side section of the home page shows a list of advertisers. After all, HealthyPages has to fund itself somehow in order to keep the website alive! I've used a few of the advertisers here and have not found any issues with the ones I have dealt with, so far. But, as always, its prudent to be careful when initiating contact with them.

You can always move to a different section by using the tabs at the top of the webpage, under the HealthyPages logo, rather than using your web browser's "back" buttons. Each section has FAQ's and HELP buttons to assist you.

I believe the site has been optimised to use all browsers available on the internet; I personally use Firefox browser which has no difficulties with loading up any pages or items.


Directory:

The Directory page is set out rather similar to the home page, in that Recent Discussions and advertising are on either side of the web page.

The Directory itself is very simple to use. You may choose to either use the search engine facility (What and Where) at the top of the page or select one of the therapies listed to browse through. Both options will allow you to access further information on the specific therapy you are looking for (just in case you aren't particular sure what that therapy is).

Once you enter the search pages, you will find that the left-hand side of the page changes. If you are looking at a particular therapy, it will give you a list of courses running in that therapy; if you are looking at a particular therapist/purchaser, it will give you bullet-points of the services/products they offer (sometimes we switch off when visually-overcome with a lot of text - I find these helpful when tired!).

The range of therapies available to search through range from the most popular (i.e. mainstream) such as Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Pregnancy Massage and Spiritual Healing to the more unusual or newer range of therapies available, such as Quantum Touch healing and healing for your pets.

Also included in the directory are suppliers - such as Health Food Shops, Vitamins, Clothing and Yoga product sellers.

Once you have made a selection from the range listed, HealthyPages will give you a list of those therapists/suppliers listed with them - just click on their name and up will pop their details, which provides you with a little biography, list of qualifications, contact details, where they practice, ailments they treat and also a weblink, if they have one.


Events:

When you select the Events & Courses Directory you will be presented with a column on the left-hand side, which gives you the option to add an event, search for an event or select from geographical locations (counties) or home study. The main page will show you the courses in date order (i.e. today's date, moving forward) and give just the barest details, including course title, location and date.

Once you select a particular course to look at, it will take you to a new page and give you the name of the company or person running the course, the course title, relevant course details (such as what the course entails, prices, location, booking details) and will also give you a contact form to complete and send, direct from HealthyPages.

You will also see that you have an option to send the course information to a friend (by email), which is located at the bottom of the course details page or also at the top of the right-hand column. The right-hand column has also changed, to show more courses available in that particular therapy field, which you can select and view.

There are 53 pages of course listings as I write this review; if you are looking for a specific type of course, it is definitely easier to use the search facility!


The Shop:

HealthyPages shop is simple to use and clearly laid out. The Shop page has a left-hand column which shows you your shopping basket and below that, buttons listing product categories available in the shop.

You can find a wealth of products here, ranging from arts & crafts, ayurvedic items and organic cotton linen to re-bounders (excellent workouts!) and SAD light products - something for everyone.

I have not used this facility recently but I believe their prices are competitive, as are their postage prices (given that some items are very weighty, such as massage oils and salt lamps). I have had no issues with out-of-stock items and service has, so far, been exemplary.


News:

This page gives you the latest health news from Reuters News Agency, again with the left-hand column showing recent discussions (from the Forums) and the main area of the page showing the same as on the main page. You may also sign-up for the Weekly Bulletins here.

If you see a news item you are interested in reading more about, click on the "...more" link to take you to the news item; once you get to the main story, the site also gives you the facility to email the news item to a friend, by email.


Classifieds:

A FREE classified ads section, which is separated into three sections - Top 10 *HOT* ads, Categories list and Top 20 New ads. At the top of these three sections is a dusky pink area, which enables you to register or login to amend your advertisements.

The categories comprise:-

Books & Music
General Merchandise
Venues/Rooms
Employment & Opportunities
Therapy Equipment

All categories sub-divide once you click on them (i.e. in Therapy Equipment it subdivides to Wanted / For Sale).

As always, same rules apply as to purchasing/selling any item on the internet - use your noodle-doodles!


Forums:

Famed for being the largest complementary health forum in the UK, the most users online topped 4028 at 7.45am on 1 March 2006.

Probably the most popular and well-used feature of HealthyPages ('tho I am more than happy to be corrected), is the Forums section. As mentioned in the Site Layout section, you need to register as a Member to post any replies or new messages to the Forum but it is a very simple, basic step and I have never received any spam since signing up.

I personally am not a great fan of forums - ones that I tried before HealthyPages tended to disintegrate into flaming messes (in every sense of the word) but HealthyPages have some wonderful Administrators and all members abide by the "respect rule". However, this forum is fantastic, with a vast wealth of knowledge contained within its listings and no questions is ever too silly, or too small.

There are General Forums, General Health/Ailments Forums, Therapy Forums, Mystical Forums, Lifestyle Forums, Religion/Faiths Forums and Other Forums.

Most Forums are self-explanatory and all subdivide from their main headers into a whole host of categories.

General Forums is a recommended place to start, once you register as a Member. Categories include: New Forum Members - to say hello; General Discussions; Thought For Today - you can get the Thought for Today emailed to you, as well as read other member's postings; Student/Training - an ideal place for venting all those worries and fears; Past Exam Papers ... ohhhhh, the categories are just too much to list here!

Other Forums has categories such as Free Goodies, Jokes, Travel & Holiday; Interesting Websites.

Posting on any forum is very easy, but to begin with it is helpful to have a read of the Announcements section under General Forums. This will help to answer any queries you may have, and if you have a specific question or problem you wish to post a message on, do take time to have a look at all the sections of the Forum. However, if you do mistakenly post a message in an area which would be more appropriate in another category, the Administrators will move it for you.

When posting your message you also have a chance to change fonts, add cute characters, add your signature (set up in your Settings section, at the top of the Forums page) and preview before posting. You can also add an Avatar (tiny image); I took mine from my Yahoo! profile. You may also add your website link in your profile, which will show up on posts - a good way to generate interest or business with your site, in a safe and interested environment.

If you wish to respond to a particular post but want to ask for further information which you feel shy about posting online, or if you need to send your email adddress etc., you have the facility to PM (private message). However, some members block this facility. If you receive any private messages, these will arrive in your Inbox (and also copies of any PM's you send are kept in this section too) and when you log in to HealthyPages, up will pop up a box telling you that you have one or more Private Messages waiting for you - all very exciting stuff, if you don't get out much like me!

Also in the Forums - right at the bottom of the page - is Member's Birthdays, which makes life easier if you have a terrible memory or just want to make a stranger's day by wishing them a happy birthday.

I love the sense of community on the forums and you soon get to know who the characters are! I've learnt so much from posting on the forums and have never felt ill-at-ease or awkward, even when I very first joined.

I've found the Past Papers enormously helpful while studying and shared knowledge is a fantastic thing.

Advertising within the forums, of any kind, is banned. There is a Business category within the General Forums where you can post general ideas but advertising is strictly kept to the Classifieds section. Persistent offenders will be excluded from the Forums so it is a wonderful safe environment in which to learn.

The only downside (and it is still a positive!) is that once you start reading through the posts, time quickly flies by - many an evening I've looked up at the clock and realised that 2 hours have flown by.


Weekly Bulletin:

As mentioned above, you can subscribe to the Weekly Bulletin Newsletters which are full of useful latest news items, following the same clear, easy-to-use format as the website.


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As you can tell, I am a huge fan of HealthyPages and certainly would not be following the path I am now without its help. I've met some wonderful people on there, received distance reiki healing and support when I really needed it - all for free.

A wonderful resource site, as well as a great place for networking, please do not think the site is just for therapists - it truly isn't. It is for everyone who has an interest in keeping themselves healthy, both spiritually, physically and mentally.

Do give it a try!

Summary: A truly fantastic resource for anyone wanting to learn more about complementary health