October 30, 2018 at 09:57AM Whether you’re brand-new to the cushion or consider yourself a meditation pro, one thought has likely dominated at some point along your quest for a more peaceful mind: Am I even doing this right? Because unlike with your workouts, for which there are trainers and instructors available to evaluate your form on the spot, meditation technique can feel like a tricky skill to master. Well now, with Muse 2 ($249)—the second edition of the buzzy meditation headband—your at-home mindfulness practice is getting that same instant-feedback treatment you enjoy in boutique fitness classes. The first version of Muse ($199), which launched in 2014, features a singular “Mind” exercise, which uses EEG (a measurement of the ionic currents within the neurons of the brain) technology to reflect a user’s state of mind with emulative weather sounds. For instance, when your thoughts veer from your breath toward what to whip up for dinner, Muse’s rainforest soundscape sends winds whipping through the trees. And, in turn, when you manage to focus on the breath, the weather becomes calm. If you’re extra Zen, a bird might even tweet in a nearby tree (ahhh). Today, Muse 2 introduces three additional offerings in conjunction with the “Mind” feature: “Heart,” “Breath,” and “Body.” “We learned a lot with our first product,” says Nadia Kumentas, the company’s director of brand marketing. “There are a lot of other facets that play into a holistic meditation practice. And several of those are obviously posture (finding stillness and physical relaxation), being able to follow and
Month: October 2018
9 stretches for better sex top trainers swear by
October 30, 2018 at 09:44AM Stretching does a whole lot of good for your body. It helps you avoid injuries, minimizes post-workout soreness, and can even improve your athletic performance. In fact, it’s so important that there are now entire boutique classes dedicated to it. But its benefits don’t just stop at your fitness routine—it can also majorly improve your sex life. When you’re having fun between the sheets, you want to feel your best—and that means not dealing with cramps from being too tight during new positions or, you know, pulling a muscle. Plus, aside from being able to make your way through your Kama Sutra book pain-free to figure out what works best for you and your partner, you’ll also be able to strengthen your bond since increased flexibility can bring you closer together literally and figuratively. If anyone knows how to improve your sex life through stretches alone, it’s some of your favorite fitness pros. And these are the best ones to start with. Try these 9 stretches for better sex from 3 buzzy boutique fitness instructors. Katia Pryce, founder of DanceBody View this post on Instagram G R E E N W I C H I’m coming for you this Wednesday, 9:30-11am @allegradancegreenwich xxx KP. A post shared by Katia Pryce (@katia_dancebody) on Sep 24, 2018 at 6:01pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. Heart opener “This is great to prepare the spine for an increase in range of motion, and maybe a hair whip or two. While standing, arch your
We’ve reached peak DIY and it’s officially gone too far
October 30, 2018 at 09:34AM Well+Good is all about some DIY action. If you can grab two ingredients from your pantry and whip up a fabric softener, dry shampoo, or face mask without schlepping to a store and spending your well-earned money, all the power to you. Plus, what’s more rewarding than knowing you’re totally capable of creating a product with your very own precious hands? But I digress. I’ve waxed poetic before about why making your own things is a cool feat-slash-something fun and productive to add to your list of hygge activities. Despite this, there’s always a point where it can be taken too far. Case in point? This DIY video in which a girl makes a makeup brush out of her own hair and a pencil. this is the worst DIY i’ve ever watched pic.twitter.com/wWywzyXtlV — yeah (@malicioustaurus) October 29, 2018 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Let me attempt to explain the totally bizarre stunt: First of all—and I’m shuddering even thinking about this—the DIY aficionado literally chops off a chunk of her hair. This isn’t minor—it’s a hefty portion of her strands, and they’re not even pulled from the back of her head or underneath her front layers in a discrete manner. Nope, she just went for it right in the very front. That’s gonna leave a mark (I mean half an inch takes a full month of growth). But hey, what’s the small annoyance of absolutely ruining your perfect hair when it’s for the do-good purpose of creating a single makeup brush?
This is why running gives you, well, the runs…
October 30, 2018 at 06:15AM Nothing ruins a great run quicker than having to stop mid-stride to hit the bathroom. If you’re lucky enough (shall we say) to get the urge during an actual race, your gut and your time can suffer. The good news? Find a little comfort that you’re certainly not the only one who’s having this internal ahem struggle on the course. The fact is that whether it’s running or a HIIT workout, most physical activity prompts the body to have the same response, says Rich Velazquez, COO and coach at Mile High Run Club, a treadmill studio in New York City. “Movement of the body impacts the gut, and will ‘loosen’ things up,” he says. “The colon also becomes stimulated as it tries to both absorb the nutrients you’ll need while exercising and expel waste efficiently.” So what’s a gal to do if she’s hoping to avoid the Porta Potty mid-run (that is, if there’s one around)? Here, Velazquez offers up his better-gut tips for a great workout, no dropping of the Spandex required. Photo: Stocksy/Studio Firma How to train your gut as you’re training for a run 1. Eat right ahead of time Especially if you’re gearing up for a race, you want to make sure you’re putting your fueling strategy to the test far in advance of the big day so you don’t get any surprises along the way. Generally speaking, this means avoiding high-fiber foods in the hours leading up to a workout, as they
These 4 Starbucks drinks *seem* healthy, but are they really?
October 30, 2018 at 04:30AM Frappuccinos topped with thick mountains of whipped cream, caramel macchiatos drizzled with amber syrup, chocolatey mochas—these are the gateway drinks to a lifelong Starbucks addiction. The collision of a caffeine buzz and a sugar rush is how many sleep-deprived high-school and college students get through the day. But as you grow up, so do your tastebuds. That’s just as well, since instead of being blissfully unaware of the never-ending evils of sugar, you find out it’s essentially the worst thing you can put into your body. Thankfully, Starbucks has a giant menu and customization is its thing. So your drink order evolves into matcha, almond milk, and low-sugar bevvies—all of which allow you to keep on living your healthiest life, right? As someone who is just as much a latte-aholic as a health food reporter, I decided to dig a little deeper into the healthy-sounding options I routinely pat myself on the back for ordering. Armed with the ingredient lists laid out on Starbucks’ site, I called up naturopathic doctor Nicole McCarter, ND, to find out exactly what’s in four of the coffee chain’s most popular teas and low-cal coffee drinks. While you might be surprised by what she learned, there’s a bright side: Starbucks is the mecca of customizable drinks. That means you can absolutely get something healthy to sip on. It may just take a little more investigating than simply ordering something “skinny.” Find out what’s in Starbucks’ lower-sugar drinks—and if they are actually
The Fertility Treatment Couples Are Using To Stop Cancer
October 28, 2018 at 11:00PM Read more to learn about preventing inheritable cancers with IVF. Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
The 1-minute shower hack to stop next-day workout soreness in its tracks
October 30, 2018 at 04:00AM As you’re glowing from a surge of endorphins—and a whole lotta sweat—after an intense workout, you’re probably feeling pretty good…until the reality hits about how sore you’re going to be. While spending some quality time with a foam roller will undoubtedly do you some good, there’s another way to stop next-day soreness in its tracks. Unfortunately, it’s just as uncomfortable. A fool-proof way to give your muscles some much-needed relief is to hop in the shower. Not a relaxing warm shower, though; one where you alternate between hot and cold temps. Sort of like when someone ruins your steamy hot shower by flushing the toilet—but by choice. “These types of contrast showers, where you alternate the water as hot as you can handle for 20 to 30 seconds, and then turn it as cold as you can handle for 20 to 30 seconds, will fight tension and improve blood flow,” Dustin Raymer, MS, CES, CHWC, told Men’s Health. “Ideally, the water will get progressively hotter and colder the more you do this.” “These types of contrast showers, where you alternate the water as hot as you can handle for 20 to 30 seconds, and then turn it as cold as you can handle for 20 to 30 seconds, will fight tension and improve blood flow.” —Dustin Raymer, MS, CES, CHWC While even a minute will be helpful, doing 10 rounds, going more extreme with the temps as you get used to them, will help post-workout
Your go-to glossary for astrology terms—from A to Z(odiac)
October 30, 2018 at 03:50AM Just when you thought you’d finally figured out what your zodiac sign actually means—like, if you’re a Gemini, you should role-play in the bedroom and stick a tiger eye crystal in your bra—along comes your daily horoscope to perplex you anew. Mars is retrograde in your third house? There’s a supermoon solar eclipse squaring Mercury? Cue panicky flashbacks to 8th grade French class, when you were out sick with mono and missed the entire verb-conjugating lesson. (Je voud-wha?) Indeed, astrology has a lexicon all its own. While it’s tempting to just skim over the more intimidating words, being able to speak the stars’ language offers some perks: It opens you up to a whole new level of insight about what’s really going on up in space. It allows you to look beyond an astrologer’s interpretation to understand on a deeper level how cosmic events are impacting your life. Plus, it’ll help you spark some juicy conversations at cocktail parties. (No joke—bring up the concept of a Saturn return next time you’re out for drinks, and just wait for the cringe-inducing stories that follow.) Consider the glossary below your go-to primer for decoding celestial goings-on. Keep reading for an A-to-Z(odiac) guide for all terms astrology. Photo: Stocksy/Hayden Williams Aspect When two or more planets line up in the sky at certain angles, they’re “aspecting” each other. The planets’ energies are said to mingle, and some believe this affects our experience down here on earth. (The real-life manifestation of “stars
100-percent cashmere sweaters under $100 worth cozying up to
October 30, 2018 at 03:34AM When it comes to sweaters, it doesn’t get cozier than cashmere. It also doesn’t get more expensive. At the highest end, a 100-percent cashmere sweater can cost a couple thousand dollars. Yep, you read that correctly. Designs like those certainly put the “cash” in cashmere. But it’s totally possible to wrap yourself in its finely woven fibers (made from goat hair, FYI) for a fraction of the cost. How is this possible you ask? It comes down to a few factors, such as how thick and fine the yarn is, plus where your sweater is produced (most luxe sweaters are made in Italy and Scotland), which Business of Fashion goes into detail about in case you’re curious. But the biggest takeaway is this: If you’re willing to forgo a love of labels and settle for a super soft sweater instead of one that’s super-super soft, you can hygge and still have money left over for turmeric lattes and house payments. Here are a handful of 100-percent cashmere sweaters worth cozying up to this season. Photo: Madewell Madewell Cashmere Mockneck Sweater, $98 Available in sizes XXS to XXL Photo: L.L. Bean L.L. Bean Classic Cashmere Crewneck, $99 Available in sizes XS to XL Photo: Everlane Everlane The Cashmere V-neck, $100 Available in sizes XXS to XL Photo: J.Crew J.Crew Three-quarter sleeve everyday cashmere crewneck sweater, $98 Available in sizes XXS to XXL Photo: Uniqlo Uniqlo Women’s Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater, $80 Available in sizes XXS to XXL
3 cutting-edge innovations working to keep your brain healthy
October 30, 2018 at 03:00AM If life pans out perfectly, we’ll all end up spirited 100 year-old yogis like Tao Porchon-Lynch, with whip-sharp minds and strong bodies. But while people are living longer than ever before, for many, their later years aren’t exactly the sunny scenes depicted in retirement funds commercials. In the US, at least 5 million people have dementia (a blanket term for a decline in cognitive performance that includes Alzheimer’s disease). Because cognitive decline touches so many people, preventing and treating it has become a main focus in the scientific community. Doctors have long preached that “prevention is the best medicine,” and distinguished integrative health expert and How Healing Works author Wayne Jonas, MD, says he strongly believes the best way to prevent cognitive decline is through diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep, managing stress, and limiting exposure to environmental toxins. But in addition to the usual prescription of healthy lifestyle habits, top scientists and researchers are dedicating their careers to developing cutting-edge ways to protect your brain. Scroll down to see the latest science-backed ways to prevent cognitive decline. Photo: Getty Images/Guido Mieth At-home testing kits are giving insight into how to prevent “leaky brain” First things, first. Why, for so many people, does the brain give up before the body? To help explain, scientists are putting a new spin on a familiar term: Leaky gut is when the gastrointestinal tract becomes permeable—meaning bacteria and other toxins can enter the blood stream; “leaky brain”