December 31, 2018 at 01:12PM January’s cosmic divinations from “RockStar Shaman” Alyson Charles set the stage for a new year—and what a year it promises to be. Here’s her full report on what she sees for the month ahead, energetically speaking, as well as the spirit animals to support you in January and throughout 2019. And so it begins, dharma-fulfilling 2019! It’s a year that has the potential to bring manifested lifelong visions and desires and foundational changes, while you are truly living your soul mission and purpose. As we come off a most-potent month of December—a fitting end to a year that held wild transformation, transmutation, healing, and release—we now enter into a time that holds within it energetic medicines that will provide experiences, feelings, and connections that our souls have most likely never experienced before, yet we are deeply ready for. These experiences will take us to levels of love, soul fulfillment, and depth—as well as connection with ourselves, all aspects of the planet and other humans—that is more heart-led, uniquely inspiring, authentic, and more grounded than ever before. So, what will take us there? Various elements of fire, including the magnificent power and medicine of the sun, revealed to me as a key ingredient in infusing the spiritual essences needed for us to be in our full power. The first element of fire we will explore is lava—the fire we’ve felt alchemizing inside of us and building over the past year, bringing inspiration and ideas, will now become more anchored and
Day: December 31, 2018
7 places around the world where you can see the majestic Northern Lights
December 31, 2018 at 09:20AM There are few natural phenomena as visually impressive as the aurora borealis, or northern lights. One of the oldest and most well-known types of astrotourism, you likely know the northern lights as the occasion when the night sky lights up and looks like the fumes of a lava lamp. In fact, the aurora borealis happens when charged solar particles meet certain atmospheric gasses and the Earth’s magnetic field. Technically the phenomenon behind the northern lights can happen year-round but for best visibility, you’ll want to be somewhere with low light pollution and go during a time of the year when the days are dark. There’s no exact information or way to tell if and when or for how long the northern lights will happen, but it can be anywhere from mere minutes to days at a time. The best place to see nature’s light display is somewhere with a magnetic latitude above 55 degrees. This is, understandably, probably not the easiest parameter to use when planning a vacation. Instead, below you’ll find a list of the best places to see the northern lights—as well as the ideal time of year to do so in each location. Photo: Getty Images/Sjo 1. Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks is home to one of the country’s most revered nature escapes, the Denali National Park. It’s one of the US’ northernmost (and thereby best) options for catching a glimpse of the aurora borealis. The northern lights are visible yearly from late August until
If you take one thing into 2019, make it Elizabeth Gilbert’s call to stop tearing yourself down
December 31, 2018 at 09:20AM There’s a clichéd (but 100 percent true) meme circulating on the internet that goes: “If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do.” Actually putting the statement into action though proves much, much more difficult for some reason. In a recent Instagram post Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love, explains why. Simply stated: We can’t hear all the things we admire about ourselves over the chorus of cruelty we repeat each day like mantras. “You guys, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t attack myself. I can’t insult myself. I can’t respond to a compliment by offering up a list of my flaws. I just…can’t. It feels like such a violation of the sacred. I don’t have the heart for self-deprecation anymore,” she writes in the caption. View this post on Instagram You guys, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t attack myself. I can’t insult myself. I can’t respond to a compliment by offering up a list of my flaws. I just…can’t. It feels like such a violation of the sacred. I don’t have the heart for self-deprecation anymore. Somewhere along the way, over the past few years, I’ve lost the dark (and particularly female) talent for self-criticism, and for tearing myself down. It feels like sacrilege. My mouth can’t form the hateful words. And I can’t bear it anymore, to hear another woman demean, degrade, or diminish herself. It shocks my senses and hurts my heart. To witness
Always tired at work? Blame your highly personalized chronotype
December 31, 2018 at 08:35AM There are a number of ways to sum up 2018. One in particular? It became the year we started taking biohacking really seriously. We discovered that optimizing our environment and our workouts alike allows us to supercharge the proverbial “cards we’re dealt” at birth. And FYI, sleep is no exception: A growing body of research suggests that your personal chronotype—your underlying circadian rhythm that dictates the ideal time you fall asleep and wake up—is very likely messing with your focus at your day job. A study conducted in Germany in 2015 split steel workers into those who liked to work during the day (early birds), and those who preferred to hustle at night (night owls), reports The New York Times. Early results showed, both parties clocked 16 percent more sleep than they had on their previous work schedule. Just to put that into perspective, it means 35 hours of sleep per week could magically turn into more than 40 hours. Why, you ask? Well, experts believe that each of us has an encoded “rhythm” to our sleep cycles, and when you don’t follow along to the beat, your quantity and quality of shut-eye suffers. (And need I elaborate on how harmful a lifestyle choice it is to skimp on sleep?) “It really makes sense to think about when people have the most energy and when they’re peaking mentally.” —Camilla Kring, PhD “It really makes sense to think about when people have the most energy and when they’re peaking mentally,” says
Fleece-lined shoes are so cozy—but should you be wearing socks with them?
December 31, 2018 at 08:26AM It’s officially peak fuzzy shoe season. And this begs the question: Should you wear socks with shearling shoes—or does it defeat the purpose of swaddling your soles in fuzzy fleece? It seems cruel to deprive your toes of such a cozy experience… but as podiatrist Suzanne Fuchs points out: “The moisture or sweat from your feet will be worsened by the fabric and friction in your shoes. You need something that will absorb, and/or help decrease the amount of moisture.” So basically, yes, please wear your enclosed shearling shoes (boots, loafers, sneakers) with socks. Fuchs recommends looking for socks that are made with copper and silver, as they are antibacterial. She also suggests socks made with temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking fabrics, such as merino wool or a nylon blend. Skip the cotton socks, as Fuchs says they can actually keep heat and moisture in, causing more sweat. Mules and slides with shearling are a little trickier because they’re designed to be worn sans full socks. However, a quick Google search reveals that you can actually buy half socks designed specifically to be worn with slides and mules. Moral of the story: It’s probably in your best hygienic/not-making-your-shoes-smelly interest to wear socks with your shearling-lined shoes, even though it’s tempting to just let the aforementioned fleece envelop your feet in its fuzzy softness. Le sigh. Suffering from style SAD? Add these mood-boosting pieces into your rotation. Then, check out the personal style tips 5 fashion writers are taking into the new year.
You should actually start eating your parsley garnishes in the name of good health
December 31, 2018 at 08:00AM As a college student in the early aughts, I worked at a restaurant where there were two different garnish options for the dishes: kale and parsley. Obviously, kale has come a long way since those days, going from background actor to star ingredient in salads, grain bowls, and smoothies. But what about parsley? Its name may not be popping up on sweatshirts and in punny Instagram handles like kale, but it, too, has a ton of health benefits worth celebrating. To get the scoop on this unsung herbal hero, I checked in with Brynn McDowell, RD, creator of The Domestic Dietitian. As it turns out, this peppery Mediterranean herb deserves to be way more than just a visual flourish on your plate. 4 parsley benefits you should know about 1. Parsley contains anti-cancer compounds: Parsley’s leaves may be small, but they’re packed with antioxidants that have been linked to cancer prevention. One is a flavonol called myricetin, which is also found in cranberries, tea, and fennel. “Myricetin is a naturally occurring compound found in parsley that has been linked to the prevention of certain cancers, including breast and skin cancer,” says McDowell. Another study found myricetin to be effective in killing certain types of thyroid cancer cells. “Parsley also contains vitamin C, which is [another] antioxidant that has been shown to help cancer prevention,” McDowell says. More research is needed to confirm how these compounds interact with the human body, but the Mayo Clinic agrees that the more antioxidant-rich
No need to shell out for an ultra-fancy milk frother—your microwave works *just* as well
December 31, 2018 at 06:49AM At your neighborhood coffee shop, the price difference between a plain old cup of joe and an ultra-foamy option probably rings up to be about $2—and day after day, week after week, that oh-so enjoyable upgrade can seriously add up. So if you, like me, have wondered how to froth milk at home and DIY a fancy latte without investing in a frother, go ahead and rejoice. The only equipment you actually need is your microwave. Here’s how it works: Once you’ve booted up your coffee or espresso machine—or prepped your Chemex, or whatever other caffeinated-beverage-producing device you’re coveting these days—and the sweet aroma of fresh brew wafts through the air, grab your milk of choice (so. many. options.) from the fridge, instructs Trusted Reviews. Then, find a mason jar—or another microwave-safe container that has a lid—and fill it up no more than half way with your milk (or mylk). Put on the lid and shake it up for a good minute (hello, arm workout), remove the lid, pop it in the microwave 30 seconds, and then pour it immediately—and, I mean immediately—into your waiting mug. Seem too easy to be true? I thought so as well, which is why I put the method to the test. What I wound up with though, was a creamy latte-esque concoction. Seem too easy to be true? I thought so as well, which is why I put the method to the test this morning. What I wound up with though, was a creamy latte-esque concoction that
This year’s best relationship advice will keep your love life happy into 2019 and beyond
December 31, 2018 at 06:10AM No matter your relationship status, romantic goals, or feelings about dating in general, fact remains that 2018 offered a lot of information to consider about that good, old battlefield of love. During the summer, for instance, many of our celebrity friends made the case for just doing the damn thing. And when the sprint to matrimony didn’t pan out for some, they taught us to find the empowering silver lining. Aside from star-powered relationship advice, expert-backed tips to increase happiness and health also came to light this year. Of the bunch, my personal favorites include the health reasons to never hold in your poop around your significant other (let nature take it’s course, people!); some real talk about what to do if you just can’t sleep around your snoring special someone (because, seriously, I’ve wondered how many divorces citing irreconcilable differences are just thinly veiling a deviated septum issue); and sex-free ways to build intimacy with your partner (because who’s always in the mood?). But those are just three of a whole corpus of stellar dating and relationship tips from 2018. Rounded up below are the takeaways that stuck with Well+Good staffers that you can bring into 2019 and beyond. Photo: Instagram/@daxshepard Don’t expect perfection “It was a big year for me and my boyfriend: We moved into our first apartment together and learned a lot about each other. Nothing ended up being a deal-breaker (phew!) but the shakeup that comes with sharing so much more space
Wanna become a yoga teacher? Here’s where to get certified in NYC and LA
December 31, 2018 at 05:00AM Being a yoga teacher sounds like a low-stress, high-vibe life. You get to hang out in an airy studio all day, wear yoga pants year-round (without even having to worry about shoes), and, of course, enjoy the reward of teaching yogis how to bend their bodies while getting a serious mind-body refresh. Namaste to that. There’s a lot that goes into becoming a certified yoga instructor, though. Yogis actually have to know a lot about the body, learn Sanskrit names for poses, and explore the history of the practice. To get a better idea of what it’s really like, I spoke with the two founders of Los Angeles’ Love Yoga. “Yoga teacher training is an experience,” says Kyle Miller, yogi and co-founder of the space. “It’s an investment in yourself, it’s a step forward on the path of self inquiry, it’s a leap of faith. It’s a multi-faceted, communal introduction into the theory, history, practicum, and technique of yoga.” “It’s an investment in yourself, it’s a step forward on the path of self inquiry, it’s a leap of faith.” —Kyle Miller A certain amount of hours are required in order to get certified, so it won’t just be a couple of classes and then bam, you’re a yoga teacher. “Yoga Alliance deems 200 hours for the most basic training, but of course this is arbitrary and really depends on the individual,” says Sian Gordon, co-founder and yogi at Love Yoga. “Some people feel ready to
These were the 10 most popular healthy recipes on Well+Good this year
December 31, 2018 at 04:00AM By now you’ve probably seen people posting their #Best9 on Instagram, sharing their year-end book lists and Spotify 2018 Wrapped playlists, or writing long Twitter threads keeping tabs on all their big 2018 career accomplishments. (That’s basically the last week of December on social media in a nutshell.) Well, consider this Well+Good’s more delicious take on a year-end list. We put together the top ten most popular recipes on the site so you can start the new year with some legit-good ideas in your back pocket. Some are from celebs, some are from our favorite wellness influencers, and all of them are full of good-for-you ingredients. Bookmark this page and come back to it whenever you need a little meal-prep inspo. Keep reading for the 10 most popular healthy recipes on Well+Good this year. Photo: Getty Images/Samir Hussein 1. Meghan Markle’s 3-ingredient creamy, vegetarian pasta sauce Ah, the Meghan Markle effect. The Duchess is well-known for her love of healthy eating (anti-inflammatory banana bread, anyone?), and after her healthy pasta sauce recipe resurfaced online, everyone wanted to know how to make it. And good news: it’s just as easy to make as Markle’s go-to comfy shoes are to wear. Photo: Jenny Carr 2. Gluten-free, anti-inflammatory lemon bars Can we bust the myth once and for all that you don’t have to give up dessert to lower inflammation? Health coach and recipe creator Jenny Carr’s lemon bars are made with all clean ingredients and no added sugar. Oh, and they’re