January 03, 2019 at 10:59AM If you’re merely orbiting the wellness world and not fully immersed, chances are you’ve still heard of Ayurveda, a holistic medicine practice that originated in India. At more than 5,000 years old, it has out-lasted every diet fad and wellness trend. But here’s the funny thing: Almost every buzzy subject within the wellness world right now is rooted in this ancient practice. “Almond milk. Energy balls. Turmeric everything. Herbalism. Meditation. Soaking and sprouting,” Jasmine Hemsley, co-founder of Hemsley+Hemsley, lists off in a recent episode of The Business of Fashion podcast. “Bone broth. Fermentation. Probitoics. Prebiotics. Tongue scraping. Circadian rhythm. Oil pulling. Massage. Yoga. Mindfulness. Intermittent fasting. It’s all Ayurveda baby.” Practicing Ayurveda successfully doesn’t just mean adopting all of the aforementioned wellness habits. In fact, according to Hemsley, this is the main thing practitioners in the West tend to get wrong when trying to live their healthiest lives—they take it too far. “We hear ginger shots are good for us and then we want five,” she says. “Green juice is not a solution. And sauerkraut? Eat too much and you have more than a wind problem. We need to understand that the dose makes the medicine or the poison. Creating balance is the art of living well.” “We need to understand that the dose makes the medicine or the poison. Creating balance is the art of living well.” —Jasmine Hemsley, co-founder of Hemsley+Hemsley Good news! Time to cut yourself a freaking break. Hemsley explains that true wellness through the
Month: January 2019
4 hacks to remember any and all facts
January 03, 2019 at 10:35AM Reading Romeo and Juliet in high school pretty much ruined me. Without fail, anytime someone brings up Shakespeare in casual conversation (which happens to me surprisingly often), I hear in my mind, “Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow,” on endless repeat. It’s annoying, but it does make me wonder about putting rhymes—and other memory tricks we all learned back in grade school—to good use. Our brains encode memories visually, acoustically, or semantically, according to Psych Central. While small studies have been conducted around rhyming and other mnemonic devices (think: “30 days hath September…”, the fate of Henry VIII’s “six sorry wives“, and acronyms like ROYGBIV), it’s not exactly clear why they work so well to cement memories in the brain. But since you do have at least 12 years of anecdotal proof that they do, here’s how to use each as, like, an adult. Make it rhyme. New coworkers? Gayle is the VP of Sales. Nick edits pics…This one is pretty self-explanatory. Find an acronym. JOMO, FOMO, BBE—acronyms abound in popular culture! Beyond memes, you can DIY (see what I did there?) one to suit your learning needs. For example, The Memory Institute suggests enlisting DR. ABC (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation) to guide you in administering the proper first-aid care. Get alliterative. The possibilities are endless. (Jolly Jamie. Mystical Megan. Tall Tom.) If you struggle to remember a new name, just conjure up some alliteration on the spot. Create an acrostic. Acrostics are
The time has come for women to just say no to backless chairs
January 03, 2019 at 10:22AM With every passing year, your head may ache more after a single glass of wine, your desired bedtime may inch its way down, and your back may make you feel another year older—but definitely not wiser. One place to channel your anger regarding that last notch on the blah belt of aging? The stupid barstools you often have to sit on in order to be an active, social member of society. So, feel free to join my in on my New Year’s resolution to say “no” to backless chairs in 2019. Maybe you’re thinking “sure, whatever, sounds great,” while quietly noting its status as low-priority among heavy hitters on your list of health-related goals—like doing Whole30, attending SoulCycle often, and swapping craft beer for kombucha. Well to that point, consider this: Barstools wouldn’t survive decor evolution if women built the world, according to a Refinery29 piece analyzing how ladies would optimize common designs. That’s because backless chairs are one of the many things in this world that don’t give women support—in many ways, but particularly, lumbar support. And by the way, the body, like, needs lumbar support. “When you sit for prolonged periods of time without having proper lumbar support, many things can happen, such as increased muscle tightness, leading to aches, pains, and general muscle fatigue,” says Lynn Bauchiero, a chiropractor at Thompson Healthcare & Sports Medicine. She adds that these fatigued muscles in question are attached to the naturally curved lumbar spine, and when they get
How to tell if your workout is *really* working or if you should switch it up
January 03, 2019 at 10:03AM Working out is kind of like dating: You want to be in a place with your fitness routine (and relationship) that makes you feel steady but not too comfortable. Just like you want your SO to surprise you, challenge you, and keep you on your toes (AKA ditch the sweatpants every now and then)–same goes for your workouts. Designing a fitness routine that you like and that gets you closer to your fitness goals takes time and patience. Fitness pros like Kevin Mejia, trainer at the celeb-favorite Dogpound Gym in New York City, usually have a standard recommendation for the kinds of workouts they advise clients to do each week (for Mejia, it’s 2 to 3 strength and conditioning workouts, 2 core and cardio days, and 1 active recovery day). While this structure may vary from trainer to trainer (and it also depends on your specific fitness level and goals), most pros agree that coasting through the same workout over and over is a bad idea. But how do you know when things are getting too comfortable and when it’s time to shake things up in your routine? Sure, it’s not difficult to spot early signs that your fitness routine is working (hello, sore muscles). But what happens when you do the same barre, yoga, or bootcamp class week after week? I set out to find out if workouts become less effective when you get better at them. Here, how to find out if your workouts are getting
Someone literally offered to buy this jacket off my back because it’s that cozy
January 03, 2019 at 09:44AM I shop online in a way one might be tempted to label as “excessive.” Not that I buy a ton. I’m the kind of shopper who fills up her online cart with a bunch of items but only occasionally hits the “proceed to checkout” button—kinda like when you swipe right with guys on Bumble, but then go back and have to reassess your decision when they’re in your match queue. Only instead of double checking that they don’t have any pictures of themselves posing with a dead fish from that one time they went fishing (seriously, WTF is up with this?), I’m double checking fabric composition and price and deciding if it’s really my style. Because I rarely find something that I feel immediately connected to, when I felt an instant spark for a beige teddy jacket online at Zara, I knew I had to make it mine. It’s like they say about love: when you know, you know. And my instincts about beige teddy jackets were spot on. (Now, if only those same gut feelings extended to my dating life….) I did the only logical thing to do when true love is staring you in the face from the backlit glow of a computer screen: splurged for express shipping because when I find something I want I have to have it immediately. Related: “Learning to be more patient” is on my list of resolutions this year. I’ve gotten more compliments since I added a beige teddy jacket
I tried dry conditioner and it was love at first spritz
January 03, 2019 at 08:55AM If I had to pick a single beauty product to be stranded on a desert island with—aside from sunscreen, because, duh—it would be dry shampoo. I’ve written extensively about my love of the stuff (as well as my intense hatred of washing my hair), and I’m fully willing to admit that I spend at least four mornings a week treating my scalp to a dry shampoo shower. So, when a dry conditioner came across my desk a few weeks ago, care of Batiste (the brand behind my favorite $8 dry shampoo), I actually yelped with joy. I had no idea what the heck it did, but I was already obsessed. Before I doused my hair with what I was sure would become my new favorite beauty product, I turned to the pros to find out what it was all about. “While dry shampoo absorbs the oils and excess product from your roots and scalp, it can be a bit drying on the rest of your hair and leave the mid shafts and ends feeling gritty—that’s where dry conditioner comes in,” says Daniella Vassallo, a stylist at New York City’s Antonio Prieto Salon. “Dry conditioner restores shine and moisture back into the hair and leaves it with a soft, velvety finish.” Sold! After hearing the hype, I decided to give dry conditioner a try one afternoon when I was rocking some serious third-day hair. I’d given my strands a once-over with dry shampoo that morning and despite
5 recipes that make following the Mediterranean diet super easy
January 03, 2019 at 08:37AM New diets come and go every year, all promising to totally transform your health. And while the avocado-filled ketogenic diet is undoubtedly trendy, the trusty Mediterranean diet remains the tried-and-true darling of the health world. It’s been shown to help you live longer, enjoy better gut health and stronger bones, and keep your heart healthy. (It was ranked the best diet of 2019 for a reason!) Another big perk: Unlike other eating plans that come with long lists of rules and restrictions on what you can and cannot eat, the Mediterranean diet is probably one of the most…chill eating plans out there. The focus is on foods high in omega-3s and healthy fats (hello, olive oil!), along with tons of fruits and veggies, legumes, nuts, and some nutrient-dense carbohydrates. Red wine is encouraged. What’s not to love? Mediterranean diet newbies could certainly roast some salmon with some olive oil and call it a day. But if you’re looking for some more cooking inspo, check out these delicious (and easy) Mediterranean diet recipes that will help you reap all of those benefits. These 5 Mediterranean diet recipes will help you stay healthy in 2019. Photo: Jessica in the Kitchen 1. Mediterranean chickpea salad In just 15 minutes, you’ll have a veggie-packed bowl loaded with protein-filled chickpeas, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes, all tossed with a tasty vinaigrette. Photo: Minimalist Baker 2. Easy vegan falafel Falafels are a Mediterranean diet staple, and this version made from chickpeas gets a healthy remix by being sautéd—not deep
Sick of salad? Here’s how to eat Whole30 or keto at (wait for it) Red Lobster
January 03, 2019 at 07:29AM As far as healthy food chains go, Chipotle tends to get a lot of love. (And for good reason, TBH.) But let’s be real here: No one wants a burrito bowl every day. If you’re looking to expand your healthy fast-casual palate, one OG chain actually has a lot to offer: Red Lobster. Surprised? Turns out the seafood joint has some key menu items that are Mediterranean diet-based, keto-approved, and even Whole30-friendly. So next time you’re out, check out these Red Lobster healthy options for your particular eating plan, all vetted by registered dietitian nutritionist Amy Gorin, MS, RDN. Photo: Getty Images/Westend61 Mediterranean diet Menu picks: Hand-crafted garlic shrimp scampi; wood-grilled lobster, shrimp, and salmon What an RD says: “People following the Mediterranean diet typically eat fish a couple of times a week, so these meals definitely fit the bill in that regard,” Gorin says. If you’re torn between the two, she says the salmon dish will give you the most healthy fats. Order tweak: The way these dishes are prepared has a more American twist than Mediterranean: lots of butter. “The Mediterranean diet recommends replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil,” Gorin says. Ask your waiter if they can make this tweak for you in the kitchen. Side dish recommendations: All entrees let you add a side salad or coleslaw, plus an additional side. “I would recommend choosing the salad for both,” Gorin says. (All the mayo in the slaw knocks it back nutritionally.) “For the shrimp
3 ways to curl your lashes *without* a curler
January 03, 2019 at 07:25AM I have a love-hate relationship with eyelash curlers. They definitely get the job done, seriously upping the wow-factor of my peepers. But even after much practice, I still manage to pinch my delicate eyelids once in a while and I always shed more lashes when I use the tool regularly. It’s easy to accidentally yank out or break off your lashes, even if properly using the most expensive of gadgets. Fortunately, an eyelash curler isn’t the only way to give yourself the doe-eyed look. If you’re over the damage, have yet to master the technique, or simply left your curler at home while on vacation, check out these three eye-opening alternatives. Here’s how to safely curl your lashes—no metal curler required. 1. Use a spoon. Actor Eiza González says her mom taught her this very important beauty hack at a young age—and it’s almost too easy. Just grab an ordinary spoon from your kitchen drawer, warm it up, press the curved edge against your lashes, and hold with pressure from your thumb for a few seconds. “When you don’t have a curler, you can run to your kitchen and warm it up with your hands,” she tells Vogue. You can also heat up the spoon under warm water or with a quick burst of air from your blow dryer. 2. Use a Q-tip. Q-tips are great for cleaning your ears (just don’t swab too deep!) and removing fossilized eyeliner, and they’re also perfect for curling your eyelashes.
How to deal with your significant other’s ex in the most diplomatic way possible
January 03, 2019 at 05:30AM Every time I get into a new relationship, one particular behavioral mechanism forms pretty much immediately: My beau’s ex becomes public enemy number one. Once he goes through the motions of talking about past relationships, I involuntarily zero in on the person who was previously in my position with complete and utter contempt—even if I know nothing about them other than their former title as VIP of my honey’s heart. Exes of significant others are humans too, sure—but they conjure some ugly feels in way more people than just me. A lot of people I know, regardless of how confident they may feel in their romantic relationship, regard an S.O.’s former flames as villains or threats to be battled if they so much as even breathe in the direction of their special someone. And when they’re still in your partner’s life in any capacity—friend, acquaintance, coworker, Words with Friends opponent—playing it cool can be oh-so challenging. Maybe it’s rom-coms that ingrained in us the idea that the ex is the enemy or just sheer jealousy of a shared past you’re not privy to, but regardless of the cause, there are some things to keep in mind: namely, that your S.O.’s ex has gone through heartbreak too. “You get one side of the breakup, and you don’t know that other person’s side—everybody hurts, though,” says Alex Williamson, chief brand officer at dating app Bumble. “The key is to have compassion and to realize how fortunate you are to