March 27, 2019 at 11:03AM by CWC There’s no beating around the toilet bowel on this one: Constipation is flat-out horrible. It feels uncomfortable, makes you bloated and probably pretty crabby (just me?). And while in the midst of a BM dry spell, when all you want is some freaking relief, you might feel like the only troubled pooper in the world. But that’s where you’re wrong. Some 42 million Americans suffer from constipation, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—and if you have fewer than three bowel movements per week, stools that are painful and difficult to pass, or feel like you’re just not getting it all out, all signs point to you being one ’em. Not to worry, toilet-challenged comrades, because there are a wealth of reasons that may explain the poop-light plight. “For the most part, constipation is caused by poor diet, not enough fiber, too much fiber without enough water, and physical inactivity,” says nutritionist Maya Feller, RD. “For the most part, constipation is caused by poor diet, not enough fiber, too much fiber without enough water, and physical inactivity.” — Nutritionist Maya Feller, RD. If you suspect your constipation is caused by a larger issue (Feller elaborates that certain medications can slow the digestive tract, and conditions like pelvic-floor dysfunction and inflammatory GI diseases can be at play, too), it’s important to get to the doctor stat. Otherwise, a few simple lifestyle tweaks could go a long way for pushing
Month: March 2019
Raise your vibe with this rose quartz-inspired yoga mat
March 27, 2019 at 10:16AM by CWC Yoga mat envy is real. Every time I take a class, I’m always amazed by all the different options. The basic colors get the job done, but vibrant designs are just asking for an Instagram photo shoot, especially those that are essentially pieces of art, with bold patterns fit for museum walls. Of all the yoga mats out there choices, one thing’s for sure: There’s nothing more high-vibe than this new crystal-inspired pick. Society6 partnered with the lifestyle brand How You Glow to create some of the prettiest special edition yoga mats in the world. The collection launches Wednesday, March 27, featuring two mats designed by artist Alja Horvat ($39). While one soothes with a stunning sunset design, the other was inspired by the rose quartz, a crystal that channels love and positive energy. Photo: Society6 If you’re not into bringing your rose quartz with you to your next yoga class, this mat is the next best thing. Every time you glance at it during downward dog, you’re sure to experience a burst of happiness. Anyone lucky enough to pose next to you is bound to feel it, too. Now that you have a brand-new yoga mat, you’ve gotta learn some new poses. First, try these free at-home workouts from the top yoga instructors on YouTube. Then, memorize these poses to help balance yourself out. Continue Reading… Author Tehrene Firman | Well and Good Selected by iversue
How Sore Is Too Sore To Work Out?
March 27, 2019 at 10:03AM Should you push through or sit this one out? Continue Reading… Author Ray Bass | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
I bathed in Iceland’s blue lagoon for 3 days, and my skin was 100% on board
March 27, 2019 at 08:25AM by CWC “It looks like we’re on another planet.” Those were some of the first words that came out of my mouth when I arrived at The Retreat, a first-of-its-kind spa situated on Iceland‘s Blue Lagoon. It was just before sunrise—which, during the winter months, doesn’t happen until well past 8 a.m.—and the lagoon emitted an eerie otherworldly glow. In combination with the alien-looking lava fields that characterize Iceland’s topography, I could have just as easily been on Mars than in an island nation in the middle of the North Atlantic. The Blue Lagoon is one of those places that seems to have been made for Instagram, but the thousands of photos of it you’ve likely seen on your feed (at present, #bluelagoon has 1.3 million posts) don’t even come close to doing justice to the landscape. The lagoon, which is technically manmade, was formed in 1976 when a geothermal power plant opened nearby and began depositing its superheated, mineral-infused water in the surrounding lava fields (weirdly, not as scary as it sounds IRL). Understandably, people took notice of the very warm, very blue pools, and decided to—literally—test the waters. The lagoon is packed with sulfur, silica, and blue algae, among other minerals, which is what makes it such a skin savior (and is also why the water looks so dang blue). Researchers in the ’90s discovered that the lagoon offered major relief for psoriasis—so much so that there is now a psoriatic treatment center
These are the 3 personality traits shared by “everyday saints”
March 27, 2019 at 07:56AM by CWC Some folks you meet are basically the human-equivalent of a rainbow. They seem to have their own gravitational pull, make finding new friends look as effortless as breathing, and appear to have extroversion coded into their DNA. Now, researchers have pinned down three specific good personality traits (the so-called “light triad”) that define unbeatable charisma. The “dark triad of personality” is a cluster of characteristics—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—that make you unlikeable, whereas the “light triad” is a more amiable set of traits that make an individual an “everyday saint,” reports Scientific American. Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, a psychologist at Columbia University, combed through past research and settled on three factors that represent good personality traits: Kantianism: following Immanuel Kant‘s belief that each person should be seen as an entire person, not just a means to an end Humanism: valuing each person’s individuality Faith in humanity: believing that people are “fundamentally good” While the two groups of traits appear to be opposites, Dr. Kaufman writes that all of us possess characteristics of each (you can take a quiz to find out your current make-up). Even if your score plants you more on the side of Machiavelli than Kant, you can evolve into a better human being. As the psychologist points out, our personality traits are malleable and ours to shape at will. “In my view, it’s best to view those who score extremely high on the dark triad not as a separate species of
Is this secretly the most urgent issue in wellness?
March 27, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC As the ever-more-frequent spate of natural disasters shows, climate change is no longer theoretical. It’s here. And according to two W+G editors in Los Angeles, now’s the time for the wellness community to be part of the solution. Here, Annie Tomlin and Erin Bunch discuss living through last fall’s wildfires, grappling with climate anxiety, and why a catastrophic future is *not* the only possibility. Annie Tomlin: In my view, climate change is the number-one issue in wellness. We’re just not seeing it as a wellness issue. Erin Bunch: Oh, I completely agree. It’s weird, actually, that wellness doesn’t really talk about it. Because I do think it’s number one! From a well-being standpoint, environment is huge. If it’s good for the environment, it’s also good for you. AT: Good point. Still, the problem can feel enormous and impossible. Do you ever feel like we’re all doomed? EB: I really don’t. I was having dinner during the [fall 2018 California] fires, and it sort of felt like having dinner on the deck of the Titanic just because it was so dramatic here. Everyone at my dinner table was like, “We’re going to be running from fires. We’re going to be fighting over water.” Just this apocalyptic future! I do think on this current trajectory, things are going to be worse for our kids, but I don’t think it’s necessarily inevitable. AT: Why not? EB: I recently went to an event featuring Jean-Michele Cousteau, who’s a
The 10 Best Healthy Cookbooks To Buy This Spring
March 27, 2019 Recipes to nourish your body, mind, and spirit. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Dear trainer: Are modified moves the easy way out?
March 27, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC There’s a moment in every fitness class where you have a decision to make (for me, it usually happens the moment someone says “push-ups”): Do you modify the move you’re doing so that you can keep up with the number of reps your trainer is asking for, or do you keep it up in full force, knowing you may only be able to eke out two or three of them? Well, we’ve finally got the answer, and all signs point to “modify.” “Modifications allow for proper form to be understood, conceptualized and then integrated into the client’s workout regimen,” says Ian Richardson, a trainer at SLT in New York City. “A proper modification to an exercise, no matter how rudimentary or advanced the exercise, will allow for any client, non-biased of his or her fitness level, to become stronger and reap the maximum benefit of the exercise.” And in case you’re nervous about going to your knees when a trainer tells you to drop and give ’em 20, there’s actual research to confirm that modified pushups are just as effective as the real deal. A 2018 study conducted by the Les Mills research center found that doing push-ups on your knees does help with upper body strength, and if you do enough of them to “reach the point of fatigue,” you will wind up getting stronger. “It’s always better to modify, especially when correct form is in question,” says BodySpaceFitness trainer Ivana Bolf. “When
I’ve Interviewed Hundreds Of Environmental Thought Leaders—Here’s Why I’m Optimistic About Our Future
March 27, 2019 at 05:55AM Your daily dose of green inspo. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Whoa, We Might Be Overlooking The First Step Towards a Sustainable Lifestyle
March 26, 2019 at 10:00PM How your money is funding companies that fuel the climate crisis Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue