Treat your muscles with the new Theragun that costs half as much as the original

April 24, 2019 at 12:14PM by CWC There are very few times in life when something you really want (but can’t quite swing financially) gets a major price slash. Tuesday was one of those sweet, serendipitous occasions in the fitness world. With the launch of two new percussive therapy devices, Theragun has now made it possible to treat your sore muscles to one of their recovery devices for $300 less than the cost of the original device. The features on the G3 ($399) and the liv ($299) vary slightly from the flagship G3PRO ($599), which is intended for use by level-10 athletes. The G3PRO comes with two speeds of repercussion and six attachments to fit an adjustable arm for targeting large and small muscle groups. The G3 is similar with four attachments and a fixed arm. And finally, the lightest model at 2.5 pounds, the liv is the utilitarian workhorse of group with two attachments. While previous iterations of the Theragun were loud enough to drown out conversation clear across the room (we passed it around the office anyway), all three of the current offerings are almost whisper quiet. You wouldn’t necessarily want to, say, bust one out while your roommate is meditating, but you could definitely sneak in some percussive therapy while watching TV. For the unordained, the Theragun is a dream come true for your aching muscles. In a review from late 2018, beauty and fitness director Ali Finney wrote: “Nowadays, to the left of my couch sits

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How patchouli made its triumphant return to perfume bottles everywhere

April 24, 2019 at 10:51AM by CWC In American culture, patchouli has traditionally brought about a very specific image from the “free love” era, featuring long hair, incense, and tie-dyed wall hangings (think: a scene out of That ’70s Show). But long before its most recent hippie-era history, the musky scent was used in a number of East Asian practices, popping up in rituals everywhere from India to the Middle East. It was popular in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, and brought to Europe in the days of Napoleon Bonaparte via the Silk Road. In 2019, the rich scent has made a resurgence in the fragrance industry, taking on a new life entirely. That’s for good reason: While the aroma of patchouli is undoubtedly linked to memories of peace and love for many, it also has its fair share of positive properties. “Patchouli is soothing to the nervous system, grounding and centering,” says Amy Galper of the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies. “It supports the flow of energy and circulation and eases feelings of irritability and stagnancy discomfort during women’s cycles.” And, fun fact! When you blend patchouli with sandalwood, ylang ylang, or jasmine and sandalwood, she says that i can offer some aphrodisiac properties (in case you’re looking for something to spritz yourself with ahead of a romantic evening). Modern perfumers, it seems, are taking note. “I grew up in the ’60s and ’70s in San Francisco,” says Katharine L’Heureux, founder and CEO of Kahina Giving Beauty of her

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How to be a good roommate to your astrological opposite

April 24, 2019 at 09:14AM by CWC Ah, roommates. Find one you love and it’s like a non-stop sleepover (complete with face masks and the occasional cathartic cry). When the pendulum swings the other way, however, you might end up living with someone who’s more Nick Miller than Phoebe Buffay. The uphill battle that constitutes finding a good housemate recently hit an all-time high—as in, as high as the constellations—when someone on a roommate search unequivocally rejected a Capricorn, the eighth sign of the Zodiac. The legality of vetoing someone based on their birthday is now being hotly debated, reports The Guardian. But the larger moral question of using astrology as a compatibility tool definitely isn’t happening in a vacuum. Astrology is a Thing right now, and some ardently cling to their birth right constellations to make interpersonal decisions like who they’ll date. (It’s an actual feature on Bumble!) To gain some clarity surrounding the cosmological legitimacy of the matter, I spoke with Amy Zerner and Monte Farber, authors of Astrology for Wellness, about the best approach to a roommate search. “We believe that the purpose of learning astrology is to improve your intuition. As a good astrologer, you shouldn’t solely use [your sign] to make decisions, it should just be one part of their decision-making mix,” says Farber. It’s kind of fun to shoot the sh*t with your friends about how your boss is difficult “because they’re a Scorpio,” but you shouldn’t write off people completely because they were born

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The kang squat is probably why people started saying #SoreForDays

April 24, 2019 at 08:49AM by CWC Squats are the solid foundation of any fitness routine. With proper form, it doesn’t take long to feel the burn and see results. Standard squat variations—like sumo and single-leg—target your glutes and your quads, but kang squats are a posterior chain exercise, which means you’ll feel the burn everywhere. No, seriously. #SoreForDays was made for this move. “A kang squat is a combination of a good morning and a back squat. It combines a hip dominant and knee dominant move all in one, making it much more challenging than a solo or good morning squat,” says Emily Samuel, a trainer at New York City’s Dogpound. “It’s more of an assistance exercise, meaning it will optimize your performance for other exercises.” The kang squat might not be as commonly known as other varieties, but it’s one you’ll want to learn how to do. The movement is often used as part of CrossFit WODs. “You’ll work essentially all the major muscle groups on your backside, including your hamstrings, glutes, back, and spinal erectors, as well as your rectus abdominis (what you think of when you think abs), your obliques (the muscles on the sides of your stomach), and your quads,” says Samuel. How to perform kang squats 1. Get into position by racking the bar on your upper back. Squeeze your upper traps and shoulder blades together like you would for a back squat so it creates a muscular “shelf” for the bar to rest on.

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Ever find yourself in tears during a workout? Here’s why it’s very common

April 24, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Have you ever worked so hard while working out that you burst into tears? Yeah, same. In my life, it’s not just one isolated event, either. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve cried in a SoulCycle class, well, I’d be able to afford to take a whole lot more SoulCycle classes; but, I’ve also found myself weeping in hot yoga, Pilates, dance cardio, and one particularly intense run down the West Side Highway in New York City. Though I’ve always felt a little over the top when it’s happened to me in the past, it’s actually an incredibly common occurrence that has everything to do with the mind-body connection. “As breathing, living, emotional beings we’re all susceptible to holding in feelings. These built-up emotions cause tension in our bodies that can be hard to release,” says Amanda Jenny, a trainer at SLT, (which in case you’re counting is another class that has brought me to tears). “It’s not uncommon for a high intensity workout, where your body and mind are brought to exhaustion, to open the flood gates. It’s often the perfect storm: you’re in class, the energy is palpable, the song that’s blasting triggers something emotional, and your body feels like it’s got no juice left in it, and that’s when the tears start flowing.” According to Janine Delaney, PhD, a psychologist and fitness expert, your brain and body are essentially feeding off of each other when any sort

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This paint company will pay you $10,000 to travel the country as a “color explorer”

April 24, 2019 at 07:51AM by CWC If scrolling through Instagram photos of Coachella, the poppy fields in California, or the French Quarter in New Orleans gives you the itch to travel, you’re probably in need of a road trip. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would just pay you to travel throughout the country, your biggest worries only where to get your coffee in the morning and what to see next? The perfect travel jobs are often elusive dreams, but sometimes dreams come true. Paint company Behr is looking to hire a “color explorer” to travel across the United States and Canada, brainstorming new paint colors based on what they see. It could be a burnt orange lifted straight from sights of the Grand Canyon, a gray-blue inspired by an Oregon waterfall, or a light pink from an old mansion in Savannah. This color explorer will get paid $10,000, with all travel expenses covered. In addition to scouting colors, the color explorer will keep a blog about their trip for the company’s website. Because the color explorer will be sharing their experience with the public, Behr is looking for someone with a sense of adventure, someone who is really looking to soak up local experiences. You know when you were a kid and thought the greatest job of all time was naming nail colors? This is like that, only you get to travel. Color me impressed. If this sounds like your dream job, head to Behr’s website to apply

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Healthy battle: Cottage cheese goes up against Greek yogurt

April 24, 2019 at 07:37AM by CWC When it comes to popularity in the dairy department, Greek yogurt typically comes out on top. Smooth with Mediterranean flair, it’s grabbed by the armful to be used in smoothies, dips, or on its own topped with fruit and granola. Its lumpier cousin, cottage cheese, often goes overlooked. Are you unknowingly sleeping on a nutritional powerhouse? Or is there a reason why Greek yogurt is the go-to? “Both choices can be a healthy addition to your diet,” says registered dietitian Jessica Bouchard, RD. But which one is healthier? Bouchard breaks it down, comparing and contrasting the nutritional profiles of each, while offering tips for integrating cottage cheese and Greek yogurt into your diet. Greek yogurt vs. cottage cheese: Here’s what a registered dietitian thinks The nutritional breakdown According to Bouchard, Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are both pretty similar nutritionally, but there are some differences. Cottage cheese is slightly higher in protein, with 23 grams per serving versus Greek yogurt’s 20 grams. “This isn’t a huge difference, so for most people it isn’t going to make or break a choice, but if you are someone who struggles to get enough protein, then cottage cheese might be the better choice for you because it has those extra grams,” she says. While cottage cheese has more protein, Bouchard says Greek yogurt is higher in calcium—another nutrient many turn to dairy to get. Cottage cheese also usually doesn’t have the same probiotic profile that Greek yogurt

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Brandless drops $8 eye gel that will send eye bags packing

April 24, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Google “eye gels” right this minute and you’ll get 490 million search results. An array of products to swipe under your lashes will set you back anywhere from a few dollars to no-way-in-hell-am-I-paying-that-much. But bargain brand Brandless—known for its inexpensive food and beauty items—just released $8 eye gel to rival similar products at every price point. While the company has dabbled in paycheck-friendly skin care since 2017, today’s the day the company extends its beauty line into the realm of vegan makeup brushes, facial wipes, rose water facial toner spray, and eye gel. The Brandless eye gel formula consists of a super-blend of green tea, pomegranate, and caffeine to give you that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed lewk. Every last product in the line is cruelty-free (not tested on Peter Cottontail) and without 400 harmful ingredients like sulfates, parabens, phthalates, polypropylene, and synthetic fragrances. Kind of makes you want to click “add to cart” to the whole line of new products, right? You might as well; it’ll only set you back $33. While you’re shopping, you might as well scope out the site’s other under-the-radar steals, er, “deals.” Cheers to skin care that costs less than a sandwich. While we’re on the topic of bargain beauty, you have to check out Costco and Walmart.  Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good Selected by iversue

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