April 22, 2019 at 07:59AM by CWC Every time an instructor says to sit in sukhasana during meditation, I can’t help but groan. For someone with unrelenting hip flexor tightness, the so-called “easy pose” is really hard. As everyone around me is settling into the seated position, I’m often trying to ease discomfort with yoga blocks. The hip flexors aren’t always the tightest muscle for everyone, according to Jeff Brannigan, program director at New York City’s Stretch’d, but it’s one of the most common areas for tightness and discomfort. “Not only are the hip flexors used in almost every type of physical activity, but they’re also under tremendous stress when we sit at our desks for hours on end,” he says. “During long hours of inactivity, these muscles are tightening up which, over time, will end up compromising the blood flow to the area and exacerbate the problem.” The hip flexors are used for any movement “in which the leg is elevated forward in front of the body, like kicking,” Brannigan says. Consistent hip flexor tightness can lead to a long list of problems. You could experience misaligned a pelvis, compromised movement when exercising (which could lead to injury), and pain in your hips, low back, and knees. “In order to properly deal with tight hip flexors, we need to not only lengthen the area, but also pump blood into the muscle so inflammation can be reduced. The best way to do this is through an active stretch,” Brannigan explains.
Month: April 2019
Why having a dog is definitely good for your health
April 22, 2019 at 07:25AM by CWC Is there any greater feeling than walking through the door after a tough day and being greeted with a giant smile and a million passionate kisses—from your tail-wagging, always-happy-to-see-you pup? At times, having a dog is all fun and games. Other times, it’s up to your fiercely loyal pooch to remind you to live in the moment, to find joy in every day (or morsel of food), and to resist the urge to hold a grudge. So yeah, it’s safe to say life with a furry companion is pretty good (minus the potty-training period). And now, new research offers up further evidence that sharing your space with with a nose-boppable “good boy” is also really good for you. It’s long been known that having a pet can lead to lower stress levels and lower blood pressure, and that dog owners are more active than their non-dog-loving counterparts. (A study last month showed that older dog owners take nearly 3,000 more steps per day than non-dog owners—accounting for an additional 23 minutes of movement per day.) And a new study conducted by the University of Liverpool found that dog owners were estimated to be four times as healthy as non-dog owners—that’s pretty major! The reason is because having one forces you to get out of the house and walk it. “Dog owners walk more frequently and for longer periods than non-dog owners,” the study points out. However, it notes that dog walking is best as a supplement to regular exercise,
This 7-minute, core-strengthening workout tops boring old crunches any day
April 22, 2019 at 07:16AM by CWC Ab exercises are like friendships: Quality is a whole lot more important than quantity. Which means that even if you only have seven minutes to spare in the midst of a jam-packed day, you can get an effective workout. That is, as long as you’re doing the right moves. Thankfully for us and our core muscles, Charlee Atkins has us covered. All month long, she’s been sharing a series of core-quaking, at-home ab workouts in honor of our inaugural month of Trainer of the Month Club. Even though the moves this week require nothing more than your own bodyweight and a towel—which doubles as a piece of equipment and something you can use to help mop your sweat—the final installment might just be the most challenging one yet. Read on for Atkins’ fourth and final core series, and check back in May for the start of a new regimen with a totally new trainer. View this post on Instagram TRAINER OF THE MONTH CLUB Week 4 is here! 💥👏⠀ ⠀ For the final week of our April workout challenge, @charleeatkins is introducing us to more bodyweight ab exercises. Complete each move for 30 seconds, 2x through. Want more explanation on the moves? Head to the link in our bio for a full breakdown on each exercise. ⠀ ⠀ MOVE 1: Reverse Curl⠀ MOVE 2: Penguin Crunch⠀ MOVE 3: Corkscrew Crunch⠀ MOVE 4: Side Plank Hip Dips⠀ MOVE 5: 1/2 Kneeling Tower Chop (Right
How to find the perfect pair of leggings? Borrow the blue jeans trick
April 22, 2019 at 07:06AM by CWC I’m crap at trivia. Seriously, never ask me to join your team. Most of the stats and random facts I know come from banter-packed opening segments of Live! with Regis and Kelly from the summers of 2006 to 2010. In one such episode, Kelly dropped a bit of knowledge about denim. Aside from little black dresses and strappy footwear, the most coveted item is a pair of really, really good-fitting jeans. Fast forward a decade or so, and my guess is that nowadays the perfect leggings would give denim a run for its money in a similar survey. No, really. Data from the United States Census Bureau from 2017 indicated that imports of leggings outpaced imports of jeans. As it happens, the trick to finding a very good pair of spandex isn’t all that different from finding a pair of raw-edge denim (which in case you haven’t heard, you shouldn’t be tossing into the wash). According to Girlfriend Collective co-founder Quang Dinh, whose background is in the denim industry, you want your leggings to initially be a bit snug, so that you can live in them and they can adjust to your body. “Our compressive leggings have the highest compression possible, so they’re designed to fit like a great pair of jeans that feel tight at first, then mold to your body as you wear them,” he says. “We recommend choosing a size that feels a little extra snug so your leggings will
Thinking Beyond Sustainability: How Regenerative Farming Can Save Our Planet
April 22, 2019 We need to fix a broken system if we want things to get better, and regenerative agriculture provides some of the most tangible results that show it actually can. Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
19 Good Things That Happened For The Planet So Far In 2019
April 22, 2019 at 03:56AM In honor of Earth Day, let’s celebrate this positive planet news. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Here are 5 Easy Ways To Add More Protein To Your Daily Smoothie
April 22, 2019 at 03:55AM Including 4 great plant-based options. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Micro exfoliation reveals fresh, new skin—minus any irritation
April 22, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Whenever a skin-care product claims that it exfoliates, you can bet that I’m all over it. I must admit that I’m an exfoliation queen, for a number of reasons: it sloughs off dead skin cells that lead to dullness and acne, and it just overall makes your skin look and function better. The downside to the beauty practice? It can be irritating depending on your skin type or the exfoliant that you’re using (which can be anything from a physical grain to chemical exfoliant). But then, a skin-care pro told me about micro-exfoliation, which opened up a whole new world. “Micro-exfoliation is a way to remove surface dead skin cells and encourage new skin cells to appear, which gives an overall rejuvenated appearance to the skin,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group. “It’s unlike regular exfoliation because it’s done more gently and has a lower risk of irritation and a quicker recovery.” Since it’s a more gentle form of exfoliation, there’s a higher chance that you can do it on the reg. “For many skin types, micro-exfoliation can be done daily,” she says. “But for sensitive skin types it can be done once weekly.” That’s at the very minimum, though. “Micro-exfoliants are usually very fine grains or non-existence grain such as a foaming bicarbonate solution,” adds facialist Michaella Bolder. “The process is much less abrasive and so it doesn’t interfere with the skin’s superficial layer, leaving it feeling smoother
8 Ways Introverts Can Have A Good Social Life (That Isn’t Mentally Exhausting)
April 22, 2019 at 03:02AM Does socializing stress you out sometimes? Read this. Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Astro Alert: How To Navigate 3 Tricky Transits Happening This Week
April 22, 2019 at 02:54AM If you’ve been waiting for the moment to make a major impact, mark Monday on your cal. Continue Reading… Author The AstroTwins | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue