June 05, 2019 at 10:22AM Consider this an inflammation call to action. Continue Reading… Author Ray Bass | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Month: June 2019
This Pilates floor workout is so effective, it rivals intense Megaformer classes
June 05, 2019 at 09:43AM by CWC Over the past few months, I have fallen completely in love with Megaformer Pilates. I love the way my muscles feel when they start to twitch during a particularly grueling static lunge or plank hold, and I can say with full confidence that my core has never, ever felt stronger. Plus, I’m not going to lie—after three months of thrice weekly SLT classes (with a few sessions at BodyRok, SolidCore, and New York Pilates thrown in there for good measure), I can’t stop staring at my newly perky derrière any time I walk by a reflective surface. It makes me wonder…is there a way to recreate the intensity of these workouts at home? When I ask SLT founder and CEO Amanda Freeman if I could get the same full-body burn on the floor as I could in the studio, the answer is…kind of. “There are floor versions of many of our favorite SLT Megaformer moves, however they won’t feel quite the same off the machine,” she says. “They will still be challenging and effective, but the range of motion could be more limited and the smoothness of the movement will be lacking, but you will still get an amazing abs, oblique, glute, leg, and arm workout. “ The reason a Megaformer workout is so effective is because the moving carriage creates instability, which forces your muscles to engage and work harder during every move. According to Freeman, the best cheats for simulating this
This Pilates floor workout is so effective, it rivals intense Megaformer classes
June 05, 2019 at 09:43AM by CWC Over the past few months, I have fallen completely in love with Megaformer Pilates. I love the way my muscles feel when they start to twitch during a particularly grueling static lunge or plank hold, and I can say with full confidence that my core has never, ever felt stronger. Plus, I’m not going to lie—after three months of thrice weekly SLT classes (with a few sessions at BodyRok, SolidCore, and New York Pilates thrown in there for good measure), I can’t stop staring at my newly perky derrière any time I walk by a reflective surface. It makes me wonder…is there a way to recreate the intensity of these workouts at home? When I ask SLT founder and CEO Amanda Freeman if I could get the same full-body burn on the floor as I could in the studio, the answer is…kind of. “There are floor versions of many of our favorite SLT Megaformer moves, however they won’t feel quite the same off the machine,” she says. “They will still be challenging and effective, but the range of motion could be more limited and the smoothness of the movement will be lacking, but you will still get an amazing abs, oblique, glute, leg, and arm workout. “ The reason a Megaformer workout is so effective is because the moving carriage creates instability, which forces your muscles to engage and work harder during every move. According to Freeman, the best cheats for simulating this
Ditch your foundation this summer with these skin-smoothing tinted SPF moisturizers
June 05, 2019 at 09:33AM by CWC Hot take: Wearing foundation in the summer can be a tall order. Sweat and heavy makeup don’t exactly play well together, and who wants to spend time layering on a full beat only to sweat it off an hour later? That’s exactly why I’m currently obsessed with tinted sunscreens—they’re lightweight, and they fuse your moisturizer, SPF, and skin care all into one perfect product. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a Miami-based dermatologist, says tinted sunscreens are a great addition to your makeup bag, as they give you great sun protection minus the white tint of some sunscreens. “Most tinted SPF products are physical blockers, which means they either have zinc or titanium dioxide,” she says. “The reason why they’re tinted is because zinc and titanium give a white or gray hue on the skin, so one of the ways to mask that is to add a tint so it’s almost like your skin color. And you’re turning it almost into like a lightweight makeup so [that] you don’t see the gray discoloration.” When you’re rocking a tinted SPF on your skin, it can lead to seriously covetable radiance—especially if you follow some pro tips. Merrady Wickes, makeup artist and head of content and education at clean beauty boutique The Detox Market, notes that mineral sunscreens can sometimes be drying, so she recommends applying them over a face oil or balm while it’s still dewy. Pro tip: For perfectly even coverage, Wickes says to pat, never rub. While
Ditch your foundation this summer with these skin-smoothing tinted SPF moisturizers
June 05, 2019 at 09:33AM by CWC Hot take: Wearing foundation in the summer can be a tall order. Sweat and heavy makeup don’t exactly play well together, and who wants to spend time layering on a full beat only to sweat it off an hour later? That’s exactly why I’m currently obsessed with tinted sunscreens—they’re lightweight, and they fuse your moisturizer, SPF, and skin care all into one perfect product. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a Miami-based dermatologist, says tinted sunscreens are a great addition to your makeup bag, as they give you great sun protection minus the white tint of some sunscreens. “Most tinted SPF products are physical blockers, which means they either have zinc or titanium dioxide,” she says. “The reason why they’re tinted is because zinc and titanium give a white or gray hue on the skin, so one of the ways to mask that is to add a tint so it’s almost like your skin color. And you’re turning it almost into like a lightweight makeup so [that] you don’t see the gray discoloration.” When you’re rocking a tinted SPF on your skin, it can lead to seriously covetable radiance—especially if you follow some pro tips. Merrady Wickes, makeup artist and head of content and education at clean beauty boutique The Detox Market, notes that mineral sunscreens can sometimes be drying, so she recommends applying them over a face oil or balm while it’s still dewy. Pro tip: For perfectly even coverage, Wickes says to pat, never rub. While
The best (and absolute worst) ‘As Seen On TV’ ab exercise equipment, according to trainers
June 05, 2019 at 08:36AM by CWC We’ve all seen the feature film-length infomercials about exercise gizmos that promise “chiseled” abs to rival Michelangelo’s David. And a quick Google search of “As Seen On TV exercise equipment” returns a staggering number of results. I asked three trainers to cut through the clever slogans, rebates, and “if you call in the next 30 minutes” deals to determine which products actually deliver and which are total BS. While no two items in the “As Seen On TV” market are quite the same, Maillard Howell, owner of CrossFit Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, points out that they all share at least one thing in common: “They’re pretty genius on the level of super-laziness,” he says. There’s no judgement here. Laziness at the gym can be an asset. It can prompt us to make our workouts efficient and smart instead of aimless. But wait, there’s more! When our sloth-like tendencies are being commodified, we all need to make sure we’re informed shoppers so all of our living rooms don’t wind up looking like the Island of Misfit Training Modalities. Take a deep breath before calling 1-800-GET-BUFF and read the fine print. The best of the best (and the worst of the worst) “As Seen On TV” exercise equipment for working your abs Photo: Getty Images/Thanakorn Phanthura Best: Ab Roller Wheel, $13 “Ab rollouts are an advanced core exercise that prevents extension at the lumbar spine (lower back). Most people who complain of low back issues are
The best (and absolute worst) ‘As Seen On TV’ ab exercise equipment, according to trainers
June 05, 2019 at 08:36AM by CWC We’ve all seen the feature film-length infomercials about exercise gizmos that promise “chiseled” abs to rival Michelangelo’s David. And a quick Google search of “As Seen On TV exercise equipment” returns a staggering number of results. I asked three trainers to cut through the clever slogans, rebates, and “if you call in the next 30 minutes” deals to determine which products actually deliver and which are total BS. While no two items in the “As Seen On TV” market are quite the same, Maillard Howell, owner of CrossFit Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, points out that they all share at least one thing in common: “They’re pretty genius on the level of super-laziness,” he says. There’s no judgement here. Laziness at the gym can be an asset. It can prompt us to make our workouts efficient and smart instead of aimless. But wait, there’s more! When our sloth-like tendencies are being commodified, we all need to make sure we’re informed shoppers so all of our living rooms don’t wind up looking like the Island of Misfit Training Modalities. Take a deep breath before calling 1-800-GET-BUFF and read the fine print. The best of the best (and the worst of the worst) “As Seen On TV” exercise equipment for working your abs Photo: Getty Images/Thanakorn Phanthura Best: Ab Roller Wheel, $13 “Ab rollouts are an advanced core exercise that prevents extension at the lumbar spine (lower back). Most people who complain of low back issues are
EMFs aren’t just woo-woo nonsense, but how concerned should we really be? Scientists sound off
June 05, 2019 at 08:32AM by CWC Every so often, a concept comes along that provokes ultra-passionate opinions in the wellness community—and no, I’m not talking about the SoulCycle vs. Flywheel debate. In some circles, it’s the clash over whether or not GMOs are bad for human health. In others, there are big question marks around CBD (cannabidiol) and its many supposed health benefits. But there are few arguments as divisive as the one swirling around the acronym du jour: EMF. EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, are invisible ranges of radiation that come from power lines, Wi-Fi towers, and electronic devices (among other things). Many members of the scientific establishment believe they’re harmless, and some research does back up this opinion. But even so, a growing number of health-conscious folks are blaming EMFs for a host of problems, from headaches, insomnia, and lethargy to mental health issues, seizures, and even cancer. EMFs definitely aren’t a new thing—scientists have been researching them since the 1970s, when the first study was published suggesting a possible relationship between living near high-voltage power lines and childhood leukemia. (More recent studies show that this link is weak.) But we’re living in an era in which our EMF exposure is higher than ever, which is leading many people to question it anew. Think about all the EMF sources an average person is exposed to in a day: Our homes and offices (and sometimes, entire cities) are outfitted with wireless internet. We sit in front of computers all
EMFs aren’t just woo-woo nonsense, but how concerned should we really be? Scientists sound off
June 05, 2019 at 08:32AM by CWC Every so often, a concept comes along that provokes ultra-passionate opinions in the wellness community—and no, I’m not talking about the SoulCycle vs. Flywheel debate. In some circles, it’s the clash over whether or not GMOs are bad for human health. In others, there are big question marks around CBD (cannabidiol) and its many supposed health benefits. But there are few arguments as divisive as the one swirling around the acronym du jour: EMF. EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, are invisible ranges of radiation that come from power lines, Wi-Fi towers, and electronic devices (among other things). Many members of the scientific establishment believe they’re harmless, and some research does back up this opinion. But even so, a growing number of health-conscious folks are blaming EMFs for a host of problems, from headaches, insomnia, and lethargy to mental health issues, seizures, and even cancer. EMFs definitely aren’t a new thing—scientists have been researching them since the 1970s, when the first study was published suggesting a possible relationship between living near high-voltage power lines and childhood leukemia. (More recent studies show that this link is weak.) But we’re living in an era in which our EMF exposure is higher than ever, which is leading many people to question it anew. Think about all the EMF sources an average person is exposed to in a day: Our homes and offices (and sometimes, entire cities) are outfitted with wireless internet. We sit in front of computers all
Ikea’s robotic ‘furniture of the future’ transforms 1 room into 3 for the ultimate minimalist aesthetic
June 05, 2019 at 07:32AM by CWC Living in New York City (where a bedroom the size of a closet goes for $1,000/month) has taught me the immense value of space. My number one question before purchasing anything now is, “Wait! Can I spatially afford this?!” Cities make minimalists of all of us. And if the well-furnished minds at Ikea have anything to say about it, doing more with less is about to get super chic. The company announced its 2020 plans to roll out a robot named Rognan, which “transforms small spaces into comfortable, multifunctional homes.” “Designed in partnership with the American furniture startup Ori Living, Rognan changes to meet your needs, from sleep, to getting dressed, to having guests, and more,” reads an announcement from Ikea on Instagram. The real-life magic of the device means that, with the touch of a button, you can transform a single piece of furniture into a bed, a couch, a closet, and a desk. (Please excuse me while I swoon.) View this post on Instagram Meet our new robot, ROGNAN. Forget compromise in a small space. ROGNAN transforms small spaces into comfortable, multifunctional homes. It changes to meet your needs, from sleep, to getting dressed, to having guests, and more. The population of cities is growing, and our living spaces are shrinking. ROGNAN is a product for this new reality of modern urban life. Planned launch date: during 2020. @ori_living #IKEADDD2019 #IKEAtoday #IKEA #ROGNAN #oriliving A post shared by IKEA