Day: November 4, 2019

November 04, 2019 at 11:30PM by CWC I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and babesiosis (a parasite-spread disease similar to malaria) in 2017 after years of weathering mysterious symptoms. The conditions compromised my mobility, cognition, digestion, and overall ability to function, and the many medications I took also took their toll on my physical strength and sense of personal freedom. But, one feature of mine helped me feel strong and normal and myself throughout the anguish of illness: my long hair. Two years prior to diagnosis, when I was feeling unwell and had no idea why, I decided to stop cutting my hair. I felt weak and out of control, and subconsciously believed that if I could muster the patience to nurture long, healthy hair, I could somehow channel that strength to heal the rest of my body. But as my hair grew longer, stronger, and freer, my body grew thinner and weaker. Upon finally receiving an accurate diagnosis and embarking on a treatment plan, I expected to get better quickly. Unfortunately, as is the case with many chronic illnesses, the road to restored health is hardly a straight path. Treatment made me feel sicker. The Lyme and babesiosis traveled to different parts of my body, infecting various systems, and the dead microbes left inflammatory toxins in their wake. I felt like my body was imprisoning my life. Through it all, my hair still gave me hope. It just kept growing and transformed into a symbol of youth and beauty—two

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November 04, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFu_jqhOT3w] Welcome to Trainer of the Month Club, a fitness series where we tap the coolest, most in-the-know fitness leaders to create a month-long fitness challenge. On Mondays, we have our “sweat drops” where you’ll get access to the week’s workout that you can follow along at home. This week, AK! Fitness Founder Amanda Kloots leads us through heart-pumping dance sequences. As Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang (ILYSM) once taught us, dancing it out it out is one of the best possible forms of self-care. It is literally impossible to be in a bad mood after a few minutes of bouncing around to “Where Does the Good Go.” I personally once spent a month going to non-stop dance cardio classes, and am convinced it made me a happier human being—not to mention the fact that I was in tip-top physical shape at the end of it all. There are a seemingly endless number of benefits to sweating it out by way of dance cardio: It improves brain function, it helps you feel more connected to other people in the room, it elevates your mood, and it gives your full body a serious workout. But reaping the (science-backed!) benefits of dance cardio doesn’t have to mean twerking in a studio. Thanks to our November Trainer of the Month, AK! Fitness Founder Amanda Kloots, you can dance it out in your living room to whatever song—and, bonus, in whatever outfit—you like. Personally, I’m going

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November 04, 2019 at 08:30PM by CWC If you add up the cost of all the products in your skin-care #shelfie, you’d probably faint. That’s why when Deciem released it’s now cult-fave line The Ordinary—which offers products formulated with high-quality, luxury ingredients at a fraction of the price—everyone went wild. And now you can get an even better deal on everything on your wish list. Deciem believes that hyper-consumerism hurts the planet, and that flash sales don’t do customers any good because they lead to “rushed purchasing decisions, driven by the fear of a sell-out.” So rather than participating in Black Friday on November 29, the company’s website and retail stores shut down for the day. Instead, you’ll find an automatic 23-percent discount (no coupon code needed!) applied to every product until November 30 at 11:59pm ET. “We strongly believe that skincare decisions should be based on education rather than impulse, and hope that a month-long promotion will provide the time for research, reflection, and consideration,” the company wrote on Instagram. While The Ordinary’s products are already affordable, the sale prices look like straight-up typos. But we promise they’re not. Here are 8 must-have products that are worth every cent. 8 products to snap up at The Ordinary’s skin-care sale 1. Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, $7 This toner uses glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin and a Tasmanian pepperberry derivative to help reduce irritation. 2. Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, $4 In need of a little

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November 04, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC Get comfortable in downward dog and you’ve found the baseline for your yoga practice. The pose strengthens your shoulders, stretches your hamstrings, and melts away lower back tension. That’s not all it can do, though. Just cross one leg in front of the other and your downward dog position transforms into a hip stretch. “When you cross the legs in down dog or forward fold, you’re releasing the muscles that overcompensate and cause friction in the iliotibial (IT) band,” says Lindsay Pirozzi of New York City’s Y7 studio. The simple act of criss-crossing targets the tensor fasciae latae (TFL), a muscle that wraps around your front hip. “When we stretch our TFL, it feels like heaven for the tendon-like structure and thick fascia of the IT band.” Did you hear that? She said “like heaven.” How to turn your downward dog position into a heavenly hip stretch [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw2B2n57D68] You can also perform the crisscross position in a standing forward fold.  To move into the hip stretch, start in a normal downward dog with your knees slightly bent, triceps spinning inward, and shoulders engaged. Walk your right foot over to your left, then cross the left over it so your legs are forming an “X”. If you feel open, slowly push your left foot toward the floor. Hold for three breaths and switch sides. Now for a full flow: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oU9Ob_1t7w] If you’re new to yoga, here’s how to find which type fits your personality.

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November 04, 2019 at 06:02PM by CWC Is there anything more gratifying than leaning into a novelesque text-message venting session? Based on my own inbox and tendency to complain, the answer is probably not. But as much as we get a feel-good release when we’re grumpy with our boss, feel gossipy about your cousin’s bridal behavior, or completely over a friend’s relationship drama, venting has a major snag when it comes to getting things done. That is, there’s a strict time limit when you should stop complaining and start thinking. Let’s talk about what happens when we go on a long, unhinged, “Ma’am, this is a Wendy’s” type of rant. You’re complaining to your co-worker about how your supervisor asked you to stay late the other day. You’re going on about how they probably hate you and they’re trying to ruin your life, steeped in negativity. But while it may feel like torture to be kept late, we don’t have the full picture of what’s going on. Maybe your supervisor heard from his supervisor that you’re on the way out if your output isn’t better, in which case he totally has your back. Venting to a third party is going to paint your manager in a poor light, and it’s not going to solve the problem. That’s the key here: It’s not going to solve the problem. What happens when you lean too hard into this cycle of venting is that you become more inclined to just complain. “It feels

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