July 25, 2019 at 11:04AM by CWC I always aim to listen to my mama when cleaning myself in the shower. As in, “Only clean the parts of your body that you want to smell good and be clean.” (Duh.) Which means that unlike a surprisingly large chunk of the population, I wash my legs in the shower… along with everything else, from the tip of my head down to my toes (just not my face, cuz that’s a job for the sink). So whatever body wash I’m currently using is the one tasked with getting all of this washing done… and I’ve never, ever thought about whether it’s okay to use, ahem, down there or not. Welp, that’s a mistake on my part, because certain ingredients can throw off your vagina’s pH (which is important, BTW), or just lead to some not-so-ideal situations. Think: yeast infections. One surprising culprit? Glycerin, the ultra-common moisturizing ingredient found in so many personal care products. “Glycerin, which is found in many OTC lubricants and bath products, has been associated with yeast infections for those who are prone,” says OB/GYN and Monistat ambassador Alyssa Dweck, MD. That said, a lot of women tolerate glycerin “without any issue,” she says. It’s just a risk if you tend to get these infections somewhat regularly. ad_intervals[‘410879_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410879_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); It’s also smart to try and avoid shower products with propylene glycol, heavy fragrance, and anything with mineral oil. “The vaginal
Year: 2019
The 4-step ‘sexy salad’ formula for spicing things up on your lunch hour
July 25, 2019 at 11:02AM by CWC I can count on one hand the amount of salads I’ve truly loved in my life. And guess what? I didn’t make any of them myself. Like underwater basket weaving, crafting greenery is an art form. But once you know the sexy salad ideas (yes, you read that correctly), you too can become an arugula artist. To get straight to the point, the simple salad ideas make food blogger Elaine Kalache’s formula so, well, sexy. Many of us are way overthinking things at lunch hour (or whenever you like to eat your lettuce), she says. The truth of the matter is that salads are basic: they only really require four components to be satiating, nutritious, and—some may say—fork lickin’ good. View this post on Instagram Hey guys keeping it simple today with salad 🥗 idea… Making a delicious salad is easier than you think… 🥗 Its a great way to get the micro nutrients in 💪… Building a sexy colourful 🌈 salad with these few steps. 1️⃣ Pick a leafy base 🥬… Spinach, lettuce, kale etc. . 2️⃣ Pick 2-3 more veggies 🍅 🥒🌶, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, zucchini, onion, parsley, coriander etc. . 3️⃣ Pick a protein 🥚🍗 eggs, tofu, chicken, tuna, salmon, chickpeas (a source of protein & carb) etc… 4️⃣ Add a dressing olive oil + lemon, vinegar, avocado oil, tahini etc. So simple 😍… Today I had. ∙ Romaine Lettuce 🥬 ∙ Tomatoes🍅 ∙ Cucumbers 🥒 ∙ Red
If you’ve ever cried on your mat (and liked it) Yin Yoga is the emo release you need right now
July 25, 2019 at 10:25AM by CWC There’s a reason more-and-more people are turning to fitness as a form of emotional release. We’re living in an era that’s being deemed “The United States of Stress,” where chronic anxiety has become a widespread epidemic, especially for millennials and Gen Zers who are consistently clocking higher stress levels than our elders. Along with the dangerous health issues that stress introduces, Americans are internalizing these feelings, finding distractions, and nurturing others—when what we need is an outlet. Enter Yin Yoga, the inclusive, easy-does-it practice based on holding yoga poses for lengths of time, rather than rapidly flowing through them. Yin not only produces an opportunity for physical strength and emotional release, but it revolves around the assumption that there is no standard alignment, no such thing as a standard body, and that means way fewer nerves about jumping into your first class. ad_intervals[‘410700_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410700_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); There’s no perfect standard in Yin Yoga “As many of us in cities live in a constant state of high stimulation and ‘fight or flight’ mode, it’s necessary that we include ‘yin’ activities to keep our system healthy—one of the keys to longevity in our training routine is efficient physical and mental rest,” says Vanessa Michielon, the London-based movement instructor who had me weeping during my first Yin Yoga session on a faraway beach at Kamalame Cay’s Silver Linings holistic retreat, where she hosted a sunset class overlooking Bahamian
What you need to know about ‘inflamm-aging’—and 3 things you can do now to help prevent it
July 25, 2019 at 09:32AM by CWC Always an unwanted guest, chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to all sorts of health woes, ranging from acne and digestive troubles to cognitive decline and cancer. Book some quality time with a health professional and you’re bound to leave armed with tips to minimize it. But even if you do everything right—put all the advice into practice—there’s still one culprit you just can’t beat: aging. And when inflammation and aging go hand in hand, it’s called “inflamm-aging.” “As we age, the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle take their toll,” explains Raphael Kellman, MD, founder of the Kellman Wellness Center. Even if you seek to make smart decisions about your health, it’s impossible to do so all the time. Life happens. And the accumulation of various lifestyle habits—whether it’s stress, lack of sleep, or inactivity—has an impact. But there’s another reason why aging causes inflammation. “As we age, our bodies tend to have more consistently elevated levels of inflammatory biochemicals such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α,” explains integrative medicine physician Pooja Amy Shah, MD. “While these chemicals are good to help our immune systems fight off infections and keep us healthy, if they are chronically elevated, they can lead to problematic things such as cancer and muscle wasting.” ad_intervals[‘410730_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410730_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Here’s how to deal with inflammation and aging, or “inflamm-aging” 1. Prioritize gut health “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the
Why the unstoppable rise of skin care isn’t slowing down anytime soon
July 25, 2019 at 08:30AM by CWC Skin care has never not been a thing, but it’s always taken a backseat to makeup. Where electric blue eyeliners are easy to swap notes on, the answer to why one’s skin glows could be the result of any number of factors. But recently, there’s been a culture shift. No longer are we enamored with glossy perfection; instead, we’re craving what’s real—pimples and all. At the same time that a new tide rolls in, we’ve also been inundated with technology that allows us to peer into spaces that were once kept private: shelfies, nighttime routines, and #selfcare don’t whisper on Instagram, they roar. At current, skin care is a $5.7 billion industry in the United States, and it’s up eight percent year-over-year, according to research on prestige beauty from the The NPD Group. According to them, this growth is driven by the sales of natural and clean brands and those that offer up targeted treatments to their customer base. Real life stands as proof: “Over the past few years, I have seen a big shift in growth for skin care,” says David Razzano, Sephora beauty director. “When I first started working for Sephora as a beauty advisor, I found clients were often looking for makeup to cover up or hide their skin concerns. This has shifted over the past couple of years—I have now noticed a tremendous interest and love for skin care.” ad_intervals[‘409925_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409925_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); }
How to recover from a therapy hangover, because the post-session blues are super common
July 25, 2019 at 07:17AM by CWC I’m new to therapy, but having recently embraced my weekly sessions with gusto, I can say with certainty that I love it. (How could I not? I get to hear myself talk for an hour straight.) Immediately, it felt like a pricey, businesslike vent sesh, and one of those things I kicked myself for not having subscribed to much earlier in life. Therapy was therapeutic! Cleansing! Great self care! Until it wasn’t. I mean, not that it wasn’t therapeutic or cleansing or self care. It just wasn’t…fun anymore. In fact, it led me to wonder whether therapy makes me feel worse. I wasn’t simply just feeling sad after each session; I would leave appointments emotionally fatigued and melancholic. And, despite having been warned about therapy hangovers, I was starting to get concerned. ad_intervals[‘409404_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409404_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); So here’s the thing: Many of us go through life holding in our emotions, feeling more comfortable with internally ruminating than speaking out loud and being possibly judged, misunderstood, and wrong. “Typically in therapy, your first few sessions are an initial consultation, which means you’re sharing your history with the therapist, and they’re also getting to know you,” says psychotherapist Jennifer Silvershein, LCSW. “This may be the first time you’ve been given the space to completely focus on yourself without feeling like you need to allow the other person to share. It’s an amazing feeling” Basically, since we
These are the 5 things a personal finance trainer wants you to know
July 25, 2019 at 07:15AM by CWC You know your obsession with tracking your daily steps on your fitness app? (Ten thousand or bust.) Just imagine if you paid the same amount of attention to your financial fitness—you’d be totally winning at personal finance. That’s what Shannon McLay—founder of the Financial Gym—wants you to do. And at our recent Wellness Collective event with Athleta, she shared the five specific things you need to know to make your financial goals just as much a reality as your daily cardio, starting with this bit of wisdom: “Shift your mindset to embrace smarter financial choices.” (Get ready to screenshot.) Keep reading for the five personal finance tips McLay says everyone needs to know. Getty Images/Maskot 1. Put 15 percent of your gross monthly salary into savings First off, let’s do the math. Take your annual salary and divide it by 12 to get your gross monthly salary. Once you have that number, multiply it by 15 percent (.15) and bam, that’s your monthly savings. ad_intervals[‘410043_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410043_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); This number might look scary, but by setting up an automatic draft for this set amount each month (as McClay strongly suggests you do), then you won’t even notice it happening—until you see that fat stack of savings chilling in your account. 2. Have six months of fixed expenses saved in an emergency savings account To find this number, first jot down all of your fixed
The demand for “wellness under one roof” means good things for your local gym
July 25, 2019 at 06:03AM by CWC There is a new “gym” on 14th Street in New York City, called Complete, that has three stair-masters, seven elliptical machines, and 10 treadmills. It also has a rooftop garden, a juice bar, a full spa, and a “Himalayan Salt” member’s lounge. The gym, which opened its doors earlier this month, is the latest addition to a new wave of fitness spaces we’re seeing across NYC that want their clients to come in, work out, and stay all day. According to Complete’s owner Alex Reznik, this particular storefront was built to “promote a strong sense of community, and give clients the opportunity to come and spend a big part of their daily life there.” It’s just the beginning in what will be a wave of physical experiences that aim to blur the lines between wellness and everything else that happens in the day. Last fall, we called “wellness under one roof” as one of the biggest trends of 2019, and since then we’ve watched wellness clubs and communities like The Well and Lina open their doors in NYC to give customers spaces where they interact with wellness in a single destination. Now, we’re seeing traditional gyms—like Complete, Equinox, and Life Time—become one-stop destinations for wellness…and life. ad_intervals[‘409717_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409717_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Obviously, this comes at a time when at-home and digital fitness technology has gotten smarter—with players like Obé, Mirror, Tonal, and Peloton offering fitness enthusiasts
4 signs you have a toxic narcissist boss who’s trolling your daily grind
July 25, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Similar to a vampire, a toxic narcissist is great at sucking and can’t see their own reflection when a mirror is turned to their face. (And that’s kind of weird, because you’d think a narcissist would be all about reflections, right?) But while you can confront or cut out most toxic narcissists from your life, there is one nearly unslayable version: the toxic narcissist boss. Look, we all have issues with our managers from time to time, but the toxic narcissist boss is a special breed of messed up. Their sense of crazed vanity will drain the life from you and everyone else in the room. At the same time, though…well, we all need to keep those paychecks coming. But first, how do you differentiate a toxic narcissist boss from a regular boss who’s sometimes just kind of shitty and self-absorbed? And more importantly, how do you proceed once you identify this Dracula haunting your nine-to-five? Read on to get expert-informed tips. ad_intervals[‘409160_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409160_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Check out 4 signs that your boss is a toxic narcissist—and what to do about it. 1. They put you down “If your boss puts you down, especially in front of other people, it can be painful and could be a sign they are getting off on it,” says relationship therapist Tammy Nelson, PhD. It’s one thing for them to take you aside for a one-on-one chat so they
It’s never been trendier to see a chiropractor—but are they all they’re cracked up to be?
July 25, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Recently, I’ve noticed that a growing number of my friends won’t stop talking about their chiropractor: I went to the chiropractor yesterday and I feel so good now. The chiropractor totally cleared up my brain fog. Seriously, he’s amazing. My posture is so much better thanks to my chiropractor. I literally stand up straighter. All of the above statements are real gushing accolades from my literally cracked out friends. Even Shut The Kale Up blogger Jeannette Ogden often Instagram stories her QT with her DC. But it’s not just an influencer thing: According to the National Center for Complementary Integrated Health (NCCIH), chiropractor use has risen from 9.1 percent of U.S. adults in 2012 to 10.3 percent in 2017, the latest year statistics are available. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that employment of chiropractors will rise 12 percent between the years 2016 and 2026. So yes, chiros are a trend here to stay. ad_intervals[‘406403_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406403_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Here’s the thing: I’ve always been skeptical of chiropractors. I had always assumed that they were just the people who cracked backs and helped with posture, yet many popular chiropractors, like model-favorite and Pure Change founder Charles Passler, DC, Perfect Keto founder Austin Gustin, DC, have built careers preaching about nutrition. It’s never been clear to me what chiropractors are qualified to do, and how they’re different (or potentially superior) to physical therapists or traditional