Fanny. Foof. Vaj. Blossom, whatever you want to call it, this sensitive area of your body takes a darn good battering from the trials and tribulations of cycling. This relatively small and intimate region is responsible for so many important functions; expelling bodily waste, facilitating intercourse, having orgasms and, in some cases, giving birth.If you look at a bicycle saddle, suffice to say that it’s not the most comfortable of perches to rest on, let alone lean in, push down and take impact through. As Hannah Dines wrote in her candid account of having vulva surgery as a result of being a pro cyclist: “While the valuable parts of the male genitalia can be moved out of the way, female cyclists sit right on the money“. It’s true, especially if you’re a road cyclist, leant right over in vulva-smushing attack position. Sure, there are bike brands like Specialized who have saddles with cut-out channels, shorter lengths and wider sit-bone designs to accommodate the female anatomy. However, vulvas come in all different shapes and sizes which means we have the painstaking task of going through trial and error to find a saddle that’s right for us – unless you’re a unicorn with a perfectly adaptable foof. I’ve had my fair share of cycling-related vulva nightmares, one being the swelling and soreness from my first 100-miler where my sit bones and labia were almost unrecognisable. I’ve suffered from sit bone sores, ingrown hairs of doom and tenderness of the pleasure zones, all
Year: 2020
UTI and Cycling
Urinary Tract Infections and Cycling: What you Need to Know Unfortunately for female cyclists, we are more prone to urinary tract infections than the average woman. From: https://www.velome.co.uk/lifestyle/urinary-tract-infections-and-cycling/ Urinary Tract Infections and Cycling: What you Need to Know Unfortunately for female cyclists, we are more prone to urinary tract infections than the average woman.That comes as no real surprise either because if you think about it, your undercarriage takes a bit of a battering from the saddle: repetitive pedalling motion, friction, heat, sweat, cream etc. Your chamois pad can quickly become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Being pretty prone to them myself, I can honestly tell you that urinary tract infections really suck. What are urinary tract infections? Commonly referred to as UTIs, urinary tract infections occur when there is a bacterial infection somewhere along the urinary tract; in the urethra, bladder or kidneys. Source: www.tena.co.uk Infections can be caused by internal issues, namely within the digestive system where Escherichia coli (E. coli) can be the culprit. Although for many people, an external influence where bacteria enters through the urethra is the most common cause of UTIs. Women are more at risk of developing an infection because of our anatomy; the short distance from the anus to the urethra, and the urethral opening to the bladder. When you consider the fact that your urethra is a short open passage into your body, it’s not hard to believe that it takes very little for bacteria to make its way in
Running the NYC marathon was the strongest I felt in 2019—but it wasn’t easy
January 02, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC On November 2, I woke up at 4 a.m., laced my sneakers, and prepared to run the TCS New York City Marathon. If you’ve never been in NYC on marathon day, I have to take a moment to explain how special it is. New Yorkers have a reputation for being hardened, uncaring, and independent, but year after year, those 26.2 miles connecting Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Manhattan somehow manage to connect all of us, too. The moon still hovered in the sky when I left my apartment that morning to meet up with Team Ultra, a band of gutsy runners who would join me for the race ahead. I boarded the bus to the starting line, and as I watched the scene shift from bustling Manhattan to sleepy Staten Island, where the race begins, my energy climbed like never before, following such an early wake-up call. The first mile of the NYC marathon is on a suspension bridge spanning the waters that divide Staten Island and Brooklyn. The burden of starting on a steep incline was daunting, but with fresh legs, it was completely overshadowed by the pure freedom of the downhill. As I soared down into the race’s second borough, I looked at the racers to my right and left, and already, I wanted to cry—about the palpable joy in the air, about how difficult the next 25 miles would be, about how lucky I felt to be there
Upgrade your afternoon snack routine with this delicious, stress-fighting veggie dip
January 02, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A38hYM-5K0A] Looking for a delicious snack that fights stress while you eat? Watch the video for the recipe. Given the consequences of chronic stress on overall health, it might be wise to add “chill the f**k out” to your new year’s resolutions for 2020. (Especially given that it’s an election year…) While you may have a few go-to tactics for battling modern life’s greatest wellness enemy, there’s one key element you’re likely overlooking: food. In the latest episode of our YouTube series Plant Based, herbalist, holistic health coach, and Supernatural founder Rachelle Robinett shares a superfood snack you can stress-eat with abandon when times get tough. In the video, Robinett walks us through her go-to recipe for a veggie dip that features what she calls a “perfect combination of stress-busting tactics.” It’s infused with three adaptogenic herbs that help the body, well, adapt to stress: ashwagandha, rhodiola, and ginseng. “Ashwagandha is known primarily for calmness, stability, and normalizing cortisol levels,” she says. “Rhodiola, which is one of my clients’ favorite herbs, is something that helps to promote calm, stability, and is supportive of mood.’ Ginseng, meanwhile, helps reinvigorate waning “life force” and promotes better circulation, she says. It’s not just the herbs that make this dish ideal for stressful days. “The format of a thick vegetable dip is also perfect for stress because we tend to snack when we’re stressed, and if you have something healthy to snack on… win,” Robinett says. Wanna
Call on this swagger-y spirit animal for courage and confidence in 2020
January 01, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC We’re in for a huge dose of clarity in the new year, according to “Rock-Star Shaman” Alyson Charles. Yes, 2020 is all about clear inner vision, and Charles senses a masterful guide coming through right now to help make that vision a reality: the rooster. Consider this spirit animal the confidence coach you’ve always dreamed of. Power moves and “I gotta be me” boldness? No time like the present. Here we are and here we go! Not only a brand-new year but also a brand-new decade—and a newly activated energy system within us. And I’ll get right to it: It is go time for those of us here on divine assignments and Earth missions to activate and birth the New Paradigm (a new energetic time on this planet that embodies ancient truths of oneness, compassion, unconditional love, unity, and equality). For those newer to the awakening path, you can expect an accelerated rate of understanding and internal alchemy, to see the purposes of this Earth life more clearly. You’ll also get new, bright glimpses of how your personal medicine, or your unique gifts, are here to be of service for the world. Our first spirit animal for this new decade is a masterful guide: the rooster, bringing us medicines to support us having great confidence and embodying courage and kindness. For those who have been walking the hero’s journey for a long time, there is a deeeeep dropping-in, to feel the fullness of
5 easy ways to fix a broken nail at home, according to manicurists
January 01, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC You know the feeling: You’re growing out your nails, and they get to an almost perfect length, right before one splits. The horror! The drama! The tragedy! On the scale of world problems, breaking a nail isn’t exactly a 10, but it can still be frustrating. Your only option, however, isn’t to trim all 10 and start again. As proof, I asked manicurists how to fix a broken nail, so that your manicure can still look pulled together. “It can be very easy to break a nail, since we use our hands for everything,” says Evelyn Lim, chief educator at Paintbox nail salon. “If nails are dry and brittle, they’re more prone to break, so using a cuticle oil can keep your nail bed hydrated and healthy.” Prevention is the best cure for broken nails, so slather on something like Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil ($20), which has jojoba and coconut oils plus vitamin E to keep nails hydrated and strong. Another preventative measure to help with breakage? Choosing the right shape for your tips and always having a base coat covering them. “As a guideline, you should shape your nail to match the natural shape of the cuticle and base of the nail,” says Lim. “For length, the free edge should not exceed half of the nail bed.” And, since your fingernails are constantly exposed to water and hand soap, it helps to have at least a clear base polish on, says celebrity nail
The 6 healthiest canned soups to always keep in your pantry, according to a dietitian
January 01, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC On weeks when I really don’t feel like meal-prepping, I have an easy solution. I buy five canned soups to stash at my desk for speedy lunches. I have my own favorite (Amy’s French Country Vegetable), but just to make sure I’m on the right nutritional track for cozy, mid-day fuel, I asked a dietitian to name the healthiest canned soups on the market. “Canned soup can be extremely high in sodium, and according to the American Dietary Guidelines, the goal is to stay below 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day,” says Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, a registered dietitian and author of The Better Period Food Solution. “If you suffer from heart disease or diabetes, you want that goal to even lower: 1,500 milligrams.” The ideal soup, says Beckerman, will have about 400 milligrams of sodium. “That’s less than 20 percent of the total amount of sodium intake a day,” she adds. As with all your meals, you’ll want to make sure your canned soup of choice balances carbs, fat, protein, and a ton of veggies. Below, Beckerman names the healthiest canned soups that fulfill the criteria of the most popular diets today. The healthiest canned soups for every diet Photo: Amazon Paleo and whole30: TRUE AND PRIMAL GRASS-FED BEEF AND VEGETABLE SOUP “Not only is this a paleo option, but this soup is made with natural spices and 100 percent grass-fed beef—making it Whole30 approved. It’s also gluten free, high in protein [24
7 ways to heal your sacral chakra and get your creative juices flowing again
January 01, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC If you feel like you’ve lost your creative mojo, or perhaps have trouble expressing yourself, your sacral chakra might need some healing. But first, in case you need a little chakra refresher: “There are seven different major energy centers throughout the body, from the base of the spine to the crown of the head through which this energy can flow in and out in a constant stream,” says nutritionist and Reiki Master Serena Poon. “These energy centers are called chakras, Sanskrit for ‘wheel,’ and are essentially the link between our energetic and physical bodies and the universal life force energy that connects us environmentally and spiritually.” The sacral chakra, also knowns as the second chakra, is located two inches below your belly button and is represented by the color orange. “This chakra governs your emotions, your creativity, sensitivity, sexuality, intimacy, emotional well-being, and self-expression,” Poon says. Each chakra, she adds, also vibrates at a particular frequency that impacts certain parts of the body. For the sacral, it’s the lymphatic and circulatory systems, reproductive organs, bladder, kidney, and large intestines. So, really, what does it mean to heal your sacral chakra? Poon explains that it’s about clearing and cleansing that energy center and bringing it back into a state of balance. There are many things you can do to heal your chakras. There’s talking to them, for example, as well as wearing chakra-balancing jewelry, and if you want to get really woo-woo, you can even try rainbow crystal light
This pressed serum is pricey but absolutely worth the money
January 01, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Discovering Maya Chia’s “The Super Blend” ($105) was a happy accident. After forgetting my usual moisturizer on a trip home to see my family, my mother handed me the pressed serum with a ceremonious flourish and said: “Here, try this.” Since then, the sherbert-hued skin-care product has a forever-home on my face. The beauty brand describes the product as a “multi-correctional moisture concentrate using our most complex ingredient deck to date in a high-performance, luxurious formula” and I’d like to second that. The formula includes botanicals, pressed seed oils, and butters—all of which are great. But personally, I’m most invested in how all these components come together in a rich, non-greasy balm that turns my skin from dull to luminescent overnight. In short: It has set a new standard for how I expect all my beauty products to work. Now, I know the triple-digit price tag may seem like a bit of a deterrent, but please allow me to explain why my Maya Chia mainstay is worth the extravagance. To get the full, glorious benefits of the product, you really only need a teeny-tiny bit (I’m talking the amount you can fit on the tip of your pinky finger). The jar that I purchased last Christmas ran out a few days ago and some very warped, self-indulgent math tells me that means I only paid about 29 cents per application. There’s something else, too. Whenever I feel the slightest bit comfier in my
The 2 most underrated gym machines for burning out your thighs and glutes
January 01, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC There are two pieces of equipment that I absolutely love—the abductor and adductor machines. When I ask Maillard Howell, owner of CrossFit Prospect Heights and founder of the The Beta Way, whether they’re worth a share of the small amount of time most of us have to dedicate to our workouts, he says, in a word, absolutely. “I own a CrossFit gym, but there are certain machines in a traditional gym that do have amazing benefits,” says Howell. Two such machines? You guessed it: the abductor (outer thigh) and adductor (inner thigh) machines. Since Howell’s normal movement patterns consist of CrossFit’s signature “constantly varied, high-intensity functional movement” (think: sumo deadlifts), he uses the two machines to ensure his inner-thighs, glutes, and hips can support him in those more complex moves. He thinks you should do the same, whether we’re into CrossFit or not. “If your inner thighs—your abductors—are not strong enough, then you can strain them,” he says. Same goes with your adductors. Even though he’s a fan of the pair of equipment, Howell says it’s best to not use the machine at the highest weight possible. Instead, focus on high reps and low weight. This strategy promotes hypertrophy—or increase and growth of muscle cells—in the body and complements your squats, deadlifts, and other moves that rely on the strength and stability of the hips. As for where to situate these machines in your workout, Howell says anytime is fine, but you can use them as