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Author: CityWomen

2019 Health Fashion

Transgender clothing closets are a major win for self-expression—and mental health

7 min read

November 05, 2018 at 06:32AM Clothing is a form of communication—it lets us share who we are without having to say a word. A black turtleneck bodysuit exudes a classic, fuss-free vibe, a vintage band tee flaunts an obsession with the ’70s punk scene, while sharply pointed heels that authoritatively click-clack between cubicles say “I’ve got this—and I’m ready for that promotion whenever you are.” And while many people take for granted that they can walk into a store and leave with a garment that reflects how they feel on the inside, it’s not so easy for those who identify as transgender or non-binary. Cost and sizing of clothes can be a barrier, as well as stares from other shoppers (or worse), and many dressing rooms are still labeled as strictly male or female, making it awkward to try on new things. With this in mind, a growing number of LGBTQ+ resource centers and universities are opening free clothing closets for trans and gender non-conforming people, giving them a place to explore and express their identities through fashion. Such programs are cropping up in all corners of the US, from Georgia (Kennesaw State University) and West Virginia (Marshall University) to Missouri (The Center Project), Pennsylvania (Penn State University), New Mexico (The Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico) and California (UC Santa Cruz), to name just a few. According to Aydin Olson-Kennedy, LCSW, clothing closets like these are super important for the wellness of the LGBTQ+ community. And these safe spaces are particularly important now,

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2019 Health Vegetarians

Pigeon pose isn’t the only move that will loosen your hips

2 min read

November 05, 2018 at 05:55AM Comprised of an array of muscles (shoutout powerful glutes and mighty adductors), the hips reign over most of our movement patterns. And yet, Americans sit an average of 13 hours a day (#desklife), which forces the hip flexors into a “shortened” position and ultimately leads to tight adductors, abductors, and hamstrings. Research also suggests that when the hip muscles tighten, a chain reaction occurs and the surrounding muscles are affected— especially the glutes.  To counteract the sit-all-day lifestyle, it’s smart to dedicate a decent amount of time to stretching before a sweat-sesh and TBH, whenever else there’s time—like after the shower or when the vegan pumpkin mac & cheese is in the oven. While pigeon pose may be the go-to hip-opener—it isn’t the *only* move that will loosen your hips. In fact, dance sculpt instructor, Megan Roup, who happens to be leading our next Well+Good Retreat in Miami this December, actually prefers an active hip-opening stretch which is humorously known as the “fire hydrant” (because it looks like a pup taking a pee on a fire hydrant). To try it, start in tabletop position with your hands and knees on the floor, shoulders stacked over your wrists and hips stacked over hips. Keeping your spine neutral and core engaged, lift your right leg to the right as high as you can, then lower it back down with control. The goal is to get your leg to hip height, but no matter how high you can reach your leg, it’s still a good stretch.

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2019 Health

Do hangovers actually get worse as you age—or is it just you?

5 min read

November 05, 2018 at 05:07AM If you’re anything like me, you used to be able to bounce back from a hangover with startling ease. When I was in college, I once even sluggishly completed a 10K in the rain following a full evening of beer pong. I was running (well, literally just walking) on just two hours of sleep and a coffee. Now if I have more than two glasses of wine one night, I’m almost guaranteed to be laid out in bed for at least half of the next day. So do hangovers get worse with age? A quick Google search yields tons of evidence it’s not just me pining for the answer to this question. But if you’re looking for medical confirmation that your two-day hangover is age-related, you’re likely going to come up short. “The research seems lacking in this area,” says Monya De, MD, an internist in Los Angeles. “But age can affect the performance of the liver in making some drug-related metabolizing enzymes, which could explain the effect.” The longer those enzymes take to break down the alcohol, the longer the booze stays in your body. More alcohol, then, is absorbed into your body, which results in higher levels of intoxication and—you guessed it—worse hangovers. While the idea that your liver gets more sluggish as you age seems to have legs, there isn’t evidence that points to exactly when the process starts. “The liver is self-cleaning to a certain extent, but if you overwork it, it

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