May 24, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Not to be dramatic, but the first time I did “legs up the wall” in a yoga class, my life was forever changed. The pose involves scooting your butt to the edge of the floor and swinging your legs into the air, and—for me, at least—it was love at first inversion. Go figure! Recently, I learned that LUTW (as I’ve come to call it) just scratches the surface of ooey-gooey wall stretches. Trainer Alex Crockford’s stretches have me asking, “Foam roller who?” In a YouTube video, the trainer breaks down moves to lengthen out your hamstrings, hip, shoulders, quads, and more (and bonus, his very cute cat makes a cameo). “Flexibility is not just for super, super flexible yogis—it’s for everybody,” says the trainer. Spending time nurturing your muscles will lengthen extra-tight spots, improve your posture, and help prevent future injuries. So once you’re sporting the appropriate gear, find your favorite of the four walls boxing you in—LOL—and settle in for some wall R&R. 6 wall stretches to improve your flexibility [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KvcmKpbWug] Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds. Complete two to three sets total. If you find an extra tight area, linger a bit longer or complete an extra set. 1. Legs up the wall: Bring your body parallel to the wall and lie down. Lift your legs straight up, pivoting so that your legs are pointing straight up at the ceiling. Try to get your hips as close to the wall as
Category: 2019 Health
The germiest spot in your car is dirtier than a toilet seat
May 24, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Even though most people spend a considerable amount of time in their car, it’s not often thought of as a hot spot for germs. After all, that’s the bathroom’s reputation. Surprisingly, the interior spaces of your car are teeming with bacteria. In fact, parts of some vehicles host considerably more germs than a toilet seat. In the study from insurance company Netquote, a team swabbed various surfaces in different cars: request rideshare vehicles (like Uber), rental cars, and taxis. While they found plenty of germy surfaces (rideshare vehicles are by far the worst offenders), the lack of cleanliness on seat belts really stood out, which were dirtier than window buttons and door handles in some situations. “Toilet seats and coffee reservoirs both contained fewer microorganism than rideshares and rental cars,” reads the study. The numbers don’t lie. “It all comes down to the frequency of cleaning. All surfaces that are touched regularly by numerous people will be germy. That’s why we clean them,” says Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of The Germ Files. “Taxis are required to keep their cars clean, meaning they may be using cleaners and disinfectants that will aerosolize onto the belts and help keep the microbial numbers low. Another thing to think about is how often people who jump in a cab use the seat belt versus those who are in ride sharing. I’ve been in some cars where even in the back seat the seat belt is required. This
The germiest spot in your car is dirtier than a toilet seat
May 24, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Even though most people spend a considerable amount of time in their car, it’s not often thought of as a hot spot for germs. After all, that’s the bathroom’s reputation. Surprisingly, the interior spaces of your car are teeming with bacteria. In fact, parts of some vehicles host considerably more germs than a toilet seat. In the study from insurance company Netquote, a team swabbed various surfaces in different cars: request rideshare vehicles (like Uber), rental cars, and taxis. While they found plenty of germy surfaces (rideshare vehicles are by far the worst offenders), the lack of cleanliness on seat belts really stood out, which were dirtier than window buttons and door handles in some situations. “Toilet seats and coffee reservoirs both contained fewer microorganism than rideshares and rental cars,” reads the study. The numbers don’t lie. “It all comes down to the frequency of cleaning. All surfaces that are touched regularly by numerous people will be germy. That’s why we clean them,” says Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of The Germ Files. “Taxis are required to keep their cars clean, meaning they may be using cleaners and disinfectants that will aerosolize onto the belts and help keep the microbial numbers low. Another thing to think about is how often people who jump in a cab use the seat belt versus those who are in ride sharing. I’ve been in some cars where even in the back seat the seat belt is required. This
This healthy twist on potato salad is here to upgrade your Memorial Day spread
May 24, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Photo: Avery Memorial Day officially kicks off the start of summer cookout season, which means the return of some classics everyone loves to pile high on their paper plates: burgers (including their vegan counterparts), macaroni salad, grilled corn, and of course, potato salad. Potatoes on their own are healthy, but most potato salad recipes call for heaping servings of mayo, which takes the fat content into iffy territory. Does this mean your spread has to be potato salad-free in order to be healthy? Heck no. Love & Lemons Every Day cookbook author Jeanine Donofrio has perfected a healthy potato salad recipe that has all of the good stuff—and none of the saturated fat. “I love salad, but I wanted to show readers who might not think of themselves as salad fans how flavorful, fun, and nourishing salad can be,” Donofrio says. “So when I thought about including a potato salad, I knew I wanted to make one that was really vibrant, creative, and different from the traditional creamy potato salad I ate growing up.” Instead of mayonnaise, Donofrio’s recipe uses chimichurri—a bright, herby Argentinian sauce—to spruce up the potatoes. “Made from minced parsley, oregano, vinegar, garlic, and olive oil, it’s typically served over meat or fish, but when I was on my honeymoon in Argentina, I got the idea to toss it into a veggie-forward potato salad,” she says. Her version of chimichurri uses white vinegar instead of red and a touch of
This healthy twist on potato salad is here to upgrade your Memorial Day spread
May 24, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Photo: Avery Memorial Day officially kicks off the start of summer cookout season, which means the return of some classics everyone loves to pile high on their paper plates: burgers (including their vegan counterparts), macaroni salad, grilled corn, and of course, potato salad. Potatoes on their own are healthy, but most potato salad recipes call for heaping servings of mayo, which takes the fat content into iffy territory. Does this mean your spread has to be potato salad-free in order to be healthy? Heck no. Love & Lemons Every Day cookbook author Jeanine Donofrio has perfected a healthy potato salad recipe that has all of the good stuff—and none of the saturated fat. “I love salad, but I wanted to show readers who might not think of themselves as salad fans how flavorful, fun, and nourishing salad can be,” Donofrio says. “So when I thought about including a potato salad, I knew I wanted to make one that was really vibrant, creative, and different from the traditional creamy potato salad I ate growing up.” Instead of mayonnaise, Donofrio’s recipe uses chimichurri—a bright, herby Argentinian sauce—to spruce up the potatoes. “Made from minced parsley, oregano, vinegar, garlic, and olive oil, it’s typically served over meat or fish, but when I was on my honeymoon in Argentina, I got the idea to toss it into a veggie-forward potato salad,” she says. Her version of chimichurri uses white vinegar instead of red and a touch of
What you need to know about chill out time from the queen of self care
May 23, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC https://content.jwplatform.com/players/FG0WcE38-AjgxWzQ7.js Meet Wellness Collective, our immersive curriculum with Athleta that hooks you up with actionable advice from the smartest experts and brand founders in wellness right now. Get the goods at our monthly event series in New York City plus our online one-month wellness plans. When you think self care, do sheet masks, essential oils, and the subsequent self-care selfies come to mind? You’re not alone, but Cyndi Ramirez, founder of Chillhouse—a self-care sanctuary that brings manicures, massages, and CBD-infused everything to New York City—wants you to know that the practice doesn’t have to live in a cute box for it to be effective. “Self care is different for everyone and it doesn’t have to be this big production,” Ramirez says. “It can be as easy as finding those times where you’re not surrounded by anybody and you can actually unplug.” So… how do you actually do that? In the video above, the chill-out pro drops her three tips for unlocking your own ability to slow down, be present, and make time for you. The one constant? Don’t judge yourself: “There is no wrong or right way to do self care, and you have to get comfortable knowing there will be bumps in the road.” Watch the video above for more pointers on maximizing your self-care routine from Ramirez herself. Want more Wellness Collective? Hit up our monthly events at Athleta’s Flatiron flagship in New York City and click here for more wellness intel. In partnership with Athleta Continue Reading… Author
How to take care of your skin when you spend a ton of time outside, according to an environmental scientist
May 23, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Skin-care routines are easy(ish) to nail down when you spend the majority of your 9-5 life behind a desk—but what about the people whose lives require them to spend more time outdoors than a once-a-day walk around the block? If you’re anything like Summer Rayne Oakes, environmental scientist and author of How to Make a Plant Love You, whose plant obsession pushes her outside most days (with her pet chicken), you know dirt, sweat, and sun exposure come with the territory of living that #outdoorlife. But Oakes’ trick for cleaning up (and not ending up with skin that looks like a sun-baked farmer’s) is simpler than you might think. “I work outside and with my hands a lot, so it’s those exposed parts that need a little more TLC,” she says. “But I don’t always wear protective gloves when I work, as I like to feel my hands in the dirt.” Why not wear gloves in the name of avoiding chapped hands? Because it turns out dirt can actually help enhance your skin’s glow, not take away from it (yes, really). It turns out dirt can actually help enhance your skin’s glow, not take away from it. “We share the earth and our own bodies with many good bacteria that help keep us in tip-top shape,” Oakes says. “It’s part of the reason why we’re encouraged not to […] obsessively use anti-bacterial soaps to wash ourselves (it helps build our immune system and skin
How to take care of your skin when you spend a ton of time outside, according to an environmental scientist
May 23, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Skin-care routines are easy(ish) to nail down when you spend the majority of your 9-5 life behind a desk—but what about the people whose lives require them to spend more time outdoors than a once-a-day walk around the block? If you’re anything like Summer Rayne Oakes, environmental scientist and author of How to Make a Plant Love You, whose plant obsession pushes her outside most days (with her pet chicken), you know dirt, sweat, and sun exposure come with the territory of living that #outdoorlife. But Oakes’ trick for cleaning up (and not ending up with skin that looks like a sun-baked farmer’s) is simpler than you might think. “I work outside and with my hands a lot, so it’s those exposed parts that need a little more TLC,” she says. “But I don’t always wear protective gloves when I work, as I like to feel my hands in the dirt.” Why not wear gloves in the name of avoiding chapped hands? Because it turns out dirt can actually help enhance your skin’s glow, not take away from it (yes, really). It turns out dirt can actually help enhance your skin’s glow, not take away from it. “We share the earth and our own bodies with many good bacteria that help keep us in tip-top shape,” Oakes says. “It’s part of the reason why we’re encouraged not to […] obsessively use anti-bacterial soaps to wash ourselves (it helps build our immune system and skin
7 acne-friendly foundations that will never, ever make you break out
May 23, 2019 at 05:01PM by CWC Foundation and acne can be a challenging combo. So many of us rely on the pigmented makeup to mask whatever pimples we don’t feel like showing off to the world, but the ingredients in some products can actually cause more acne, creating a vicious cycle that will make you feel like you just can’t catch a break without, well, breaking out. Your best bet for finding a foundation that won’t leave a smattering of obnoxious zits in its wake? Look for the word “non-comedogenic” on the label, which essentially translates to “won’t clog your pores.” “I always advise our patients to check their skin-care products and use products labeled ‘non-comedogenic,’” says Dr. David Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Curology. ‘This label indicates that the product is formulated to not clog pores and is less likely to cause acne.” He notes that since there is no standard or regulation set to categorize the labeling of a product as non-comedogenic, you need to do a little bit more digging to be sure it lives up to the label. So to determine which foundations are truly in the “all-clear” for acne-prone skin, I took his recommendation and did an ingredient deep dive on the CosDNA website. Any products that contained an ingredient with a three above on the acne scale were automatically eliminated, even if they are technically considered non-comedogenic. And as Melena Higuera, general manager and executive committee member of L’Oreal, notes: “While being non-comedogenic
7 acne-friendly foundations that will never, ever make you break out
May 23, 2019 at 05:01PM by CWC Foundation and acne can be a challenging combo. So many of us rely on the pigmented makeup to mask whatever pimples we don’t feel like showing off to the world, but the ingredients in some products can actually cause more acne, creating a vicious cycle that will make you feel like you just can’t catch a break without, well, breaking out. Your best bet for finding a foundation that won’t leave a smattering of obnoxious zits in its wake? Look for the word “non-comedogenic” on the label, which essentially translates to “won’t clog your pores.” “I always advise our patients to check their skin-care products and use products labeled ‘non-comedogenic,’” says Dr. David Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Curology. ‘This label indicates that the product is formulated to not clog pores and is less likely to cause acne.” He notes that since there is no standard or regulation set to categorize the labeling of a product as non-comedogenic, you need to do a little bit more digging to be sure it lives up to the label. So to determine which foundations are truly in the “all-clear” for acne-prone skin, I took his recommendation and did an ingredient deep dive on the CosDNA website. Any products that contained an ingredient with a three above on the acne scale were automatically eliminated, even if they are technically considered non-comedogenic. And as Melena Higuera, general manager and executive committee member of L’Oreal, notes: “While being non-comedogenic