May 22, 2019 at 12:07PM by CWC Meet Wim Hof, a remarkable figure in the world of wellness. He ran half a marathon in the Artic Circle—without shoes—and currently holds 20 Guinness World Records. Hof earned the apt nickname “Ice Man” for his many (and epic) cold weather adventures. He’s lived a life of extremes, but his method for living a healthier life (known as—go figure—the Wim Hof Method) has at least one offering accessible to everyone. “The Wim Hof method is very simple. It consists of three parts,” says Danielle McCallum, a certified Wim Hof Method instructor and creator of The Five, a two hour class infused with the Ice Man’s teachings. The Wim Hof Method requires a commitment to the task of “mastering your body and mind,” a series of breath work, and a two to three minute ice bath. The polar bear plunge portions of the Wim Hof Method is all about overcoming the perceived limits of your mind and body. “It’s about learning to become comfortable in the uncomfortable,” explains McCallum, who practices each aspect of the technique at least once a week. “The method carries over to the day to day. I’ve noticed in situations or conversations that would make me nervous or stress me out before, I feel much more grounded. I feel much more calm. I attribute all of that to the inner-strength that I’ve found from getting into the ice.” Like cryotherapy, a chilled-out soak is believed to boost the immune system,
Category: 2019 Health
These are the absolute worst ways to sit at your desk, according to a physical therapist
May 22, 2019 at 11:40AM by CWC Spending hours upon hours a week parked on your butt in front of your desk falls into the same category as binging on an entire carton of ice cream in one sitting or staying up past 3 a.m. on a work night to catch up on The Bachelor: It’s just not all that good for you. And as I write this, I have the sitting-induced hip and leg pain to prove it. But according to pros, there are certain ways you can sit at your desk that are marginally less bad for your than others. Since most people likely don’t have the option of trading in their usual workspace seating for, say, the beachfront lounge chairs I’ve been petitioning for, it’s worth taking their cues for the sake of your own unhappy joints and muscles. “I think the worst three things you can do would be sitting too low, sitting in a chair that’s too soft—which can create compression on the hips and cause groin pain, hip pain, and labral tears—and not having your feet on the floor,” says Dr. Emily Kiberd, a chiropractor and founder of the Urban Wellness Clinic. So first things first: un-cross those legs. “We like to analyze sitting positions from the ground up, and can’t emphasize enough the importance of making sure that feet are supported on the floor,” says Dariusz Stankiewicz, physical therapist and co-founder of New York City’s Body Evolved. His tips: If you can’t quite
*This* is the part of your body where flexibility counts the most
May 22, 2019 at 11:33AM by CWC A trainer recently told me mid-workout that the flexibility of your big toe is really important. I basically said WTF (with my face), and proceeded to get on with the workout. But then I brought it up amongst other fitness and physical therapist pros, who all confirmed the truth: Big toe flexibility is a legit necessity. My mind immediately bounced back to that scene in Kill Bill when Uma Thurman’s character has to get her body capable of moving again. Her first tactic? Wiggling her big toe. It was the beginning of Thurman’s mobility in the movie, and it’s often the beginning of every human’s mobility in life. Your big toe is a fundamental player in movement, and it’s own proper functioning impacts the rest of your body. “Your foot is super complicated, and big toe flexibility is really important in terms of the rest of your body,” says Stephen Pasterino, founder of P.Volve in New York City. “It’s the first point of contact with the ground, and there’s a chain reaction. So the rest of the body reacts to what’s happening with the foot—which starts at the ball of your foot with the big toes, and transfers to the midtarsal joint and then the ankle, up to the knee, to the hip, lower back, the spine, and up to the shoulders. It’s amazing how important and yet under-addressed big toe flexibility is.” The importance of big toe flexibility Flexibility-wise, your big toe should
“Heritage travel” is the latest trend thanks to Airbnb and 23andMe
May 22, 2019 at 09:46AM by CWC Heritage travel is the latest trend you’ll want to add to your bucket list. Jetting off to another country to meet distant relatives or simply explore your family’s history is a great way to make those stories you heard growing up really come to life. In the past, these trips were something you researched and booked yourself. But now Airbnb and 23andMe are teaming up to make the process so much easier. According to Airbnb, interest in heritage travel is on the rise, with a 500 percent increase in travelers using the service to trace their roots since 2014. Working with 23andMe, Airbnb’s hope is to make it even easier for you to “travel the world based on your DNA.” “At Airbnb, we believe that authentic travel experiences help you connect with local cultures and create a sense of belonging anywhere in the world—and what better way to do that than traveling to your roots?” said Joe Gebbia, Airbnb cofounder and chief product officer, per a press release. “We’re proud to team up with 23andMe, the leader in helping people learn about their genes and ancestry, to make it easier for travelers to plan trips as unique as their DNA.” So, how exactly does it work? There are two ways you can go about planning heritage travel. If you want to use 23andMe, you can click through to a specific geographic locations based on ancestry. And if you already have a good understanding
There are 3 distinct types of selfishness—and only *this* one is good
May 22, 2019 at 08:07AM by CWC The term “selfish” shares a similar connotation to words like “tarantula,” “burpees,” and “Monday.” No one wants it to happen, but—let’s be real here—every once in a while, we all have the tendency to promote self-interest. Am I selfish for putting myself first? The answer is probably yes, but psychologists say that it doesn’t always mean it’s wrong. Like Neapolitan ice cream, selfishness has three specific flavors—and only two of them are good. According to Psychology Today, there are three distinct types of selfish actions: the good, the bad, and the neutral. John Johnson, PhD, a former professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, says that whenever you’re not sure if your actions veer too far toward greediness, the question to ask yourself is this: “Who’s benefiting from my ‘selfish’ behavior?” If your answer is more of an overlapping Venn diagram of mutual reward than a pie that’s all for you, then your actions might not be so self-absorbed after all. You want to scrutinize your motivation a bit more, however, with the three buckets of selfishness. Good selfishness: This flavor is illustrated in the aforementioned Venn diagram. Dr. Johnsons says that this type is a mutually-beneficial, win-win situations for both parties involved. Let’s say, for example, that you and your friend’s favorite purveyor of athleisure is having a buy one, get one deal on leggings. Just split the cost of the first pair right down the middle—and bam—you both walk away with fresh
There are 3 distinct types of selfishness—and only *this* one is good
May 22, 2019 at 08:07AM by CWC The term “selfish” shares a similar connotation to words like “tarantula,” “burpees,” and “Monday.” No one wants it to happen, but—let’s be real here—every once in a while, we all have the tendency to promote self-interest. Am I selfish for putting myself first? The answer is probably yes, but psychologists say that it doesn’t always mean it’s wrong. Like Neapolitan ice cream, selfishness has three specific flavors—and only two of them are good. According to Psychology Today, there are three distinct types of selfish actions: the good, the bad, and the neutral. John Johnson, PhD, a former professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, says that whenever you’re not sure if your actions veer too far toward greediness, the question to ask yourself is this: “Who’s benefiting from my ‘selfish’ behavior?” If your answer is more of an overlapping Venn diagram of mutual reward than a pie that’s all for you, then your actions might not be so self-absorbed after all. You want to scrutinize your motivation a bit more, however, with the three buckets of selfishness. Good selfishness: This flavor is illustrated in the aforementioned Venn diagram. Dr. Johnsons says that this type is a mutually-beneficial, win-win situations for both parties involved. Let’s say, for example, that you and your friend’s favorite purveyor of athleisure is having a buy one, get one deal on leggings. Just split the cost of the first pair right down the middle—and bam—you both walk away with fresh
These drugstore body products will turn any old shower into a five-star spa
May 22, 2019 at 07:52AM by CWC While showering may not be the most glam aspect of a person’s beauty routine, for me, it is sacred. In the morning, it’s my time to pump up for the day ahead (…usually by blasting Lizzo and singing into a loofa), and at night it’s how I decompress before getting into bed. It’s the closest thing I’ve got to being able to go to a spa every day (#goals), so I try and relish the time by making sure I’m stocked with products that make the entire experience feel like a luxury for my skin. While you may think it requires a whole lot of pricey products to make that happen, that’s not actually the case. In fact, just about every product that I use to care for my body—from soap to scrubs to lotion, and everything in between—comes from my local drugstore. While you probably already know that you can find some serious face-care scores in the aisles of CVS, Target, and the likes (and if you don’t believe me—here are a few that both dermatologists and editors can’t get enough of), what you may not realize is that the same principles apply to body products. From moisturizing and detoxifying soaps to creams that will make you want to add an extra 10-minutes to your regular lotion application routine, there are plenty of products worth adding to your body care arsenal—none of which cost more than $15. Here, a few favorites in
These drugstore body products will turn any old shower into a five-star spa
May 22, 2019 at 07:52AM by CWC While showering may not be the most glam aspect of a person’s beauty routine, for me, it is sacred. In the morning, it’s my time to pump up for the day ahead (…usually by blasting Lizzo and singing into a loofa), and at night it’s how I decompress before getting into bed. It’s the closest thing I’ve got to being able to go to a spa every day (#goals), so I try and relish the time by making sure I’m stocked with products that make the entire experience feel like a luxury for my skin. While you may think it requires a whole lot of pricey products to make that happen, that’s not actually the case. In fact, just about every product that I use to care for my body—from soap to scrubs to lotion, and everything in between—comes from my local drugstore. While you probably already know that you can find some serious face-care scores in the aisles of CVS, Target, and the likes (and if you don’t believe me—here are a few that both dermatologists and editors can’t get enough of), what you may not realize is that the same principles apply to body products. From moisturizing and detoxifying soaps to creams that will make you want to add an extra 10-minutes to your regular lotion application routine, there are plenty of products worth adding to your body care arsenal—none of which cost more than $15. Here, a few favorites in
Not gonna lie, I’m majorly blue crushing on this surfer-girl abs workout
May 22, 2019 at 06:48AM by CWC When I saw Blue Crush for the first time at a middle school sleepover, all I could think was 1) I need to learn how to surf and 2) Holy Hawaii—how do they strengthen their abs? Because riding those waves looks hard. Surfing, in general, requires a level of core strength comparable to that of the Greek Gods, who are somehow always parading around shirtless in old paintings. Everything from “paddling out” to “popping up” to actually riding a wave requires some serious attention from your core, and let me tell you—it is no joke. So when I had the chance to sit down with professional surfer Alessa Quizon—who happens to be one of the top competitors in the world—I could hardly contain my excitement in asking about her workout routine. In fact, I believe my exact words were, “So like, you must have the strongest core on the planet. HOW?!” Her routine, she tells me, is a combination of a few different things: surfing for six hours a day, every day, and supplementing her in-water routines with a style of jiu-jitsu that has become popular among surfers. “It’s this idea of using your body consistently. You rest, but every movement is getting you ready for the next move, so that’s what I liked about it. It has good momentum and you use every part of your body. It’s like yoga, but with a little more intensity.” Then, there are her four times-a-week
Not gonna lie, I’m majorly blue crushing on this surfer-girl abs workout
May 22, 2019 at 06:48AM by CWC When I saw Blue Crush for the first time at a middle school sleepover, all I could think was 1) I need to learn how to surf and 2) Holy Hawaii—how do they strengthen their abs? Because riding those waves looks hard. Surfing, in general, requires a level of core strength comparable to that of the Greek Gods, who are somehow always parading around shirtless in old paintings. Everything from “paddling out” to “popping up” to actually riding a wave requires some serious attention from your core, and let me tell you—it is no joke. So when I had the chance to sit down with professional surfer Alessa Quizon—who happens to be one of the top competitors in the world—I could hardly contain my excitement in asking about her workout routine. In fact, I believe my exact words were, “So like, you must have the strongest core on the planet. HOW?!” Her routine, she tells me, is a combination of a few different things: surfing for six hours a day, every day, and supplementing her in-water routines with a style of jiu-jitsu that has become popular among surfers. “It’s this idea of using your body consistently. You rest, but every movement is getting you ready for the next move, so that’s what I liked about it. It has good momentum and you use every part of your body. It’s like yoga, but with a little more intensity.” Then, there are her four times-a-week