July 08, 2019 at 09:30AM by CWC There’s no denying that yoga is one of the most relaxing workouts around; however, there’s nothing quite as Zen-busting as looking around and wondering why some people’s bodies allow them to do things yours doesn’t. Case in point: Getting your heels to the ground in downward facing dog. Due to one’s muscle flexibility, particular movements are inherently more difficult for some people than others (regardless of how simple they may look). “It feels obvious that you need to stretch your hamstrings and calves more to achieve heel-to-mat contact but this can often be a misconception,” says Bar Method master trainer Kate Grove. “Many people with really tight calves, hamstrings, and even short Achilles tendons will never reach the floor.” And while that trifecta is enough to keep you from striking the pose, your ankles could also be to blame. According to CorePower Yoga Minnesota area leader and instructor Anastasia Albert, some people experience compression on the fronts of their ankles in down dog. “The pressure is due to the structure of the ankle joint, causing bone to run into bone,” she explains. “This is simply how some bodies are built.” ad_intervals[‘401238_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401238_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Instead of dwelling on these areas, Grove suggests concentrating on lengthening the upper body, drawing your shoulders down, lifting your hips up and back, and pulling in the navel. “This way you will create more space in the front and
Category: 2019 Health
Use your zodiac sign to determine the very best houseplant for you
July 08, 2019 at 09:23AM by CWC Whether you’re a pedigreed plant lady or someone who struggles to keep the easiest-to-care-for greens alive, there is a houseplant for you. Finding it is what’s a little tricky. And no matter if you’ve indeed killed nearly every plant you’ve ever had or simply feel the need to shake up the vibe of your indoor garden with a new type of bloom, maybe it’s time to let the stars help you out by highlighting zodiac sign flowers and plants. Because a green that requires a ton of time and effort like, say, an azalea, may not fit with your astrological profile. Knowing this, why not set yourself up for greenery success by selecting a plant that best suits your disposition? Ahead, check out the best houseplant for each sign, courtesy of Paula Pavlova, astrology expert and co-founder of MoonBox, a beauty subscription service that provides products aligning your routine with the lunar cycle. Get ready to manifest your celestially aligned indoor garden, with the help of the following guide to zodiac sign flowers and plants. ad_intervals[‘399658_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399658_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’);}); } }, 100); Check out the best houseplant for you, according to your zodiac sign. Graphics: W+G Creative Aries (March 20 to April 19) Red Echeveria agavoides “lipstick plant” Fiery Aries is a ball of energy: Think bold, ambitious, and always running headfirst into every situation that comes their way. This sign doesn’t really have the patience to
Read faster with this free online tool that helps you plow through your to-be-read pile
July 08, 2019 at 08:40AM by CWC One of the great injustices of living on Earth is that none of us will ever get to read everything our hearts desire. As of 2010, the Google Books team approximated that there are 130 million books in circulation. Only the World Wide Web knows how many pieces of content get pushed into cyberspace each day. And plenty of people—shoutout to my dad—still read their local newspapers. The attention economy has reached an all time high—and we all need hacks for squeezing the things we love into our limited bandwidths. Read Sh*t Faster is a website designed to help you… I mean, come on, do I really need to explain it?! “The average reader can read about 200 WPM (words per minute) with about 60 percent comprehension, but that’s if you read left to right,” reads the site’s start page. “If you read something one word at a time instead without moving your eyes, you can increase your WPM without losing your comprehension!” To start using the free tool, you simply copy and paste your text of choice into the box and choose how many words per 60-second interval you’d like to read. Then, you press the “Read!” button and your chosen article reveals itself one word at a time on screen (kind of like a teleprompter). ad_intervals[‘406295_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406295_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Of course, this particular innovation only works for content found on the web.
Instant Pot just released its own own air fryer—here’s how it compares to others
July 08, 2019 at 07:05AM by CWC The air fryer is quickly becoming *the* kitchen tool of the moment. It’s as widely beloved as the Instant Pot. And if you’ve been waiting to get your hands on one, now may be your moment. For the first time ever, the Instant Pot company is releasing its own Air Fryer, and it comes with some features home chefs are sure to love. Retailing for $120 and available at Walmart, the Instant Pot Air Fryer has all the functions of other air fryers on the market (serving as a healthy alternative to deep frying with the functions of a miniature oven). But the Instant Pot Air Fryer roasts, bakes, broils, toasts, reheats, and dehydrates, too. Making your own jerky? The Instant Pot Vortex Plus 7-in-1 Air Fryer can do it. Whipping up turkey meatballs? Use the special rotate feature to ensure even cooking. Reheating last night’s leftovers? Yep, it can do that too. Honestly, your oven and microwave are going to get pretty lonely with this tool around. ad_intervals[‘406293_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406293_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Other air fryers range in price from between $60 and $200, so this new Instant Pot Air Fryer is smack dab in the middle of the price range, but it does seem to have more features than less expensive models on the market. Most air fryers on the market, including a $72 version from GoWISE, also have a cook feature, but not
This 15-minute arm workout uses a resistance band and your *entire* upper body
July 08, 2019 at 07:02AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZCuaixGX1c] Welcome to Trainer of the Month Club, our brand-new fitness series, where we tap the coolest, most in-the-know fitness leaders to create a month-long fitness challenge. On Mondays, we have our “sweat drops” where you’ll get access to the week’s workout that you can follow along at home. This week, Bec Donlan’s lighting your arms on fire with a 15-minute resistance band arm workout. As I work to keep my arms strong enough to constantly throw tennis balls really, really far for the sake of my puppy’s happiness, I’ve been upping my upper body workout game. And thankfully, our July Trainer of the Month Bec Donlan is here for the case with her resistance band arm workout that’ll fire up all those muscles, from your biceps to your shoulders and everything in between (oh, and your bum, too because why not?). ad_intervals[‘406279_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406279_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); The thing about this workout is that it looks easy—but once you get going, you’ll see that the somewhat subtle moves really burn come round two and are on absolute fire by round three. So they’re small-but-mighty arm-busting exercises that’ll definitely leave you glistening with sweat once the three rounds—which only take about 14 minutes, BTW—are up. All you’ll need is a resistance band, a mat, and a peppy playlist to slay your arm day. Try Bec Donlan’s 15-minute resistance band arm workout for yourself Do each move for
Girlfriend Collective’s new shorts collection is the only thing we want to wear this summer
July 08, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Jean shorts are to summer what avocado is to, well, basically everything (i.e. they just go together). But let’s be honest: they are not the most comfortable piece of clothing you own. It finally got warm enough in Los Angeles for me to throw on my denim cutoffs with a blazer (I had a meeting), sneakers, and that sparkly belt that’s all over Instagram. It was a look, I was going through something, but I stand by it. The problem: as I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop, my cutoffs were giving me the most uncomfortable wedgie. How are you supposed to effectively flirt with the hot guy who works there focus on work when your denim shorts are creeping up your behind and also maybe giving you a front wedgie? I mean, you persist despite your self-inflicted hardships, but still. There has to be a better option. And I found it in the form of the Girlfriend Collective OTG collection, which is currently available for preorder. OTG stands for “on the go;” it is an acronym I spent far too long trying to decipher, but it’s a holiday week so give me a break. The collection features two jackets: the Hummingbird Half Zip Windbreaker, $118, and the Peregrine Windbreaker, $128. They are both cute and 10/10 would wear on the reg, but today our moral of the story is that comfy/cute shorts are very important—so let’s talk about these Gazelle Shorts,
Bicycle kicks are the most underrated way to blast your abs—but are you doing them right?
July 08, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC I could ramble on all day long about all the different ab exercises that have you contorting your body and balancing in weird ways to #feeltheburn. But when it comes down to it, some of the most effective moves are the most basic—the ones you’ve been doing since middle school gym class. And bicycle kicks are definitely here to stay. If you haven’t done bicycle kicks in a while, don’t worry—getting back into it is as easy as, well, riding a bike. Even though the exercise is in the simple-yet-super-effective category like crunches and sit-ups, it goes a step beyond. While you can skip out on the rotation aspect, adding it in does wonders. “Bicycle kicks are a great exercise to strengthen your core. They target multiple muscles in your midsection,” says EverybodyFights trainer Ricardo Rose. “When done properly, bicycles can strengthen your transverse abdominals, internal, and external obliques.” ad_intervals[‘405813_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405813_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Even though bicycle kicks seem simple and you’ve been doing them basically forever, are you 100 percent sure you’re performing them correctly? Sometimes bad habits you pick up when first learning an exercise sticks with you for years—like arching your lower back or going too fast!—and that’s why it’s so important to check in with your form every once in a while to ensure you’re performing every move properly. Rose’s instructions make sure you’re getting the most out of every kick.
Sleeping with wet hair can give you that chic bedhead #lewk—but there’s a catch
July 08, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Come hell or hot (shower) water, I will not blow dry my hair. Call me lazy, but every time I switch on the hair styler’s cool setting and begin airing out each strand, I think of everything I could be doing instead—performing jumping jacks, rewatching Criminal Minds, taste-testing the 44 mango varieties of Nevis. I’m the air-drying queen, even if it means sleeping with wet hair. Luckily, I’m not necessarily committing a cardinal hair sin by going to bed with damp tresses. According to Paul Labrecque of New York City’s Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa, sleeping with wet hair is really no big deal—so long as you don’t make it a habit. In fact, every once in a while, it could help you achieve that tousled look without slathering on a gallon of product. “If you allow your hair to dry naturally, with its own body, you’ll end up with your signature ‘bed head’ look the next day,” Labrecque tells me. “I definitely recommend doing this every now and again, to my clients who take good care of their hair and [to my clients] whose strands have some natural body to them. This can end up being a really sexy, textured look when done right and if your hair is healthy.” ad_intervals[‘404074_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404074_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); My hair’s curly, texturized, and often leans toward the frizzy side. But Labrecque is totally right: After sleeping with wet
3 experts share their true feelings on whether it’s ever okay to tell a big or little lie
July 08, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Is telling a lie ever okay? Depends on whom you ask. According to our friends on Sesame Street, the answer is clear as day that it’s never advisable to tell a lie. But later on in the pop-culture continuum, by the time you venture into the complex world of CW teen dramas, thoughts on deception get a bit murkier. The new vibe on lying becomes, “It’s so wrong, but oh so right.” And then, when we meet adult dramas, the verdict on deception is an even more convoluted, “Uh, maybe?” Need proof? Try the weekly turmoil characters navigate on Big Little Lies. Like, if you and your three besties are in the middle of covering up the murder of your abusive, philandering husband, is that bad—from the standpoint of ethics, your mental health, your relationships, and your soul? Maybe it’s time to get a second (or third, or fourth) opinion that don’t originate from a screen to parse the best practices for lying. To that point, we asked three experts of different backgrounds whether they think telling a lie or keeping a secret is ever okay. Below, find out what happened when relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, and psychologist Helene Brenner, PhD, chatted via email about their respective stances on telling a lie, the benefits of keeping your secrets, and the toll lying can take on us all. ad_intervals[‘405081_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405081_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); }
If your time spent on the toilet is longer than your last relationship, here’s how to find some regularity
July 07, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Ever since I can remember, I’ve struggled with occasional digestive flare-ups that cause me to spend extended periods of time in the bathroom. As a self-proclaimed healthy-ish person who cares about most of the food I consume (I whip up a mean lunch salad, I won’t lie), I’ve never been able to pinpoint the specific problem that occasionally disrupts my digestive tract. I try and hit all the food groups, I attend my weekly cycling classes, so why does my stomach decide to fight back every now and then? With guidance from Maggie Michalczyk, a Chicago-based registered dietitian, I finally realized the missing piece: I haven’t been eating enough fiber. Yep, the key to reducing my one-on-one time with the toilet is actually just being a bit more intentional with what I put into my body. Turns out, there are different types of fiber—and that’s important. “Soluble fiber binds with the water in the gut and promotes a healthy digestive system,” explains Michalczyk. “Insoluble fiber passes through the digestive system mostly intact, not binding with water, and acting more to speed up the passage of waste in the system.” ad_intervals[‘400216_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400216_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Maggie Michalczyk To nourish my digestive system with the proper amount and type of fiber—this can range from 25-40 grams a day depending on your age and gender, FYI—Michalczyk recommends loading up on foods rich in soluble fiber, which include