October 02, 2018 at 10:35AM This month is all about one thing: expansion, says “RockStar Shaman” Alyson Charles. The only trick? Avoiding self-sabotage. Here’s how to do that—plus the full energetic forecast for October, divined by Charles. (And don’t worry, there will be spirit animals!) The expansion is real! Wow, have you been feeling the stretch, the growing pains and activation of so much of your new? Once we hit the Autumn Equinox and full moon last month we truly entered into a much more activated phase of energy, and you may have felt a distinct shift that marked a pivot point from a more slumbered, internal energy to one of more electricity and things suddenly happening. With this combination of expansion and activation, be compassionate with yourself and others as the beginning of this month can bring up more worries or overwhelm as our systems are acclimating to these changes! And this brings us to our main theme for October: conscious awareness of resistance. Whenever we are growing in a big way, it can be infinitely fascinating to then be very consciously aware of how our unconscious comes in to try to hold us back—constricting tightly in order to stay where we are and hold on what we know. So, as we are in this time of energy, movement, breaking through, and major expansion, I urge you to be extra awake and aware of how you may get in your own way or subconsciously sabotage the growth. Whenever we are
Category: 2019 Health
Apparently everyone wants to be more extroverted, so here’s how to put yourself “out there”
October 02, 2018 at 10:14AM Now that we’re living in peak hygge and JOMO culture, self-identifying as an introvert comes with a certain cool-factor—right? Wrong. Well, at least according to a new published study that found that most subjects felt that society prefers the outgoing and bold over quiet and circumspect. The research, which was was published in The Journal of Happiness, asked 300 Australian adults to answer questions to determine their level of introversion, as well as ones that concerned whether or not they’d prefer to be more extroverted, reports The Cut. The results undeniably swung in favor of extraverted characteristics with a whopping 96 percent of participants agreeing that the traits associated with that personality type were more “socially desirable” than those of their less loquacious counterparts. On a day-to-day basis, almost 54 percent of the subjects reported wanting to be more extraverted, and 82 percent said they felt obligated to flex their affable muscles when navigating certain social situations. Meaning, your introvert status might earn you points when it comes to at-home pursuits like multi-masking, reading, and ASMR-ing, but for the sake of your rep, you might consider adopting extroverted camouflage when venturing out to networking events. Since that’s far easier said than done though, keep reading to learn a few tricks. Keep scrolling to learn how to pretend you’re extroverted in social situations, you know, if you really want to. 1. Bring a little home-style comfort to the party. So you can’t bring Netflix with you when you join your friends for drinks, but you can take something with your
No lie: There’s about to be an F45 on every corner
October 02, 2018 at 09:30AM Just two years ago, Well+Good predicted that the Aussie fitness franchise F45 Training would explode in a big way. And with plans to open hundreds of new studios internationally in 2018, it’s fair to say it’s well on its way to becoming the next boutique workout model to enter the mainstream, alongside Orangetheory, CorePower Yoga, and Pure Barre. Since we last caught up with its founder Robert Deutsch, F45 has sold 1,300 studio franchises around the globe—570 of those will open in the United States, according to Forbes. And this is just a warm-up: Deutsch says plans are in the works to expand everywhere from Canada to Europe to Asia in the near future. The 45-minute, team-based HIIT workout has tons of devotees (celebs like Hugh Jackman and Nicole Richie are fans), and class types rotate. There are currently 31 different workouts (buh-bye, boredom!) and each class has a name and focus: The “Gravity” class, for example, is focused on bodyweight strength training. The F45 signature combo of HIIT, circuit training, and functional movements is a part of each one. Variety is part of why Deutsch thinks F45 has captured the hearts (and dollars) of fitness fans across the globe. “When we first started the business, we only had five [types of classes],” he says. “We’re adding 1,000 new exercises each year and new equipment. The workout really does have a huge amount of innovation to it.” Photo: F45 Hundreds of new F45 Training locations will open worldwide in
How to practice breast self-awareness all year long
October 02, 2018 at 10:00AM It’s October. You just saw six Facebook posts about Breast Cancer Awareness Month fundraisers, walked by a Duane Reade window splattered in pink, and it seems like everyone is yelling at you to check your breasts. This year, Keep A Breast celebrating a decade of its “i love boobies!” campaign, Boarding for Breast Cancer is hosting “Bend It for Boobies” donation-based yoga classes, and the American Cancer Association is hosting countless runs across the country for the cause. All these factors may prompt you to go home, head into the bathroom, lift up your top, and panic. Was it clockwise or counter-clockwise? Two fingers or three? And what the heck are you supposed to be feeling? But take a deep breath: The research on breast self-exam has progressed and top medical institutions and physicians have a new, easier prescription for you: breast self-awareness. “The seven-step self breast exam has gone by the wayside,” says Deborah Lindner, MD, the chief medical officer at Bright Pink, and a clinical instructor at Northwestern University Medical Center. “The problem is that nobody went on to define what breast self-awareness meant. We aren’t telling people ‘don’t do a breast exam’ or ‘never touch your breasts.’ But it doesn’t have to be done every month—it’s more about having awareness of your body.” Why the change? Studies like this one have shown self-exam does not reduce mortality from breast cancer. In response to this and other research, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issued
5 ways to get your fix of moringa, the inflammation-crushing all-star
October 01, 2018 at 09:50PM Well-versed in the magical-seeming effects of apple cider vinegar, turmeric, and maca, I thought I had my superfood bases covered—and then moringa hit the scene (well, my scene—the buzzy ingredient is hardly new). It has even more anti-inflammatory powers than turmeric, AKA the stalwart wellness-world obsession that’s been credited with everything from improving immune function to giving you glowing skin and even whitening your teeth. But now moringa has everyone talking, thanks to its nutrient-dense punch, with twice the protein as turmeric, and three times the amount of iron as spinach—and it’s popping up in grocery aisles and on beauty shelves alike. You can technically get your fix with a straight-up (and foolproof) powder mixture of the super green, but brands have caught on to the fact that moringa is full of all of the protein, iron, and calcium you could want in a single serving and thus have widened their offerings. Now the stuff is available in supplements, snacks, skin care, and even a kombucha (which is probably a helpful vessel to mask moringa’s polarizing taste, à la ACV). Scroll below to see 5 options for adding some moringa into your routine. Shop the moringa products Buy Now SuperLeaf Moringa Skin Food $32 Buy Now Yogi Tea Organic Green Tea with Blackberry Moringa $3 Buy Now Amazing Grass Beauty Elixir $28 Buy Now Vegan Rob’s Moringa Puffs $2 Buy Now Traditional Medicinals Moringa with Spearmint & Sage tea $8.77 Originally posted November 2, 2017. Updated October 2, 2018. If you want to keep turmeric in your wellness rotation, here are some
Like sage and palo santo, crystal grids can up the good vibes in your home—but what are they?
October 02, 2018 at 09:19AM If you’ve scrolled through the more woo-woo corners of Instagram lately, you’ve likely come across at least one intricately designed pattern of crystals known as a grid. According to those in the know, these pieces of high-vibe home art can bring all kinds of good vibes to you and your abode. Never heard of them before? “A crystal grid is when you take different [stones] and set them up to help focus [their] energies for a specific intention,” says crystal expert Sadie Kadlec, who teaches and practices at Maha Rose Wellness Center in Brooklyn. “You’re magnifying the energetic properties of [the crystals], and getting them to work together in a synergistic way. But, if you’ve ever tried to create one yourself, you’ve likely come to realize that it’s as complex as it looks—from finding the right shape and crystals based on your intentions to the “activation.” Before you give up on the good vibes, though, try these easy tips from Kadlec. Her four-step guide for how to do crystal grids is below. Photo: Maha Rose Step 1: Set your intention The first thing to do is determine the reason behind why you’re making a grid. Possible purposes could include abundance, love, or even acing a tough test. To help her deal with current events Kadelac’s creating a grid with the following intention in mind: “Having courage to do what I feel is right and to speak up at a time we’re all being asked to be
I rode 3,700 miles across the country on my bike solo
October 02, 2018 at 09:06AM This summer, while most people were packing up the office early on Friday afternoons to head to the beach, BBQ, or Barry’s Bootcamp, 29-year-old Taylor LaRese was on her bike. And we’re not talking a pre-Hamptons-escape SoulCycle class: LaRese spent 58 days riding 3,700 miles—mostly by herself—from the west coast to the east. The Southington, CT, native is a second-year medical student at the University of Connecticut (she’s leaning toward an emergency medicine specialty), and spent her summer riding 80 miles a day while raising money for Mental Health Connecticut. But what started as a goal to raise money and awareness for others ended up providing a huge shift in LaRese’s own mental health. Here’s her story, in her words. Every year, a group of students from my med school goes on a cross-country bike tour. After a few years working as a researcher at the school and seeing updates from the trip, I knew it was time to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. I was ready to be a part of it. The bike tour is more than just a ride—we also choose a charity to raise money for. We wanted our dollars to go as far as possible and to make a big impact in our local communities, so we chose Mental Health CT, which is a nonprofit organization devoted to advocacy, service, and education for the betterment of Connecticut residents’ mental health. (The group has currently raised nearly $14,000.) On June 14,
3 workout moves to master for better sex
October 02, 2018 at 08:20AM Looking for more ideas on how to take things up a notch in your love life? Here’s one: Hit the gym. There are five major ways working out can seriously rev up your sex life, starting with the fact that strength and conditioning training can help improve your stamina—and not just to help you make it through another round of burpees. “We need endurance and lung capacity in everything we do to increase our energy,” says Burn60 master trainer Julie Diamond. Cardio workouts like spinning and running are particularly helpful ways to fight off fatigue and boost your libido. But when it comes to supercharging your sex life, there are four areas on the body Diamond suggests strengthening as well: the abs, lower back, upper body, and pelvic floor. Luckily, she’s sharing moves below that are targeted to each, so you can feel stronger and more confident in between the sheets. Keep reading for 3 exercises that can help improve your stamina and sex life. Photo: Stocksy/Studio Firma 1. Plank “The abs and lower back get used quite a bit in every sexual position,” Diamond says. “Planks help engage and stabilize these muscles.” Any variation (high, side, single-leg) of the move will work. And perhaps check out these common plank mistakes most people make, so you can practice “core”-ect form. Photo: Stocksy/Alexandar Novoselski 2. Push-up “Push-ups are great because they increase your ability to support your own bodyweight,” Diamond says. Being able to literally hold you own can
Los Angeles is full of holistic nutritionists—this list will help find the perfect one for you
October 02, 2018 at 08:00AM Get this: A Google search for holistic nutritionists in the Los Angeles area will bring you more than 400 results. And while it’s great to live in a city with so many options, it can be flat-out daunting to weed through all the potential providers if you’re looking to tune up your diet. So what is a holistic nutritionist, anyway? Unlike a typical dietitian, who focuses primarily on the intersection of food and physical health, holistic nutrition experts dive more deeply into other aspects of their clients lives when making recommendations—namely, the mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental factors that influence one’s relationship with food. (So they may, for instance, offer you stress management tips and adaptogen recommendations alongside your meal plan.) Some of them are licensed as nutritionists through a state board, while others are actually certified in health coaching, which requires a less scientifically-rigorous, more counseling-heavy course of study. To take some of the leg work out of your search, I rounded up a group of holistic nutritionists and health coaches who consistently receive rave reviews from their clients. While not exhaustive, these healthy-eating pros all offer a personalized, 360-degree approach to diet—whether you’re looking for a short-term detox or a long-term shift in your habits. Read on to discover 9 of the best holistic nutrition providers in Los Angeles. Photo: Getty Images/Colin Anderson East Meets West Holistic Center At East Meets West, a team of experienced practitioners offer a wide range of services, including nutritional therapy.
A trick to smooth your locks in seconds when sweater weather gives you static hair
October 02, 2018 at 07:27AM Unpacking your cold-weather clothing is a quintessential fall moment that signals the official start of sweater-and-leggings season. Yet, despite pulling on a cozy knit solving one major problem this time of year (keeping you warm when the weather’s not), it often creates another: static hair. But according to one celebrity hairstylist, banishing the frizz—like, stat—is simple: Run a little lotion through your locks. “Moisturizer is great to keep on hand if you have coarse hair, whether that’s a hand lotion you have in your bag already or a small package product like Ouai finishing creme,” says Ashley Rubell. “A little pinch will go along way.” So if you’re sitting at your desk, and you start to notice that your hair starts looking electric, she recommends taking a moment to: First, give your hands a little hydrating TLC, and then smooth the last little bit of product over any rogue strands of hair. “Don’t use too much pressure with your application or it can make your roots greasy. Similar to conditioner, you want to focus on your ends and not your roots,” advises Rubell. Better yet, if you don’t happen to have lotion on hand, pat your hair with a few drops of H2O for a similar effect. “Water’s an easy fix for almost everything,” she says. (Ain’t that the truth.) Once your tresses are back in formation, Rubell has some tips for how to keep them there long-term. Next time you wash your hair, use a wide tooth comb