February 21, 2020 at 10:04PM by CWC The “yoga glow” has always seemed like one of those wellness-world scams, like six pack abs or 10,000 steps. The idea of being able to improve your skin as an accidental side-effect of your flow may sound too good to be true. But according to the pros, it actually does check out, and to some extent, you really *can* stretch your way to happier and healthier skin. “Stretching delivers extra blood flow to skin,” says Alain Saint-Dic, head of training and development at Stretch Relief. In the short term, that extra blood rush can give your face a nice, instant flush. With that same blood flow, you also add nutrients and hydration to help cleanse and strengthen skin, while also minimizing signs of aging. Over time, Saint-Dic says the stress-relieving effects of stretching regularly can also offer some more long-term benefits for skin. How? We know that the stress hormone, cortisol, is closely linked to skin health. When cortisol spikes, it can lead to acne. So it makes sense, then, that doing an activity to help balance stress levels—aka stretching—can benefit your skin. “Increased stress levels have a negative impact on overall skin health, so stretches that target high stress areas in the body—such as the neck, shoulders, and lower back—will have a positive effect on skin health,” explains Saint-Dic. But before you go tossing your serums in the trash, it’s worth noting that while these practices can help improve skin health, they’re not
Category: Fashion
8 essential tools to help you survive Mercury retrograde
February 20, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC There’s been a lot of effort in the last few years to give Mercury retrograde a positive rebrand. You know, it’s a transit that allows you to slow down, reconnect to people with whom you’ve lost touch, energetically cleanse… blah, blah, blah. I’d believe that if we lived in some utopian fairy tale, but here in reality we have to go to work on time, deal with malfunctioning keyboards, make cohesive date plans with some weirdo who only wants to talk on WhatsApp (what?), and survive this rat bastard transit. Retrograde sucks always, and that’s why some Mercury retrograde protection feels like a must. That’s why if you’re looking to get out of this Mercury retrograde or the two that follow in 2020, you might want to invest a little bit in some cosmically inclined self-care. Here are a few gems—sometimes literal gems—from Etsy that can help make retrograde be a whole lot less depressing. Oh, and make sure you get a tracking number. 1. Mercury Retrograde Bracelet, $26 Sure, you could just carry a pouch of crystals on you, but if that’s going to cause a lot of pocket clattering, you might just want to accessorize. This particular bracelet infuses the power of amazonite, blue flash labradorite, hematite and black tourmaline. Black tourmaline is one of my go-to protection stones, ready to absorb any bad energy. Labradorite can keep things from getting lost in translation. Labradorite will help you slow down and hematite will ground you when
Watch out SoulCycle: Barry’s is offering spin classes now, too—and here’s what I thought when I tried it
February 20, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC In November of last year, Barry’s quietly dropped the word “Bootcamp” from its name. It came by way of a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Instagram post, declaring that from here on out, they were “officially on a first name basis.” And now, we know why: The “best workout in the world” is no longer just a bootcamp—it’s a spin studio, too. On February 18th, the brand launched two Barry’s Ride “pop up experiences” at studios in New York and Los Angeles. In a move that’s sure to give SoulCycle and Peloton a run (or rather, a spin) for their money, the new iteration of the iconic workout swaps treadmills for spin bikes. “Barry’s Ride, which replaces the treadmill with a bike, is a natural extension for us,” the brand’s CEO, Joey Gonzalez, tells Well+Good. “It’s a high-intensity, lower-impact, workout [that’s] ideal for anyone who can’t—or prefers not to—run, but still wants that perfect HIIT cardio [and] strength training combination.” To which I say, “it me.” Barry’s has always scared the hell out of me, because I am simply not a runner. I am, however, a devoted spinner and strength trainer. That being the case, when I got news about Barry’s Ride, I decided to try my luck in the “Red Room” (the name they give their studios for their signature color) for the first time since 2018 (…when I puked after getting off the treadmill). At 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, I clipped my Shimano cross-training
I adopted my partner’s favorite hobby as my own—am I losing myself in my relationship?
February 18, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC It’s Saturday morning, and I’m waiting in line at REI to buy $80 climbing shoes when I realize something: There’s a very real chance my boyfriend and I are morphing into the same human being. That’s because a year ago, I would have cited my fear of heights to get me out of anything that involved ascending much higher than my local New York City’s street level. (“I can’t go to a rooftop bar with you! It’s too high!”) But after several months of dating, my love interest somehow convinced me to try his go-to hobby of rock climbing, and I was into immediately. I fell in love with a human being, and now I own climbing shoes! Expensive ones! I’m still having fun, and I’m still happy—romantically and otherwise—but a nagging voice in the back of my head keeps asking: Am I losing myself in this relationship? Dominique Samuels, PsyD, resident psychologist for relationship-health app Emi Couple, says patients often come to her wondering just that, whether they’re sacrificing their own individuality and melding into their partner’s identity. So, if you’ve ever experienced a similar thought, at least take comfort in knowing you’re hardly alone—and, according to Dr. Samuels, there are a couple reasons you may be feeling this way. 2 reasons for wondering whether you’re losing yourself in a relationship 1. You’re afraid of commitment. You think you’re losing yourself in a relationship because you’re nursing a very real desire to actually
If a wanderlust pro could only pack 4 outfits for a vacation, here’s what she would bring
February 18, 2020 at 10:30AM by CWC You’ve been planning this year’s vacay for months, and now it’s two days away and all you’ve packed are your fave grab-and-go snacks, your hydrating skin-care products for the plane, and your passport (#priorities). But before you start stressing about what you’re actually going to wear, try this packing-light formula from travel expert Michelle Halpern for what to pack in a carry-on that’s comfortable, can be worn multiple ways, and will look great in photos (because, again, #priorities). “When packing for a trip, there are really three main factors that go into my overall strategy: how long the trip will last, what the average weather is at that time of year, and what specific activities I’ll be partaking in,” Halpern says. “When packing for a trip, there are really three main factors that go into my overall strategy.” Once you’ve answered these three questions, you can start raiding your closet. But make sure you save room in your suitcase for footwear, because according to Halpern, the right shoes can make or break a trip. “If you’re not comfortable in the shoes you’re wearing on your adventures, you won’t enjoy the trip,” she says. “So investing in comfort is so important.” Her go-to shoes are classic, look great with many different outfits, and above all, keep her feet happy (i.e. leave your stilettos at home). That’s where kicks like Sperry’s new PLUSHWAVE shoes come in clutch, because they’re so lightweight you can pack a
This at-home Pilates lower body workout will set your legs *and* glutes on fire
February 17, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyT4nGIJF5I] People tend to associate Pilates workouts with a stronger core. While that’s 100-percent the core of the fitness modality, certain Pilates exercises can also strengthen your lower body, too (Pilates is full of surprising benefits, y’all). To stand as proof, SolidCore trainer Triana Brown, our Trainer of the Month, is walking us through a Pilates lower body workout that fires up your quads, glutes, inner and outer thighs, and hamstrings, right along with your core muscles. To up the ante and add resistance to the already challenging leg and butt workout, Brown recommends that you grab some sliders (a towel works, too) as a quick way to get your muscles quaking. Hot tip: It’s going to feel intense, but take a deep breath and keep going. “Push through that burning sensation,” says Brown. “It’s a mental game, and you’ve got to talk yourself through it.” Fifteen minutes later, you’ll be stronger for it. Keep scrolling for the full workout. Try this Pilates lower body workout for yourself Do each exercise for two minutes each. 1. Plank to pike: First things first: You have to warm up the core before getting to the lower body. Grab your sliders and place them directly underneath your feet in a plank position, hands right underneath your shoulders. Contract your abdominals and lift your hips up towards the ceiling, then slowly lower down so that your hips are in line with your shoulders. Squeeze your abs the entire
5 easy ways couples are incorporating sustainability into their weddings
February 14, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Weddings are all about love—the love between you and your partner, and the love of two families coming together. Now, more and more couples are incorporating their love of the planet into their nuptials. The Knot just released findings from their 2019 Real Weddings Study, and found that soon-to-be-wed couples are making sustainability a priority. “Weddings tend to be really extravagant,” says Tara Manchanda, owner of wedding and event planning company Tara M. Events in New York City. “It’s not really the place where people save a lot, but there is definitely a growing trend for more mindfulness.” But throwing an eco-friendly wedding is possible. Just listen to the experts. How to have a sustainable wedding, according to wedding planners 1. Wear second hand or borrowed items Couples are taking the idea of “something borrowed” to the next level. The Knot found that 38 percent wore an item that was borrowed or passed down. Erica Jill Razze, owner of eco-conscious wedding and event planning service Capiche Custom Events, says that you can redesign or repurpose sentimental items. “For example, we took beads off of my mom’s veil and repurposed them onto something else, not necessarily the whole thing.” Buying your dress second hand is also a great option—hear us out. There are tons of bridal shops, like Our Story Bridal in New York City, that buy, clean, and restore them gently used wedding dresses to make them good as new. If you’re interested
The fertility ‘information gap’ is keeping LGBTQ+ people from getting the care they need and deserve
February 13, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Thirty-three percent of U.S. adults have either used fertility treatments or know someone who has, reports Pew Research Center. But if you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, the process of seeking medical help for pregnancy—which is hard regardless—becomes exponentially more challenging. Mere Abrams, LCSW, a gender researcher and licensed mental health professional who identifies as transgender and non-binary, knows first-hand what it’s like to start a fertility journey in a medical system designed for heteronormative needs. (Abrams uses the pronouns they/them.) “I’ve known that I want to be a parent much longer than I knew what my gender and sexuality were,” Abrams says. “When I decided to take steps to medically affirm my gender at the age of 26, [fertility] really came to the forefront because, at that time, there really wasn’t as much research as there is now about fertility options for trans folks and for folks who are starting hormone therapy.” Abrams ultimately made the decision to go on a low dose of testosterone to preserve their fertility and keep their uterus, despite their doctor’s recommendations to eventually undergo a hysterectomy. (Twenty-one percent of those who identify as transgender report wanting to keep their uteruses). And three years later, Abrams and their partner started thinking about building the family they’d wanted since childhood. “I went through the fertility preservation process in the summer of 2018 in order to store my eggs and have that option available…. so I had to work
I’m a corrective exercise specialist and eccentric exercise is the fastest way to get stronger and more flexible
February 13, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Once upon a time in a gym not-so-far-away, the weight room may have seemed like the fairly straightforward place. You picked up a kettlebell or dumbbell and executed a set of moves—maybe bicep curls, maybe sumo squats—from start to finish. Then, you moved on with your life, never knowing that eccentric exercise (also known as negative training) may just be the key to getting—and staying—stronger than you ever imagined possible. There are two stages to every movement—eccentric and concentric—according to Tatiana Lampa, corrective exercise specialist and trainer at FitHouse. “[Eccentric is] the motion of the active muscle while it’s lengthening during a load,” explains Lampa. Concentric movement, by contrast, is the motion of the active muscle when it’s shortening during the load. In a crunch, for example, you’re moving concentrically when you press your chest upward and contract your abs, and you move eccentrically as you lower down. When you’re training with eccentrics, the goal is to stress the lengthening part of every movement. Meaning, you might come up in the crunch for one second, then try to lower down for three. The results are some pretty serious gains, says Lampa. And a ton (and I mean, a ton) of research backs her up. Keep scrolling to find out more. 4 benefits of eccentric exercises to memorize now 1. Negatives yield more muscle growth per rep Research has shown that if you were to place two lifters side by side and have one do
The Oscars proved that recycled fashion is *the* sustainable trend of red carpet style
February 10, 2020 at 07:31PM by CWC “Shopping your stash”—aka making use out of things you already own in an effort to buy less—has become a stronghold of sustainability. We’ve seen it happening in our beauty cabinets, in our closets, and in our refrigerators. But the most recent place the trend has popped up, and one that caught us by surprise, was the 2019 Oscars red carpet. On Sunday night, Jane Fonda showed up to the 92nd Academy awards wearing the same gorgeous Elie Saab gown she wore to the 2014 Cannes film festival. Fonda, who has been an outspoken activist on the subject of climate change, vowed to quit shopping last year, and made good on her promise at the most highly-publicized fashion events of the year. “So when I talk to people about, ‘We don’t really need to keep shopping. We shouldn’t look to shopping for our identity. We don’t need more stuff,’ then I have to walk the walk too. So I’m not buying any more clothes,” she said during a protest on November 1, 2019. And walk the walk she did: in a vintage dress and sustainably harvested jewelry, no-less. Photo: Getty Images/Well+Good Creative But Fonda wasn’t the only one who wore a pre-loved piece from her own wardrobe. Elizabeth Banks wore a red gown that the world already ooh-ed and ahh-ed over at the 2004 Vanity Fair Oscars party to this year’s event, Arianna Huffington repurposed a dress from 2003, and Joaquin Phoenix wore the