August 21, 2019 at 07:43PM by CWC I’ve been smitten with REI ever since watching Reese Witherspoon (as memoirist Cheryl Strayed) toss her red-laced boots off a mountaintop in Wild. Such an iconic scene really sticks with you. And once you get your hands on REI gear, the quality of the outdoorsy staples will steal your adventure-loving heart pretty darn quickly. This time each year, the brand throws an epic (e-p-i-c) sale. Just perusing the site makes me want to pack a bag and head for the nearest forest (or, I don’t know, a scenic national trail that stretches from California to Washington), stat. In past years, I’ve checked out of the sale with half-priced running shoes, wool socks fit to battle the most brutal days of winter, and athleticwear that rings up at 30 percent of its full price. It’s the most wonderful time of the summer—so, without further ado, here’s how to shop REI’s glorious markdowns like the nature-nerd-slash-fitness-enthusiast that you are. ad_intervals[‘417265_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417265_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); See our fitness editors’ 7 top picks from the epic REI sale. All Photos: REI Brooks Maia Sports Bra, $46 Made for high-impact sports and adventures, this bra will take you far (like, geographically and metaphorically). Five colors have made it to the sale, so invest in more than one if you so desire. Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Crew Top, $65 Once you own a Smartwool base layer, wintertime becomes approximately 43 percent
Category: Fashion
Which style of rest you need, based on your Enneagram type—no naps included
August 21, 2019 at 06:02PM by CWC If you’re anything like me, you probably have one response when asked if you’ve gotten enough rest: “Rest? Never heard of her.” In the fast-paced modern world filled with FOMO, constant scrolling, and ridiculously busy schedules, it’s rare to get a chance to rest. But here’s the deal: You need it—at least a little bit. And what works for you might be different than what works for the rest of your girl gang. A post recently went viral across social media about nine different types of rest, ranging from taking time away to taking a break from responsibility. While it seems like a general list of great ideas at first glance, each type actually correlates with each of the Enneagram types and was put together by Stephanie Barron Hall, the Enneagram expert behind Nine Types Co. “In May and June of this year, I was thinking a lot about rest and self-care. I wanted to write more about it, so I asked in my Instagram stories, ‘What does rest mean for you?’ Interestingly, as I read the responses, themes started to emerge around each type,” she tells me. “I noticed that many followers of the same type gave the same or similar answers. From there, I wrote three types of rest for each Enneagram type, then I narrowed them down to the most important based on my Enneagram knowledge.” ad_intervals[‘416212_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘416212_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Hall
This nutrition expert makes food traditions healthier—without sacrificing taste
August 21, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC “As a dietitian of color, I want to always tell the world we exist.” So says nutrition expert Maya Feller, RD, who aims to help people eat well while honoring their unique cultural culinary traditions. Here, in conversation with Well+Good Council member Latham Thomas, she describes how she works within her Brooklyn community, why nutrition is an individualized endeavor, and the traditions that inform her work. Latham Thomas: Let’s start by telling readers a little bit about you and the work that you do. Maya Feller: I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist. I live in Brooklyn, and I work predominantly with people in areas of diet-related chronic illnesses. That would be medical nutrition therapy focused around the reduction of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, and reducing the risk of developing them. ad_intervals[‘416409_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘416409_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Are there particular communities that you work within or where your work is primarily needed? Absolutely. I actually started my work as a dietitian in Brooklyn, in Flatbush and Prospect Lefferts Gardens. I was working with people whose income was 120 percent below federal poverty guidelines. They had a dual diagnosis of a chronic disease, but specifically an infectious disease; they were homeless or unstably housed; and they usually had a mental health condition. Because of how systems in the U.S. work, most of those people were black and Latino. I started my work by founding that program, and when
Ever cried getting your haircut? Here’s why hair is such a major part of our identities
August 21, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC When I put out a call on Instagram asking women to participate in a story about how hair impacts identity, I received more than 100 messages. The responses were overwhelmingly varied, leading me to understand that while the shampoo that works for all hair types might not exist and while there’s no one hack that can lead every hair type to have perfectly beached waves, there is one hair truth we can hold self-evident: It’s a huge part of our identities. “Hair is the one part of our body that we can change whenever we want, without causing any permanent damage,” writes Bumble and Bumble hairstylist Laurent Philippon in Hair: Fashion and Fantasy.“We can dress it up or dress it down, to reflect our personality, to attract attention, to project a chosen identity or to seize the mood of the moment.” Case in point: As 26-year-old Mariah Gill decided to go in for “the big chop,” it was a way to show the world that she was proud of her black, queer identity. “It was a big, huge deal for me because it helped me find that look that I’d been searching for. It was an immediate way to tell the world that I am butch,” says Gill, who describes her current style as a curly fro with shaved sides. ad_intervals[‘415166_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘415166_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “Hairstyles and rituals surrounding hair care and adornment convey powerful
Do you know the difference between “good” and “bad” stress? Here’s why it’s important
August 21, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC You know what stress feels like: That tight-shouldered, mind-racing sensation that often follows a marathon work session, unexpected argument, or even a too-intense workout. But did you know that there’s such a thing as good stress—and that there’s a breathing exercise to help you manage both? Lissa Bankston, director of human performance at Theragun and personal trainer to celeb clients like Nina Dobrev, enlightened us at our latest Wellness Collective event—and it was a full-body experience. “Our body and brain are responding to stimuli throughout our day—including intense workouts,” says Bankston. “The accumulation of this stimuli will add up to good or bad stress for your body. If you have less build up of bad stimuli, you will have less holding you back from wanting to go do that workout after work. Your energy will be better managed and it will create a ripple effect in your life.” ad_intervals[‘417182_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417182_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Bankston counts positive obstacles, like a fun and challenging new job, in the good stress column—and you can likely guess what goes in the bad stress one (attendees shouted out their own ideas at the event, including hectic subway rides and that feeling when you can’t “turn off” from work mode). “Your ability to understand your body at any given moment will also be your ability to manage stress,” explains Bankston. On that powerful note, follow her five tips below to stay
These limited-edition Nikes were created to bring awareness to mental health
August 20, 2019 at 12:49PM by CWC There’s a certain 60-year-old somebody in my life who’s constantly bemoaning my generation’s “obsession” with talking about our mental health, to which I’m often tempted to respond, “How’s that repression and shame treating you?” It’s not her fault the feels make her cringe, of course, but hopefully hers will be the last generation to internalize such stigma as IMO, this obsession—and the permission it’s given us all to express the full spectrum of human emotions—is the best thing to happen to the world since avocados met toast. Now, one woman’s quest to bring the taboo topic further into light has manifested the coolest pop culture mashup to date: Nike’s new AirMax 270 React “In My Feels” shoe. Liz Beecroft, the shoe’s designer, is the ultimate millennial multi-hyphenate. She’s a psychotherapist, a sneakerhead, and an influencer who is raising awareness around mental health issues not just because of her profession but also because of her own personal experiences with anxiety and depression. In a personal piece penned for Teen Vogue, Beecroft describes how her love of sports—basketball, specifically—dovetailed into her first experience with anxiety. While at sleepover basketball camp, she had a panic attack—the first of many. Later, in her 20s, she experienced depression after a breakup which led her back to therapy and, eventually, to her career as a psychotherapist. Even once credentialed to help others, however, depression and anxiety followed Beecroft as she struggled with the pressures of her second career as a streetwear
What to look for when you’re buying running shoes for flat feet, according to a podiatrist
August 20, 2019 at 07:34AM by CWC There’s nothing more important than landing in the right pair of shoes for your gym pursuits. That often starts with knowing what kind of foot you have. While “flat” and “high-arched” aren’t exactly as thrilling as discerning, say, your Myers Briggs personality type, they do matter. For the sake of happier soles when you’re hitting the pavement, I’m taking a deep dive into the best running shoes for flat feet. Know this: You’re not exactly screwing your feet over if you just choose running shoes based on style, but going against your foot type can be uncomfortable, at the very least. “Wearing the wrong shoes may lead to problems such as lowered performance, discomfort such as in plantar fasciitis and runner’s knee, injuries, and even early-onset arthritis,” says Miguel Cunha, DPM, podiatrist and founder of Gotham Footcare. “It’s important to identify whether you have a flat, normal, or high arch because shoes designed to compensate for the impact of your feet can help prevent injuries and improve structural alignment and performance.” ad_intervals[‘415523_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘415523_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); To sum up the main reasons why flat-footed runners should look for specific sneaker styles, Jena Winger, senior footwear product line manager for Brooks Running says there are two to consider: “The first is fit—a truly flat foot is likely to hang over the edge of a shoe built on a more standard, semi-curved base, particularly in the medial
On the Cusp: What being a mix of Big Leo Energy and Virgo perfectionism means for your personality
August 19, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Each month with On the Cusp, we point our astrological magnifying glass on all the people born between two zodiac signs. Because when your birthday falls at either the tail end or the very beginning of your sun sign’s season, your personality may be influenced by your cosmic neighbor. As we wave goodbye to the summer season, Leo and Virgo signs share the astrological spotlight. Below, Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and co-author of Surviving Saturn’s Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life, explains what happens when zodiac queen bee Leo (July 23 to August 22) merges with the absolute perfectionist Virgo (August 23 to September 22). Forgive me, end-of-summer babies, but I always see August as the Sunday of best the season. And I’m sorry to say that this stance often makes me feel withdrawn and overcome with premature nostalgia. Some years, I’d rather just cancel the whole month and dive into fall—and whoever’s responsible for moving up the drop date for PSLs every year up clearly agrees. Still, there is beauty to be experienced in riding out the season’s remaining days and anticipating the crispness of what’s coming next. If you’re born on the Leo Virgo cusp, you’re probably emblematic of that very YOLO energy. “Those born near the Leo Virgo cusp exquisitely sum up that end-of-summer, back-to-school longing,” says Weiss. “They like to linger at the beach but are secretly excited to start sharpening their pencils and picking their outfit
The Virgo vibes are extra-strong this year—so get ready for that back-to-school feeling
August 18, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC As we transition from good-time Leo season into the uber-practical (and productive!) season of Virgo, there’s always a distinct back-to-school feeling. With Mars and Venus also moving into the sign of the virgin, expect that feeling to be amplified, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi—who has some specific suggestions for getting the most out of this get-‘er-done period. With Mars, the planet of action, now in the sign of Virgo (it moved from Leo into Virgo on Sunday, August 18) the back-to-school mentality that Virgo season brings begins. Over the next few days, Venus and the sun will follow suit, leaving the sign of fun and play (aka Leo) and heading into the sign of structure, order, and service. Venus moves into Virgo on Wednesday, and the sun follows on Friday. Even more to the point: On Saturday, Venus and Mars will conjoin in the sign of the virgin, igniting practical, goal-driven passions. (And, yes, love too.) Virgo season signals the end of rosé all day and beckons the return back to the basics of health. Virgo, a mutable earth sign, sets transformation into motion. With summer quickly coming to an end, and daylight waning, Virgo season asks you to get organized. It signals the end of rosé all day and beckons the return back to the basics of health. Yes, I am talking about eating a low-glycemic diet complete with complex carbohydrates, locally sourced, organically produced foods inclusive of high-quality protein. Drinking plenty of
Asking for a “friend”: What’s the best way to get rid of cleavage hair?
August 17, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Whenever my “friend” is wearing anything that isn’t a crew-neck T-shirt—like a summer dress, or a deep V—she complains that all she sees when she looks down is her cleavage hair. I’m not talking about nipple hair, which is its own whole thing, but rather longer hairs that sprout out from the center the space between your boobs. And as with other certain body parts that can grow hair, like your chin or butt, some women (like my “friend”) aren’t so keen on having… chest hair. While those rogue nipple hairs are totally OK to pluck, cleavage/chest hair is more similar to, say, leg hair, so if you choose to remove it, the methods are pretty similar. As in: You can shave it, wax it, and/or opt for laser hair removal. “Traditional and older methods of removing hair such as waxing or shaving require ongoing maintenance, and can cause ingrown hairs as the hair begins to grow back,” says Quenby Erickson, MD, a Chicago-based dermatologist. “While they may be less expensive, they’re temporary solutions that will need ongoing treatments. Laser hair removal has improved drastically over the years and surpasses any other option.” Christian Karavolas, owner of Romeo and Juliet Laser Hair Removal in New York, agrees. “The best way to remove hair in those areas would be with laser,” he says. “If you do six sessions, spaced six to eight weeks apart, it’d suffice for permanent hair reduction.” His advice? Avoid waxing