August 13, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC When you think of ugly shoes, your first thought is probably Birkenstocks. The sandals are one of the rare types of footwear that have been embraced by both the fashion crowd and podiatrists… which is saying a lot. When Birkenstocks came back into style I had a “hard pass” mentality, but now I’m used to them (I live in LA, after all, and they’re pretty much unavoidable). But as I was scrolling through the sandal section of Free People the other day—my summer shoe collection is woefully sparse—I noticed they were selling Dr. Scholl’s clogs. Are these a thing? I asked myself. A quick Google search confirmed my suspicions: They are very much a thing. Urban Outfitters even has an exclusive Dr. Scholl’s style. Dr. Scholl’s makes a ton of different types of shoes, but for the purposes of this article I’m going to focus on their OG slide sandals because they are the ugly-cutest ones and also the most comparable to Birks. To find out what makes these shoes so great from a foot health perspective, I asked podiatric surgeon Dr. Cary Gannon, founder of non-toxic nail polish brand AILA, to weigh in. ad_intervals[‘415019_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘415019_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “The original Dr. Scholl’s slide sandals are ideal for foot health for two reasons: fit and function,” she says. “The slide sandals properly fit the foot by providing a wide toe bed that allows the toes
Category: Fashion
Make your own full moon water in 5 steps to cleanse and empower yourself for the month ahead
August 13, 2019 at 10:18AM by CWC The moon and I are tight; I have monthly new moon parties with my girlfriends, and I’ve worn the same pair of crescent moon earrings for 18 years. So when I first heard it’s possible to charge your water with the full moon’s energy, I was like, “lol what?” and then five seconds later, I was like, “sign me up.” I decided I wanted, badly, to learn how to make moon water. Sure, this falls under the classification of woo-woo with two capital Ws, but drinking moon water is said to be an effective way of cleansing and empowering yourself for the month ahead. And at the very least, it’s a chicly spiritual way to channel your inner Victoria Beckham. Yes, that’s right, Posh Spice drinks moon water—and you can, too. And when it comes to making moon water, the only full moon to make sure you steer clear of is one in the state of eclipse. “Eclipses are absolutely not moons you want to harness the energy of. We want to work with eclipses in ways that help us gently remove impurities from our system.” —Chani Nicholas, astrologer “Each full moon has its own unique properties, some you may want to harness, some you absolutely do not,” says astrologer Chani Nicholas. “Only an astrologer can tell you which is good to work with, but as a general rule, eclipses are absolutely not moons you want to harness the energy of. Eclipses cast
I finally found a strapless bra that doesn’t squeeze, pinch, or shimmy down my torso
August 12, 2019 at 09:34AM by CWC In the beyond-brilliant nature documentary series Planet Earth, narrator David Attenborough occasionally says something like, “We now witness a rare sighting of the mating rituals of the rainbow sea anemone.” Or, ya know, something along those lines. For a moment, I truly feel like I’m witnessing a miracle. Like the earth is a glorious place overrun by wonder. Perhaps that’s why, when I slipped on the first cozy strapless bra I’ve ever owned in my entire life, I could have sworn I heard Attenborough voice: “Rare indeed is a strapless bra that’s legitimately comfortable.” When the Chantelle Absolute Invisible Strapless Bra ($78) arrives at my desk, I’m already expecting failure. The vast majority of intimates marketed as “soft” and “plush” are hugely disappointing. The moment I run my fingers across the cups of the Absolute Invisible bra, I know it stands apart. Straight out of the packaging, the garment feels like the the treasured sweatshirt you’ve run through the wash a million times (although, it’s definitely not raggedy or faded). It’s the texture of a warm embrace. ad_intervals[‘414512_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘414512_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); For the past month, the bra has been my sidekick on many tricky outfit mission, from rocking a spaghetti strap dresses to a rainbow of different color tanks. (And even a tube top!) To be clear, the bra still contains every boob duos’ nemesis—underwire. It’s redeemed by a fluffy layer of padding that
The common reason your feet hurt from the second you wake up
August 12, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC There are those days where you start off on the wrong foot, then there are days where you literally start out with this horrible pain in your foot as soon as you step out of your bed—and it’s way worse. Because that’s called plantar fasciitis, and it’s a foot pain problem that’s the pits. “Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the fascia—AKA connective tissue—within the base of the foot becomes inflamed and often times uncomfortable,” says Jeff Brannigan, program director at New York’s Stretch*d. “Most noticeable in the morning, this makes it hard to take those first few steps out of bed due to a sharp painful sensation at the bottom of the foot.” My colleague’s been there (hi, Ali!) and says it’s absolutely awful. A major cause of the issue is from pronation issues: “Plantar fasciitis can occur with hyperpronation—especially if the foot remains pronated or rolled inwards at push off. This happens because the pronated foot stretches the plantar fascia both longitudinally and laterally, which leads to a connective tissue strain,” says Lara Heimann, physical therapist, yogi, and founder of Movement by Lara. So the condition is essentially a strain of the tissue in the bottom part of your foot. ad_intervals[‘401474_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401474_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Typically, you’ll also have less cushion: “People with hyperpronated feet also happen to have less bony stability in the foot, and weak intrinsic feet muscles, which usually absorbs
The 7-minute, plank-centric yoga flow will fire up every part of your core
August 12, 2019 at 02:01AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YInYh05-4tE] 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, Val Verdier is teaching us a yoga sequence that’s all about the core. When I think of yoga, I tend to think of it as an all-over workout—rather than a butt-sculpting, arm toning, or leg strengthening exercise specifically. Yoga pro Val Verdier, who’s our Trainer of the Month this August, has proved me wrong. This week? Verdier’s taking us through a core-activating yoga flow, and while it obviously works your entire body from head to toe, it gives your abs and obliques a little extra kick. “This is a little core sequence—it’s more about isolating the muscles so you can really feel engaged throughout the whole practice,” she says. “We’re not going to focus on repetition and all the sit-ups, but we’re going to engage [the core] the whole time and get the body moving.” You’ll definitely feel your abs quaking by the time you hit savasana. ad_intervals[‘414427_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘414427_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Try this 7-minute yoga for core-focused flow, courtesy of Verdier 1. Bridge pose: Lie down onto your back, feet hip-distance apart and arms by your side. Reach for your heels to
Venus is your wing woman right now to go for your relationship goals
August 11, 2019 at 02:04PM by CWC The week begins on the heels of Jupiter—the planet of good luck, good fortune, and abundance—stationing direct. Happening on Sunday, August 11, at 9:37 a.m. Eastern, the great giant of the sky begins to move forward in the sign of optimism and growth (Sagittarius). On top of that, Mercury, which clears its retrograde shadow on August 14 (holler), enters into Leo on Sunday as well, adding to the positive fuel of the week ahead. It’s safe to say that the week ahead initiates us into a new chapter of 2019. The star-studded lineup commands you to open your heart and lead with courage. With the sun, Venus, Mars, and Mercury in Leo now—while Jupiter travels direct—we can expect things to feel passionate, contagious, blunt, and bold. Add to the mix that the sun and Venus conjoin in the sky for their kiss, aka a cazimi, it’s safe to say that the week ahead initiates us into a new chapter of 2019. As if that weren’t enough, on top of this, we have a full moon in Aquarius too. Boom. The star-studded lineup commands you to open your heart and lead with courage. ad_intervals[‘414639_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘414639_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Venus and the sun align at the same degree of the sky roughly every nine months forming what’s called a Venus Star Point. This annual meet-up offers you a moment to solidify a vision for yourself as it
Science backs rituals as an empowering strategy to help you bounce back from failure
August 09, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Chances are, you have some kind of ritual that makes you feel better about life. Maybe you like wearing yellow socks to function as a good-luck charm when your favorite basketball team plays, or dry-brushing before bed, or taking a slightly longer route home sometimes because it just feels right. Or really, anything else in the world; rituals meaning anything in your life can manifest in innumerable ways. The rituals we adopt range from mundane to bizarre and intentional to subconscious. In practice, they can function as a close cousin to superstitions (an unfounded belief in the causal relationship between certain actions and results), and pragmatists may characterize them as random, pointless or, even irrational. But, they’re indisputably powerful; research suggests they can help reduce anxiety, boost confidence, aid in the grieving process, and even improve performance. They can help us navigate challenges—and beat them. ad_intervals[‘409890_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409890_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); So naysayers may be wise to stifle their eye rolls and consider the useful function that rituals can actually serve in their life. The anatomy of a ritual Though, as noted, rituals are often conflated with superstitions, that’s a misnomer. “The way I see it, every ritual will have a superstitious element, but not every superstition will manifest itself as a ritual,” says behavioral scientist Nick Hobson, PhD. Consider the pre-match rituals Serena Williams once recounted to the Evening Standard: “I lost because I didn’t
This 10-minute standing yoga flow can help improve your balance and posture
August 09, 2019 at 12:56PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3iXM7AR0lY] Much to my surprise, a couple of years back, science proved that yoga can count as cardio. Sure, it can be relaxing AF and feel like a lullaby acted out by your body, but sometimes a vinyasa flow can get your heart racing. I’ve learned that the cardio-esque aspects of yoga lie in sun salutations (and fast transitions). For the days when you want a more chill yoga sesh—as opposed to a replacement for a run or a spin class—you can turn to a standing yoga flow. “If you don’t want to get on the ground, this doesn’t involve any of the up-down that you’d do in a typical yoga flow,” says yoga pro Tess Koenig, who’s teaching us a standing yoga series in our latest episode of Good Moves. “It’s just focusing on a standing series.” Think asanas like tree pose and mountain pose. ad_intervals[‘414048_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘414048_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); You don’t even need a mat—just your fave pair of leggings and you’re good to go. One thing to keep in mind, though: “All we’re trying to do in a standing series is get to a neutral spine with a neutral pelvis,” says Koenig. Be aware of your body and your form, and you’ll reap the mind-body benefits. 1. Big toe pose: Come to the top of your mat (if you’re using one), and bring your feet hip-width distance apart, which you can measure
Why experts want you to think twice before getting your vagina steamed
August 09, 2019 at 09:42AM by CWC I’ve done a lot of wild stuff for the sake of wellness—like getting a crystal facial (which felt really good) and detoxing my body in a pool of lava rocks (which absolutely did not feel really good)—but nothing quite tops the time I got a vagina steam. Like Chrissy Teigen and Gwyneth Paltrow, I too have sat on a pot of boiling water and herbs for the sake of my nether regions. And while my experience was nothing short of lovely (they even gave me watermelon to snack on while I was getting steamed, which was weird but kind of nice), it’s something most OB/GYNs would say is not the best idea. Case in point: A woman in Canada was recently left with second-degree burns after trying the treatment for herself, which, ouch. (Her case was even published in a medical journal.) Upon hearing the news, UK-based gynecologist Philippa Kaye took to Twitter to beg people not to steam their lady parts, filing it under #thingsntotodotoyourvagina. What is vagina steaming, exactly? “Think of a V-Steam as a facial for your vagina. It creates the same effects as a facial but it does so internally for your uterus and vaginal canal,” the YinOva Center, a center for acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in New York City who offers vaginal steaming, writes on their website. The practice is apparently rooted in some global traditions: In Korea, for example, it’s known as chai-york, and the treatment often used
There are thousands of white t-shirts out there, but these 12 are the best of the best
August 08, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC One of our most beloved of wardrobe essentials is the white T-shirt. Some are best styled with jeans, others with a skirt; some silhouette into the perfect crop, while others remain effortlessly oversized. But they all have one thing in common: The perfect white tee will make you feel like the chicest, most comfortable version of yourself. And no matter what your version of the “perfect white tee” happens to be, we have one better for you below. Ahead, find the best of the best when it comes to our favorite wardrobe staples. We have something for every style, body shape, budget… the list goes on. From the white T-shirt we’re going for a midsummer jog in to the splurge-worthy logo tee to wear from early morning coffee to late night drinks, here are the best white tees for 2019. Photo: Girlfriend Collective Best sustainable: Girlfriend Collective The Perfect Crop ($28) We love a brand with a sustainability mission but it’s even better when a product created with fair trade practices actually winds up being one of our favorite white tees, regardless of the feel-good factor. Beloved activewear brand Girlfriend Collective recently introduced the softest boxy white tee that is not only made of waste from the cotton industry, is biodegradable, and requires 682 fewer gallons of water in production than a traditional cotton tee, but also comes in sizes XXS to 6XL. ad_intervals[‘409954_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409954_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); }