March 14, 2019 at 12:21PM by CWC At the gym, veering too far from the equipment you’re used to can feel intimidating. It’s hard to know how to vary your workouts if you’re not familiar with every piece of equipment. (Who is?) But the workout you’ll get from one of the most popular and underrated tools at the gym makes it worth stepping out of your comfort zone. Used regularly, a rope workout delivers some serious results once you get the hang of it. Plenty of gyms have a section featuring ropes—particularly battle ropes, which you see your favorite fitness-loving celebrities working up a sweat to on the daily. “Battle ropes are an unparalleled upper-body conditioning tool. One of the most effective—yet low-impact—ways to train metabolically, it helps you build both strength and endurance. It’s also safe for all populations, and the creativity and variety of exercises with it are endless,” says Gerren Liles, a Hyperwear trainer and master instructor at Equinox. “With a properly designed workout, battle rope training can help boost your metabolism, burn fat, and add definition.” Battle ropes aren’t the only option you should try for a rope workout, though. Remember having to try and climb the rope in gym class as a kid? Well, that’s a prime trainer-approved way to increase your muscle tone, too. “Rope climbing is one of the ultimate displays of total body strength and mastery. It encourages upper-body strength—especially grip strength—and demands proper technique and synergy to move quickly and efficiently,” Liles explains.
Category: City
Self-esteem begins with “I am,” and we have the affirmations to prove it
March 14, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC For a very long time, “Self Esteem” by The Offspring was my go-to karaoke song. To spare you a Google of the 1994 banger, the lyrics follow a subject who gets trapped in a toxic relationship because he’s a “sucker with no self-esteem.” Well. Sounds like somebody could have seriously benefitted from some positive affirmations for self-esteem, #amirite? Regardless of whether or not you specifically relate to that pop-punk relic, it’s very possible that you also aren’t thriving in the self-esteem department. And that’s not your fault—society is largely to blame. Social media provides plenty of comparison traps to scroll through at any given moment, and if your life feels less than picture-perfect (even if it is in an okay, good, or great place), it’s easy to go to bed thinking, “I am not enough, I am not able to succeed, and I am not ever going to get through tomorrow.” But #realtalk, you are enough, able to succeed, and going to get through tomorrow. One simple way to boost your self-esteem is to embrace simple affirmations and rebrand your “I ams.” Affirmations rewire your brain into believing in yourself, which is the cornerstone of bolstering your self-confidence. There are many from which you can choose, but if you’re looking for a great place to start, Claire Grieve, a yoga specialist, health coach and wellness expert, is on board with the power of affirmations focused on empowering “I am” statements. “Your thoughts are incredibly powerful
Learn to unwind like Simone Biles (because you totally deserve a gold medal for crushing that workout)
March 13, 2019 at 08:14AM by CWC Clear your calendar. The summer Olympics will be here before you know it. In the meantime, between press junkets and rigorous workouts, athletes ramping up for an opportunity to win Olympic gold are also considering the importance of cooling down. A prime example of elite athleticism, gymnast Simone Biles, who turns 21 on March 14, is focused on thoughtful recovery as she prepares for Tokyo 2020. I caught up with Biles in Paris at the unveiling of the Women’s World Cup national team soccer kits. The new uniforms will dot the field when the tournament returns this summer. As a gymnast, Biles is united with the athletes of all types on the heels of a landmark women-driven Nike Just Do It campaign. (Seriously, you need to watch it because it will give you all the feels). “It was very empowering to see all the ladies out there taking such strong strides and having confidence—even when we’re speaking out—knowing that we can do anything that the male athletes can do and more,” Biles tells me. Biles’ efforts to change the sport of gymnastics are equally remarkable. She earned four gold medals and a single bronze at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janiero. She’s since proved unstoppable, performing never-been-done-before vaults and can’t-believe-your-eyes tumbling routines. Her workouts are no joke and neither is her recovery routine. “I love doing massages because it’s also relaxing and usually I fall asleep,” says Biles. And while a massage might
Just a friendly reminder that your “power suit” is whatever you want it to be
March 08, 2019 at 09:49AM by CWC For those of us still waiting for someone (anyone!) to invent the ensemble-generator Cher Horowitz fires up in Clueless, getting dressed in the morning is a real chore. What can I say? The blonde trendsetter would surely categorize me as a “fashion victim,” thanks to my lack of color coordination and steadfast belief that leggings and better than pants. But if there’s one thing the effortlessly chic Cher and I share, it’s and affinity for the power suit. Now, you won’t catch me in a yellow plaid suit, but I do reach for the same pieces each and every time I need an extra boost of confidence. And here’s the secret: a power suit doesn’t have to be a suit at all. My power outfit consists of an ’80s-style long sleeve T-shirt (which, bargain brag, I snagged for $5 at H&M) with a black wrap-around skirt lined with fringe. I select a pair of white sneakers from my embarrassingly large collection, throw on a leather jacket, and I feel ready to take on the world. It’s not the coordinated blazer and trouser combination you’ll find on Horowitz, Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the runway models of Paris Fashion Week, but it makes me feel like like the mightiest iteration of me. A power suit makes me feel like like the mightiest iteration of me. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before actress Lana Candor told People that her choice garments for gassing herself up look a lot more like mine
12 of the best beauty buys you can score at Walmart, a secret skin-care mecca
March 08, 2019 at 09:06AM by CWC Contrary to what 2002 Paris and Nicole might have thought, Walmart is more than just a place that sells walls. Actually, according to an old commercial that has been stuck in my head for approximately the last two decades, “Walmart is the only place where I can get everything I need under one roof.” I remember grabbing everything from groceries to CDs (remember those?) and toys to body-care staples at the big box store back in the day, but my beauty products? Not so much. Now, though, Walmart’s beauty aisles have seriously grown up. Instead of merely having your predictable drugstore staples, the super store now stocks K-beauty products, more natural skin-care options, and even cult faves that you used to have to to scour the deep internet in order to get. Color me impressed. So in addition to carrying everyday essentials like lawnmowers and fish bait, everyone’s favorite suburban megastore has become an underground skin-care mecca. I’m not kidding: Walmart’s now carrying brands like Alba Botanica, Derma-E, Thayers, K-beauty fave Cosrx, Image Skincare, and even prestige brands like Clarins and Eve Lom within its surprising inventory. The best part of the whole thing? You’re still going to see Walmart prices for everything. So while you’re running errands at the place, be sure to stock up on your skin-care goodies for way less. Keep scrolling for the best beauty buys you can score at Walmart, below. (It was hard to narrow them down, BTW.) Walmart beauty
If meditating is stoking rather than extinguishing your anxiety, here’s how to tweak your practice
March 08, 2019 at 09:00AM by CWC I’ve always been a pretty anxious person, but last fall, my anxiety level rose from a manageable 5 to an all-consuming 10. After a few weeks of bad sleep, a poor appetite, and nonstop circular thoughts, I turned to the tool many mental-health experts swear by: meditation. The problem? Not only did my meditation practice not help, but it actually made things worse. I practice mindfulness meditation, and something about being tuned in to my breath made me even more aware of my anxious thoughts. Perhaps least bearable was the fact that my practice actually highlighted some of the physical anxiety symptoms I was experiencing, like a racing heart and a clenched, too-tight stomach. Upon googling the phenomenon, a number of message boards made clear that I’m in good company. While I found a bit of solace in having my struggle shared by others, that still didn’t arm me with strategies to quell my anxiety. So to learn more about why this happens—and what to do about it—I turned to experts. Why does meditation sometimes stoke rather than extinguish anxiety? According to holistic psychotherapist Alison Stone, LCSW, turning attention inward, as meditation asks us to do, can put other parts of us on high alert. “We might get an immediate feeling of ‘I’m doing this wrong’, or ‘this feels unnatural’, which might elicit a spiral of anxiety-related thoughts.” This heightened self-awareness of emotions can cause discomfort, especially in the beginning of a meditation journey. “Most
Spring’s freshest makeup trend is honestly so easy to wear
March 07, 2019 at 07:19AM by CWC Hold up, is that sunshine? Yes, spring is just around the corner (the groundhog said so) and the time to rethink your beauty routine for the warmer weather is now. Replace those muted tones of autumn and winter with something bright and cheery because if there’s one takeaway from Paris Fashion Week, it’s that pastel makeup looks are fully on trend in 2019. While the fantastical color combinations featured on the models walking the catwalk might be a little much for the sidewalk, a toned down pastel palette is effortlessly fresh. Pastel makeup dominates on the runway, but here’s how to wear it yourself. 9 pastel makeup looks for spring View this post on Instagram A post shared by Celia Burton (@celiaburtonmakeup) on Jan 30, 2019 at 3:19am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. Touch of purple Sometimes all you need is an eye-catching purple shadow to make a big difference in your look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rachel Rebibo (@rachelrebibo) on Mar 5, 2019 at 10:13am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js 2. Unicorn vibes This look perfectly mixes pinks and blues for daytime glamour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by davidkoppelaar (@davidkoppelaar) on Feb 20, 2019 at 12:06am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js 3. Under-eye pop A quick way to master the pastel trend is adding a swipe of color to your lower lash line. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taryn Rae-Lee (@tarynraeleephotography) on Mar 6, 2019
A dozen pairs of sustainable jeans so good nothing will come between you and them
March 06, 2019 at 11:33AM by CWC Socially conscious, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, sustainable. All buzz words you’ve heard to describe ethical fashion. The category—which was once synonymous with scratchy fabrics and blah-as-heck hues—has far surpassed “trend” status. More and more, clothing and accessory brands are innovating with their social and environmental impact in mind and turning out some of the best new fashions out there from swimwear to lingerie, plus one of the most-loved categories, denim. There are a lot of things that can make a garment unsustainable from tons of waste to the use of toxic chemicals and unethical labor practices. The biggest culprit when it comes to denim, though, is water. “Apparel production and in particular denim depends heavily on water availability. Not just in the washing of a jean at the point of garment production, however, [but also] at the very beginning point in the cotton agriculture stage,” says Jac Cameron, co-founder and creative director of the clothing brand AYR. “The water consumption for denim production is usually 1,000 gallons per one wash load, which is roughly about 60 [pairs of] jeans.” Cotton farming can negatively impact the environment, too. “The use of hazardous chemicals used in the cotton farming, dyeing, and finishing stages, and highly repetitive and manual finishing techniques, make the traditional process of making jeans dangerous for not only the environment but also the workers handling the denim,” says James Bartle, founder of Outland Denim, a premium-denim label that was founded with the mission to employ
How I found my first job through a women’s “whisper network”
March 06, 2019 at 10:30AM by CWC When I think about the moment I passed the threshold between aspiring journalist and journalist (no qualifier!), I realize that without the help of a handful of kickass women, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. As Inc. Magazine recently acknowledged, fostering an inner circle that acts as a “whisper network” for opportunity, salary comparisons, and guidance is crucial to supercharging your career. As a sophomore in college, in 2015, I interned with Dreamers // Doers, a community of entrepreneurial women who band together both online and IRL to support one another in their self-designed ventures. These women are authors, graphic designers, software engineers, and entrepreneurs, and more. The community thrives with more than 700 participants in invite-only Facebook groups and upward of 20,000 members in two groups that anyone can join. People who say that landing a job is all about “who you know” aren’t wrong; it really, really helps to have a solid connection. I found the position that would ultimately change my life while scrolling absentmindedly through Dreamers // Doers: Jobs + Gigs, one of the company’s open-access groups. In retrospect, this was my “big break.” A word-thirsty writer, I paused on a job listing emblazoned with three words: “paid editorial internship.” The description read, “Seeking a college-aged writer to cover wellness 15 hours per week,” and you better believe that I applied faster than you can say Zuckerberg. The application was just the first step. People who say that landing a job in
A healthy guide to San Miguel de Allende, Central Mexico’s best-kept secret
March 06, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC San Miguel de Allende is a colorful colonial city nestled in the heart of Mexico. The architecturally rich respite in the Guanajuato state is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Mexico City, and it boasts a thriving art scene, a fascinating historical center, and a vibrant heritage. A visit here isn’t complete without taking advantage of spa treatments, vegan eats, fitness studios, organic coffee-shop sips, hikes, and green-juice vendors. But somehow, despite all those healthy offerings, the city still manages to fall blissfully under the radar. And after a few days gallivanting around the Mexican gem, you’ll feel enriched, fulfilled, and oh-so healthy. Especially if you follow the guide below. What to do Parque El Chorro Consider your morning hike found. The steep climb combined with the altitude (more than 6,000 feet above sea level), means you’d be smart to prepare to huff and puff all the way to the top. Considering the amazing view you’ll get as a reward though, you’ll surely feel it was worth the effort. Hotel Nirvana’s hot spring pool Hot springs SMA is built on the edge of an extinct volcano that hasn’t erupted in 12,00 years. Thanks to the subterranean volcanic activity, the countryside surrounding the town is full of healing thermal waters and hot springs. My absolute favorite of the several I visited is at Hotel Nirvana. Take a $10 cab ride outside of town and arrive at this little slice of, well, nirvana. Bathe in the