June 23, 2019 at 04:02AM by CWC Nobody feels neutral about a forward fold. You either crave the the release it gives your hamstrings and low back, or tense up just thinking about reaching for your toes. And while the pose (also known as uttanasana), seems self-explanatory in name, it’s one that’s so easy to mess up. “Whether seated or standing, a forward fold incorporates forward flexion of the spine which decreases the space between your belly and thighs,” says Kat Sand, PhD, senior Director of operations at CorePower Yoga. “A forward fold is a forward tilt of your pelvis meaning your hip bones rotate and tip slightly forward and down.” A forward fold also combines flexibility and range of motion in your hamstrings, says Jeffrey Villanueva, a New York City-based instructor at Yoga Vida. ad_intervals[‘402696_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402696_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); With a combined 20 years of experience, these yoga teachers always see the same mistakes with uttanasana, or forward fold. Rounding your shoulders “There should never be a rounding of the shoulders,” says Villanueva. “We want to relax the shoulders and draw them away form the ears, hence relieve space in the neck and shoulder area.” A forward fold misconception is that your head has to touch your shins, he explains “If that was the goal, one may be more inclined to round in the spine, which we would not want to encourage,” Villanueva says. “Rather, we lead from the heart center,
Category: Fashion
A relationship expert reveals the 6 big questions to ask your partner before getting married
June 22, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Wedding planning is inevitably stressful, “chill bride” vibes be damned. Obsessively checking your weather app, double-checking with the caterer that your vegan/keto/Whole30 friends all have at least something to eat at the reception, remembering cute flats for when you can’t bear your heels anymore…there are a lot of potential anxiety triggers. But hopefully, wondering if the person at the other end of the aisle is truly right for you isn’t one of them. Whether you’re in the beginning stages of dating or are in a relationship with someone you believe (or at least, hope!) you will end up marrying, licensed clinical psychologist, author, and eHarmony dating expert Seth Meyers, Ph.D, says there are some important questions you should get to the bottom of before the big day. Some of the questions you can ask in the early dating stages while others are best asked when marriage is more closely in sight. Here, Dr. Meyers explains what and when to ask six important questions before marrying someone. Keep reading for his intel. ad_intervals[‘402143_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402143_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); What are the most important questions before marriage people should ask? Keep reading for intel. 1. How do you like to spend your free time? The whole “what do you do for fun” question is one that comes up in those very early dates, but Dr. Meyers says it holds important clues for long-term compatibility. “If someone says that
Ready to dip your toes in the neon trend? Try these 7 color block sneakers on for size
June 21, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC I wear my white sneakers on the reg like the rest of the world, which is exactly why they’re not exactly white anymore. Sure, they go with every single thing that I wear and are reliable walking shoes, but recently I decided to switch things up a bit, and so I invested in a pair of rainbow-colored, color-block sneakers to brighten up my life and the streets that I walk on. I’m not the only person trotting around in multi-colored kicks, though—everywhere I look these days, my eyes are immediately grabbed by other rainbow-hued sneaks that aren’t shy (at all) with their use of color. There are actual rainbow sneakers, those that pair bright yellows with bright pinks and lime greens, those that alternate cool black and white with neon stripes of color, and the list goes on-and-on. It’s sort of like art deco…for your feet. If you’re staunchly on the solid or neutral-hued sneaker train and think you’d never buy color blocked kicks, hear me out: You can rock a lot of cool looks with them. Like, not only do they add a flash to a monochromatic outfit, but they can also add more color to a color blocked look too. And sometimes more is more, ya know? Keep scrolling for our colorful faves. ad_intervals[‘398460_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘398460_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Adidas Adidas Falcon Shoes ($100) This is the pair that I personally own, and
Can heels feel as comfortable as sneakers? Here are 6 pairs that pass the test
June 21, 2019 at 10:45AM by CWC The fact that you can basically slip on your sneakers with everything from full-length skirts to your go-to workout twin set has put the pressure on other shoe styles to really step up their comfort game. But can a pair of stilettos ever hold your soles in the same type of warm, hygge embrace as your preferred Air Max ’97s? That’s the plan, according to Sandra Gault. She’s attempting to create truly comfortable heels via her company True Gault, which uses 3D software and an app to generate exact replicas of its client’s feet, then creates custom pairs of two- or four-inch pumps with the intel. “Women are refusing to settle anymore,” she says. But that doesn’t mean they’re ready to relinquish their fancy footwear collections just yet thanks to the “feelings of sexy, powerful, confidence they evoke,” explains the entrepreneur. (Her start-up, part of a Google incubator program, already had 30,000 women registered before its official launch on August 1, 2017.) ad_intervals[‘209762_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘209762_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “Women are refusing to settle anymore.” And Gault’s not alone in attempting to make an elevated dress shoe that you can wear all day the way you could, say, Versace’s Touch Strap Sneakers (AKA the Teva sandals of trainers). Brands like Shoes by Shaherazad, maker of the 18-hour heel, as well as Hopp, a design studio created by Opening Ceremony alum Eree Kim, plus a growing list of other luxe footwear lines, are also in pursuit. To be fair, though, this isn’t
Here’s how to work out with momentum to push yourself to the limit
June 21, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC A kettle bell swing is all about power. Once you find your rhythm, gravity starts to take over. But you shouldn’t tap into that same energy if you’re isolating and strengthening your glutes in a hip bridge. This is the difference between momentum and control. While related, the two modes of exercise do very different things, explains Isaiah Harmison, a Houston-based Barry’s Bootcamp instructor. And if you’re going to train like an athlete, you’ll need to learn how to harness both. “Control would be something that I would utilize to get the body to focus on a muscle, like a mind-muscle connection,” he says. “Whereas momentum is kind of getting the whole body to move in a powerful fashion towards a certain direction.” Before hopping into momentum moves you should first master working those muscles with control, to ensure that you’re practicing proper form, which can prevent injury. ad_intervals[‘402248_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402248_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); “Slow and controlled movement will get your body comfortable with a variety of movements and can help with muscle gain,” says Gold’s Gym personal trainer Carlisle Price, NCSF-CPT. “Then you’ll be able to incorporate working out with momentum.” This will help increase your endurance. Think about a squat: “We’re going to want to focus on control to gain that strength,” but, Harmison says you might want to then follow with jumping lunges or a squat jump. He explains that incorporating power trains
Have trouble switching gears at work? Might be your fixed zodiac sign at play
June 20, 2019 at 07:49AM by CWC While on vacation at Disney World around my birthday in April, I couldn’t stop thinking about of one of my mother’s go-to compli-sults: That, as a stubborn Taurus (one of the four fixed signs in astrology), I haven’t really changed my ways since I was 3 years old. I still wear floral-print dresses, I still throw mini-tantrums when I’m hangry, and I am still too shy to say hello to Princess Belle. For fixed signs in astrology (Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, along with Taurus), all of this adds up. Fixed signs are the the most constant quadruplicity in the zodiac. But in the event you’re lost because WTF even is a quadruplicity, allow me to align your stars on the background and then illuminate what it means if you’re one of those dependable fixed signs. The zodiac includes 3 quadruplicities that each include 4 signs The three quadruplicites—cardinal, mutable, and fixed—are a way of grouping the signs of the zodiac. Just as the elements—fire, water, Earth, and, air—group signs by temperament, quadruplicities, or modes, group signs by how they direct their energy behaviorally. For example, cardinal signs—Aries and Libra, Cancer and Capricorn, which are direct at the beginning of each season of the year—tend to be self-starters looking to get stuff done, which can be great they don’t steamroll the ideas of those around them. This is to say, all modes have positive qualities and shadows. ad_intervals[‘399188_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) {
This 12-move dynamic stretching routine will open you up from head to toes
June 19, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC When you’re about to push your body to its limits during a workout, the very first thing you want to do is perform a warmup that will adequately prep your body for what’s to come. Enter dynamic stretching, or the idea that moving through stretches will help to make your workout more impactful in the long run. “Warmups gradually rev up your cardiovascular system, increasing your heart rate, systolic blood pressure, cardiac output, and body temperature to improve blood flow to your muscles, effectively preparing them for the positive stress of exercise,” says manager of training development and barre kinesiologist at Pure Barre Rachelle Reed, PhD. “Some studies also show that warmups may reduce the risk of injuries.” While that’s all legit, you might be wondering what actually constitutes a well-rounded dynamic warmup. According to Reed, the trick is to perform multi-muscle group, multi-joint movements to gauge your range of motion and help your body warm-up efficiently for 5 to 10 minutes before diving into full sets. ad_intervals[‘388787_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘388787_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); As for the exact exercises, ahead, with the help of some of the industry’s top trainers, we’ve listed 12 dynamic body movements that will leave your limbs feeling ready for whatever you have in store for your workout du jour. 1. Inchworm Push-ups Mindbody wellness manager Kate Ligler, NASM-certified Flywheel instructor Jared Poulin, and personal trainer, New York Sports Club Lab master instructor
3 expert-approved questions to ask your crush to save yourself from the depths of awkward silence
June 19, 2019 at 07:52AM by CWC One night, like a vulture wearing red Minnie Mouse heels, I cornered my crush outside a music venue and began to, essentially, interview him. It started normal enough—”Hi, it’s Mary Grace from the party, what’s up?”—but then, out of the blue, I asked, “Were you popular in high school?” I don’t know why, of all the possible questions to ask your crush, I went with that. Subconsciously, I’m sure it’s because I know I could only ever be with someone who sat at the Weird Kids’ table, but still. Weird flex on my part. While things ultimately ended up in my favor (we’ve been together for over a year), he still brings up, “Were you popular in high school?” like a joke. Here’s the thing, friends: It’s difficult to get to know to a person you’re interested in. Maybe it’s someone you’ve been having banter with on a dating app, or maybe it’s a friend of a friend who you think is cute, yet you can’t get a moment alone with them. Or maybe it’s the person with whom you already have first-date plans set—or at least it seems date-y? But you’re not totally sure. (Is it a coffee date or just coffee?) Regardless, knowing the right questions to ask your crush is tough. ad_intervals[‘398669_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘398669_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Regardless of whether there’s legitimate relationship-worthy promise with the crush in question or they’re just a moron you’re
This is a trainer’s best-kept secret for working out smarter—not harder—at the gym
June 17, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Sorry, “more is more” fitness—you’re just not in fashion anymore. Express sweat sessions are now an even hotter trend than bike shorts. And here to accommodate the demand is “strategic laziness,” a lightning fast exercise modality that makes the most of bite-sized workouts. While The 4-Hour Workweek author Tim Ferris originally coined the fabulous term “strategic laziness,” Nike master trainer Joe Holder has since written it into the vocabulary of the fitness world. In a profile with plant-based meal service Sakara Life, Holder defined the term. “Athletes do what they should, not what it seems like they should be doing,” he says. “Inaction is a form of action and athletes know which actions should be done and which shouldn’t, which saves time and energy and unnecessary wear and tear on the body.” Lazy can be smart—and vice versa. Word. Maillard Howell, owner of CrossFit Prospect Heights in Brooklyn and founder of the The Beta Way, says the foundation of training with a “strategic laziness” mindset is intention. “It’s taking the time to be thoughtful,” he explains. “We tend to only think that there’s thoughtfulness in actions, but you need the mental space, the physical space, and the emotional space to also be creative—not just productive [in your workouts].” You can apply the motto to any area of life. But at the gym, it really just means walking through the door with a well-engineered game-plan. ad_intervals[‘400333_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400333_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);});
This hardcore leg workout is worthy of a World Cup Champion—and will leave your lower body burning
June 16, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Real talk: Seeing the U.S. crush it in their first game of the 2019 Women’s World Cup was the biggest leg-day inspiration of all time. There’s nothing like watching a group of badass females score 13 goals (which was a world record, BTW) to make you think “hmm, maybe those squats are worth it after all.” Ready to hone your skills and feel strong enough to rival Alex Morgan? This workout has got you covered. Here, Gold’s Gym Certified Personal Trainer and GOLD’S AMP Coach Ally McKinney, shares her favorite leg moves that will turn you into a soccer superstar—or at least, leave your lower body on fire for two full days after you leave the gym. Back squat ad_intervals[‘401044_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401044_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); “Back squats are a fantastic way to increase overall leg strength because it really forces our quad group and glute group to work and recruit all the muscle fibers,”McKinney says. “Soccer players are known for their beautiful quads so adding in back squats are going to give you exactly that.” Start by resting an empty squat bar between your traps so it isn’t putting pressure on your spine. Bring your feet shoulder width apart with your feet slightly turned out, and squeeze your glutes while bracing your core. As you bend your knees, drop your hips toward your heels and keep your chest up—try to get so low so that your