March 30, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC When I Google “shaman near me” from my office in New York City, I’m answered with a map showing more than five locations in Manhattan alone. It’s clear that a new class of shamans has risen to meet the needs of today’s stressed-out, anxious, suffering population, and you don’t need to trek deep into the jungle to meet with them. But with this proliferation of shamanism, an unknown quantity of people who claim to be shamans and yet have no training to speak of has also grown. As Well+Good’s guest editor Diana Stobo, a retreat leader with decades of experience in the wellness biz, outlines here, trusting your well-being to someone without the proper vetting—especially when powerful herbs and mind-altering medicines are involved—can have serious consequences. On a recent trip to Mexico, my friend participated in a three-day ancestral healing retreat. She, like many people who engage in ancient ceremonies, was looking for enlightenment, for an understanding of life’s greater purpose. It cost her her life. Over the course of the three days, a man calling himself a shaman led my friend and a group of other retreat-goers through a number of ceremonies that used intoxicating substances—ayahuasca, peyote, and kambo, a poisonous secretion from an Amazonian tree frog—to facilitate healing and induce eye- and mind-opening experiences. (There’s no scientific evidence to support their efficacy, but such benefits have long been touted anecdotally.) Before taking the kambo on the retreat’s final day, the shaman instructed
Category: Fashion
The next generation of feminists slaps down “boys will be boys”
March 29, 2019 at 11:33AM by CWC In Amy Schumer’s new standup special on Netflix, Growing, she gives props to younger feminists: “They came along and they’re like, ‘Hey have you been getting sexually harassed like this your whole lives?’ And we’re like, ‘Oh, yeah.’ And they’re like, ‘Yeah, you wanna do something about that?’ And we’re like, ‘Oh yeah!’ We’re all so used to it.” Well, score one for the kids because it was a banner week for healthy boundaries. Leading the way, a group of teens from Maryland collectively said “thank u, next” to an age-old beauty pageant in the form of a list that circulating at their school ranking the girls on a scale of 1-10 based on looks, the Washington Post reported. They fought back, demanding disciplinary action and persuading administrators to hold a public assembly where the list could be discussed among all the students involved. “It was the last straw, for us girls, of this ‘boys will be boys’ culture,” one student said. “We’re the generation that is going to make a change.” That’s bold thinking in a world where being a “ten,” a “seven,” or a “four” is such a ubiquitous concept that even apps like Tinder reportedly assign users an attractiveness score to serve profiles to others. It’s coded into our lives, which may be why if you find yourself shrugging right now about the Maryland teens’ situation (“Is it that big of a deal?”), that would be understandable. But you’d be
This Cleaning Expert Never Stores Shoes In The Closet — Here’s Why
March 29, 2019 at 02:38AM Dirty soles not welcome. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
This belly dance teacher is making me fall in love with my (very soft) abs
March 27, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC For those of us whose size fluctuates in certain years, certain seasons, or certain weeks of the month (AKA pretty much everyone), the feeling in your body is palpable. And that’s not always a bad thing. Waking up with some super-size cleavage or a bum that’s bloomed into a badonk can feel powerful in a “cover girl, put the bass in your walk” kind of way. And thanks to women like Rihanna (who reinforces this idea by extolling “the pleasure of a fluctuating body type“), it’s easier than ever—even in our weight-obsessed society—to enjoy the ups as well as the downs. At least, it is for me. One stalwart caveat to this embrace of my body’s natural ebbs and flows, though, is my abs. Or rather, the soft layer of flesh that insulates them, hiding the theoretical six pack I’m convinced is just waiting to come out. It’s the one part of my body I haven’t stopped monitoring, even after I threw out my scale a couple of years ago. I keep a tape measure handy to check my waist size on a regular basis, only in part because I know waistline expansion is correlated with heart disease, cancer, and more. It’s also an attempt to impose order on the out-of-control feeling of a jiggly belly: creating unexpected “rolls” when I move, spilling over the top of my jeans, and making its presence known (“Look at me!”) in dresses and skirts that are
Flip flops are an abomination and no one can convince me otherwise
March 26, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC I was minding my own business and doing some online shopping when, out of nowhere, I stumbled upon a fashion edit of…flip flops. It is too early in the morning for this, I thought to myself. (Okay, it was 3 p.m., but it’s never a good time to discover that flip flops may be coming back in style.) Fashion is apparently ready to make flip flops happen: Brands like Isabel Marant, Zimmermann, and Proenza Schouler—brands that I generally like—have these monstrosities in their spring lineups. And Vogue is telling me I should “give this silhouette of the past a second chance.” No thanks. Hard pass. When I’ve shared this hot take/correct opinion with others, they’ve asked if this applies to all sandals and slides. And no, it does not. For the purposes of this discussion, I’m talking about thong flip flops, which take the ugly shoe trend (one I can otherwise totally get behind) way, way too far. As I write this at a coffee shop, multiple people surrounding me are wearing thong sandals. Admittedly, I live in Venice (the Los Angeles variety), which is basically the last place you should live if you want to avoid people wearing flip flops. A couple of them have slid their flip flops off, and are now barefoot. In public. The noise flip flops make is a death knell for my libido. It’s like every uncomfortable encounter I’ve ever had with another human turned into sound.
A major drugstore chain with 9,900 locations embraces CBD
March 26, 2019 at 11:46AM by CWC If this isn’t CBD going mainstream, I don’t know what is. Up until this point, most of the CBD items currently available on the market—whether it’s beauty products or oil for your lattes—are things that are more easily found online. But now you can get your CBD at CVS, one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the world. According to Bloomberg, CBD-infused products are officially available at CVS stores across the country due to a distribution deal with the marijuana company Curaleaf Holdings Inc. While the products CVS carries won’t have anything in them that actually gets you high, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of THC-free CBD through creams, sprays, and lotions. So far, there’s no plan to offer CBD in supplement or food-form, so those anxiety-relieving oils and gummies you love will have to wait. “We could not be more excited to be partnering with CVS in bringing CBD to their stores and raising awareness around CBD. We applaud CVS for taking one of the first steps at a national retail level and expect this to be a significant catalyst for the CBD industry,” says Jay Hartenbach, CEO of Medterra CBD, one of the brands now on shelves at CVS. “National retailers are now comfortable with carrying CBD products and this will lead to widespread availability across the county.” Right now, CVS’ CBD products are already available in eight states, including California, Illinois, Colorado, and Alabama. The current plan
Not even dating is safe from burnout—and work apps are fueling the fire
March 26, 2019 at 07:34AM by CWC Ping! Buzz! Pinnng! A slew of new-message notifications lights up your phone. With a sigh, you sit down and log in, scrolling through your inbox to answer the most pressing inquiries first. For several minutes—or several hours, even—you methodically craft pitch-perfect responses and thoughtful follow-ups. You schedule meetings, as necessary. Finally, exhausted, you take a break, pouring yourself a glass of wine and turning on Grey’s Anatomy. Because this isn’t even work; this is your dating life. To be fair, dating has always carried the whiff of a part-time job. Really, what more is a first date, than a glorified job interview? You put on a nice outfit and talk yourself up for an hour or two, all in the hopes that it will eventually lead to something full-time, er, long-term. But the introduction and proliferation of dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, OKCupid, and even TwinDog (yes, it’s a thing!) over the years has continued to blur the line between what we do at the office and what we do after-hours. And according to Robby Slaughter, a workflow and productivity expert and principal at AccelaWork, that’s partially by design. “The messaging apps and social media apps you use in the workplace are designed for the same purpose as the dating apps, which is to keep people engaged—to keep you coming back and using it,” he says. The need for workplace apps to be sticky (read: addictive) has led designers and programmers to bling
Pour the wine, light the fire, and talk about money—yes, money—for your next date night
March 26, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Let’s say you’re enjoying a cozy night in with your partner, eating your favorite takeout and sipping wine. You’re ready to spend the next hour curled up on the couch, talking about…money. (You were with me up until the end of that scenario, right?) For a lot of couples, money isn’t exactly a romantic topic. More than anything, it’s a touchy one, so touchy, in fact, that many never even broach it at all. According to a 2010 survey by American Express, only 43 percent of couples talk about money before getting married. Furthermore, the American Psychological Association’s 2014 Stress in America report found that 31 percent of people cite money as a major source of strain in their relationship. And even if you’re aware that communication is key for ensuring money doesn’t become a thing, knowing how to go about it is a whole other ball game. (You know, in a calm, non-judgmental manner—no matter how much your partner spends on vintage T-shirts.) That’s where money dates come into play. The Fiscal Femme founder Ashley Feinstein Gerstley says scheduling regular money parties, as she calls them, are smart for every partnership because it’s dedicated time to talk shop and deal with finances. Learn below exactly why you’d be wise and savvy to add them to your calendar, and how to make the most of the time. Money dates can make maintaining financial health feel more like a party than a chore—here’s how.
13 steps toward finding yourself—which isn’t your average game of hide-and-seek
March 25, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC At a certain point in life, you may feel as though it’s time to have a solid grasp on who you are and what makes you, well, you. But that’s quite the process (and one that’s easier said than done) because finding yourself requires time and patience. While it’s understandable that you’d want to figure out what really makes you tick, there’s no need to panic if you feel like you don’t know, with 100 percent certainty, who you are, regardless of your age. “All of us have a sense that there is a true, authentic self that I want to find, and it’s a quest that’s pretty much a lifelong journey toward authenticity,” says psychologist Karin Anderson Abrell, PhD. Jennifer Carter, PhD, psychologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, agrees. “It’s tough to measure when the process is done,” she says. “Also, humans are complex. We constantly learn more about ourselves as we age and deal with life’s ups and downs.” “I see [finding yourself] as cultivating a deep understanding of yourself—what’s important to you, what motivates you, why you respond and react as you do, and your values.” —psychologist Erika Martinez, PsyD To that point, there is no cut and dry definition of for what it means to find yourself, and that’s precisely why being able to do it (and identify that you’ve done it) can be so hard. “I see it as cultivating a deep understanding of yourself—what’s
Grab your dayglo leggings! ’80s workouts are back, baby
March 25, 2019 at 12:56PM by CWC There are a lot of things worth loving about the ’80s: the fashion, for one (looking at you, neon); the music, for another (heart you, Madonna); and from a fitness standpoint, there has really never been a decade with more character. It was a time when the bright workout leggings were only outshone by the even brighter workout personalities like Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda. But just because these workouts may seem retro, it doesn’t mean they aren’t the real deal when it comes to results. Recently, we’ve notice that some of the trendiest workouts in the fitness world all seem to be inspired by the Cyndi Lauper era. “The ’80s were an exciting time in exercise,” says obé co-founder Ashley Mills, who recently hosted an ’80s themed class on the fitness app. “At obé, we’re all about making your workout something to look forward to, which we first learned could be possible when watching our parents workout in their basements in the 80s.” And it seems they’re not alone in this sentiment: Kristi Molinari, founder of NYC’s 30/60/90, recently told me that her step-based workout class was inspired by the step classes of the decidedly more-is-more decade. Scroll through for the 2019 takes on some of your favorite ’80s workouts. And in the words of Olivia Newton John, let’s get physical, fam. View this post on Instagram @obe_fitness this Sunday 11:00am ! If you have been missing out use code RICKEY30 for 30%