May 13, 2019 at 09:57AM by CWC At Well+Good, we love a good beauty hack and a holy-grail dupe. But one of our favorite things is taking a closer look—at labels, at our habits, at the stigmas that sometimes still prevail in the beauty industry. In our new series Beauty Geek, we’ll be dusting off our glasses to get nerdy with the science of skin care and explore the many ways that beauty serves us in our everyday lives. Join us. I’ve just rolled onto my right side and propped myself up on my hands. And in the dimmed light of the palo santo-scented studio, just before bowing to acknowledge the light and love in every person, my yoga instructor directs the class to soften our brows. “Yeah, right,” I think to myself. Because, while some people strive to nail a perfect crow pose or get their heels to the ground in down dog, all I want is to be able to relax my over-expressive, constantly furrowed forehead. Enter… Botox? A recent report from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery indicated that in 2018, 72 percent of the doctors surveyed saw an uptick in the number of patients under 30 years old requesting cosmetic surgery or facial injectables (Botox and facial fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane). This accounts for a 24 percent climb from 2017. Coincidentally, stats like these coincide with mega-gains in the clean beauty industry, which is poised to reach $25 billion over the
Category: Relaxation
Turn your bed into a massage table with this 5-minute, full-body stretch for better ZZZs
May 13, 2019 at 07:08AM by CWC It’s not the workout that’s hard for me to do—it’s the stretching. Since I’ve already put in the time to pump up my muscles, I find it hard to spend any more time at the gym to stretch everything out afterwards… even though I know how important it is to do so. My dream scenario? Being able to stretch in bed. And dreams do come true: Alicia Archer, fitness instructor and creator of Kinky Sweat in New York City, has shown Well+Good just how to do full-body stretches in bed. Added bonus? Doing these stretches can help you fall asleep even faster. In the latest video for our “Self-Care Nation” series, Archer reveals that this routine is especially useful for those who hit the gym after work. “A lot of people, when they workout in the evening, they become energized and it’s hard for them to fall asleep,” she says. “It sets the body and mind in a very dynamic, energetic state of mind.” So it’s important (and extremely helpful) to wind your body and mind back down before you hit your pillow. All it takes to get you limbered up and ready for dreamland is moves like neck and shoulder rolls, figure-4 hip openers (which are a lot more comfy in bed), side bends, and some self-massage action. “The most important thing you can do is align your movements with your breath,” Archer says. “When you focus on coordinating your breath with
The most common stereotype for every Myers-Briggs personality type, debunked
May 13, 2019 at 06:43AM by CWC Sometimes it seems like each Myers-Briggs personality type has its own less-than-flattering reputation—a fatal flaw or an extremist characterization. Don’t take these depictions too seriously, though. Because no, ENTJs are not ruthless dictators out for blood, and ISFJs aren’t timid wallflowers who will never develop a backbone. Stereotypes are dangerous to believe in all areas of life because they require you to paint everyone and everything in a monochromatic way when the real situation is much more textured and nuanced. In fact, by actually analyzing the common stereotypes of MBTI personality types, it becomes clear just how wrong so many of them are for so many people. Check it out below. (Don’t know what your MBTI is? Read this first!) Below, find the common stereotypes of Myers-Briggs personality types—totally debunked. Graphics by W+G Creative ISFJ stereotype: They’re timid ISFJs are often shy and don’t stand up for themselves enough; they are giving spirits, and tend to put others first. But they can be fierce, too. If you mess with an ISFJ’s values or any of their loved ones, they’ll absolutely put you in your place—or cut you out of their life completely, depending on the situation. ESFJ stereotype: They’re overly emotional Expressive and known wear their hearts on their sleeves, ESFJs are not generally emotional in a way that affects their overall functioning. They are often quick to bounce back from heartbreak, and are generally hard workers who don’t let emotions stop them.
How Westin Is Incorporating Nature Into Its Rooms To Help You Get Better Sleep
May 13, 2019 at 12:04AM Because we could all use some more greenery in our lives. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
How to celebrate Mother’s Day when you’ve lost your mom
May 12, 2019 at 06:15AM by CWC When I was 28 years old, my mom died. After the first few months of grieving, when I started to feel like things were getting back to normal, whatever that was, I started having crippling back spasms out of nowhere—the kind where I’d have to lie very still, on my stomach, head turned to the side (preferably on the floor). Until they eased up, I’d have to stay that way, sometimes for hours. After several months of trying to figure this out with doctors (they prescribed muscle relaxants, which wasn’t exactly the right answer if my goal was to be able to get in a car, go to work, and live my life!), I looked for answers on my own. Eventually I found some things that made a big difference: Certain foods made my mood better, intense workouts were more helpful than therapy IMO, I made sure I got enough sleep (that’s a huge one), and I let myself cry when I felt like it, even when it was inconvenient. (Moving to New York City helped with that one—you can sob on the subway and no one will give you a second look. The greatest city on earth!) Eventually I found that intense workout sessions, getting enough sleep, and letting myself cry helped. The only problem? There’s one day of the year that none of this works: Mother’s Day. Plus, I found that meditation profoundly changed my relationship with my grief—which, to my utter shock, I began to be able to “see” as
5 tips for quieting your mind when your thoughts won’t shut the heck up
May 11, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC With everything you have going on, it’s understandable that you have a busy mind. After all, you’re regularly juggling work issues, family schedules, and general life. And mentally shutting off all that can be hard, even if it’s all you really want to do. Still, having a constantly buzzing busy mind can lead to what’s known as “anticipatory anxiety,” which means having anxious feelings about things that can happen in the future, says psychologist Erika Martinez, PsyD. “Quieting the mind can help reduce that anticipatory anxiety that can wreak havoc on your emotional and physical health,” she says. Furthermore, a busy mind that never quits can also stress you out—and stress can take a serious toll on your body, says psychologist Alisa Ruby Bash, PsyD, “Quieting your mind is so important because all of your health—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—needs a relaxed, calm starting place to function optimally,” she says. “Quieting the mind can help reduce that anticipatory anxiety that can wreak havoc on your emotional and physical health.” —psychologist Erika Martinez, PsyD That’s why mental-health experts often recommend practicing mindfulness, a form of meditation that focuses on shutting out white noise of life, bringing your attention to the present, and quieting your mind. “Our brains are thought-producing machines,” says psychologist Stephen Graef, PhD. “To slow that down, you have to create an experience where you give yourself the opportunity—and mindfulness meditation offers that.” Of course, it’s one thing to say you want
How to cleanse tarot cards to guarantee the most accurate readings
May 10, 2019 at 12:56PM by CWC Yesterday I went to my friend Tarra’s apartment for butternut squash curry tacos and conversations about cephalopods—you know, as one does—and the talk quickly turned to tarot cards. If you know Tarra, you know that talk usually turns to tarot cards. She’s been flipping cards since the days of seventh-grade slumber parties and 2 a.m. runs to Quick Chek. Seventeen years later her card game is strong as ever. And yet, color me confused when I brought out a new deck of Ancient Italian Tarot (Happy Mother’s Day, mom!) and she told me she could teach me how to cleanse tarot cards. Do what now? So, apparently learning how to cleanse tarot cards is a thing you might want to do before you get a new deck, or if receive an old one, or if you’re giving a new or old one to someone else. Actually, cleansing, blessing, or activating your cards is especially good practice if they’re a present to someone else. “Tarot cards are traditionally given as gifts,” Tarra says. “Cleansing the cards and doing a protection ritual for them before you give them to a new owner will neutralize any weird energies they’ve picked along the way.” There is this myth—I repeat, myth—that buying your own tarot card deck is bad luck. And I guess it would be really rude of me if I gave my mom a cursed one. So after dinner Tarra set me up with a royal
Tried-and-true tips for a good morning from people who wake up super early
May 10, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC As an aspirational morning person, who dreams of becoming an early bird catching the worm—literally, dreams about it while the real early birds get the job done—I’m open to tips for making it happen. Because while I’m still fast asleep, others have already had their coffee, worked out, gotten ready for work, and are sitting down for a healthy breakfast. In fact, some are up during most people’s definition of “the middle of the night,” taking full advantage of some me-time before all the emails, texts, and notifications start coming in. Okay, now say it with me: But, how? Well, rounded up below are secrets from real-life roosters who get up and at ’em every single day. Because if anyone knows how to have a good morning, it’s them. Need tips for how to wake up early? Here are 11 tips from some Olympic-medal-worthy early birds. 1. Light some incense and meditate Name: Hilary Hinrichs Age: 28 Profession: Holistic health coach and founder of Holistic Hilary Wake-up time: 6 a.m. “When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is light my sandalwood incense and prepare for gratitude. I’ve found that taking about 30 minutes of my morning routine to reflect with meditation and saying positive affirmations completely changes how my day goes. It also reminds me to slow down and breathe before my crazy day in New York City begins. A lot of my career as a health coach
STI testing for straight men is way more lax than it is for women, so that’s cool
May 09, 2019 at 11:29AM by CWC For as long as I can remember, getting tested once a year for sexually transmitted infections has been a non-negotiable part of my wellness routine, as much as getting my teeth cleaned or getting a pap smear. It’s not even something I think twice about doing. I mean, STIs are the most rampant (and, in some cases, hardest to treat) that they’ve ever been. Given that they can cause infertility and other gnarly side effects, why take chances? I always figured that the men I date received the same advice from their doctors that I did about testing, but I recently learned that’s not necessarily the case. While researching a story on STIs, I came across the CDC’s guidelines for STD testing. All sexually active women are advised to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea once a year if they’re under 25 or if they’re over 25 and not in a monogamous relationship. Men who have sex with men are also advised to get screened for those infections (plus syphilis and HIV) anywhere from one to four times a year. But there are zero recommendations specifically for straight men, other than to say that “anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.” Sorry, but I’m confused. If women are considered at high risk for chlamydia and gonorrhea—which is what this screening recommendation implies—surely a significant number of them are getting it
Rounded shoulders are a thing of the past with these strength training moves
May 09, 2019 at 10:41AM by CWC Have you ever found yourself looking in the mirror post-sweat sesh, wondering why, after committing to regular workouts, you still can’t seem to undo the damage of the desk job? While many classes tout themselves as having plenty of upper body strengtheners and shoulder openers, it could be that you’re not exploring the right exercises to combat the 9-to-5. Since we know that’s the ultimate goal, we reached out to some of the industry’s top trainers to help remedy the sitch…and quick. “Isolated shoulder exercises are really great for injury prevention, training and improving imbalances through solely targeting the direct muscle group,” says celebrity trainer Dara Hart. “However, adding a few compound moves to work your whole body, training with a focus of balance and stability, can be especially beneficial overall.” Whether you’re looking to make a sweat sesh of your shoulder strengthening routine or not, Hart wants you to keep one very important tip in mind: “Before any training, make sure to do at least one minute of light cardio, abdominal work, and dynamic stretching to get the blood flowing and body ready—this will prevent injury,” she says. Keep scrolling for eight body movements that you can incorporate into one all-encompassing shoulder-centric workout or pick and choose to add into your regular full-body regimen. Banded shoulder rotation To warm up your shoulders, Hart says to start with this easy-but-effective movement. “Grab a super light resistance band and hold arms at a 90