July 24, 2019 at 12:13AM Give yourself a break—on your break. Continue Reading… Author Alexandra Engler | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Category: Relaxation
Fitness tech is becoming laser targeted towards recovery
July 23, 2019 at 08:04AM by CWC Remember when the word “recovery” made you think of athletes nursing an injury on the bench? Yeah, me too—but only barely. Because recently, recovery’s been on the tip of workout enthusiasts’ tongues. In tandem with stretching and cool downs—entire studios and sections of the big box gyms are now dedicated to helping us to reap the benefits of a workout, while also getting us back on our feet. So move over, arm day, take it easy leg day…recovery day is here for your job. In Well+Good’s reveal of our 2019 wellness trends, we looked into our crystal ball, and predicted that cortisol-conscious workouts—ones that prioritize lower-impact fitness with an eye on keeping your body from becoming too stressed out—would become the norm. They have, and now fitness tech has become laser-targeted towards recovery, too. Here’s what’s up with that. What’s been going on in the world of fitness technology If you think about it, fitness tech used to be a very different landscape that aimed to push you farther, make you work harder, and train you smarter than ever before. “I would say that when the Nike Fuelband came out in 2012, it really brought on a sensor movement,” says Anthony Katz, founder of Hyperice. “Everyone was trying to put a sensor in everything, like wearables that tracked steps or heart rate or things like that.” ad_intervals[‘408855_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408855_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); As the trackability of
Save your bucks: Derms say these are the biggest beauty scams worth avoiding
July 23, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC If I had a nickel for every time I told my friends not to waste their money on X, Y, or Z expensive skin-care product, I’d be well on my way to becoming a Kylie Jenner-level billionaire. With a capital B. Because let me let you in on one of beauty’s best kept secrets: More money does not equal better products. “Pricey products don’t always translate into effectiveness,” says New York-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “In fact, many drugstore brands may perform better than expensive ones, since you may be paying for the packaging rather than what is inside.” While there are certainly some things that are worth investing in (I dare you to try and get me to give up the $166 Vitamin C serum I use every morning), there are others that are not, under any circumstances, worth spending a single penny on for the sake of your skin. Take heed: 1. Jade rollers: I love, love, love my jade roller. It helps me relax my jaw (thanks, chronic TMJ) and feels like a true luxury experience every time I use it—especially when I put it in the freezer. But as fantastic as jade rollers are for making you believe you’ve magically transported yourself to a spa, they admittedly don’t do a whole lot for your actual skin. “They definitely make for a good photo op, but the benefits of diligently rolling your face are going to be minimal to zero from
Here’s what happened when a hypnotism skeptic tried a self-hypnosis app
July 23, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC “I make myself comfortable, close my eyes, and calmly breathe in…and out.” “Um, what the actual eff is going on?” I wonder before ripping my headphones from my ears. I was deep into my self hypnosis session using the HypnoBox app—a platform for hypnotizing yourself through a variety of programs or “boxes”—but not deep enough to drown out the sights and sounds of Brooklyn. Even as a hypnotism skeptic, I was intrigued upon learning about the platform, because the boxes cover such a broad selection of targeted options like, “Self Worth,” “Nutrition,” and “Lucid Dreams.” Upon first blush, it seemed that there are few issues you can’t treat by using the app, so I really wanted it to work for me. Here’s how it works: Within those boxes are sessions that send you in and out of a trance while providing “suggestions,” which, ideally lead you to react involuntarily as the hypnotist walks you through different instructions and scenarios. ad_intervals[‘407582_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407582_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); And while many people (at least in my personal life) eye-roll at the potential validity of hypnosis as a real, helpful treatment, in actuality, it’s a regularly called upon tool for retraining the brain and focusing on the subconscious. Why does that matter? Well, according to neuroscientists, our subconscious mind accounts for, oh, you know, just about approximately 95 percent of our cognitive functioning. So, yeah, learning to tap into that
The cooling yoga poses to take when class gets too. dang. hot.
July 22, 2019 at 06:49AM by CWC We’ve officially reached the point in the summer where it’s gone from “fun in the sun” weather to “too damn hot to be outside.” As I type this, it is 103-degrees in New York City, there is sweat in places I didn’t know it was possible to sweat, and I am legitimately praying to the air conditioning gods to make mine work more efficiently. While you likely have your own tips and tricks for dealing with these rising temps (personally, I’ve been sleeping with a cup of ice next to my bed), there’s a wellness-savvy way to beat the heat that you may not have tried yet: yoga. We tapped Wanderlust Wellest Challenge instructor, Andrew Sealy to tell us how. When it’s hot, a few different things happen to your body—aside from sweat, that is. “When it’s super hot outside blood vessels widen and blood flow increases,” explains Sealy. So where does yoga come in? “Yoga helps your body regulate heat on those super hot days,” he says, adding that the process can also be used as a means of “cooling the body and reducing inclination when the temperature outside becomes overbearing.” Here, he shares three poses that can help with the process. ad_intervals[‘409612_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409612_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Child’s pose: This is one of the best cooling poses there is—there’s a reason why so many teachers use it as a resting pose after an intense
Stressed AF? Maybe lay off the HIIT for a day or two
July 22, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC “I’m hitting the treadmill so hard tonight.” That’s what I always say to myself whenever I’ve reached the top of a stressful day. And even if it’s not a treadmill, I always make sure to hit up the most intense fitness class I can find in order to burn through the stress. That’s what so many people do—we think that the ultimate way to release some stress is to take things up a notch with our workout… because all that sweat and movement feels like such a cathartic release. Amirite? Then it hit me: Working out is a stressor. “It’s good to understand that movement is in itself another stressor,” says Emily Schromm, fitness expert who’s co-leading the upcoming Wanderlust Wellest Challenge. “It sounds like stress relief in your head, but if you want your body to change and get stronger, you have to break down muscle so that it can build back up—so it stresses the body to adapt.” ad_intervals[‘409322_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409322_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); I mean, it’s true that working out doesn’t exactly relax your body—biologically, it does the complete opposite. But it’s the endorphins and sense of accomplishment that make you feel so great afterwards—not what you did to your muscles. Cortisol—AKA the stress hormone—obviously spikes when you’re experiencing lifestyle stressors… but it’s circulating throughout the body during an intense workout, too. “If a person’s going to work out intensely all the time to release
The art of completing a phone call with an automated voice system—without having a meltdown
July 21, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Recently, in the midst of step three of my health-insurance company’s automated customer service system to get my call directed to the correct department, I got sassed. “I’m sorry, you seem to have entered the ID number incorrectly,” the interactive voice response patronized. So I snapped back at what’s sure to be Siri’s demonic cousin: “You seem to be a dumb bitch.” Demonic Siri paused for a moment before continuing. “Okay, let me connect you with a representative.” But before that actually happened I had to hang up. It was time for therapy, because of course it was. I’ve been in steady battles with interactive voice response systems since I got on the birth control pill years and years ago—and my relationship with this techy monstrosity has been marked by nothing more significant than barrels of tears, skyrocketing cortisol levels, and expletives. Different brands use different systems with different voices, but in effect, they’re really all the same, and they manage to enrage me to equally high measures. Like, if could get what I need by simply getting online and navigating a website, do you think I would ever dare to make a phone call? And do you think it feels good to know that a robot alone can raise my symptoms of anxiety? No! That’s just embarrassing. And to all the “helpful” reasons that interactive voice response systems are kept in place, I say BS. The reality is that they’re designed to keep
Why Megan Rapinoe’s workout recovery takes place underwater
July 21, 2019 at 03:01AM by CWC I’ll admit it: After a hard workout, usually my mind is more focused on what I’m going to eat when I get home, not on my recovery method. Sure, foam rolling feels hurts-so-good whenever I do it, and I know my tight muscles would benefit from five minutes of basic stretching, but when I hit the gym, I’m typically so focused on the actual workout that recovery is often forgotten. If anyone can inspire me to take it seriously, it would have to be U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team co-captain Megan Rapinoe, who blends aquatic therapy into her recovery routine. How can you not be inspired by the way Team USA gets out there and crushes it game after game? If I could go into my workouts the same way they go into games, well, let’s just say it would look a lot different. And of course part of consistently going out there and killing it is recovery. “I do everything to help my body recover,” Rapinoe tells me. “After games, I have a protein shake right away, as soon as I get off the field.” She also uses compression garments, especially for her tight calves. ad_intervals[‘408768_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408768_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); One of her favorite ways to recover is by jumping into the pool. “It’s one of the best things you can do as far as recovery goes,” she says. Why? Rapinoe explains that water
Everything you need to know about doing yoga during pregnancy
July 19, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC As someone who views fitness as a non-negotiable part of my day to day, I’ve always vowed that I will remain active whenever I decide to get pregnant. Although I’ve seen pregnant women sweating beside me in all sorts of workout classes, the one I’ve always assumed is the most nurturing—not to mention gentle—is yoga. To get the complete low-down, I asked a pro yogi to explain everything you need to know about doing yoga during pregnancy. “Yoga can be a great addition for many women during their pregnancy, for a variety of reasons,” says Kelly Turner, yoga teacher and director of education at YogaSix. “The body is rapidly changing, and yoga can be a tremendous tool to help adjust to the aches and pains of the expanding form.” The mindfulness component helps, too—she adds that it can even help with your mental preparation for the birth, as well as reduce stress and help you to truly relax. ad_intervals[‘409231_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409231_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); As with everything before you try anything out, you should check with your doctor to get the A-OK to try out a prenatal class (or any other form of workout, for that matter). Prenatal yoga classes have been around for a long time, but that’s not necessarily the only kind you’re allowed to stick to. “It really all depends on the person,” says Turner. “Prenatal yoga can be wonderful for many, as
A wait-listed Japanese sleep massage promises to help us rest—but does it really work?
July 19, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlNwu_04neA] Want to learn about the dreamy massage? Watch the video here. You seriously shouldn’t be sleeping on this intel: Goku spa has landed stateside from Japan and is ready to put New Yorkers to bed with its slumber-inducing massage treatment. For the uninitiated, the relaxation destination has four locations in Japan—and they are in high demand, with a waitlist toppling over 480,000 people. That staggering number really isn’t so surprising though, given that a recent survey of nearly 1,500 Well+Good readers pointed to few of us feeling as though we get enough quality sleep. That’s why the latest installment of What the Wellness, the Well+Good YouTube series that follows producer Ella Dove as she tries out the latest interesting wellness offerings, tests the sleep massage once and for all. ad_intervals[‘408689_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408689_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); When Dove stops by the spa’s Manhattan location, she makes clear from the start that’s she may be a tough customer; that is, she identifies as a bad napper: “I feel like I kind of wake up in kind of a bad, groggy mood, like the world was ending. But maybe if I have someone gently massaging me to sleep in a space that is designated for napping, I will wake up refreshed and take some of what we’re doing here today into my own bed when I go to sleep tonight.” So, she goes for the 60-minute dry