November 24, 2018 at 07:00AM You can tell just by how sweaty the dance floor gets on a Saturday night that getting down to Cardi B and Ariana Grande in dance fitness classes can be a workout just as much as any other cardio-based activity. (And seriously thank God, because sometimes hopping on the treadmill can feel like pure torture.) Yes, it gets your heart rate up and tones your body (twerking is basically a level up from holding a squat), but the benefits don’t stop there. It turns out that when you take the time to learn dance moves—like in a dance-based fitness class—there are a lot of science-backed benefits for your brain, too. Intrigued? Here, two experts in the space go deep into the hidden benefits. Keep reading to find out how dance-based fitness classes not only work your body, but your brain, too. Photo: Getty Images/People Images 1. It strengthens neuroplasticity There are some workouts, like running or spinning, that you can do and just completely zone out. Learning choreography in a dance class can be meditative too, but in a different way. “When it comes to dance, you have to be cognitively ready to function,” points out DanceBody founder Katia Pryce. “It doesn’t take the same amount of mental processing to hop on a bike and just spin the wheels.” Just like learning a musical instrument, language, or any other new skill, learning dance moves takes focus and activates the hippocampus—the part of the brain that’s
Category: Relaxation
The genius way baking soda makes peeling hard-boiled eggs *so* much easier
November 21, 2018 at 06:26AM Whether you’re making your famous deviled eggs for a holiday party or meal-prepping some afternoon snacks for work (which seriously, props for being so on top of it), the matter is the same: peeling hard-boiled eggs can be tricky, not to mention time-consuming. Since the shell almost always needs to be removed tiny piece by tiny piece, you might as well put a good movie on and sit back and relax as you get the tedious and time-consuming job done. Unless you happen to have some baking soda on hand, that is. All you need to do is add a 1/2 teaspoon of the kitchen staple to a quart of water, then boil your eggs like you normally would. It turns out boiling your eggs with baking soda in the pot of water can actually make the shell easier to peel. According to Prevention, the method works by raising the pH levels of the eggs—gotta love science!—which practically makes the shell slide right off (talk about a holiday miracle). To try it out for yourself, all you need to do is add a 1/2 teaspoon of the kitchen staple to a quart of water, then boil your eggs like you normally would. After the time is up, you’ll be amazed at how much quicker you can de-shell your eggs. Because of the change in pH, those once-tiny pieces become larger sections that are much easier to manage. Basically, you’ll be out of the kitchen in record time…and will
It’s not just you: Breakups *can* lead to physical pain, so here’s how to deal
November 21, 2018 at 03:00AM If you’ve ever gone through a traumatic breakup, you know how difficult the fallout can be. Aside from the emotional gymnastics you put yourself through trying to get some freaking clarity on what even went wrong, heartbreak can hurt. And I mean physically hurt. Whether you’re up all night, tossing and turning, finding yourself short of breath or dizzy, or experiencing a loss of appetite, there are sometimes physical symptoms that accompany a broken heart. “What you’re experiencing are symptoms that are related to depression and anxiety,” says licensed psychotherapist and relationship expert Rachel Sussman, LCSW. “When people talk about physical symptoms around a breakup, that’s what I typically hear about.” Physical markers of breakup-induced anxiety and depression include sweating, dizziness, and tingling of the extremities, Sussman says. (Heck, research has even conflated feelings of love with addiction and rejection with drug withdrawals.) And while you don’t have to be prone to anxiety and depression to experience these effects, if one or both of the conditions are part of your life, Sussman says you’re much more likely to feel the physical woes. And it doesn’t really matter if you’re the dumper or the dumpee when it comes to the literal pain of heartache—i.e. a reality dumpers of the world aren’t typically prepared for. “If someone is broken up with, they expect to feel some level of anxiety,” she says. “But if you’re the person doing the breaking up, you may not think that those feelings are going
Use the correct order of operations to clean up your messy kitchen in record time
November 20, 2018 at 07:23AM Everyone knows Thanksgiving dinner can quickly transform your kitchen from a squeaky-clean oasis into a total nightmare. Between the splattered mashed potatoes somehow on the wall, sticky spilled gravy on the counter, and crumbles of pie in every nook and cranny, getting your space back to its normal, sparkling state is bound to be the post-holiday workout you never asked for. But changing your technique could make all the difference in how easily—and expeditiously—you get the job done. So, here’s the right order for cleaning your kitchen efficiently and painlessly. If the first thing you typically do when it comes time to clean is grab the mop or broom, put those tools back in the closet—at least for a little while. That simple mistake could seriously lengthen the process, making it even longer before you get to relax and binge-watch your favorite holiday films. According to Apartment Therapy, the number-one rule to know about when it comes to cleaning the kitchen is that it is non-negotiable to work starting from the top—not the bottom. (Sorry, Drake.) When you clean up top, plenty of debris falls right back down onto the floor—AKA the worst thing that can happen directly after a fresh mop or sweep. While those crumbs on the floor may well drive you crazy as you’re wiping down your countertops, saving the task for last offers some perks. When you clean up top, plenty of debris falls right back down onto the floor—AKA the worst thing that
How to celebrate Thanksgiving while sticking to a gluten-free meal plan
November 18, 2018 at 11:20AM Photo: Grand Central Life & Style When actress Jennifer Esposito was diagnosed with Celiac disease seven years ago, she was understandably frustrated (Why does seemingly everything delicious have gluten?!), but determined to get to the bottom of her health issues. After cutting out gluten completely, she discovered she had even more food sensitivities. Even certain vegetables could make her feel sick. Eventually, she discovered a leaky gut was creating an overzealous immune response in her body and that, in order to heal her gut, she’d need to focus on anti-inflammatory foods —no gluten, of course, but also no dairy, or even soy. At first, Esposito says her new anti-inflammatory meal plan took a lot of joy out of cooking and eating. But, after enough experimentation in the kitchen, she was able to find a way of eating that worked for her life. She shares recipes and stories from this journey in her new cookbook, Jennifer’s Way Kitchen: Easy Allergen-Free, Anti-Inflammatory Recipes for a Delicious Life. The book is designed to arm people with food sensitivities with an optimistic (and delicious) way forward. One of the most challenging times for sticking to an anti-inflammatory diet is during the holidays. “It’s a time when people with food allergies can sometimes get depressed, and I totally get it,” says Esposito. “In the beginning I shied away from a lot of the events, and that’s hard to do.” Missing out on celebratory parties and family get-togethers just because of your diet is
One side effect of weightlifting I didn’t expect? Tiny holes in my teeth
November 16, 2018 at 03:02AM I have resting gym face (RGF, if you will). Whether I’m pushing my limits in a spin class, going for a deadlift PR, or trying to nail a yoga pose where balance is a prerequisite (read: all yoga poses), I tense my jaw, chomp down on my canines, and grind away my pearly whites. Sure, my RGF has lead to some seriously “yikes” photo-ops during CrossFit competitions, but besides making my face look muscular AF in Polaroids, I always assumed it was NBD…until I went to the dentist. Spectacles resting on his nose, the dentist bent over me and told me something I hadn’t been expected: I had tons of tiny holes in my teeth. He looked down at my arms (Disclosure: I wasn’t flexing, exactly, but I was wearing a workout tank) and asked how often I strength train. When I told him five days a week, he said that was probably what was causing the unusual oral patterns. Curious to learn more, I consulted a few other dentists to figure out if that could actually be the case. Photo: Stocksy/Bonnin Studio When exercise creates oral issues Turns out teeth grinding and jaw clenching—otherwise known as bruxism—during exercise is actually pretty common. “I see this all the time in people who frequently exert themselves at the gym, or participate in high intensity exercise or sport,” says Jeffrey S. Haddad DDS of Michigan Center for TMJ and Sleep Wellness. While stabilizing your jaw can have a significant
8 reasons that prove Japan deserves a stamp in your passport
November 15, 2018 at 12:09PM With all the magical, must-see destinations popping up around the globe, your passport has probably gotten a lot of action lately—or is about to, anyway. You can take wellness cruises that let you venture through the Mediterranean Sea with a green juice in hand, see elephants roaming in Kenya, or climb the lush hills of Bhutan. There’s one hot spot in particular that’s getting all the buzz, though, and there couldn’t be a better time to visit than now. When you think of Japan, you probably think of the hustle and bustle of big cities, like Tokyo. But along with the fast-paced environments, there’s also a stunning countryside, some of the best food in existence, and too many wellness-centric activities to count—so it’s no wonder that Japan was just named Travel + Leisure‘s 2018 Destination of the Year. The next time you’re feeling adventurous and ready to explore, keep the many reasons to visit Japan in mind. Here are 8 reasons your next trip should be to Japan Photo: Getty Images/Ippei Naoi 1. Visit the dreamiest tropical island there ever was Not many people know it, but the Japanese island of Ishigaki is just 1,200 miles from Tokyo, and it’s basically the complete opposite of the country’s busy cities. With bright blue water, tropical fish swimming around, white sandy beaches, and lush rainforests, it’s truly the perfect getaway for some R&R. 2. Unwind in a traditional communal baths There are many ways to relax in Japan, but one of the
Veggie-crunching and lip-smacking videos are the ASMR obsession that has got to stop
November 14, 2018 at 01:00AM When ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response, first started to gain traction a few years back, I’ll admit I was skeptical. ASMR describes the feeling you get when certain sounds produce a relaxation effect—some folks even explain it as a tingling sensation, or a brain orgasm. I was more likely to describe it as giving me the heebie-jeebies. There was something unnerving to me about hearing someone whisper into a microphone while rubbing their hands across a balloon or untangling earphones or applying makeup. But the more I explored, the more the videos broke me down, and I started to understand. I’ll even admit to feeling kind of relaxed when listening to a woman whisper while running her fingers over the bristle of a brush. This was all good and fine (but, like, honestly still pretty weird) when noises were limited to innocuous tappings and crinkles—but then things went haywire. Unceremoniously, feathers on a microphone and fingernails drumming against food-storage containers gave way to far less ear-pleasing sounds when I came upon…wait a sec, I have close my eyes and focus on not gagging. Okay, …when I came upon food-noise videos. Yep, YouTubers are combining mukbangs, the South Korea-born trend of eating a large quantity of food and livestreaming it to millions (millions!), with ASMR. Suddenly, instead of soft, comforting noises, I was visually and sonically assaulted with gulps from a straw or the wet chewing of a cheeseburger. There are no shortage of extreme crunch
Yes, You Can Save to Buy a House and Still Live Your Best Life
November 13, 2018 at 06:30PM Whether you’re currently scouring the market for your dream home or it’s still a few years down the road, saving up for your first real house can seem like an incredibly daunting task. Michelle A. Alvarado, a Home Lending Officer at Citi, understands the fear that oftentimes accompanies this important life moment, but points out that preparing to buy your first home doesn’t have to compete with your wellness habits—actually, it’s helpful to think of the process as something that will benefit them. “Home ownership can provide a rewarding experience and boost your overall wellness meter,” Alvarado says. “What better way to relax than to meditate in your own garden, or have a cold drink on your balcony on a warm day? These are the sweet rewards of saving for home ownership.” It’s official: Your wellness routine and home owning aren’t mutually exclusive. To find out how all that works, Alvarado is sharing four things to keep in mind if you want to save up for a home (and still aim to have the freedom to live your best life). Keep reading for Alvarado’s 4 key tips for saving for your first home—without sacrificing Sunday brunch. 1. Make a list of priorities Are you looking to buy a home tomorrow? Do you want to live closer to family? Do you mind driving or prefer a shorter commute? These are some questions Alvarado suggests mulling over prior to executing a savings plan. The same thing goes
6 skin-care habits to introduce into your routine once you turn 30
November 12, 2018 at 12:29PM Real talk: Things change once you reach your 30s (coming from someone who’s hit big 3-0 myself). Like hangover severity increases, and as a result, you might develop a fine appreciation for staying in rather than going out. Along with these also come gradual, yet noticeable, changes to the complexion. Sadly I’m not talking about the abrupt halting of pimples, because adult acne is real. But, as Joanna Czech, celebrity esthetician and founder of Czechlist.com, puts it: The results of good (and bad!) habits can start to reveal themselves on your face around this time. “That’s why you should take good care of your skin from as early an age as possible,” she tells me. So what exactly does this mean for your routine? “When you reach your 30s, your skin starts to become a little lazier than it used to be,” says Quenby Erickson, MD, a Chicago board-certified dermatologist. “The skin cell turnover rate slows down and your cells don’t renew as quickly as they used to. Collagen and elastin begin to break down, resulting in slight volume loss. The oil glands are less active and hyaluronic acid production slows down, resulting in drier skin. You may also start to see more dark spots and sun damage from previous years beginning to show.” Alas, when you know the challenges of the new decade, you can be better prepared to tackle them head on. “This is an important time to pay close attention to what your skin needs specifically,” says Czech.