December 03, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Every yoga class shares a guiding principle: Listen to your body. And clearly, there’s something to this golden rule that resonates with yogis, because it’s been 5,000 years since the practice’s inception, and it has a larger following than ever before. The number of American yogis rose by 50 percent between 2012 and 2016, and in 2019, the Global Wellness Institute crowned yoga the world’s most popular workout. Take a quick glance at a chart showing the climb of Google searches for “yoga near me” over the past decade, and you’ll notice it looks more like a handstand than a plank pose. The versatility of the practice is a major contributor to its spike in popularity. After all, yoga isn’t one thing—and there’s a style for everyone. Hatha-style classes focus on breathwork, meditation, and foundational poses, while hot vinyasa classes raise your heart rate and offer the sweaty satisfaction of a HIIT workout. As we enter a new decade, and yoga tacks another 10 years onto its five-century track record, we asked some of the biggest names in yoga today to talk about why the mindful practice has such staying power and why so many of us will keep asana-ing our way into the future. The history of yoga—and why it just keeps growing in popularity Before the mid-20th century, the physical practice of asana (or the body postures associated with yoga) hadn’t arrived in the United States. While the exact history of
Category: Travel
How mindfulness came to save us from a mindless world
December 03, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Mindfulness is hardly a new concept; in fact, the practice of cultivating an awareness of (and, often, gratitude for) the present moment stems from 2,500-year-old Buddhist psychology. Yet, in the past decade, learning how to be mindful came to the forefront of wellness culture and subsequently mainstream culture at large. Now, whether you want to stop biting your nails, or smash your fitness goals, or channel your ambition at work, mindfulness is a go-to tool for making it happen. And if you’re curious about specific strategies for practicing this modern mindfulness, there are no shortage of resources. You can try a walking meditation, any number of meditation apps, or celebrity-vetted tips from the likes of Tim Ferriss, Miranda Kerr, and Oprah. Evidence of the societal-wide embrace of mindfulness is also clearly seen in pop-culture references. “We’re seeing celebrities, major CEOs, fashion icons, and musicians like Kendrick Lamar [who rapped about meditation on several tracks on his last album] speaking openly about how meditation is critical to their lives,” says Jesse Israel, founder of mass meditation movement, The Big Quiet. “When individuals of significant cultural influence speak positively about something that has impacted their lives, people pay attention.” It’s clear that the ancient practice has found a foothold in the collective conscious, essentially becoming the backbone of modern self care during these past 10 years. But how and why did it happen, especially given the multiple millennia during which mindfulness certainly existed before it
Social media isn’t perfect, but it’s brought us together in community, health, love, and beyond
December 03, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Neither smartphones nor the internet itself were invented within the last 10 years, but both have revolutionized our lives in the past decade thanks to key innovations that have changed the way we connect with one another and access information. Tools that cater to social connection—like Instagram in 2010, the App Store in 2011, and Tinder in 2012, to name just a few—have paved the way for a more connected and democratized world, and now, the positive effects of social media extend to so many avenues of our lives. Sure, most of us would benefit from embracing best practices for our usage (like moderation) to serve as safeguards from the adverse effects of these products and platforms that can lead us to work longer, burn out, and feel badly about ourselves when we mindlessly scroll our feeds. But we’d be remiss to ignore all the benefits and positive effects of social media we’ve enjoyed. We now have easier access to social support and community; free education on many topics; increased freedom and acceptance to be authentically ourselves; and new ways to cultivate romantic relationships. Here’s how the positive effects of social media platforms have positively affected our well-being in the past decade. It’s increased access to social support One of the foremost health benefits of digital connectedness is increased access to various communities that might be far away or spread wide IRL. Support groups on social platforms, forums via online communities, and dedicated
12 wellness gifts under $25 so you can win gifting without the sticker shock
December 02, 2019 at 04:42PM by CWC From your work wife to your IRL bestie to your favorite spin instructor, you’ve got a long list to shop for this season, which means finding high-quality, budget-friendly gifts is a must. To help you spread the wellness vibes without breaking the bank, we rounded up our 12 picks that are all under $25. Grab a rose quartz gua sha skin-care tool (that looks way more expensive than it is), a matcha-lover’s dream kit, or a luxe snail gel facial serum from Dr.Organic®, and no one will believe how little you paid for everything (so snag something for yourself while you’re at it). Scroll down for the wellness-inspired, budget-friendly gifts to add to your holiday shopping list. Avocado Huggers, $11 How many times has an avocado died because you wanted to save half for later, but it turned too brown before you could eat it? Too many times. These avocado saviors are designed to fit tightly to the green fruit (the pits push in or out depending on which side you’re saving) to keep them fresher longer. Your giftee will love you almost as much as she loves avocados. Dr.Organic Rose Restoring Day Cream, $18 Who needs over-priced skin treatments when you can score products that are effective and affordable? Skip the gift card for an expensive facial, and instead treat your friend (and yourself, while you’re at it) to a luxurious, moisturizing facial experience with this delicately scented, ultra-softening day cream. It’s
How all travel became wellness travel in the past decade
December 02, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Even if you’ve always been the type to take an annual yoga retreat or use hotels gyms, healthy-travel options were fairly limited and siloed off until recently. You certainly couldn’t meditate via a seat-back airplane TV, book a consultation with a sleep concierge, or score kombucha from your in-room minibar. But, as we close out a decade in which wellness has transformed every facet of the travel experience, it’s clear that good-for-you amenities like those have become the rule rather than the exception. “It’s hard to even wrap your mind around how fast the [healthy travel] concept has grown,” says Beth McGroarty, director of research and PR at the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), which has been tracking the union of wellness and tourism since 2010. “Ten years ago, you wouldn’t have even known what someone was talking about if they said ‘wellness travel.’ Now, it’s everywhere.” Not only is wellness travel now ubiquitous, but it’s also thriving. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the category is set to be worth $919 billion by 2022—which is double its 2013 valuation. GWI data shows that wellness travel makes up about one-sixth of all tourism dollars spent worldwide, and that it’s been growing at twice the speed of general tourism. “People who are really tracking the tourism industry are saying this is one of the fastest-growing travel categories in the world, if not the fastest,” says McGroarty. “Ten years ago, you wouldn’t have even known what
Your favorite way to cook eggs, according to your zodiac sign
December 02, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC You turn to your horoscope to guide you through your relationships, career, and personal growth—but what about your habits in the kitchen? (Yes, astrology is a total 360-degree life thing.) So next time you’re stumped over what to make for breakfast—or dinner, TBH—look to the stars for inspo, like we did with Eggland’s Best. Which brings us to eggs. Your astrological characteristics can reveal a lot about how you approach preparing food (looking at you, impatient Libras), including our fave style of how to eat everyone’s protein-packed meal booster of choice. The common denominator no matter what your star sign is? The fact that you’re going to want to be eating the freshest eggs possible, regardless of how you’re cooking them up. For that, opt for Eggland’s Best farm-fresh eggs, which pack in extra nutrition compared to ordinary eggs (including more B vitamins, vitamin E, and folate) thanks to their vegetarian-fed hens. Scroll down to see the best ways to cook eggs for your zodiac sign. Aries: Egg-Topped Avocado Toast Independent Aries is always tempted to fly solo, but she’s her best self when she accepts support from others—sort of like how avocado toast is delish on its own, but a certified culinary masterpiece when you add an egg (even better if it’s an Eggland’s Best egg for added nutrition). Spice things up by topping your toast with bacon and tomatoes, add sun-dried tomato pesto, or really turn up the heat with Zaatar
Why Jupiter moving into Capricorn really will make now the most wonderful time of the year
December 01, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC One of the most pivotal astrological events of the year happens this week—and it’s a lucky one: Jupiter—the planet of abundance, growth, and harbinger of good luck—exits Sagittarius and enters into Capricorn on Monday, December 2. After spending the last year in his home sign of Sagittarius, the planet’s entrance into Capricorn heralds a period when hard work and rigor will provide the path to happiness. Jupiter will stay in Capricorn until December 19, 2020. This station is especially great news for Capricorns and its Earth-sign-element cohorts, Virgo and Taurus. But regardless of your sun sign, Jupiter’s move in Capricorn stands to offer positive effects for all. This year’s solar eclipse is a cosmic holiday present Beyond the transit of Jupiter happening this week, we’d be wise to consider its events later in the month. December ends with a south node solar eclipse in Capricorn on the 26th at 12:12 a.m., EST (so Christmas night, depending on your time zone). Then, Jupiter and the sun will form an applying conjunction. It’s worthy to note now because Jupiter is known as the Santa Claus of the cosmos, and given the planet’s close proximity to the sun at Christmas, many blessings and gifts can be expected this year. Jupiter is known as the Santa Claus of the cosmos, and given the planet’s close proximity to the sun at Christmas, many blessings and gifts can be expected this year. This is great news for the end-of-year
The unexpected reason why you should always choose the window seat while flying
December 01, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC Not to sound like this viral tweet, but as a beauty writer I get a lot of questions about skincare. One of the best tips I’ve picked up doesn’t actually have to do with a product, however. Esthetician Renée Rouleau—my personal skincare hero—is a proponent of always selecting the window seat when you fly, because then you have control over the window. This is of the utmost importance because keeping the window shade closed helps you avoid UV damage. Yes, you can get UV damage on an airplane. “It all goes back to the age-old situation with sun, which is that people only [think they can get] sun damage when it’s hot out,” Rouleau says. “In the case of an airplane, you are not in a bathing suit, you can’t feel the heat from the sun, and so you just don’t think about sun damage.” The thing is, sun damage isn’t a seasonal issue, or even just an on-land issue. A 2015 study published in JAMA Dermatology showed that pilots flying for 56 minutes at 30,000 feet received the same amount of UV-A radiation as one would get from 20 minutes in a tanning bed. At that altitude you’re closer to the sun, so naturally you’re getting more UV exposure through an open window than you would through, say, the window of your car. Also, clouds are reflectors for sunlight. You know how people get sunburns while skiing or by the water because of
While traveling, yoga helps me find community—anywhere in the world
December 01, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC I embarked on a yearlong travel adventure with my husband back in May. While our mutual dominant feeling about this was that of excitement, we certainly harbored bits of nervousness that weren’t of the happiness variety. For example, we were worried about the lack of routine and distance from everyone and so many things we knew. Being a long way from home—away from friends, family, and familiar places—and spending less than a week in each destination makes creating community difficult. And since community is a pillar of having a long and healthy life, I challenged myself to find one that fit my nomadic lifestyle. And I did: yoga. Early on in my trip, I found that rolling out my mat in different classes in different countries and continents helped me find the creature comforts of community. Travel yoga has led me to experience guided flows in Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, and more. The language barrier can make some parts challenging to follow but, as always, observing and listening for pose cues like Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) and Trikonasana (extended triangle), which are are unchanging in any worldwide practice, helps. And that’s the beauty of it. No matter where you travel, yoga is universal—and it’s also rich with good-for-you features to glean. Beyond the widely acknowledged physical- and mental-health benefits that yoga can offer, the act of going to a studio and interacting with other people fosters a connection that’s emotionally satisfying, not
This is exactly how often to shampoo, based on your hair type
November 30, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC The other day I found myself plagued by an incredibly itchy scalp, something I hadn’t experienced before. My first thought? Hmmm, maybe I haven’t been washing my hair often enough. Since I work from home, hair washing isn’t really on the top of my priority list—unless I’m venturing down the street to the coffee shop with the cute employees. Then I took to Google, as one does, and quickly became convinced I was dying. Once I pulled myself out of that wormhole, I came back to my original thesis and set out to learn how often you should wash your hair. As it turns out, there’s a fine line between over- and under-washing hair. “Oils are very healthy for your hair. If you wash too frequently you strip your hair’s natural oils, leaving your strands dry, brittle, and subject to breaking,” says Linsey Barbuto, founder of Perlei Salon. “If you don’t wash enough, you don’t remove that gunk that builds up, which leads to a scratchy scalp.” Note to self: listen to intuition more. Celebrity hairstylist Paul Labrecque, with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa, says that not washing your hair enough can also lead to clogged pores—but at the same time, so can washing too often. Ultimately, there are a lot of factors that determine your ideal shampoo schedule. “There isn’t a hard and fast rule for how frequently you should wash your hair depending on your hair type,” says Sacha Mitic,