July 18, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Way before leggings became a force of fitness fashion, there were what my college friends and I called “yoga pants”—you know, those stretch cotton bottoms with a wide fold-over waist and bootcut legs. (Yes, I’m one of those old millennials.) We’d put them on for class with a hoodie, to run errands with flip-flops, and, naturally, to yoga classes in the student gym, usually with the spaghetti-strap tank tops we wore out the night before. Soon after I graduated in 2004, my beloved yoga pants went the way of low-rise jeans and bedazzled trucker hats, soon to be replaced by second-skin leggings in high-tech performance fabrics. But, to my surprise, wide leg yoga pants appear to be on the way back in—at least, if a handful of popular activewear labels have anything to say about it. While online shopping the other day, I came across several examples of the look with serious throwback vibes. On-the-rise brand Celestine is making the old-school style modern with wrinkle-proof fabric and a high, vertically-seamed waistband. Year of Ours‘ wide-leg sweatpants share the same silhouette, but in a soft cotton material that’s better suited for recovery days. And there are plenty of options that more closely resemble the yoga pants of my youth, perhaps because the brands never discontinued them in the first place. (Hard Tail, I’m looking at you.) ad_intervals[‘407269_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407269_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); If you ask Year of
Category: Yoga
The weather might be causing your nightmares—here’s how to get some ZZZs when temps rise
July 17, 2019 at 11:06AM by CWC As an adolescent, I had a recurring nightmare that the green villain from Scooby Doo known as The Creeper was chasing me through a roller skating rink. I’ve since outgrown this terrifying (and, yes, comical) edition of “What is my mind?” But now that New York City—and much of the East Coast, apparently—is in the thick of a record-breaking heat wave, The Creeper’s lackeys have returned to haunt my dreams. Unsurprisingly, in fact, since balmy summer evenings have been linked with less-than-serene dreams. Neil Stanley, PhD, ex-chairman of the British Sleep Society, told Daily Mail that warmer rooms are basically a pressure cooker for nightmares. “In order for us to get a good night’s sleep, we need to lose around 1°C of our internal body temperature, which sits at around 37°C (99°F),” Dr. Stanley said. While that heat typically escapes via our head, which isn’t tucked under the duvet, that’s not the case when your bedroom feels more like a sauna. “If you’re sleeping in a room which is too warm, your body’s core temperature is unable to lose that heat and your sleep will be disturbed,” said the doc. As a result you’re more likely to experience rapid eye movement, and your dreams will be vivid, easier to recall in the a.m., and yes—way more frightening than usual. ad_intervals[‘408738_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408738_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “If you’re sleeping in a room which is too warm, your body’s
Meet Wave, the new techy, music-focused innovation that’s making meditation cooler than ever
July 16, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC I’ve never been big into meditating; in fact, for years I’ve tried and failed to become a regular meditator. It’s just never stuck…until now, that is. The very first meditation form that I’m actually into and would actually use just launched, and I’d venture to say that it’s going to change the way many view the wellness practice. Meet Wave, the experience that blends standard meditation with an immersive, modern-day twist of music, the sense of touch, and technology. The product comes from Mason Levey and Brad Warsh, aka the masterminds behind hip-hop yoga studio Y7 (which, funny enough, got me really into yoga when I wasn’t—at all—before). Not totally dissimilar to their innovative take on yoga, the duo’s intention with Wave is to provide an experience that you can feel and contribute to you being able to use your mind to its maximum potential. “We wanted to make yoga really fun and accessible, and we got people there with music, and then they realized the other benefits like mindfulness,” Levey tells me of how Y7 came to be. “So we thought, ‘How do we get this idea of mindfulness and its benefits to as many people as fast as possible?’ Nothing ever resonated with me in meditation, and a lot of people view it as a chore. So we wanted to make it something enjoyable, something you look forward to doing, and shift the whole perspective.” ad_intervals[‘408265_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready)
Brands are trying to make ‘healthy’ energy drinks a thing—but this expert isn’t totally convinced
July 16, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Energy drinks have traditionally been seen as the beverage version of whipping out a cigarette—you just don’t expect them among the healthy, yoga-doing, green-juice-sipping wellness set. So you’ll understand my surprise at seeing a crop of new energy drinks marketing themselves as better-for-you options. These new options tout natural, herbal benefits, and are enriched with electrolytes, B vitamins, and other science-backed ingredients. The latest on the market is 7-Eleven’s Quake, which has “electrolytes, creatine, COQ10 and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs),” according to a press release. That ingredient list, at face value, sounds a lot like what’s being added into souped-up protein powders and nootropic supplements. Which begs the question: Can energy drinks ever double as health tonics? How brands are switching their energy-boosting ingredients While in years past, energy drinks consisted primarily of carbonated water, artificial colors, and a ton of caffeine, more brands are incorporating herbs into their beverages for an energy boost. MatchaBar’s Hustle, for example, using ceremonial grade matcha and green tea extract, while Mati uses organic dried guayusa leaves. ad_intervals[‘407282_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407282_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Registered dietitian and performance nutrition expert Shawn Wells, RD, is a major energy drink skeptic, but he does say he prefers these herbal caffeine sources over synthetic caffeine. “The vast majority of energy drinks use synthetic caffeine, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s pure caffeine,” he says, adding that it’s cheap and readily available. “Some brands use
7 free at-home abs workouts that are better than a personal training sesh
July 16, 2019 at 07:17AM by CWC This morning, I slept through my workout. My alarm went off, I pressed snooze, and then fell back asleep, assuming that it would, as per usual, re-awaken me from my slumber in exactly eight minutes so that I could head to my morning class. But nope! Forty-five minutes later, I jolted awake to realize that I had completely missed it. So in order to get my workout in before I went to work, I had to get creative. Enter Instagram—an unexpected destination for some of the best abs workouts on the internet. Not only are the videos completely free, but you can string a few of them together to create a full-blown, equipment-less workout that you can do on your bedroom floor. Let me tell you, it was awesome. A few tips for using the ‘gram as your very own at-home personal trainer, care of our resident Insta-fitness guru Kells McPhillips: Follow trainers who you love who regularly post full workouts (a few of her favorites are Meg Takacs, Amanda Bisk, Maillard Howell, Charlee Atkins, and Natacha Oceane), and save photos in different folders depending on what you want to work out—like “arms,” “abs,” “lower body.” ad_intervals[‘401794_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401794_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); To make things even easier for you (and to help keep your thumbs from getting sore from scrolling before you begin), we rounded up seven of the best core workouts on Instagram —which might just
How crying cathartic tears of joy in an Australian koala sanctuary set me free
July 16, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I spent my first public crying session surrounded by strangers in Australia—but also by adorable marsupials in at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Last year, I went through a bad breakup, followed by a friends-with-benefits situation that got emotionally out of hand for me, followed by a string of bad dates and disappointments. (Lots of disappointments.) Needless to say, my romantic life was kind of a dumpster fire, which, coupled with my all-time-high anxiety levels, led me to make some bad decisions. Though I managed to outwardly appear “with it,” on the inside? Not so much. So when I had the opportunity to escape the country and go down under to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, I could not have met the situation with a more enthusiastic yes. I needed a break. My most enduring goal for the trip was to see a koala bear, and I was in luck: 12 kilometers from Brisbane is a place called the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. It was founded in 1927 to help injured, sick, and orphaned koalas and is now is home to about 130 of these cute marsupials, plus other native Australian animals, like kangaroos. The spot is accredited by Eco Tourism Australia and the Zoo Aquarium Association, which basically means it’s independently audited to ensure the welfare of the animals and ecologically sustainable practices. There’s also a science and research facility on the property that assists with conservation efforts. ad_intervals[‘407317_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready)
It’s no coincidence that America’s most-stressed city gets the least amount of sleep
July 15, 2019 at 09:49AM by CWC Let’s be honest: stress is a part of life. No matter your zip code, mental health maintenance is an ongoing project. But after an in-depth look at the headspaces of people across America, WalletHub has named Detroit, Michigan, as the winning (losing?) city in the United States of Stress. To boot, the city also received the lowest average amount of sleep per night. Coincidence? We—and researchers—think not. First thing’s first, it’s important to note that the group of experts culled national data from 182 cities to reach this conclusion using 39 metrics that fell under the categories of stress, financial stress, family stress, and health and safety stress. The amount of adults who clocked an “inadequate” amount of sleep fell in the “health and safety” bucket. Folks living in Detroit slept about half as much on average as those Overland Park, Kansas (the city that slept the most, on average). ad_intervals[‘408098_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408098_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Detroit’s residents certainly aren’t alone. About 7 to 19 percent of Americans chronically miss out on sleep. And even though stress was just one of 39 metrics in the case of WalletHub’s study, The American Psychological Association reports that the two are inextricably intertwined. Twenty-one percent of American adults report feeling more stressed when they don’t log enough shut-eye, and 45 percent of adults feel even more stressed if they don’t get enough sleep. A lack of sleep also ripples
The secret to clocking hours worth of sleep in minutes? A yoga nidra session
July 15, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC There are two kinds of people: those who can hold a tree pose for days and those who have unfurled a yoga mat one and a half times and whimpered through each downward dog. As a member of that latter group, when I first heard about yoga nidra for sleep, I was skeptical to say the least, because even though I love myself some zzz’s, the only part of yoga I can get down with on the reg is the savasana portion. Well. Learning from a meditation practitioner that yoga nidra, an ancient meditation practice, is basically just that, led me to change my tune. “I’m someone who loves sleep, and I have had such a hard time with sleeping: My son is now 4, and I’m still not getting a full night sleep,” says Julie Sacks, certified vedic meditation teacher and founder of well-being company Vie. “And so, as a meditation teacher [I turned to] yoga nidra, which is an incredible meditation.” ad_intervals[‘406430_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406430_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Yoga nidra is a guided meditative practice that aims to nudge you into a half-conscious state of “yogic” or “psychic” sleep. It’s been around for thousands of years, and research points to this waking rest giving you the benefits of several hours sleep in a few minutes. Below, learn how it works. Yoga nidra is meant to put provide your body with rest and rejuvenation That’s regardless of
When an eclipse meets a full moon (like this week), strange things can happen
July 14, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC There are two big cosmic happenings this week: an eclipse and a full moon. And yep, they’re happening at the same time. (Mark your calendars for Tuesday.) What does this mean? Astrologer Jennifer Racioppi offers up her best guidance for a kind-of-cuckoo week that could shake a lot of things up—and could even affect your period. The week begins with the sun in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn. Perfecting on Sunday, July 14, this combination of the sun, which represents the mood of the moment, in opposition of Pluto, which brings demolition, means that we enter into the new week with a relatively high sense of intensity. This seems fitting considering that during the week ahead, we’ll also experience a partial lunar eclipse at 24 degrees of Capricorn, where the moon will conjoin Pluto, too. Happening on July 16, at 5:38 p.m. Eastern, this lunar south node eclipse triggers transformation. It asks you to let go of that which you no longer need, and rise to the occasion of what’s calling you forward. Lunar eclipses, which happen at the time of a full moon, bring stories to completion. They highlight opportunities for growth. ad_intervals[‘408004_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408004_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Lunar eclipses, which happen at the time of a full moon, bring stories to completion. They highlight opportunities for growth. So as the week begins, take time to get grounded. Put your feet on the earth, hand on
A beauty editor’s guide to saving the most money on Amazon Prime Day
July 13, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC No joke—three of my favorite things in the entire world are beauty products, sales, and ordering things on Amazon. So naturally, Amazon Prime Day is like my version of Christmas, Hanukkah and my birthday wrapped into one two-day extravaganza. For anyone who is slightly less bedazzled by Amazon than I am and wondering what the heck I’m talking about, Prime Day is 48 hours worth of deals on items all across the site. Considering Amazon literally has everything you could ever possibly need (and a whole lot of stuff you definitely don’t need, but will still probably buy anyway), you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something worth adding to your cart. Obviously, the things that excite me, a beauty editor, the most about the whole event are the beauty deals. And while scrolling through this year’s offerings, I was absolutely pumped to discover that a whole lot of the things on sale are ones that I actually already use in my everyday routine. Scroll through for a few of my favorites, and get ready for a big overnight shipment to show up on your doorstep come July 17. ad_intervals[‘406777_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406777_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Jane Iredale Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain ($28) The OG clean beauty brand is offering 30 percent off of their Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain, which I recently started using every day. Its creamy consistency ensures that