July 12, 2019 at 09:55AM by CWC Located just an hour north of San Francisco and home to more than 100 premium wineries and award-winning olive producers, it’s no wonder Sonoma Valley sees millions of visitors every year. Same goes for its sister region, Napa Valley, where more than 400 wineries await. Together, the two valleys form part of California’s lauded wine country, an oenophile’s dream come true that has become nearly synonymous with “bachelorette party,” “honeymoon,” and “R&R escape.” And while food and drink are surely some of the area’s most prized offerings, there is still plenty for health enthusiasts to do, taste, and see—ensuring the weekend is met with equal parts wellness and wine. Here are some of the best ways to unwind and recharge in one of America’s most beloved destinations. Where to Sleep LEDSON HOTEL Situated directly on Sonoma Square, this luxe property was built by fifth generation Sonoma farmer and winemaker Steve Ledson, who also designed the Ledson Winery—a 16,000-square-foot “castle” located 14 miles from town. The hotel features six rooms (each one named for a different member of the Ledson), and while each 400-square-foot space has a personality of its own, they all share the same high caliber comforts, from imported glass chandeliers and wood-carved ceilings to plush oriental rugs and luxury bedding. After a long day of activities, curl up by the fireplace at lobby level Zina Lounge, or watch the sun set from the venue’s ample sidewalk seating. ad_intervals[‘406849_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’] = setInterval(function ()
Category: Yoga
From Alo to Zella, get these 9 cult-fave activewear buys for way less at the Nordstrom anniversary sale
July 12, 2019 at 09:18AM by CWC Having cute workout gear in your closet makes it that much more fun to hit the gym. (Yes, motivation can come in the form of chic, sweat-wicking leggings when it comes to making an early morning class.) But athleisure isn’t exactly cheap. Shelling out $99 for a pair of leggings can be rough. The key, of course, to saving money is to shop during sales—and boy is Nordstrom delivering today. Ever walk into a store, head straight to the sales rack in the back, and find…nothing? That’s not happening today. Nordstrom’s anniversary sale—which kicked off Friday—has cult-favorites from Alo and Outdoor Voices to Nike and Zella all majorly marked down. Rounded up here are nine stand-outs, which are sure to go quick. Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Buy Now Outdoor Voices Athena Crop Top $23 Buy Now Zella Live In Racerback Bra $25 to $49 Buy Now Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra $30 Buy Now Alo Cover Tank $36 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Essential Crop Top $25 Buy Now New Balance Transform Two-Ways Performance Tank $21 Buy Now Outdoor Voices 7/8 Springs Leggings $43 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Air Fleece Jogger Pants $33 Buy Now Zella Live In High Waist Crop Leggings $33 Stay ahead of the fashion curve by getting to know these seven new activewear brands and these eight sustainable brands. ad_intervals[‘407627_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407627_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Continue Reading… Author Emily Laurence | Well
Know someone who experienced loss? Here’s why you should check in on them 3, 6, 12 months later—and beyond
July 11, 2019 at 08:42AM by CWC If you’ve ever gone through a tough time—the death of a loved one, a breakup, news that a family member has been diagnosed with a chronic illness—chances are that your friends were really there for you in the immediate aftermath. Texts checking in, yoga dates booked, freshly baked matcha cookies—gestures large and small can mean everything in the early stages of grief. But inevitably, the questions and concerns stop, often long before the grieving process ends, according to a new survey. With the survey, “Grief: Beyond the 5 Stages,” WebMD set out to explore how people grieve after various life events, and how what carried them through each. Of the 1,084 people who participated in the survey, about 72 percent said they had grieved over a life event in the past three years. More than half (53 percent) said they felt an expectation from others to “move on” after about three months, far sooner than they were ready. Following the death of a loved one, 48 percent grieved intensely for up to six months and 18 percent reported that they were still grieving more than one year after the life event. ad_intervals[‘407365_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407365_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “By and large, it’s unpredictable, and hard to know for sure why the intense period of grief lasts longer for some than for others,” says Seth J. Gillihan, PhD, a WebMD contributor and a clinical assistant professor of psychology
Lululemon’s experiential Chicago store is more proof that one-stop wellness just won’t quit
July 11, 2019 at 06:53AM by CWC When the editors at Well+Good looked into our crystal balls last December in order to name what we were sure would be the white hot, can’t-stop-talking-about-it trends in wellness for 2019, a clear vision of “one-stop wellness” stood out from the haze. New establishments and beloved brands were putting all the elements that encompass “living well”—from exercising, to eating, to inspired co-working—under one roof. On Thursday, Lululemon proved that this trend is only gaining ground as we cruise into the back half of 2019 by opening its first “experiential” store in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Lululemon’s two-level, 20,000-square-foot store (its largest brick-and-mortar location to date) is, according to Celeste Burgoyne, Lululemon’s executive vice president of the Americas and global guest innovation, “the physical manifestation of Lululemon’s values.” “We’re excited to have [the store] open because we believe it expresses our DNA in such a beautiful way,” she says. “The ‘SweatLife’ is our overarching word for the belief that our full potential can be ignited when we take care of our bodies, take care of our minds, and create connection points.” ad_intervals[‘407011_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407011_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); As Burgoyne points out, one-stop wellness fills the need for spaces where healthy living meets convenience. When all your go-tos share an address, you cut out the commute between barre class, meditation, and nutrition. “With so many different offerings in the health and wellness space, people find themselves running around town and
Checks+Balanced: A 23-year-old making $55,000 prioritizes healthy living for herself—and her dog
July 11, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Even in a world where questions about menstrual cups and the ins and outs of sex are completely (and blessedly) normal, somehow the ever-ubiquitous use of money remains a touchy subject for many. People want to live their healthiest life ever, but—#realtalk—it can add up. Have you ever wondered how your colleague who makes less than you do (or so you think) can afford to buy a $5 matcha and a $12 chopped salad every day? Or how your friend’s budget allows her to hit up $34 fitness classes three times a week? It’s enough to make anyone want to ask, “Ummm, excuse me. How do you afford that?!?” That’s where Well+Good’s monthly series Checks+Balanced comes in. By lifting the thick, tightly drawn curtain to expose how much women of varying income brackets spend on wellness, we’re spreading transparency and hopefully providing some inspo that’s possible to copy. Because no matter how much you make, it’s possible to cultivate healthy habits that work within your budget. ad_intervals[‘395179_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘395179_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); This month, meet Kristen, a 23-year-old content coordinator living in Oregon who prioritizes wellness—for herself and her dog—while working to maintain a tight budget, split bills down the middle with her husband, and enjoy a few weekly kombuchas. Here, a 23-year-old content coordinator shares how much she spends on wellness. Graphic: Well+Good Creative Kristen, 23, content coordinator, Eugene, Oregon Income: $55,000 per year. My job description is very broad. I do everything from
6 teeny, tiny barre movements that add up to a full-on workout
July 10, 2019 at 11:26AM by CWC When it comes to fitness, you might assume that the bigger the movement, the sorer the muscles, and the better the results. That’s not always the case though. Take the beauty of barre, for example. The ballet-based workout focuses on small, dance-like movements that target slow-twitch muscle fibers (yup, just like Pilates) that add up to a full-on, sweaty workout. If you dig the sound of this and think you might want to brush up on barre, you’re in luck. Ahead you’ll find six teeny tiny movements that you can master right at home. Just remember to breathe through the burn, y’all. Bring these 6 barre moves home with you 1. Parallel leg extension: Light your quads and abs on fire with this balancing act. Start standing with your feet parallel and hip-width apart. “Work near a chair, wall, or counter for balance,” says Katelyn DiGiorgio, Pure Barre’s vice president of training and technique. “Extend your right leg out straight in front of you toward hip height, and flex your foot. Slowly lower and lift the leg in a smooth, controlled range of motion.” ad_intervals[‘406348_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406348_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Repeat this process for 30 seconds. At the top of the movement, Digiorgio says to hold your leg up at your highest point while holding strong posture through the upper body. From there, perform small lifts up for 30 seconds. “Hold the leg at your highest point
3 things to keep in mind to do push-ups the right way
July 10, 2019 at 06:45AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt5b9x9N0KU] Time to w-o-r-k that upper body—watch exactly how to do push-ups correctly. For me, doing push-ups involves several key things: being on my knees (the standard modification), having trembling arms, dripping sweat onto my mat, and folding back into child’s pose many times. Push-ups are hard…and even harder when you’re doing them the right way. And yet—according to superstar trainer Charlee Atkins, who reveals the push-up form secrets in our Well+Good The Right Way video series, a lot of people actually aren’t doing them correctly. “Let’s face it: Push-ups are not easy, and a lot of the times, most of us are doing them the wrong way,” she tells us. ad_intervals[‘407014_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407014_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); What does the wrong way look like, exactly? She points out that the wrong way involves having your butt way up in the air. And oftentimes, your elbows will be pointing out—which will make it feel like the push-ups are easier. “But in reality, all you’re doing is setting yourself up for an awesome injury,” Atkins quips. Here’s the deal—she says that push-ups are actually quite simple once you nail the correct form. Here are the three things to make sure of when doing them correctly: 1. Work from plank position: “Have your body create a moving plank,” says Atkins. Start in a plank position with your shoulders right over your wrists, middle finger pointing forward. Hands should be about
10 companies that give back so you can feel extra good when you shop
July 09, 2019 at 04:01PM by CWC It used to be that the fashion industry existed in a completely different realm, offering little in terms of solutions to pressing societal issues. But now, thanks to an influx of social- and eco-conscious companies that have baked giving back right into the business model, every dollar you spend goes a little further to combat problems like homelessness, unemployment, and hunger. Whether you’re in the market for slick sunglasses, new skivvies, or a fresh pair of kicks, these are the brands that are stylish, cool, and charitable, too. 10 of the best companies that give back Warby Parker Warby Parker spreads the gift of sight all over the globe with their one-for-one program. For every pair of glasses sold, the company give a pair to someone in need through brand partners and nonprofit organizations such as VisionSpring. To date, Warby Parker has donated over 5 million pairs of glasses, which have helped children see better in school and adults increase their productivity, income, and quality of life. Oh, and did we mention they have an at-home try on program? Lazy online shoppers rejoice. ad_intervals[‘403085_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘403085_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Feed The aptly named Feed is a lifestyle label that provides food for school children in 63 countries around the world, including the United States. They’ve supplied over 107 million meals and counting thanks to sales of their functional bags, accessories, and home goods imbued with their
Wellness is complex, misunderstood, and oh-so important—here’s what it means to Team Well+Good
July 09, 2019 at 09:42AM by CWC It’s been about a decade since Well+Good launched, and when I recently joined as the team’s lifestyle writer, I—a worshipper of mozzarella sticks—feared I was deeply unwell and wouldn’t fit in. What I quickly learned is that the meaning of wellness is murky, and one of its main, widely propagated fallacies is that it’s a singular concept. And because the general understanding of what wellness is skews so complicated, as a team, we decided to discuss via Slack what it means to each of us. We weren’t surprised to find that the meaning of wellness is highly personalized—including exercise and Lizzo or ice cream and acai bowls or therapy and Frasier or so many other things. But we were able to land on some commonalities in our points of view; that self-care is also us-care, and that despite our unique preferences, we’re bonded in a quest to feel happy, healthy, and human. Check out our latest edition of Slack Chats—what being well and good means to Team Well+Good—below. ad_intervals[‘404779_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404779_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Mary Grace: Hi, friends! To start, I want to discuss how I initially worried I was really unfit for W+G because I had never eaten an acai bowl or taken a yoga class. I’ve since eaten one acai bowl and never taken a yoga class. I’ve learned that wellness, for me, simply isn’t about those things so much as about recognizing that
The 3 ways you should *never* stand, according to a physical therapist
July 08, 2019 at 12:38PM by CWC Justin Timberlake is to *NSYNC as sitting is to posture advice—as in, it’s the star of the show. We at Well+Good are always chatting about how slouchy we are when sitting at our desks, while the way we stand seems to get the short end of the postural discussion stick. But despite sitting being the popular kid on the posture block, it’s pretty important to be mindful of the way you stand too. Because—fun fact—you can injure yourself from just standing still. Poor alignment can strain your joints, and any sort of imbalance can potentially mess with your movements. According to physical therapist and yoga pro Lara Heimann, as humans evolved to stand upright, we developed a lumbar curve in our low backs and thigh bones, which helped us learn to balance on our own two feet, and dictate how we should be standing. The key? Stand up straight with equal weight on both feet, and your heads, ribcage, and pelvis all in one line. Sounds easy enough, right? That said, below are the non-ideal standing positions that Heimann recommends you try to avoid. ad_intervals[‘406460_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406460_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Locking your knees: You can lock your knees when doing kickbacks in a workout, but it’s not so great to do it when you’re standing. “When we hang out in our joints, we can cause compression in the joint space and dial down that readiness