May 22, 2019 at 08:07AM by CWC The term “selfish” shares a similar connotation to words like “tarantula,” “burpees,” and “Monday.” No one wants it to happen, but—let’s be real here—every once in a while, we all have the tendency to promote self-interest. Am I selfish for putting myself first? The answer is probably yes, but psychologists say that it doesn’t always mean it’s wrong. Like Neapolitan ice cream, selfishness has three specific flavors—and only two of them are good. According to Psychology Today, there are three distinct types of selfish actions: the good, the bad, and the neutral. John Johnson, PhD, a former professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, says that whenever you’re not sure if your actions veer too far toward greediness, the question to ask yourself is this: “Who’s benefiting from my ‘selfish’ behavior?” If your answer is more of an overlapping Venn diagram of mutual reward than a pie that’s all for you, then your actions might not be so self-absorbed after all. You want to scrutinize your motivation a bit more, however, with the three buckets of selfishness. Good selfishness: This flavor is illustrated in the aforementioned Venn diagram. Dr. Johnsons says that this type is a mutually-beneficial, win-win situations for both parties involved. Let’s say, for example, that you and your friend’s favorite purveyor of athleisure is having a buy one, get one deal on leggings. Just split the cost of the first pair right down the middle—and bam—you both walk away with fresh
Category: Yoga
There are 3 distinct types of selfishness—and only *this* one is good
May 22, 2019 at 08:07AM by CWC The term “selfish” shares a similar connotation to words like “tarantula,” “burpees,” and “Monday.” No one wants it to happen, but—let’s be real here—every once in a while, we all have the tendency to promote self-interest. Am I selfish for putting myself first? The answer is probably yes, but psychologists say that it doesn’t always mean it’s wrong. Like Neapolitan ice cream, selfishness has three specific flavors—and only two of them are good. According to Psychology Today, there are three distinct types of selfish actions: the good, the bad, and the neutral. John Johnson, PhD, a former professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, says that whenever you’re not sure if your actions veer too far toward greediness, the question to ask yourself is this: “Who’s benefiting from my ‘selfish’ behavior?” If your answer is more of an overlapping Venn diagram of mutual reward than a pie that’s all for you, then your actions might not be so self-absorbed after all. You want to scrutinize your motivation a bit more, however, with the three buckets of selfishness. Good selfishness: This flavor is illustrated in the aforementioned Venn diagram. Dr. Johnsons says that this type is a mutually-beneficial, win-win situations for both parties involved. Let’s say, for example, that you and your friend’s favorite purveyor of athleisure is having a buy one, get one deal on leggings. Just split the cost of the first pair right down the middle—and bam—you both walk away with fresh
Not gonna lie, I’m majorly blue crushing on this surfer-girl abs workout
May 22, 2019 at 06:48AM by CWC When I saw Blue Crush for the first time at a middle school sleepover, all I could think was 1) I need to learn how to surf and 2) Holy Hawaii—how do they strengthen their abs? Because riding those waves looks hard. Surfing, in general, requires a level of core strength comparable to that of the Greek Gods, who are somehow always parading around shirtless in old paintings. Everything from “paddling out” to “popping up” to actually riding a wave requires some serious attention from your core, and let me tell you—it is no joke. So when I had the chance to sit down with professional surfer Alessa Quizon—who happens to be one of the top competitors in the world—I could hardly contain my excitement in asking about her workout routine. In fact, I believe my exact words were, “So like, you must have the strongest core on the planet. HOW?!” Her routine, she tells me, is a combination of a few different things: surfing for six hours a day, every day, and supplementing her in-water routines with a style of jiu-jitsu that has become popular among surfers. “It’s this idea of using your body consistently. You rest, but every movement is getting you ready for the next move, so that’s what I liked about it. It has good momentum and you use every part of your body. It’s like yoga, but with a little more intensity.” Then, there are her four times-a-week
Not gonna lie, I’m majorly blue crushing on this surfer-girl abs workout
May 22, 2019 at 06:48AM by CWC When I saw Blue Crush for the first time at a middle school sleepover, all I could think was 1) I need to learn how to surf and 2) Holy Hawaii—how do they strengthen their abs? Because riding those waves looks hard. Surfing, in general, requires a level of core strength comparable to that of the Greek Gods, who are somehow always parading around shirtless in old paintings. Everything from “paddling out” to “popping up” to actually riding a wave requires some serious attention from your core, and let me tell you—it is no joke. So when I had the chance to sit down with professional surfer Alessa Quizon—who happens to be one of the top competitors in the world—I could hardly contain my excitement in asking about her workout routine. In fact, I believe my exact words were, “So like, you must have the strongest core on the planet. HOW?!” Her routine, she tells me, is a combination of a few different things: surfing for six hours a day, every day, and supplementing her in-water routines with a style of jiu-jitsu that has become popular among surfers. “It’s this idea of using your body consistently. You rest, but every movement is getting you ready for the next move, so that’s what I liked about it. It has good momentum and you use every part of your body. It’s like yoga, but with a little more intensity.” Then, there are her four times-a-week
It’s really easy to overwork the core, which is just as dicey as doing zero ab work
May 21, 2019 at 09:18AM by CWC I try to work my abs in every single workout that I do, whether it’s a run, a HIIT class, or yoga. It always just feels like the cherry on top of my workout, since I can easily do a five-minute core workout to round out whatever else my sweat sesh might bring. Working on your core is a fundamental part of fitness, since a strong core can help with your posture and movement in general. But, according to fitness trainer Erica Ziel—a bonafide abs expert—you can actually overdo the ab work. Say what? “The reality is while you are crunching your way to strong abs, you can actually be overworking your core and causing back pain and poor posture,” she tells me, reiterating the importance of having a strong core, since it’s the “main support for your spine, organs, pelvic floor, and entire body.” That said, particular bodily dilemmas can stem from an overworked core, which is pretty much due to not varying the types of abs work that you’re doing. “If you’ve ever experienced back pain, knee pain, or peed your pants a little when you sneeze or jump rope, a weak deep core could be the culprit,” she says. “Many times the stories I see that deal with aches, pains, and imbalances involve people suffering from overdoing crunch-style abdominal exercises. They’ve been taught that crunches are the only way to strengthen your core.” The problem with overdoing just plain crunches
It’s really easy to overwork the core, which is just as dicey as doing zero ab work
May 21, 2019 at 09:18AM by CWC I try to work my abs in every single workout that I do, whether it’s a run, a HIIT class, or yoga. It always just feels like the cherry on top of my workout, since I can easily do a five-minute core workout to round out whatever else my sweat sesh might bring. Working on your core is a fundamental part of fitness, since a strong core can help with your posture and movement in general. But, according to fitness trainer Erica Ziel—a bonafide abs expert—you can actually overdo the ab work. Say what? “The reality is while you are crunching your way to strong abs, you can actually be overworking your core and causing back pain and poor posture,” she tells me, reiterating the importance of having a strong core, since it’s the “main support for your spine, organs, pelvic floor, and entire body.” That said, particular bodily dilemmas can stem from an overworked core, which is pretty much due to not varying the types of abs work that you’re doing. “If you’ve ever experienced back pain, knee pain, or peed your pants a little when you sneeze or jump rope, a weak deep core could be the culprit,” she says. “Many times the stories I see that deal with aches, pains, and imbalances involve people suffering from overdoing crunch-style abdominal exercises. They’ve been taught that crunches are the only way to strengthen your core.” The problem with overdoing just plain crunches
Jessica Biel breaks a sweat with these wild single-leg skater squats—and now so do I
May 21, 2019 at 08:47AM by CWC If you’re looking for fitness inspiration, there’s one woman who always comes through. Jessica Biel is basically the Hulk in chic activewear, celebrating good news with aerial flips and preparing for award shows with a round of pistol squats. And now she’s back with another ridiculously tough exercise called skater squats. In a recent Instagram video, the Biel showcases the move during a session with her trainer, Ben Bruno. And she doesn’t just stick with the basics. Biel ups the ante with long holds as she lowers her leg to the floor. “Wanna see something crazy? Jessica Biel does skater squats with 8-second eccentrics for sets of 6 reps. This is just nuts,” he wrote. “This isn’t something we did one time for the video either—this was her third set, and I have her do these routinely. It’s really a wonder she hasn’t fired me yet.” Biel’s sweat-inducing skater squats are meant to turn pain into gains. “By focusing on one side of the body, you’re able to improve balance, build stability, and override muscular compensation in the glutes and quads while getting an amazing calorie torch,” says Chicago-based celebrity personal trainer Gideon Akande. And when you add the dumbbells and holds into the mix, you get even more out of the movement. “Eccentrics—the eight-second lowering phase—are a really great way to create more force with less energy, build more strength, and make this more attainable without having to use really heavy weight,”
Jessica Biel breaks a sweat with these wild single-leg skater squats—and now so do I
May 21, 2019 at 08:47AM by CWC If you’re looking for fitness inspiration, there’s one woman who always comes through. Jessica Biel is basically the Hulk in chic activewear, celebrating good news with aerial flips and preparing for award shows with a round of pistol squats. And now she’s back with another ridiculously tough exercise called skater squats. In a recent Instagram video, the Biel showcases the move during a session with her trainer, Ben Bruno. And she doesn’t just stick with the basics. Biel ups the ante with long holds as she lowers her leg to the floor. “Wanna see something crazy? Jessica Biel does skater squats with 8-second eccentrics for sets of 6 reps. This is just nuts,” he wrote. “This isn’t something we did one time for the video either—this was her third set, and I have her do these routinely. It’s really a wonder she hasn’t fired me yet.” Biel’s sweat-inducing skater squats are meant to turn pain into gains. “By focusing on one side of the body, you’re able to improve balance, build stability, and override muscular compensation in the glutes and quads while getting an amazing calorie torch,” says Chicago-based celebrity personal trainer Gideon Akande. And when you add the dumbbells and holds into the mix, you get even more out of the movement. “Eccentrics—the eight-second lowering phase—are a really great way to create more force with less energy, build more strength, and make this more attainable without having to use really heavy weight,”
11 must-visit Pacific Coast Highway pit stops for the ultimate summer road trip
May 20, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC My first-ever experience riding along the Pacific Coast Highway—California’s longest state route, which hugs most of the coastline—is now just a hazy memory of motion sickness from the rear-facing third row of my parents’ Woody Wagon. Years later, I rewrote that memory with my soon-to-be husband: We rented a compact car with manual windows and a busted CD player, and made our way from Los Angeles up to the craggy coastline to San Francisco. We stopped in quaint towns, stayed in retro motels, and ate delicious burgers at roadside diners. I’ve since had the great pleasure of returning to this epic stretch of California coastline several times, noticing new stop-worthy eats and attractions during each drive. So, for a fresh take on a classic American road trip, look no further: Here are the best stops along California’s PCH for you to hit on your summer getaway. From north to south, the following Pacific Coast Highway stops make for the ultimate summer road trip. 1. Do some next-level forest bathing amid the towering redwoods Just north of San Francisco, find the Muir Woods, better known as the Redwood Forest, which feels like a living fairy-tale setting of ancient conifers. Here you can dance among the flora and traipse along the trails, soaking in their beauty and wisdom. Try the Dipsea Trail for views of the tree canopy, Pacific Ocean, and Mount Tamalpais. 2. Hit the day spa at the Carmel Valley Ranch After you’ve
How to trust your gut when you struggle with anxiety, according to mental health experts
May 20, 2019 at 10:13AM by CWC As a society, we place quite a bit of importance on trusting our gut. Struggling with a big decision? Tune in to your gut. Not sure if the person you’re dating is “the one?” No worries, your gut will lead the way. While there are proven benefits of trusting gut feelings, in my experience as a person with anxiety, it’s hard to whether your intuition is doing the talking…or your anxiety. (Anyone else ever spent hours Googling symptoms, convincing yourself that you have a terminal disease, only to have the doctor break the news that it’s just a yeast infection? Or…just me?) Alison Stone, LCSW, a holistic psychotherapist based in New York, says that while anxiety can indeed throw our instincts for a loop, we shouldn’t ignore it entirely. “Remember that anxiety is our brain’s way of scanning for possible threats or danger,” she says. “Anxiety often comes up when we consciously or unconsciously are searching for meaning in a certain event.” Does that mean we should assume our brain’s anxious assessment is accurate? No way. “I like to think of anxiety as a reaction, not reality,” Stone says. “We are constantly reacting internally to what is being presented to us in the world, and anxiety is a common response to the stressors we encounter.” In other words, your anxiety is probably a reaction to something—but it doesn’t necessarily have much to do with the situation you’re feeling anxious about. And that disconnect