November 04, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFu_jqhOT3w] Welcome to Trainer of the Month Club, a fitness series where we tap the coolest, most in-the-know fitness leaders to create a month-long fitness challenge. On Mondays, we have our “sweat drops” where you’ll get access to the week’s workout that you can follow along at home. This week, AK! Fitness Founder Amanda Kloots leads us through heart-pumping dance sequences. As Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang (ILYSM) once taught us, dancing it out it out is one of the best possible forms of self-care. It is literally impossible to be in a bad mood after a few minutes of bouncing around to “Where Does the Good Go.” I personally once spent a month going to non-stop dance cardio classes, and am convinced it made me a happier human being—not to mention the fact that I was in tip-top physical shape at the end of it all. There are a seemingly endless number of benefits to sweating it out by way of dance cardio: It improves brain function, it helps you feel more connected to other people in the room, it elevates your mood, and it gives your full body a serious workout. But reaping the (science-backed!) benefits of dance cardio doesn’t have to mean twerking in a studio. Thanks to our November Trainer of the Month, AK! Fitness Founder Amanda Kloots, you can dance it out in your living room to whatever song—and, bonus, in whatever outfit—you like. Personally, I’m going
Category: Your Regeneration
The Ordinary is having skin-care sale that’s so affordable the product prices look like typos
November 04, 2019 at 08:30PM by CWC If you add up the cost of all the products in your skin-care #shelfie, you’d probably faint. That’s why when Deciem released it’s now cult-fave line The Ordinary—which offers products formulated with high-quality, luxury ingredients at a fraction of the price—everyone went wild. And now you can get an even better deal on everything on your wish list. Deciem believes that hyper-consumerism hurts the planet, and that flash sales don’t do customers any good because they lead to “rushed purchasing decisions, driven by the fear of a sell-out.” So rather than participating in Black Friday on November 29, the company’s website and retail stores shut down for the day. Instead, you’ll find an automatic 23-percent discount (no coupon code needed!) applied to every product until November 30 at 11:59pm ET. “We strongly believe that skincare decisions should be based on education rather than impulse, and hope that a month-long promotion will provide the time for research, reflection, and consideration,” the company wrote on Instagram. While The Ordinary’s products are already affordable, the sale prices look like straight-up typos. But we promise they’re not. Here are 8 must-have products that are worth every cent. 8 products to snap up at The Ordinary’s skin-care sale 1. Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, $7 This toner uses glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin and a Tasmanian pepperberry derivative to help reduce irritation. 2. Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, $4 In need of a little
You can make a million cheap, healthy meals with these 11 pantry staples
November 04, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC There are about a million things I’d rather do than go grocery shopping. It’s a hassle (ask me how long I waited in line last week at Trader Joe’s!) and it can quickly get expensive, especially if you’re trying to prioritize buying organic or sustainable foods. Food waste is also a big part of your standard bad grocery experience. Fresh food goes bad so quickly (looking at you, pre-packaged spinach) that it’s hard to guarantee you’re getting the most bang for your buck by using your entire grocery cart haul on time. That’s why keeping pantry staples—which have longer shelf lives and don’t require refrigeration—in your home can be so useful. Most are inexpensive and can be used in so many different, delicious ways for quick, easy meals when you’re pinched for time or are unsure what to make. This sounds like a fast-track way to eat like you’re living in a bunker—but working creatively with non-perishable staples can be super delicious if you know how to do it right. For help, we asked dietitian Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD, to help us come up with five different healthy, easy pantry meals that can be made primarily with 11 key staples everyone should have in their kitchen. (With a little help from some refrigerated ingredients like cheese, greens, and avocado.) That means you can have dinners ready from Monday to Friday night after work, all with just a few simple, cheap ingredients waiting for
Crisscross your downward dog for a hip stretch that ‘feels like heaven’
November 04, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC Get comfortable in downward dog and you’ve found the baseline for your yoga practice. The pose strengthens your shoulders, stretches your hamstrings, and melts away lower back tension. That’s not all it can do, though. Just cross one leg in front of the other and your downward dog position transforms into a hip stretch. “When you cross the legs in down dog or forward fold, you’re releasing the muscles that overcompensate and cause friction in the iliotibial (IT) band,” says Lindsay Pirozzi of New York City’s Y7 studio. The simple act of criss-crossing targets the tensor fasciae latae (TFL), a muscle that wraps around your front hip. “When we stretch our TFL, it feels like heaven for the tendon-like structure and thick fascia of the IT band.” Did you hear that? She said “like heaven.” How to turn your downward dog position into a heavenly hip stretch [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw2B2n57D68] You can also perform the crisscross position in a standing forward fold. To move into the hip stretch, start in a normal downward dog with your knees slightly bent, triceps spinning inward, and shoulders engaged. Walk your right foot over to your left, then cross the left over it so your legs are forming an “X”. If you feel open, slowly push your left foot toward the floor. Hold for three breaths and switch sides. Now for a full flow: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oU9Ob_1t7w] If you’re new to yoga, here’s how to find which type fits your personality.
Venting can be super healthy until 1 common pitfall gets in the way
November 04, 2019 at 06:02PM by CWC Is there anything more gratifying than leaning into a novelesque text-message venting session? Based on my own inbox and tendency to complain, the answer is probably not. But as much as we get a feel-good release when we’re grumpy with our boss, feel gossipy about your cousin’s bridal behavior, or completely over a friend’s relationship drama, venting has a major snag when it comes to getting things done. That is, there’s a strict time limit when you should stop complaining and start thinking. Let’s talk about what happens when we go on a long, unhinged, “Ma’am, this is a Wendy’s” type of rant. You’re complaining to your co-worker about how your supervisor asked you to stay late the other day. You’re going on about how they probably hate you and they’re trying to ruin your life, steeped in negativity. But while it may feel like torture to be kept late, we don’t have the full picture of what’s going on. Maybe your supervisor heard from his supervisor that you’re on the way out if your output isn’t better, in which case he totally has your back. Venting to a third party is going to paint your manager in a poor light, and it’s not going to solve the problem. That’s the key here: It’s not going to solve the problem. What happens when you lean too hard into this cycle of venting is that you become more inclined to just complain. “It feels
How to pick the right recovery tool to work out your specific soreness
November 04, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC In 2019, recovery is king. We called it as one of the top trends of the year, and have been proven right time-and-time again with the rise of recovery technology, recovery studios, and even recovery workout-wear (excuse us while we pat ourselves on the back). And of course, the old-reliables like foam rollers and massage balls have become more pertinent than ever. But with so many different recovery-related options on the market—from fascia blasters that look like multi-tentacled octopi to foam rollers that can blast your favorite Drake song while melting your muscle tension—it can be Crossfit Games-level challenging to figure out what to actually use on your recovery days. The first step in putting together a recovery gear wardrobe is to figure out what you’re looking to achieve. “The most important thing when it comes to recovery is to have a regular routine, so figure out which tool best fits your life, goals, and, to borrow from Marie Kondo, brings you the most joy. If you love the way you feel with one tool over another, you are much more likely to keep using it,” says Keren Day, DC, the founder and chief innovation officer of racked stretch. Start by evaluating what your issues are, whether it’s poor posture, tight muscles, stress, or something else, and find the tool that will give you the best bang for your buck in targeting those issues. Here, the pros lay out exactly what you need
The 1 wedding trend an event planner would cut to minimize waste (and expenses)
November 04, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Whether you’re engaged, a professional wedding crasher, a borderline pro on Pinterest, or somewhere in between, chances are, you’ve been to a wedding (or a few), and you’ve taken notice of some of the stylistic choices made by the hosts. But no matter where you fall on the wedding continuum—spending money on your own nuptials, for the events of all your friends, or just taking note how much the world at large is spending on matrimony—it’s undeniable that the wedding industrial complex is horrifyingly real. According to WeddingWire’s 2019 Newlywed Report, the average wedding ceremony and reception costs about $29,200. It’s so easy to get sucked into the trend vortex (hello, celestial everything), but it’s also worth noting that in the process of shelling out all this cash, wedding hosts are also throwing out an estimated 400 pounds of garbage, according to The Green Bride Guide. This sustainability issue provides some context that makes a lot of details feel like…not a waste, but certainly wasteful: Everyone wants a very special day, no one wants to go broke in the process, and, also, the planet is burning. So if you’re looking to save money and also Mother Earth, look no further for intel about how to be eco-friendly at a wedding (or at least more eco-friendly). The top tip for achieving this, according to event planner Elizabeth Tulipana, founder of Chicago-based Anticipation Events, is to commit to reusing decor in one way or another. “It’s
Neptune is retrograde for another month, which is why the truth feels especially harsh
November 04, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC To quote my lord and savior (Lizzo, obviously), “truth hurts.” But if you feel you’ve been enduring an extra-heavy dose of truth lately, feel free to side-eye Neptune for that. The planet rules over the sensitive, intuitive Pisces and is associated with the subconscious mind, spiritual realm, dreams, fantasies, and inspiration. That intel is especially important to note right now since the Neptune retrograde of 2019 has been in effect since June 21 and won’t go direct until November 27—nearly another month. Before you get super worried, know that retrogrades don’t necessarily mean anything bad or menacing, despite the energy that many associate with them. That said, retrogrades do pump out different energy waves, so this long-lead Neptune retrograde that’s been in transit since the early days of summer may explain shifted feelings you’ve been noticing, says astrologer Carolyne Faulkner, author of Your Stars: An Empowering Guide for 2020. “It’s neither good or bad; it’s just different and more of a reflective than active vibe.” So, the first step to understanding the Neptune retrograde and expertly weathering its altered energy is to stay calm. It impacts us all differently, depending on our natal charts, but generally, it “presses a pause button on actualizing big-picture dreams so that they can be fine-tuned and asks that we return to our authentic paths,” Faulkner says. “[Neptune retrograde] presses a pause button on actualizing big-picture dreams so that they can be fine-tuned and asks that we return
How to create the perfect weekly workout formula, according to Charlee Atkins
November 04, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC With so many different types of workouts to choose from, it can be tricky to fit them all in. You might be all about spin today, but you’ve gotta get your yoga and strength-training fix, too. Luckily, according to trainer Charlee Atkins, CSCS, doing it all doesn’t have to be complicated. There’s a weekly formula you can use that ensures you’re not only able to schedule in each of your favorite activities but do so in a way that does your body good. Atkins, founder of Le Sweat and a former master SoulCycle, used to do heavy cardio 6 to 7 days a week. Now that she takes a more varied approach to her weekly workouts and it’s totally changed the game. “This is the structure that I not only find works best for my body, but I’ve also seen the most results in my clients training this way,” she tells me. When putting together a balanced weekly workout schedule, Atkins recommends mixing a few different components: strength training, cardio, yoga, and rest. With this specific range of styles, you’re challenging your body, practicing proper recovery, and—most importantly—making sure you’re not overdoing it with certain movements that could hurt your body and your progress. So who’s ready to sweat? Charlee Atkins’ perfect week of workouts Day 1: Strength “Strength and resistance training (these words are interchangeable) require the most amount of energy and focus from the body when done correctly. This is why
This week’s waxing quarter moon has a message for you: Let your freak flag fly high
November 03, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC As we settle into the last Mercury retrograde period of the decade, the cosmos encourage you to review where you’ve already been before forging forward with a new path. Thankfully, the week begins with a waxing quarter moon in Aquarius at 5:22 a.m., EST, on November 4. A waxing quarter moon marks the halfway point between a new moon and a full moon. And this particular one—occurring at 11 degrees of Uranus, which is ruled by fixed air sign Aquarius—encourages you to fly your freak flag high. Why? Just to drive home the point to you that you are uniquely excellent. The real question, though, is: Can allow yourself to embrace that encouragement? Regardless of your answer, take some time on Monday to consider where in your life you are and aren’t allowing yourself to express the full range of your abilities. (Because, as self-aware as I’m sure you are, it would be rare to optimize your gifts in all facets of your being.) Where are you trying to be “normal” to fit in? Where are you holding back your voice? Take an audit of the areas where you are dimming your light to blend with the crowd or otherwise aligning with others in order to feel safe. Then, commit to honoring your uniqueness and your heartfelt goals. What is it you most want to accomplish? And how will bringing your unique special sauce to that goal help you? Write down your answer.