December 23, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG7cJvXZomk] Adding a kettlebell to any workout is a surefire way to make it more intense. Case in point: This seemingly simple, six-move lower body series might look easy at first glance, but it’s anything but a piece of cake. In her final week as our Trainer of the Month, Roxie Jones shows us how to amp up a lower body workout simply by bringing two kettlebells into the mix. First things first: For this lower body kettlebell workout, you’ll want to grab one light kettlebell (ranging from five to 15 pounds) and one heavier kettlebell (ranging from 20 to 40 pounds). To determine if you’ve got the right bells before you get into the workout, make sure you can rack them correctly. “The most important thing is to do this with correct form above anything else,” says Jones. “So if you feel like your form is starting to crumble, take it down to a lower weight. That’s how we get stronger.” Despite the fact that you’ll be holding the kettlebell with your hands, nearly all of the actual work in this workout will come from your lower body—so be sure to focus on squeezing your glutes and holding your core tight throughout every move. Follow along with Jones in the video above, and be sure to check back next week (or should we say, next year!) to meet our first trainer of the month for 2020. The lower-body kettlebell workout that’ll
Tag: Well+Good
This foolproof hair gloss repairs and defines natural curls without any frizz in sight
December 23, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC After my mom finally cracked and let me get a keratin treatment in high school, I lived the dream of any 16-year-old that’s in a codependent relationship with her flat iron: I had glossy, Cher Horowitz-straight hair for a full year, without any hot tools required in my a.m. routine. The treatment’s effects ended up lingering for several years, and by the time I turned 19, I actually started to miss my curls. Now, after much experimentation with curl gels, oils, and other hair goos, I’m really just starting to embrace my hair’s natural waves. So for a present this year, I’d really love to try Oribe Curl Gloss ($42). The bottle itself resembles the one in The Little Mermaid that Ursula uses to whip up Ariel’s mermaid-to-human potion—and what’s inside Oribe’s concoction is just as transformative. It’s a vegan styling product that contains aloe vera, a strand-repairing superstar, and moisturizing panthenol, which works to volumize each curl with care. Its formula is also hair-inclusive, offering shine and definition to all kinds of curls, spanning from “wavy” to “coily,” according to the brand, plus it’s made to protect your ‘do from the sharp UV rays of the sun (an environmental threat Ariel definitely didn’t consider when she decided to ditch the tail). Best of all though—and this is key, folks—Oribe Curl Gloss works just as well on air-dried hair as it does when blow-dried by a diffuser. Sure, piles of products exist to tackle curls,
A special new moon solar eclipse this week ensures a super-positive holiday time
December 22, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC As we enter the last days of the year and decade, we have exciting astrological aspects to look forward to as well. With the solstice behind us, and yuletide festivities in full effect this week, the cosmos throw even more magic into to mix. On Christmas night or early in the morning on the 26th, depending on your geographic location, the new moon solar eclipse in the sign of Capricorn will glisten with potential and power. An eclipse can often feel like an astrological wild card, but trust that this one brings robust positivity. The sun and moon conjoin at 4 degrees of Capricorn, with Uranus in Taurus making a beautiful trine to the sun-moon conjunction. This formation creates the potential for breakthrough, power, surprises, and creativity. Furthermore, Jupiter, the planet of good luck, good fortune, and expansion, also joins the sun and moon for a rare and glorious combination that assures the feel-good vibes to roll this holiday. On the 27th, in fact, Jupiter and the Sun conjoin, forming what many astrologers refer to as the most promising aspect and day of the year. On the 27th, Jupiter and the Sun conjoin, forming what many astrologers refer to as the most promising aspect and day of the year. New moons provide an opportunity to set intentions for desires and growth, and solar eclipses (which only occur during new-moon phases) magnify the potential of these unique new-moon moments, multiplying the potential exponentially. Add
The best podiatrist-approved stretches to help you recover from a ‘high heel hangover’
December 22, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC High heels give you a few inches of extra height, but a night out in your favorite pair often results in sore feet the next day—or as one expert perfectly puts it, a total high heel hangover. According to Jacqueline Sutera, DPM, a New York City-based podiatrist and Vionic Innovation Lab member, your feet are in need of some serious TLC after wearing heels. “The next day, there are certain things you must to reverse the effects of wearing high heels, and that involves doing some high heel rehab,” she says. And one of the most important parts of that self-care routine is stretching—something that helps with in-the-moment pain, as well as long-term damage. “When you wear heels, the Achilles tendon—which is attached to the calf muscle and heel bone—tightens up over time. This tightening can be permanent and long-term, and the Achilles will actually shorten,” Dr. Sutera says. “Stretches can restore the length and improve tightness and soreness in the legs and feet.” The next time you need to help your body recover from a high heel hangover, do these podiatrist-approved stretches. Dr. Sutera’s stretches for sore feet before and after wearing heels 1. Yoga band stretch With your legs together in front of you, wrap a yoga band (or towel) around one foot. Gently pull your toes back and your foot up while keeping your leg straight. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and switch sides. 2. Downward dog Get into
9 controversies and scandals that changed the trajectory of wellness in 2019
December 22, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Jade eggs in 2017, the great 2018 celery juice craze—every year brings a few wellness-related topics that divide the nation. But in 2019, the most buzz-worthy wellness news had a sense of gravity and urgency that sparked people to take action beyond a casual retweet. Some marched in the streets to support a strike organized by teen climate activists. Others sent donations to Planned Parenthood after the organization withdrew from the Title X grant program, or boycotted their favorite fitness studios to make a political statement. And then there were the stories that were just flat-out scandalous, like the one accusing a high-level Nike trainer of mental and physical abuse. Here, we look back on the most controversial news items to hit the wellness scene in 2019, all of which are sure to reverberate into the new decade. One thing’s for sure: If this year were a season of The Bachelor, Chris Harrison would definitely be calling it the most dramatic one yet. 1. Celebs and influencers called for a boycott against SoulCycle and Equinox In August, news broke that Stephen Ross, an investor in SoulCycle and Equinox, would be hosting a fundraiser for Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection bid. Although both brands issued statements saying they had no involvement with the event, celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Billy Eichner still urged their social media followers to boycott. Equinox later responded by pledging to donate $1 million to several charities, while SoulCycle’s then-CEO, Melanie
The 10 skin-care rules dermatologists live by will seriously change your skin
December 22, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC In 2019, skin-care was as important a part of our cultural conversation as the Hot Priest and whether or not Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper were in love. Here at Well+Good, we talked about it a lot—with dermatologists, facialists, product formulators, and even Dr. Pimple Popper herself. We’ve spent the better part of this year collecting skin-care tips and advice on everything from how to treat acne scars to how to keep your skin moisturized all day long and used the intel to publish hundreds of skin-care stories over the last 365. Considering how many good skin-care tips we’ve gotten this year (seriously—there have been thousands of them) it was nearly impossible to narrow things down to just the top 10. But we dipped into the archives to round up the best of the best pieces of advice we got this year, many of which changed our editors’ own routines for the better. Scroll through and check out the best skin-care tips of 2019 in order to make 2020 your most radiant—and healthy-skinned—year yet. A good skin-care routine starts with a cleanser Cleanser may not seem like the most exciting element of a skin regimen, but it is one of the most important. In addition to getting rid of the dirt, oil, and debris that can clog pores, it helps turn your complexion into a clean slate so that the rest of your products can do their jobs properly. Once you’ve found something that
Why trainers say doing your cardio in the morning is the ultimate key to success
December 22, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC While any time is a good time to work up a sweat, there might be some perks to getting your cardio done first thing in the morning. If you know anything about your biological clock, it’s probably that your cortisol levels are higher early in the day. It’s what helps your body wake up and feel alert. Neuroscientist Allison Brager, PhD, told the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) that the morning a great time to do your cardio. “Cortisol allows for the recruitment of energy reserves, glucose, and especially fats, making cardio much easier to complete and making it much easier to push to a higher level of performance aerobically,” she said. Working out according to your biological clock isn’t just something neuroscientists know is a great plan—it’s also something trainers recommend. “Our bodies tell us how we feel and when we function at our best. The idea of being an early bird or night owl is not a just a phrase. Our biological clocks influence when we feel most prepared to perform,” says Ash Wilking, Nike master trainer and Rumble instructor. If you can wake up and head to the gym after waking up in the morning, you’ll do your body good and start your day on a high note because of it. If you want to clock your cardio in the morning, Wilking says you’ll want to start by spending some time preparing your tired, groggy body. Then you can
How breakfast by candlelight brightens my dark mornings
December 22, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC So many ancient traditions center around lighting candles at this time of year, as the days grow darker and then darker still before the winter solstice on December 21. There’s Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, Advent, which I celebrated as a child, and Hanukkah, too. There is nothing as prettily cozy as the glow of candles on a dark night. That famously soothing glow can heighten romance or help us into a meditative state, and is an intriguing part of the human legacy. But while so many of us these days know about the physiological effects of blue light and the benefits of good sleep hygiene, and while some might have already introduced warmer wavelengths, and even candles, into our end-of-day routines, my own favorite winter ritual is breakfast by candlelight. It started one cold winter here in dark Maine, an extra dim season during which I tracked my daughter’s mounting anxiety, which seemed to have no discernible source. She was in first grade and would wake up full of worry about anything—everything—from her first breath, a pattern that set the rest of the day spinning in all the wrong directions. I read books. I made adjustments—vitamin D, dietary shifts (more avocado), bedtime rituals. But speaking on the phone one night with a friend, who is also a very wise pediatrician, it suddenly became clear. “That transition between being awake and asleep is really dramatic for some people,” she explained. “It’s not
These are the healthiest foods to eat during winter, according to a dietitian
December 21, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC If you plan on leaving your home anytime in the next three months, chances are, you’re going to cross paths with some pretty nasty germs. Even when they know better, the truth is, the majority of people under the weather still go to work sick. (And to the grocery store sick. And the gym sick. And on and on and on.) Given that we’re in prime flu season right now, it’s no surprise that one of the first questions that came up during a recent Ask Me Anything in Well+Good’s Facebook group Cook With Us with registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, was how to use healthy winter foods to keep from getting sick. Given that a high proportion of the body’s immune system is actually located in the gut, it’s a very good question; the food-immune system connection is real! “While everyone is coughing on you, you can protect yourself with food,” Beckerman answered in response to the question. “Your gut plays a role in protecting your immune system.” How exactly? These are the top foods she recommends for keeping your immune system in top shape all winter long. Winter foods to keep you healthy 1. probiotic-rich foods Yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut all land on Beckerman’s list of foods to add to your grocery haul during winter. “It’s important to have plenty of probiotics to support the gut,” she says. The three listed above are all high in the good bacteria that
Our leggings drawers are stacked but the best 2019 launches had us making more room
December 21, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC “What’s one more pair of leggings?” Those will probably be my last words as my dresser bursts open because it can’t take one more piece of athleisure stuffed inside of it. The excuses to buy more always seem so legit. Because you can wear leggings anywhere you go, you can never have too many (regardless of whether your dresser begs to differ). The best leggings of 2019 gave us so many reasons to have drawers stacked with spandex and when you look at the most covetable launches from the past year, you’ll definitely agree with me that your collection could use some additions (trust). In honor of this, we’re rounding up the best leggings of 2019. They include everything from Insta-worthy prints to utilitarian pocket placement, sweat-wicking materials, and sustainable fabrics. There’s even a pair of leggings that make your workout even harder. Keep scrolling for our faves, and, y’know… make room in that leggings drawer. 1. Gaiam Om Mesh Yoga Leggings, $37 If you’re on a quest to find leggings that will never, ever show crotch sweat, we’ve got you. This pair by Gaiam will keep the perspiration of your nether-regions a secret, no matter how hard your workout is. Photo: Gaiam 2. Alternative Apparel Cotton Modal Printed Legging, $54 Sustainable everything is taking over (thank goodness), and so the time has come for more eco-friendly activewear… which includes your leggings. Alternative Apparel adheres to the fair labor association guidelines and uses