August 19, 2019 at 05:28AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4YQeowk9JE] Welcome to Trainer of the Month Club, our brand-new 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, Val Verdier is teaching us a yoga sequence that’s all about opening up your heart. Posture check—how are you sitting right now? As I write this, I’m hunched over my computer like the little work gremlin that I am. I’ll probably sit like this most of today, and the rest of the work week, despite my best efforts to correct my posture. (Your writing is better when your shoulders are up to your ears and your whole body is rife with stress, right? That’s how it works?) Luckily, this heart-opening sequence from Val Verdier, our Trainer of the Month and the director of teaching at Modo Yoga, can help relieve the tension we feel from sitting at our desks all day. Here, Verdier takes us through a seven minute sequence of heart-opening yoga poses that she says will “warm the body up.” Whether you’re looking for a flow to do before a run or a way to cool down post-bootcamp, this one has all the stretchy goodness that you need to really make the most out of your time on the mat. Here’s the rundown: Start in a bridge pose to warm
Tag: Well+Good
What to know about the latest advancements in treating women’s hair loss
August 19, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Back in the day, I used to chalk up hair loss to being a natural symptom of aging, just like acquiring fine lines and gray hair. Lately, however, I’ve heard murmurs from plenty of friends and browsed through recent research, to find that more-and-more women are losing their hair—and it’s not as simple as excess shedding or losing strands due to age or stress. That said, even though you’re reading about this frequently, it’s not necessarily a new phenomenon. Society is coming to terms with stigma in so many different ways, and we’re just beginning to lift the veil on women losing their hair. “For my 45-plus years in practice, women have been talking about hair loss,” explains Wilma Bergfeld, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Cleveland Clinic. “In reality, it’s always been there and there has always been a large population of women that come into physicians with this problem.” Dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD of Wexler Dermatology seconds this: “I believe hair loss in women isn’t so much rampant as it is out in the open,” she says. “Thanks to journalists who write about it, individuals are more comfortable talking about it.” So as we become more open to speaking about hair loss, a door opens for us to explore solutions, ranging from over-the-counter supplements and at-home devices to in-office treatments. Because hair loss is such a complex problem, and a lot of factors can go into it, let’s explore its causes and
Checks+Balanced: How going back to school for a career shift affects a 29-year-old’s wellness budget
August 19, 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. This month, meet Madelana, a 29-year-old living in New Jersey who’s in the midst of a career change from media to becoming a chef. Scaling back her full-time client services job to part-time in order to attend culinary school led her to cut back on expenses, but living healthy remains a priority even while she’s budgeting for school. In fact, her whole Instagram account, @itscalledbalance, is devoted to her wellness philosophy. Keep reading to see her spending habits. Here, a 29-year-old living in New Jersey shares how
7 anti-chafing shorts that make me feel like I’m running, lifting, and HIITing in pajamas
August 19, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC I snagged my first-ever pair of running shorts off the clearance rack at Marshall’s. They were splattered in highlighter-colored cheetah spots (so. cute.), and after a three mile road test, they dyed the tops of my thighs so pink that the lower half of me looked more Double Pop than person. Worse, they chafed like a mother f**cker and I returned home salty—not just with sweat. Thankfully, in 2019, anti-chafing shorts are ubiquitous, to which I say: it’s about frickin’ time. Swooshy fabrics and smartly-designed silhouettes hug all the right places—and blessedly leave the rest alone. Every sport calls for athleticwear that works with—not against—you. But when you’re setting out to test the best anti-chafing shorts on the market (as I was), running—which involves a whole lot of thigh-to-thigh interaction—proves the ideal fitness litmus test. Below, I rank the comfiest, most pajama-esque speed shorts out there. The 7 best women’s running shorts for zero chafing ever. Photo: Outdoor Voices Outdoor Voices Relay Short ($45) Well+Good beauty and fitness director Ali Finney and I wore a matching pair of these shorts to a 10K we ran in New York’s Central Park. And we both agreed: they were amaze. The lack of lining allows a nice breeze to sift through your nether regions with each step and for those—like me—who don’t wear underwear with athletic clothes, this proved especially divine. Photo: Nike Nike Elevate Shorts ($30) I discovered these shorts when a friend texted me something
Have you been overlooking *the* superfruit of 2019? Here’s what you need to know
August 18, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC First there was acai. Then pomegranate. And remember camu camu? This time, however, the nutrition buzz is coming for a superfruit a lot closer to home: the cranberry (literally: it’s one of only three fruits native to North America). But unlike some of the other fruit-wonders you’ve known and loved, this one is easily accessible at your own grocery store—and the benefits of cranberries live up to the hype. “Cranberries are a nutritional powerhouse: rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, fibers, and vitamins,” says Christina Ferzli, head of global corporate affairs and communications for Ocean Spray, who previously worked alongside Michelle Obama on her Let’s Move initiative helping to develop nutritional guidelines for food companies. “Cranberries are higher in antioxidants than most fruits and berries—outranking nearly every fruit and vegetable including strawberries, spinach, and cherries.” The antioxidant oomph is just the start, though—because cranberries have a whole rainbow of effects ranging from major sustainability chops, gut-friendly powers, and potential disease-prevention properties. Spoiler alert: You don’t even know how excited you’re about to get over a fruit. Keep scrolling for more intel on the benefits of cranberries, plus 4 reasons to add them to your superfood rotation. See ya, inflammation Aside from being a flavorful topping to your overnight oats, one of the main benefits of cranberries is that they’re a natural inflammation fighter—and that’s been linked to some pretty powerful research: “Cranberries have been found to not only help reduce inflammation that may lead to cancer,
What is healthy eating, exactly? 9 food pros weigh in
August 18, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC You’d think a quest as straightforward as nourishing your body would be simple, but the deeper you go into the healthy food space, the more confusing it can be. Between a whole slew of different eating plans, alternative meats created in labs, natural sweeteners, and a new alt-milk popping up seemingly every week, it’s a tricky space to navigate. Here, nine dietitians, chefs, doctors, and fitness trainers in the wellness space reveal the healthy food motto they live by, serving as their True North no matter how the landscape changes. Keep reading to save their healthy eating quotes and mottos for your own future reference. 1. Healthy eating emphasizes food’s origins as well as its nutrition For Maya Feller, RD, CDN, healthy eating is all about balance—and pleasure. “Healthy eating for me means having access to fresh seasonal produce, responsibly farmed animal proteins, diverse beans and legumes, and ancient whole grains in minimal packaging,” she says. “I choose foods in their whole and minimally processed forms so that I can create balanced meals that burst with flavor and color.” She adds that she prioritizes buying food that’s locally sourced to support smaller-scale farming and agriculture. “This pattern of balanced eating supports all systems within my body while promoting overall health,” she says. 2. Healthy eating can have both physical and emotional benefits Frances Phillips, a registered nutritional therapist specializing in skin and beauty-related issues, says that to her, healthy eating means being fed
The Virgo vibes are extra-strong this year—so get ready for that back-to-school feeling
August 18, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC As we transition from good-time Leo season into the uber-practical (and productive!) season of Virgo, there’s always a distinct back-to-school feeling. With Mars and Venus also moving into the sign of the virgin, expect that feeling to be amplified, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi—who has some specific suggestions for getting the most out of this get-‘er-done period. With Mars, the planet of action, now in the sign of Virgo (it moved from Leo into Virgo on Sunday, August 18) the back-to-school mentality that Virgo season brings begins. Over the next few days, Venus and the sun will follow suit, leaving the sign of fun and play (aka Leo) and heading into the sign of structure, order, and service. Venus moves into Virgo on Wednesday, and the sun follows on Friday. Even more to the point: On Saturday, Venus and Mars will conjoin in the sign of the virgin, igniting practical, goal-driven passions. (And, yes, love too.) Virgo season signals the end of rosé all day and beckons the return back to the basics of health. Virgo, a mutable earth sign, sets transformation into motion. With summer quickly coming to an end, and daylight waning, Virgo season asks you to get organized. It signals the end of rosé all day and beckons the return back to the basics of health. Yes, I am talking about eating a low-glycemic diet complete with complex carbohydrates, locally sourced, organically produced foods inclusive of high-quality protein. Drinking plenty of
A DIY reed diffuser makes your home smell like a spa for under $15
August 18, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC Nothing transforms a stuffy apartment into a breezy Balinese bungalow like an essential oil diffuser. (Okay, so the effect isn’t exactly the same, but I’ll take what I can get.) Even better is a diffuser that doesn’t need to be refilled, plugged in, or sanitized once a week. Reed diffusers fill your entire home with relaxing scents, just without all the fuss… and electricity, for that matter. While you can order one off Amazon in seconds, there’s really no need to spend the money—you can make your own version for a fraction of the cost. “Reed diffusers can be made cheaply and easily at home; you only need four things,” says certified aromatherapist Caroline Schroeder. “Plus, when you make your own, you can make unique [scent] blends that you really like and you will know exactly which ingredients are being used.” This last bit is important, she says, because commercial products may contain additives that help with evaporation or synthetic fragrances, both of which can cause irritation to your skin and lungs. What you need to make a reed diffuser Schroeder says you only need a handful of items to make your own diffuser at home. You will need: Bottle or jar (with lid) Carrier oil or water base (water and high-proof alcohol or salt) Essential oils Reed sticks or bamboo skewers How to make your reed diffuser 1. grab a bottle or jar “The width of the neck of the bottle regulates the evaporation.
Proof that you’re never too old for the best part of back-to-school season
August 18, 2019 at 10:02AM by CWC Whenever I walk into a store and spot the back-to-school section, I can’t help but do a quick walk-through. All those notebooks, backpacks, and pencil cases instantly give me a flashbacks to carefree days of being a kid. But why can’t working adults get in on the fun every fall, too? Sure, my days of rocking a Rugrats backpack and refusing to use anything but gel pens may be over, but that doesn’t mean I can’t harness that nostalgia and give my office supplies a refresh. You’re never too old to enjoy the best part of back-to-school season, and these fun back-to-school supplies are proof. The best back-to-school supplies for grown-ups Photo: Matt & Nat 1. Matt & Nat Fabi backpack, $180 Adults need backpacks, too, and this eco-friendly pick made from recycled water bottles perfectly fits your laptop. Photo: Fringe 2. Fringe hardcover 17-month planner, $29 You won’t find a prettier planner to track your day-to-day with than this one. Photo: Eonmir 3. Eonmir pencil case pouches, $10 for 2 There’s something so nostalgic about storing your office supplies in a pencil case. Plus, you’ll never forget a pen at your desk ever again. Photo: Carmel Concept 4. Carmel Concept professional padfolio with notebook, $22 Remember carrying around a big loaded binder to every class? This is basically the same thing, but for grown-ups. Photo: Ban.do 5. Ban.do mechanical pencil set, $10 Your 7-year-old self would be in awe of the seriously
Finally getting off shared streaming accounts post-breakup is the ultimate form of modern closure
August 18, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC It finally happened. I logged into “my” Hulu account, (it’s technically my ex’s account, but I had a profile of my own on it), only to find that the name on my profile had been changed to “Lee2.” My issues with the finding are two-fold: 1. Lack of originality for the profile name (his name is Lee), and 2. the unavoidable realization of Lee’s obvious efforts to hide from someone that I, his ex, am still using his Hulu account. (It did not occur to me at the time to be grateful that he didn’t unceremoniously kick me off by doing something so heartless as change the password, but rest assured, I’ve since noted that reality, which only adds another layer of curiosity to the other two issues, TBH.) So naturally, I lightly digitally stalked him to do a bit of recon regarding his clear new life updates. And right there, clear as day, I found his Facebook status: In. A. Relationship. I realized then that I was clinging to a subconscious (and highly irrational) hope that the Hulu name change came about as a result of him watching TV with his new girlfriend, and when they pulled up Hulu, my name was right there in her face. Why I still wanted this semblance of an upper hand despite having no relationship to speak of, I couldn’t tell you. But all signs pointed to me having unresolved feelings for my ex—and without my