There is a lot of talk of detox in the wellness world, and a lot of that begs the question, “Is that necessary?” Don’t our bodies do detoxing for us, like, it’s their job? Well, yes and no. Our bodies do work hard doing a ton of detoxification—our livers, kidneys, bladders, digestive system, skin, etc., are all working all the time to rid toxins from our bodies as they enter through environmental and voluntary input.The issue now becomes the input—it’s a lot.…
If you grew up in the ’90s, carbs were probably Public Enemy Number One. That’s when the low-fat-diet craze led to a mass demonization of all things carbohydrate, and many people began eliminating bread, pasta, and other starchy staples from their diets to lose weight. For many years, I’ve made it a point to consume a good amount of carbs. When I discovered how to work my way around eating carbs, it made it easier to eat healthier, maintain a…
Binge eating is an extremely common way to fill an empty space, literally and figuratively. Feelings of stress or anxiety, boredom, loneliness, lack of self-confidence, and signs of depression can lead us to fill that space—that feeling of lacking—with food. The problem is that it’s not a healthy way to fuel ourselves and often leaves us feeling ashamed or disappointed with ourselves afterward. Ah, the cruel cycle continues.Going out to eat with friends at an amazing new restaurant, celebrating, or accidentally eating more than…
If there is one that deserves daily attention, it’s the vagus nerve. It’s the longest cranial nerve in the body, extending from the brainstem, through the neck and chest, down to the belly and pelvic floor. While it is connected to every system in the body, it’s most deeply integrated with the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), immune response, the gut, and our sexual organs in the pelvis. It’s kind of a big deal. Due to its long path, the…
If you go for regular massages, get facials, or maybe even do acupuncture but have never been cupped … let us be the first ones to tell you—you’re missing out. There’s so much more in it for you than those circular marks left behind that announce to everyone in your yoga class that you holistically take care of yourself. This ancient modality in traditional Chinese medicine is chock-full of visceral benefits. And now you can do it at home. For…
We’ve all gone to bed at a reasonable time with the best of intentions to get an incredible night’s sleep. We need it! We’ve been so stressed and we deserve to feel better tomorrow, so we lie down only to be met with tossing and turning, accelerated heartbeat, a nervous feeling in the chest, and shallow breathing. Anxiety has ruined many potential nights for great sleep. But is anxiety the problem, or is it a symptom? Sleep and anxiety are more interconnected…
A quick bio lesson: Your body needs energy to maintain normal function. You get that energy from food, which your body breaks down into smaller parts and can either absorb and use or excrete. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose, a simple sugar that’s your body’s primary source of fuel. Glucose travels through the body in your bloodstream, and it’s taken up by cells—in the muscles, the brain, nearly everywhere—to be converted into energy that…
‘Tis the season to be … bloated. Sigh. To help, we tapped Lisa Levitt Gainsley, author of The Book of Lymph, to share how to use massage to alleviate bloating. Get her insight and the step-by-step instructions below. People have been getting lymphatic massages to reduce swelling after surgery and shed water weight for decades. But the roots of lymphatic massage run deeper—its origins lie in boosting your immune system, clearing congestion, reducing stress and improving digestion, sleep, and more! Not only…
Grief is a natural response to loss. Often it can be overwhelming, and you can experience all kinds of unexpected emotions. It is a unique process for every individual, and we should not compare the way we grieve to the way others do. It’s important to be patient with yourself and practice mental, emotional, and physical self-care. There are typically five stages of grief: Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.” Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?” Bargaining: “Make this not…
Hone in on your waistline with today’s at-home workout routine. Thanks to the help of our in-house fitness expert, Amanda Lee, we’re sharing four moves to slim your midsection. Read: snatched and slenderized stomach. Watch the video clips below to see how you can tone your waist in the comfort of your own house (or at your local gym), and shop essentials to update your workout wardrobe at the end. THE ROUTINE: Gliding Disc Pike Gliding Disc Plank Tuck Gliding Disc Mountain Climbers…
