♣ Cold-water swimming might sound unpleasant, but research suggests regular dips in cold water can improve health and longevity. Bare early March trees rake a pale blue sky, patches of snow surround the bay, and the chilly Salish Sea undulates gently in front of us. Usually, I...
Read More↓ For many, fall is a transition into hibernated versions of ourselves. It can happen in a blink of an eye: bright balmy days turn quickly into shorter, much darker days and nights, reminding us that nothing lasts forever. The changing of the seasons is upon us,...
Read MoreChildbirth necessitates changes to your body, as does caring for your baby after. Whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section, giving birth is no joke. Some people seem to snap right back into shape, but for most of us, having a baby is an experience that...
Read More↓ Sleep Like a Baby, Rest Like a Yogi Lying down during the day can lower stress, boost productivity, and help you sleep at night. When my six-month-old baby has been awake for a while learning, interacting, and exercising, he starts getting fussy. If I put him down...
Read MoreTraditionally, we associate flowers, chocolates, Cupid and other Valentine’s Day sentiments of devotion with February. But there’s another reason to celebrate this “month of love.” It’s American Heart Month. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the U.S. – at 165 deaths per 100,000...
Read MoreResearch shows that meditating benefits everyone around you—whether you're in the same household or connecting virtually. A great meditation teacher once described the frightening scene in the refugee boats floating adrift after the end of the Vietnam war. Overcrowded with children and elderly people,...
Read MoreWe all have headaches—and, thus, often just accept them. But what is actually causing that pounding head? And what is it trying to tell you? Headaches are considered one of the most common medical complaints. We all experience them—some more frequently than others. Is it due to...
Read MoreHaving a hard time meditating because of anxious thoughts? Try saying your worries out loud. Q: I’m 54 and I’ve struggled with anxiety most of my life. I’ve tried meditating but I have trouble getting past all my anxious thoughts. My mind is such a noisy tangle!...
Read MoreThinking we need to be perfect before we act is a trap—but it’s one we can free ourselves from. BY ELAINE SMOOKLER I guided the meditation with fewer words, leaving ever more space. The air seemed to crackle with restless silence. Afterwards, several...
Read MoreTurn your smartphone into a tiny health coach with these apps for better nutrition, mindfulness, and gratitude. Often, you only hear about the negatives of smartphone use (distracting, time-consuming, blue-light emitting ...
Read MoreFull-fat, traditionally made cheeses may be better for you Every week, the Nuance will go beyond the basics, offering a deep and researched look at the latest science and expert insights on a buzzed-about health topic. ot long ago, cheese’s reputation was in the gutter. The 2005 U.S....
Read MoreMy 90-day experience with coffee and running ↓ So, what’s the big deal about coffee? It’s just plant juice mixed with hot water (and sometimes milk), right? Just a bunch of basic atoms and molecules found in plants, combined around. Hate to break it to you, but...
Read MoreGetty/Boyloso From improved sleep and circulation to reduced anxiety and more, regular exercise boosts immunity and strengthens the body’s defense against illness. How Exercise Strengthens the Immune System As we confront the difficult, enduring nature of COVID-19, finding long-term habits of immunity is becoming more important than ever....
Read MoreFrom celebrating human connectedness to healing with breathwork, here are six books (plus three podcasts) to keep on learning and nourishing yourself this fall. BY MINDFUL STAFF Image by Halfpoint / Adobe Stock 1) Out of My Skull The Psychology of Boredom James Danckert and John D. Eastwood Harvard...
Read MoreGetty/spukkato Yin yoga works the connective tissue that wraps around our muscles and carries messages from the brain. By practicing yin yoga, we may be able to reprogram some of the physical patterns causing chronic pain. Yin is a style of yoga that involves staying in supported...
Read MorePulmonologist Ni-Cheng Liang takes a look at how the breath—a common anchor of attention in meditation—can be triggering. Explore her masking practice to calm feelings of anxiety and stress when we’re unable to comfortably connect with the in or out breath. ♠ BY NI-CHENG LIANG ...
Read MoreGetty/EKATERINAZAKHAROVA Collagen is either a must for smooth skin and supple joints—or an unproven supplement that will waste your money. Wellbeing editor KATHRYN DRURY WAGNER went in search of answers. CANS AND POUCHES OF COLLAGEN POWDER seem to be everywhere these days, stacked up in stores or...
Read MoreFeeling trapped inside? Or completely anchorless? A psychologist explains how we can intentionally build more freedom, structure, and connection into quarantine life. Photo by Tierney / Adobe Stock During my first day of graduate school to become a psychologist, a wise, mischievous, provocative professor said...
Read MorePhoto: Claudia Totir via Getty Images ♣ Think of it as oceanic charcuterie Whenever I bring up my love of canned fish, my friends and colleagues morph into picky children. ↓ Canned seafood has a bad reputation in the United States, and it’s not just anecdotal: On an annual basis,...
Read MoreCultivating a clear awareness of our inner world during moments of strong emotion is a powerful, portable way to step back from the activation, find our calm, and discover a right way forward. Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock ♠ When we find ourselves in the grip of fiery anger, or constricting sadness,...
Read More♣ I’m not a meat lover, either vegetarian. So I have been eating eggs daily for a long time in order to fulfill my protein requirement. At least two eggs daily. That’s how my friends and relatives came up with warnings. Cholesterol. Heart deceases. Then I...
Read MoreOur powerful brains allow us to imagine and evaluate different scenarios in the past and future. But when we shift our attention to the present, our minds can quiet down. ↓ Some years ago one of my neighbors worked in the film industry...
Read More♠ Researchers in South Korea traced over 100 positive coronavirus cases to an exercise class ↓ A preponderance of online yoga classes, at-home workouts, and concerns about the “Quarantine 15” (seriously, do not worry about weight right now) suggest that the pandemic has not dampened the public’s interest...
Read MoreThis article was written for The Ready State Blog by Dr. Kelly Starrett and his wife Juliet Starrett. It is available for free there, alongside many other similar articles. If you like this kind of content I strongly recommend checking them out. ♣ ↓ ↓ Muscle mass is a major component...
Read MoreFeeling trapped inside? Or completely anchorless? A psychologist explains how we can intentionally build more freedom, structure, and connection into quarantine life. ↓ During my first day of graduate school to become a psychologist, a wise, mischievous, provocative professor said to us: Human suffering is often about freedom...
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