Author: Richard C. Trotter
If there’s one misconception I’ve long held about hiking in the winter, it’s that, well, you shouldn’t do it. To me, hiking has always been a fair-weather thing—something for a balmy spring day, or a brisk fall one, or even a breezy summer one (provided it’s not sweltering). But winter? To me, the blustery conditions and cold temperatures simply presented too large of an obstacle to enjoying the substantial time in nature and aerobic activity that hiking entails. So you can imagine my intrigue when The Ranch—a Malibu, California-based wellness retreat famous for its lengthy daily hike—invited me to experience…
If you’re still grappling with the fact that January has nearly wrapped (where did the time go?), we hear you. This month is insanity for so many of us—from post-holiday stress to frigid temps, cold and flu season, and (SO! MUCH!) noise around nutrition. Who could imagine meal prepping breakfasts, lunches, and snacks ahead of your work week like all the magazines promised would be so simple? Professional recipe developers and food bloggers, that’s who. To that end, we caught up with a few of our go-to food writers and healthy cooking experts that shared their absolute favorite time-saving recipes…
We know we have to eat a variety of plants for adequate vitamin and mineral intake, and winter herbal teas help check the boxes during the cold season. There are so many amazing blends that provide numerous health benefits. Herbal teas are made with the dried leaves, seeds, flowers, and roots of plants. Their components are biologically active—meaning they provide powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Used by traditional medicine practitioners globally, herbal teas are growing in popularity. The herbal tea market size is supposed to grow by over six percent between 2021 and 2026. Some factors that may be contributing…
It was around mile two of the Joshua Tree Half Marathon that I started to hear animals I couldn’t see. Was that a horse? I wondered (and hoped). The daylight was officially gone. But I realized that as spooky as night running might be, it also creates an eerie kind of magic. Lights twinkled in the valley below the hilly path I was climbing, but all around me it was pitch black, aside from the few feet of sandy trail that each runner’s headlamp illuminated. With nothing else to see, all I had to focus on were my own footsteps…
Chances are, last week’s full moon in Leo changed how you view or express yourself. (It isn’t considered the most dramatic zodiac sign for nothin’.) Thankfully, your weekly horoscope for January 28 to February 3, 2024, could bring confirmation that you’re on the right path and reveal new sources of support. But first, some intensity: You could feel called to make a decision that feels fated on January 28 when Mars in Capricorn forms a tense square with the lunar nodes, or invisible points in the sky where the moon’s orbit intersects with the Earth’s. Whatever big choice you may…
Get ready to slither into the world of cobra pose, also known as bhujangasana in yoga. This isn’t just another yoga pose: It’s your ticket to a stronger, more flexible body, and a heart that’s bursting with joy. Cobra pose is a distinctively heart-opening yoga pose, meaning it stretches and expands the chest area. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into its variations, reveal alignment secrets, and show you why this full-body pose is an integral part of your yoga practice. Claire Mark, E-RYT-500, founder of Claire Mark Wellness and a yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience, loves…
As a runner, you may have your pace and refuel stops down to a tee during your run. However, if you’re not paying attention to your recovery afterward, you could be missing out on key opportunities to improve your performance. Here’s what running experts say about post-run recovery—and how to do it right. Why is post-run recovery important? After a tough run, your first inclination may be to collapse onto the couch and reward yourself with a carb-heavy dinner. However, your training isn’t over quite yet: Post-run recovery is essential for minimizing your risk of injury. “Post-run recovery allows for…
Sure, dragons may not be real, as in you won’t happen upon one anytime soon. But in the Chinese zodiac? You better believe these fire-breathing serpents are as real as can be. And we’re about to be well-acquainted: The quiet “yin” energy of the 2023 Year of the Rabbit will be replaced with the white-hot “yang” energy of the dragon come February 10, 2024, when we welcome the Lunar New Year (a 15-day celebration ending with the Lantern Festival). As we enter the Year of the Dragon, we can expect the dragon’s traits—nobility, confidence, and strength—to reign supreme, giving us…
TikTok creators are at it again with another weird health trend: advocating for raw milk. Without calling anyone out, we’ll just say they’re claiming it has more nutritional benefits and giving it to their kids. When it comes to this trend, experts are concerned; they want to warn people of the dangers and why they recommend drinking pasteurized milk. Let’s get into it with a registered dietitian. Wait, what is pasteurized milk? For starters, it’s less complicated than it sounds. “Stated simply, pasteurization is a method of heating raw milk to a temperature that kills known harmful bacteria that could…
If you’re looking to build a bigger, stronger butt, barbell hip thrusts are the move your workout routine just might be missing. This exercise is one of the best ways to grow your backside and injury-proof your lower body. Below, we share everything you need to know about this exercise, including hip thrust muscles worked, form tips, and our favorite variations. Which muscles are worked in hip thrusts? The main muscle worked during hip thrusts is your gluteus maximus—the biggest and strongest muscle in your body. Your hamstrings, other glute muscles (gluteus medius and gluteus minimus), and adductor longus are…