Hatha yoga has become one of the more popular types of yoga because it can build strength, improve flexibility, and align posture - while still being gentle enough for most bodies. "If you've been to a yoga class, you likely practiced hatha yoga," says certified yoga instructor Adrienne Leslie. "It's a great option for both beginners and experienced yogis. The instructors will cue the breath and guide you into proper alignment in the poses, and the poses can be modified based on the expe...

Good nutrition is essential for both the mind and body, but most Americans don't follow a healthy diet. That's where the daily value system comes in. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created the daily value system to make it easier for people to meet their daily nutritional needs. Found on the nutrition label, the daily value system tells you can help you determine if a product is high or low in particular nutrients. What does daily value mean? Daily value (DV) ...

No one wants to hear (or even think) this, but if you work out regularly and don't wash your athletic attire well enough or often enough, you very well may stink. Bacteria, sweat, and body oils collect inside synthetic fabrics like your leggings or sports bra and can cause a funky odor, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. And the more bacteria in your sweat, the greater your chances of stinking. (Here are th...

Affecting 15% to 30% of the US population, bloating often feels like a swelling or tightness in your abdomen and can cause your stomach to bulge. It's often uncomfortable but doesn't always signal a cause for concern. You can't always prevent bloating but there are ways to reduce bloating, gas, and stomach pain - here are five. 1. Avoid certain foods Foods that contain certain types of carbohydrates, called FODMAPs, are not as effectively digested by the small intestine, whic...

Even if you’re not up for going full-on vegetarian or vegan, there are so many reasons to move toward a more plant-based diet. Not only is eating less meat associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it’s also better for the planet since beef production uses up a disproportionate share of the world’s resources. The good news is, you no longer have to trek to a health food store on the outskirts of town to find plant-b...

After a year in quarantine, with many of our usual pastimes unavailable to us, daydreaming has become a welcome escape. But is daydreaming good for you? We live in such a task-oriented society that the idea of just taking a break to let your mind think freely is often seen as lazy or unproductive. We can’t sit at the doctor’s office without scrolling through social media or go for a walk without listening to a podcast. But we’re actually daydreaming more often than we realize—almost 50% of ou...

You're out to dinner and feel a hand on your shoulder as a familiar voice says your name. You turn around and this person is smiling. You know her—you’ve known her for years, in fact. But her name has evaporated from your mind, and all you can muster is a “Hey…you!” Before you start Googling “signs of dementia,” rest assured that some changes in memory and cognition are a normal part of the aging process, especially if they manifest as trouble finding words or momentary lapses in...

There's certainly no shortage of buzzy nutritious foods on grocery store shelves. Snack foods made with whole-food ingredients, organic oat milk yogurt, gluten-free cassava tortillas...Walking each aisle is like a fun new discovery zone—if you have enough money to do more than window shop, that is. While Well+Good is the first to say that healthy eating doesn't require buying trendy, expensive ingredients, the fact remains that eating well is harder when you're on a tight budget. Even if y...

Whether you’re taking a group fitness class or following an exercise DVD at home, it’s a sure bet that you’ll be doing planks at some point during the workout—and for good reason. Planks are the ultimate test of total-body strength, not just your core. That’s why they’re the groundwork for many bodyweight exercises, like push-ups and burpees.  “The plank is one of those jack-of-all-trades exercises you can carry in your back pocket to strengthen not only your cor...

Eating a balanced diet in today's food landscape means that when you're surrounded by bad, you've got to maximize the good if you want to boost your health and lose weight. While, yes, we know it's easy to stock your pantry with comfort foods during a stressful time like the coronavirus pandemic, but we have to give it to your straight: it's just as easy to stock up on the good. Now we're not telling you that you need to place an order for superfood powders to reap their health...