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By now, most of us are aware of signs like muscle tension, shallow breathing, fatigue, brain fog, or headaches, but we often neglect to connect the dots between unwelcome dullness, acne, redness, or sensitivity in the skin and the stress we’re feeling. Additionally, research shows that healing is slowed2 when you are under stress, so if you are normally prone to acne, rosacea, psoriasis, or skin irritation, you may notice more flare-ups than you’re used to, or they may be more persistent and stubborn....

It’s common for conventional toilet bowl cleaners not to disclose a complete list of chemicals because the companies want to keep their formulas “proprietary,” or a trade secret. If there is a list of ingredients on the label, it’s usually vague, such as “water, thickener, cleaning agents,” leading us to think: Which thickener(s)? And which cleaning agents? Since most of these cleaners contain warnings such as “Danger: Corrosive. Harmful or fatal if swallowed....

But what I wasn’t expecting is just how many uses I’d come up with for the oil. Because I’ve been using and testing the formula for a year now, I’ve had ample time to play around with it in my routine. And because I know how high-quality the oils used in this blend are, I’m comfortable using the formula in a variety of ways—including for my hair. Post shampoo, I use it as part of my cocktailing routine....

As I settled into my new life in Paris, I decided the best way to adapt would be to live like the locals. It didn’t take long before I was enjoying four-hour dinners with cheese and dessert courses, replacing evening runs with glasses of rosé on the terrace, and stopping almost daily at the corner boulangerie for freshly baked baguettes that could seduce almost anyone within a two-block radius. While I can’t claim to have solved the mystery, I can share five ways French women know how to live right—and in the process stay thin and happy: The French also don’t deprive or restrict themselves from occasional indulgences....

Wondering how you can begin your journey to teaching others how to develop their practice? Here are six steps to making that happen: Ready to start sharing your gift with a wider audience? Here are a few great ways to do it: Whether you’re wanting to deepen your practice or are ready to become a teacher, know that every time you meditate you are cultivating your own inner peace and sharing that gift with the world, which is so needed right now....

A recent study out of Austria found that locals reported feeling happier and less alone when spending time outdoors in 2020. In Tokyo, getting outside in green space (or simply looking at it through the window) was shown to increase self-esteem, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness during the quarantine. And two research teams out of the University of Vermont have found that COVID has made more people in the state seek out nature experiences and enjoy their corresponding benefits on mental health and well-being....

According to licensed psychotherapist Antranique Neblett, LCSW, emotionally unavailable people often find ways to avoid serious or emotional conversations, which then creates an intimacy barrier (not just physically) and never truly allows the relationship to mature to its fullest. Sometimes emotional unavailability is temporary: “This may be due to a shifting of priorities, where the individual is unable to give time and attention to feelings of their own and their partner,” explains Neblett....

Sometimes, though, people begin feeling like their body needs to eat meat again—and there’s nothing wrong with that. Listening to your body is of the utmost importance, and for some people, a vegetarian or vegan diet simply doesn’t feel good. Some simply need more protein, and animal products are the most bioavailable source. Plants contain only the precursor to vitamin A called beta-carotene. Almost half of the population has a genetic factor limiting their ability to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is important for healthy skin, eyes, and our immune systems....

The vitamin D that our skin makes must be converted by the liver to 25(OH) D3, which is what is usually measured when you get your vitamin D levels tested by a doctor. Then it’s converted by the kidneys to calcitriol, which is the active hormone form of the vitamin. How, then, did our ancestors make it through the dark winter months without risking severe deficiency? Thankfully, vitamin D gets stored in our bodies’ fat tissue to protect us against natural seasonal variability....

Stress has a direct impact on digestion, making it important to examine how you eat, in addition to what you eat, if gut health is your goal. Our brain and gut are connected by the enteric nervous system6. When this system is in a rested state (rest and digest), the brain signals to the gut that it is ready to digest food. If the nervous system is in a stressed state (fight or flight), the brain signals to the body that it must prioritize survival....

Basically, almost anything can be messing with your ability to reach orgasm. “Anorgasmia is just another way of saying problems having orgasms,” psychologist and AASECT-certified sex therapist Lauren Fogel Mersy, Psy.D., tells mbg. “It is not a specific physical condition,” adds AASECT-certified sex therapist Diana Urman, LCSW, Ph.D. “And since the term orgasm is vaguely defined, the term anorgasmia isn’t well defined either.” In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5), anorgasmia is called “female orgasmic disorder” for people with vulvas and “delayed ejaculation” for people with penises....

A discrepancy in desire is normal, but sometimes couples will struggle with conflict or avoidance around sex if they don’t manage that difference together. Sexless marriage, generally defined as having sex fewer than 10 times a year, is the extreme result of difficulty navigating sexual interest between two people. In a relationship where at least one person is unhappy with the lack of sex, there are many steps you can take to address undesired sexlessness within the marriage first before turning to divorce....

Bonus - you can make good choices for your health that are also good for the planet. It’s important to learn how to shop for sustainable seafood that will protect the big blue, and you too. When it comes to seafood, sustainability is specifically about fish that is caught in a way that keeps the marine environment intact, comes from a healthy population of fish, and is caught with oversight from regional and national management bodies....

But by the time I first received Reiki in Los Angeles, I had massive anxiety. I was constantly worrying, doubting, stressing, and feeling nervous and agitated. There was a lot going on in my life, and it weighed on me in the form of immense physical back pain. The kind that makes you question how long you can keep living life. When a friend recommended Reiki, I was hesitant, but I knew I needed a major change....

Over the past five years of searching, here’s the most compelling evidence I’ve found that has changed my mind about the great beyond: For example, there was one case of a child who had specific memories of his troop during WW2. He met fellow members of this troop who were now old men, and some of his memories of them proved spot-on. There was another who identified and met his previous life’s children—who are now older adults....

Jordan Younger’s Panchakarma is a little more intense; for a week, she’ll be getting herbal oil massages, herbal therapy, rest, doing a digital detox, and eating the kitchari. The goal, according to Younger, is to balance her dosha, specifically the excess of vata energy that can cause, she writes, “digestive issues, an extreme amount of anxiety, insomnia, food intolerances, a fibroid, and right now, (a) CRAZY rash all over my entire body....

In the past few months, I’ve fully embraced exercise streaming culture and have found myself “studio hopping” every week as a means of adding a little variety to an at-home routine that can feel more static than I’m typically used to. When testing out a new program at home, especially if I’ve been to the studio IRL, I always question: Will it translate without the energy of the physical space?...

Devon’s first book, Earth Women, is coming soon. To learn more, join the mailing list, and receive updates, head to www.devonbarrowwriting.com.

Turns out, some experts believe that the foods you include in your first post-fast meal (especially if you’ve fasted for a full day or more) are particularly important, helping to either amplify or sabotage your results. While breaking these types of fasts doesn’t require quite as much planning as breaking an extended fast, there are still some general recommendations. First and foremost, stick to whole foods and opt for a mix of macronutrients when you break a fast—you don’t want a straight shot of carbohydrates (especially refined carbs) on an empty stomach....

The short, unsexy answer: It depends. Here’s what you need to know. Protein recommendations are based on roughly how much we need to eat to cover our needs for these various amino acids. Most healthy adults need about 0.8 to 1.0 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. Since 1 kilogram is equivalent to 2.2 pounds, a 150-pound person (68.2 kilograms) needs about 55 to 68 grams of protein per day....