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While yoga guides us toward center using breath and postures, Pilates cultivates the strength and resilience that helps us keep center…in a rather turbulent world. These practices are powerful on their own, but I’ve found that when you combine them—they’re transformative, which is why, as a yoga instructor, I recommend the Centr Align program to basically everyone. Inspired by Elsa Pataky’s favorite styles of training, it’s four weeks of yoga and Pilates classes to build confidence, core strength, and flexibility....

Anecdotally, people who meditate frequently report that it helps them de-stress and approach life with a steadier mind. And there is some initial research to show that meditation can help ease stress by keeping our hormone levels in check—though more rigorous, large-scale studies still need to be done to support this. Here’s what we know so far. But today, this same hormonal reaction can be triggered by several different (and less severe) circumstances, such as a car alarm, our boss dropping a last-minute assignment on our desk, or screaming kids in the kitchen....

We consulted an integrative gastroenterologist, as well as doctors in obstetrics and gynecology to help answer that question. In short, taking probiotics while pregnant is generally safe2. As with any medication or supplement, you should always consult your personal health care provider before starting a new regimen, though. Based on those studies (like this one on gastrointestinal issues during pregnancy3 or this one on the safety of probiotics with pregnancy and lactation4), there is no evidence of harm from taking probiotics while pregnant....

If you’re trying to figure out whether canola oil or vegetable oil is the healthier option, or if they’re even healthy at all, you may be surprised by the answer. The canola plant actually started out as the rapeseed plant, but as is, rapeseed contains two toxic compounds—erucic acid and glucosinolates—and can’t be safely consumed. According to registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Shahzadi Devje, R.D., CDE, MSc, Canadian scientists figured out how to remove these compounds through targeted plant breeding and came up with the canola (Can for Canada and ola for oil) plant....

We looked into the research and chatted with a couple of experts to get their take. You can ingest chlorophyll directly from plants, algae, and sea vegetables (chlorella, parsley, and spinach all contain significant amounts) or via supplements. Most supplements contain a chlorophyll derivative called chlorophyllin—often listed as sodium copper chlorophyllin on the ingredient list—that’s water-soluble and better absorbed by the body. Most research on the potential health benefits of chlorophyll has been performed with chlorophyllin....

Also known as girl on top, cowboy, cowperson, or rider, this mounted position is pleasurable for all gender identities with the right accessories. The person on top can then insert the bottom partner’s penis, dildo, or fingers into their vagina or anus and proceed to ride their partner, simulating the movements of a horse’s bouncing motion. The person on the bottom is able to receive and use their hands while the person on top rides them both to orgasmic bliss....

Then, the December 7 Gemini full moon will make an exact alignment, demanding that we clear the air. Heap on the diplomacy and patience, which could be in short supply. That trademark Sagittarius season honesty, normally a refreshing burst of candor, could veer toward the brutal side. While you can’t avoid certain conversations, take extra care to keep them from getting contentious. This energy crescendos on December 3, when soulful Neptune ends a five-month retrograde through Pisces....

What I do know, though, is that Jesus preached a message of love for everyone. As did the Buddha. So, whether you call it prayer or meditation (and yes, I know that those are two different things), as long as you do it with love, I’m pretty sure you’re all right regardless of what God you pray to. So go ahead and meditate away—just do it with love and acceptance and equanimity....

That said, start with your carrier oil (and alcohol, if you so choose) and add in your notes, one by one. It’s best to start from the ground up with perfume, Blankenship notes, so you’ll want to add your base notes first, then your middles, then top it off. In terms of measurements, it depends on how much fragrance you want to make or how big your container is. Just make sure the majority of the formula is the carrier oil and not the essential oils, as high levels can cause a potential for irritation....

If you’re as inspired by realness as we are, you’ll love hearing these women say what they love most about their bodies, and anxiety remedies that work for real people.

We’ll admit, sun care can be a bit confusing. Ever wondered how sunscreen even works? Not sure how much to apply? Or a very important question for those chasing a bronzy glow: Does sunscreen prevent tanning? Well, we’ve consulted the experts to get you these answers and more so you can master this crucial step in your routine. Let’s get into it. “UV rays signal the skin to increase transcription of the tyrosinase gene,” Koestline said....

All of the Enneagram types are driven by their own distinct motivations, leading them to have different priorities in a relationship. “Most couples probably have at least a surface-level understanding of their differences and similarities before discovering the Enneagram, but the Enneagram offers a common language to discuss these tendencies,” Stephanie Barron Hall, certified Enneagram coach and author of The Enneagram in Love: A Roadmap for Building and Strengthening Romantic Relationships, tells mbg....

While many of us tend to lump EPA and DHA together when we think about omega-3s, consuming healthy fats in our diet, quality fish oil supplements, and the like, they are (of course!) two different fats—and each has unique chemical structure, properties, and functions in the body worth calling out. Generally, seafood (particularly fatty fish, like anchovies, salmon, mackerel, tuna, etc.), as well as the algae that provide seafood with its omega-3 content, are considered the best food sources of EPA and DHA....

Having a healthy foundation to build your pregnancy on is one of the first (of many) gifts you can give your future child.. Thankfully you can get the fundamentals of prenatal nutrition starting with a prenatal multivitamin. New Chapter, a Vermont-based vitamin and supplement company, now offers multiple options for a woman to get the nutrition she needs during this exciting time, while empowering her to choose the option that is right for her....

Luckily, there are places like the mountain town of Sun Valley, Idaho that are naturally designed for mental and physical relaxation. Normally we stay away from “have it all,” language, but in Sun Valley it’s not an exaggeration. Unwind and relax against a backdrop so beautiful, you may never want to leave. Once you’re there, rejuvenate your spirit and take full advantage of what Sun Valley has to offer, we recommend you: Simply put, Sun Valley will let you really channel off duty energy, and feel safe and healthy doing it....

—Brigitte Zeitlin, R.D., owner of BZ Nutrition —Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, author of Eating in Color —Jessica Bouchard, R.D., founder of Wellness Provision Although my main motivation for ordering meals to stay (instead of to-go) is to avoid single-use plastic containers, it’s also beneficial from a health perspective. When we eat at a table, sitting down, we naturally eat more mindfully and calmly. When we eat a meal in the car, we tend to eat really quickly, which isn’t optimal for digestion!...

There are over 200 species of hibiscus flowers and though they are often trumpet-shaped, they come in all types of colors. Thanks to their vivid hues, hibiscus flowers tend to attract wildlife like hummingbirds. These beautiful blooms can be choosy about lighting, and they thrive when grown in portable containers that can be easily moved to maximize sun exposure. Here’s an introduction to the kinds of environments where four of the most popular hibiscus plants can thrive: Instead, look for a pot that’s not much deeper (but significantly wider) than a standard plastic nursery pot....

Coffee powers our days—and sometimes, even nights. Even the thought of coffee motivates me to get out of bed most mornings! According to a 2014 review from Food and Chemical Toxicology, approximately 85% of the U.S. population1 consumes at least one caffeinated beverage a day, so it’s no overstatement to say that America runs on the stuff. But with all of this talk about caffeine keeping us awake, you can’t help but wonder what it’s doing to your sleep hygiene....

If you’ve ever gone for an extended period without eating, you know that it can make you feel weak and fatigued at times—not to mention extremely hangry. Here’s a comprehensive guide to working out on IF without compromising your overall health goals. As with most things, it all comes down to making a plan that works well for you. There are several different versions of IF, including the 16:8 plan (where people eat all their meals in an eight-hour window, then fast for 16) or the 5:2 plan (where people eat 500 to 600 calories for two days per week, then eat normally for the other five)....

However, as I continued to improve, I was able to do more. My stamina slowly increased, and the little things didn’t seem as difficult. I started studying karate and I earned my black belt six years after my initial tick bite. I never thought that would have been possible when I first got sick. Being persistent in moving my body, even when it seemed like it wasn’t making much of a difference, ended up playing a key role in my recovery....