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Two of the most common types you’ll find are the mighty M’s: melatonin and magnesium. While melatonin can help you fall asleep at a certain time, it doesn’t do much in the way of improving sleep quality or quantity.* Magnesium, on the other hand, shows promise in helping people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling more refreshed and energized*. In a study, magnesium glycinate supplementation subjectively improved sleep quality2....

And in the case of the moon, astrologer Molly Pennington, Ph.D., tells mbg, “The astronomical reality is the moon is always reflecting the sun’s light. The sun would be like our self, our identity—and the moon comes along and it reflects that, holds up a mirror to yourself.” The moon in astrology is related to emotions, intuition, and our personal inner worlds. Understanding your moon sign can help you get to know yourself and your emotions, and it also gives us valuable insight into our deepest needs (which is why moon signs are important for astrological compatibility, which we’ll get into shortly)....

This “ending” energy, the twins explain, makes mutable signs adaptable, good with change, and almost like the “editors of the zodiac.” They add that mutable signs, “take all the ideas, systems and information that other signs have built, and perfect it, getting it ready for prime time.” They’re very adaptable and can go with the flow, so they don’t have a problem finding a compromise everyone can agree on. They’re solution-oriented and spontaneous, but the twins do note that too much mutable energy can lead to flakiness or a noncommittal attitude....

Masturbation is typically a taboo subject and an activity that’s restricted to total privacy, says Ashley D. Sweet, M.A., LPC, LMHC, CCRC. Because of that, it can be thrilling to “share with someone else something you may have learned is culturally forbidden.” No matter why you decide to explore this activity, here’s what you need to know about it before you welcome others to your party. So, like solo masturbation but with more people and variations?...

Metal desks are great for focus, but they may be cold. Warm them up with a houseplant (more on those later!) or wooden fruit bowl. Ideally, you’ll be able to position your desk so you have a clear view of the door (and anyone who is approaching) when you’re sitting down. But if you can’t move your desk to command the room, you can place a mirror on your desk so you can see what’s behind you....

But why are plant-based foods so powerful? Why do I repeat over and over to my heart patients to get seven to 10 servings a day of brightly colored fruits and vegetables? For example, just this week the news channels reported a story that blueberries improve both blood pressure and the healthy flexibility of arteries, making them act younger. Time to pay attention for a one-minute food chemistry lesson. Polyphenols are a group of plant-based chemicals that have at least one phenol group (don’t ask me why we don’t call some monophenols — I don’t know)....

Here’s what to know about what a progressed chart is, how to calculate yours, and how to interpret what it all means for how you can best reach your potential. Progressed charts are calculated by a formula that progresses or moves the natal chart forward. In a progressed chart, each day after birth equals one year of life. A progressed astrology chart for someone who’s 25 years old, for example, would be equivalent to the chart (or condition of the sky) 25 days after that person’s birth....

Luckily, there are—and one of them is red light therapy. You may have seen these high-tech masks on the shelves at beauty stores, but these devices are more than just a flashy item to add to your routine—here’s the science behind the light. LED light therapy comes in all shapes and sizes, too. You may find them in handheld wands, face masks, desk lamps, or even full-body beds. At this point you may be wondering: Isn’t light bad for the skin?...

The first step was finding a clean mascara. I strive to keep up a clean beauty routine, but mascara was one area where I hadn’t made the transition. My previous experience with cleaner formulas had left me unimpressed. But once all your lashes fall out, you’re a bit more resistant to swiping those delicate hairs with harsh chemicals every day. Or at least, they didn’t. The clean mascara selection has come a long way since I first swiped that aforementioned dull formula on my lashes a few years ago....

If nightmares are jolting you awake, open your eyes and say to whoever it is, “If you are of the light, I am awake and here to listen to what you would like to share.” See what comes up. Others’ experiences are not necessarily anything that we as individuals need to worry about, though you could use them as signs that you need to check in with your loved ones or call home....

First created in the 1960s, sophrology has since picked up a devoted audience throughout Europe—specifically in France, Switzerland, Belgium, and most recently England. And (like every other wellness practice that has France’s stamp of approval) it’s inevitably starting to travel stateside. Here’s what you need to know about the healing practice. Sophrology is the brainchild of Alfonso Caycedo, a professor of psychiatry and neurology. Fascinated by the power of the mind-body connection1, Caycedo began traveling the world in the 1960s to find holistic strategies that could help war veterans get off of medication....

When you’re in a relationship with someone who regularly stonewalls—or are prone to stonewalling yourself—it’s likely proactive communication is a challenge. Stonewalling can have troubling effects on relationships, but experts tell us there are ways to work around it. “Stonewalling is when, during an argument or disagreement, someone begins to shut down, withdraw from the conversation, and build a wall between themselves and the other person,” explains trauma-informed psychotherapist Ludine Pierre, LPCC....

As sleep and neurology expert Chris Winter, M.D., tells mbg, synesthesia is ultimately the sensory perception of experiencing a “crossing over” of your senses. “Certain words might elicit something within an individual that really has nothing to do with the word,” he says for example, such as someone hearing the word “bounce” and seeing the color yellow in their mind’s eye. “Synesthetes can often ‘see’ music as colors when they hear it, and ’taste’ textures like ‘round’ or ‘pointy’ when they eat foods....

“One of the biggest benefits of healthy meal delivery services is that they can help take some of the overwhelm out of the constant debate about what to make for dinner,” says Ashley Gish, functional medicine nurse practitioner and holistic health and nutrition coach. “They can also be a great way to try new foods; get reinspired with different recipes; and introduce flavors, herbs, and spices that you may have never tried on your own....

Standing yoga poses are not only a convenient option for stretching and strengthening during your day, but they’re also fantastic for building balance and stability. Generally, you hold these poses for a shorter amount of time, and they tend to be pretty energizing. Below, we’ve compiled 15 standing yoga poses—with both their English and Sanskrit names—demonstrated by yoga instructors Phyllicia Bonanno and Juanina Kocher:

There are plenty of options, but fermented foods are one potent natural source of probiotics. Here, learn why fermented foods are so beneficial and which pack the biggest probiotic punch. But before you read on for our favorite fermented foods, it’s important to understand that if you haven’t been eating them already, you need to introduce them slowly, says Ali Miller, R.D., L.D., CDE, author of The Anti-Anxiety Diet. Probiotic foods are powerful and can cause some GI distress if you go from zero to 100 too quickly....

The most important aspect of aftercare is simply listening to your artist and their advice. Because aftercare can differ slightly depending on inks, colors, location, and size, they’ll have more personalized advice for you—including how long to keep the bandage on, when you can wash it, and whether it may require regular tuneups. Aftercare Moisturizer, Project Woo ($25) The Original Aftercare Salve, Tattoo Goo ($9) postbiotic body lotion, mindbodygreen ($30) 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Shea Moisture ($15....

I was calling a grapefruit and a green juice “breakfast” at the time, something that’s not abnormal in the wellness world. That wasn’t working for me, and I noticed that it wasn’t really working for my clients either. If you have a thyroid condition and you’re worried about that belly bloat, you’ll want to kiss that oatmeal or toast farewell for a little bit, even if it’s gluten-free and packed with superfoods....

Here’s my mentality about any beauty product: All good things are usually not good across the board, nor good for everyone. So what’s the thing you need to look out for in shampoo bars? The pH.