Could om take the edge off of ouch? A new study suggests that mindfulness meditation is an effective strategy for pain relief. The research, published in Biological Psychiatry, analyzed pain signatures in MRI scans to determine the relationship between mindfulness and the body’s experience of pain. When asked to rate their pain, participants trained in mindfulness … Read more
Ever wish you had the discipline and concentration of a monk? Easily done, says secular monk Walter Gjergja, who practices discipline and concentration for a living. Gjergja, or Shi Xing Mi, is said to be the world’s first non-Chinese official 32nd-generation Shaolin Temple master. Walter Gjergja, a Shaolin master and secular monk, offers sage advice … Read more
She’s giving you a piece of her mind. Emily McDonald, an Arizona-based neuroscientist and mindset coach, is sharing four ways to boost the birth of new brain cells — a process known as neurogenesis. Most of our 100 billion brain cells were created before birth — the brain can still produce new cells, called neurons, as we age. … Read more
Come and spend some at this arousing accommodation. New York’s Walker Hotel Tribeca has introduced a “Self-Love Pod” to allow guests to get intimate with themselves. Anyone can book the autoerotic experience through September — which is Sexual Health Awareness Month — with staff transforming ordinary hotel rooms into a space where guests can satisfy themselves. The … Read more
We’re in the thick of Mercury retrograde, folks, wherein the trickster planet of communion, conversation, tech and tantrums slows his proverbial roll and leaves us in the muck and mire. Mercury retrograde purposefully disrupts our routines and forces us to face matters and people we’d rather avoid. Retrograde refers to the optical illusion the planet … Read more
Lately, it seems everyone’s got a raw dog in this in-flight fight. Air travel optimizers have sworn by the latest bizarre trend to penetrate airplane culture — raw dogging — wherein passengers endure a long-haul flight with nothing but their thoughts to keep them occupied. The benefits of forced boredom, however, are still up for … Read more
Protect your peace, folks. Mercury retrograde, most maligned of all the astrological transits, brings with it a fair shake of emotional strain. Seeing as the planet rules mental processing and verbal exchange, the retrograde cycle can bring on serious haze and malaise. To help us come through this month with a little more grace and … Read more
The sun has really been showing off its infernal firepower this year folks. In May, solar storms created awe-inspiring northern lights and the sun produced its largest flare in nearly two decades Why you ask? Our life-giving death star is experiencing its “solar maximum,” which, despite sounding like the name of a Christian rock band, is … Read more
The first time Marcelle Hutchins sat down to meditate, she put on a guided session, relaxed her shoulders and tried to close her eyes. She lasted two minutes. “I had a deadline, and I thought, ’I don’t know if I can sit still this long,’” said Hutchins, who was working as a radio journalist. At … Read more
For those who are struggling to get enough sleep, the ABCs may be the key to getting more Zzzs. A sleep shortcut that’s making the rounds on TikTok uses the alphabet to help people drift off. Sleep experts shared their input on the unconventional route to restful nights. The technique isn’t new, but it’s been circulating … Read more
This is an a-maze-ing way to beat stress. The ancient practice of walking in labyrinths has been increasingly popular for lowering anxiety and increasing well being, the BBC reported. A labyrinth is “a meandering path, often unicursal, with a singular path leading to a center,” according to the Labyrinth Society. Though some may think of … Read more
A Florida doctor who specializes in stroke rehabilitation is sharing five ways women can lower their risk of having a stroke — the brain attack is the fifth-leading cause of death for American women. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bursts and leaks blood into the brain. … Read more
Not a morning person? Here’s how to change that. The secret to consistently happy mornings isn’t hard — it just takes a little practice and discipline, said Dr. Michele Leno, a licensed psychologist and the founder of DML Psychological Services in Michigan. Below are four habits to ditch in the mornings — and five you should … Read more
An Australian woman who dropped four dress sizes and about 50 pounds looks so unrecognizable that she’s often accused of getting facial reconstruction. “People from high school bump into me and no one knows who I am when I say hello,” Chloe Boullé, 23, told SWNS. “I remember my grandmother saying, ‘You’re just unrecognizable, Chloe.’” … Read more
What’s your relationship with death? Many of us typically avoid thinking about it, that’s until someone we love deeply dies, or we’re given a stark reminder about our mortality, through something like a health scare. But to contemplate death is to explore the value of life. While death places in sharp focus how we live, … Read more
It’s hard to believe that there was ever a time when Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t have a rigid wellness regimen. “In my early 20s, I didn’t have much of a morning routine,” the Goop founder, 51, said in a webinar for her partnership with Moments of Space, a meditation app, according to Business Insider. At the … Read more
Learn om the job. Practicing mindfulness in the workplace can be an effective buffer against anxiety, stress and burnout, new research reveals. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham in England, suggests that staying mindful is an essential tool for workers in the 21st century. Mindfulness, derived from ancient Buddhist practice, is … Read more
Sit back, relax and let the sound waves wash over you. Sound baths — which do not involve water, but rather laying on a yoga mat and listening to instrumental music, such as the sounds of gongs, bells and singing bowls — have been shown to relieve stress and could even reduce pain, according to University … Read more
The holidays are meant to be a time of togetherness and celebration. Yet for those who have recently experienced loss or trauma, the season can bring sadness instead. “Holiday-related grief can be about many things, like the loss of a loved one or bad memories from the past,” Alysha Tagert, a trauma therapist in Washington, D.C., told … Read more
Balinese officials are on the hunt for a man who was filmed meditating naked at a Hindu temple, with his indecent act infuriating locals. The clip gained widespread attention after it was posted by community group “canggu_bali” and then reported by influencer and Balinese shoe designer Ni Luh Djelantik. In it, the foreigner can be … Read more