All posts filed under: Wellness

Mental & Physical Health Of The Working World: Talking Healthy Work Culture With HealthKick CEO & Wellness Expert, Erika Zauner

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A recent study found that Americans are much more stressed out about Coronavirus than citizens of other countries. There truly is no denying that the stress of COVID-19 has negatively impacted our mental health. If you are working, work culture dictates that we show up, good attitude and all. A mental health day is hard to take when you are essential or already working from home. This is why our current lives require stricter self-advocacy and routine that focuses on a balanced lifestyle. We have to advocate for our mental health even harder, but what a lot of company heads fail to realize is that happy faces at work don’t just happen on their own. Fostering a healthy work culture and keeping up with brand quality requires a long term plan that takes employee health into consideration. Our bosses likely want us to be healthy, but the concern always seems to stop at the onboarding process. In the US, skipping lunch and working long hours has been the trend for years. In fact, it was expected. We …

Book Reviews: Your Ultimate Guides To Natural Living, Better Self-Care & Self-Sufficiency

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The Women’s Heritage Sourcebook by Lauren Malloy, Ashley Moore, Emma Rollin Moore & Audria Culaciati The Women’s Heritage Sourcebook could not have come into our lives at a better time. Whether you recently embraced gardening, tried new recipes, or attempted and succeeded at canning – know that you are not alone in learning to be more self-reliant. Why look into this sourcebook? Firstly, this is more than a book. It is a guide and a valuable resource that was birthed out of a combined effort between four authors. Secondly, their shared affinity for skills and crafts, that have been around for centuries, has helped create the ultimate guide to homesteading for your every day life. The way the sourcebook displays recipes makes it easy to learn valuable life skills: preserving, making homemade tomato sauce, botanical cocktails, lacto-fermentation, raising chickens, herbalism, DIY beauty and a lot more. Share this sourcebook and their recipes with the women and men in your life because you will never regret learning to be more self-sufficient. You will likely cherish this sourcebook so …

Wellness Month: 10 Ways To Effectively Lower Stress and Anxiety

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In 2020, stress and anxiety has become a universal issue. Let’s dedicate August, also known as the Wellness Month, to improving the health of our immune system by alleviating stress. While taking care of the mind and body is more important than ever, some of us hesitate to embrace tried-and-true ancient remedies. This is the time to keep an open mind, educate yourself, ask questions, and have a sense of adventure. No matter how silly you feel, using your common sense, and wanting to feel better, is at the core of all all our suggestions. As a mental health advocate, and depression sufferer, I know it takes saying “enough is enough” to start a wellness journey. Here is a list to get you started. Grounding – Grounding has become a type of buzzword in the wellness community, but this is no trend. Athletes, famous actors and doctors do it. I was lucky to grow up in a natural setting; in a village surrounded by mountains. As a child, running barefoot in grassy fields, or climbing …

Summer Essentials: How To Take a Cold Plunge In Style And Beat The Heat This Summer

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When travel and events are no longer on the table, creating fun summer memories can be a challenge. No matter how you chose to celebrate the longer hours of summer, do it with the right tools in hand. Cold Plunge Don’t have access to a pool? On a particular hot day, cool down with a cold bath. Yes, a cold bath is a real way to bring the temperature down, improve circulation, relieve depression, and improve deep breathing. If you are afraid to take the plunge, cold showers are a great way to help you ease into a cold bath. When it’s truly hot and humid, you likely won’t mind getting in. Limit your time until you cool down, physically and mentally. The trick to tolerating a cold shower or bath is to take deep breaths, with slow exhales. Special Product Tip: As bath soak aficionados (with our own shop, The Soak Club, to open soon) we are forever on the look out for bath accessories. We recently tried the Bath Bean, and honestly, where …

Talking Stress, Grief & Anxiety During 2020 With Psychotherapist Asha Tarry

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2020 forces us to take a real look at the disparity in our communities. Whether you see them or not, the problems in today’s society effect us all. Economic inequality can result in poor mental health and seeking help can be even harder in the midsts of a global pandemic. The health crisis has shown us what many already knew. Too many live with the reality of being one pay check away from not being able to pay their medical bill, from being homeless, from putting their mental health at the bottom of the to-do list. Maybe that one person is you. The coronavirus in particular has effected the black community in much larger numbers, but to people of color, these health disparities are not new. If you just started to wake up to these inequalities, if the pandemic effected your mental health, if you feel grief for George Floyd, if you know it is not about you, but you could not imagine the same type of treatment happening to someone you know, then keep …

Understanding How Your Skin Works & The Importance Of It’s Wellness

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Our skin never seems to get enough credit for its fascinating abilities to be there for us. It is our largest organ, one that holds everything together, yet we often neglect to think of its importance. Here are some examples of what skin does: our skin acts as a protective barrier, regulates our body temperature, shows off our overall well-being, and sends information to the brain through a network of nerve endings. How incredible is that? Since we spend a good chunk of our money on skincare and depend on our skin for its functions, I think educating ourselves on this organ is vital. HOW SKIN WORKS You might already know that skin is complex and greatly affected by our lifestyles. By understanding how skin works, you too can decode its complexity. Every day our skin absorbs and reacts to what we eat, how we feel and what products we see. The products you choose to put on your skin get absorbed into your body, and might end up in your bloodstream. In fact, one …

Best Face Masks On The Market From Brands That Do Their Part For The Community

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Donning a mask shows that you are educated on the Covid-19 spread and have chosen to do your part in keeping everyone (not just yourself) safe and healthy from an invisible virus. The history of surgical and non-surgical masks tells us that in the scientific and civilized society, masks play a big part in practicing effective hygiene etiquette. There is a reason your doctor puts on gloves and a mask before treating you. Doctors and nurses, as far back as the late 1800’s, realized that a masks helps reduce surgical sepsis. During the same time, doctors realized that a simple conversation could spread certain diseases through uncontrolled droplets. A mask controls those droplets; you’re simply keeping them to yourself. While wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience, especially when considering the potential of irreversible results of not wearing one, it can also be quite uncomfortable. The warmer months will make mask wearing even more of a chore. These masks are (dare we say) stylish, made from comfortable fabrics, and some were even tested by yours …

Best Non-Drying Hand Sanitizers To Help You Save The Skin On Your Hands

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The shortage of hand sanitizers and masks has sprung up a new crop of fast thinking, and charitable, entrepreneurs. Some switched to 100% hand sanitizer production, and some are offering a free hand sanitizer with purchase. The much-needed product is in no way superior to soap and cleaning your hands, but there is something to be said for feeling safe while on-the-go. Constant hand washing and hand sanitizer usage results in dry and itchy skin. When hand cream simply isn’t enough, try switching to a product that keeps you safe but moisturized. Introducing a list of our favorite non-drying hand sanitizers Naturacentric apothecary continues to impress with holistic and natural products. It only makes sense that their latest launches would include a wellness elixir, surface spray and a hand sanitizer. The Citrus Eucalyptus (in love with the scent) hand sanitizer spray smells fresh and leaves your hands feeling soft. This one is a keeper. The price is more than reasonable and Naturacentric also makes an 8oz refill. Artnaturals is a trusted brand for all your …

The Beauty & Wellness Industry Sounds Off on Coping With The Covid-19 Pandemic

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As soon as New York City became the epicenter of America’s Covid-19 crisis, I started to reach out to my contacts within the beauty and wellness industry. This is a community I have become quite fond of. There were times when I leaned on these self-care insiders for support, in more ways than they realize. Ignoring my community at this time would feel very wrong. The confusion of “what do we do?” has set in and founders of businesses have handled the pandemic in various different ways. Let’s state the obvious. The way you handle the unpredictable will vary on case-by-case basis. Some have a monetary cushion to lean on, some are diversifying the way they do business, some are struggling to keep afloat, and some are taking a much-needed break from working all together. What we can do is help each other in whatever way we can. Aiding each other means we survive, and maybe even thrive together. Let’s not allow our community to sink. Aveda has stepped up in helping and made an …

Immunity-Boosting Recipes: Making Easy Wellness Drinks At Home

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In today’s climate of uncertainty, we grasp for empowerment and healthier culinary choices. Take your power back with these comforting drink recipes. Nourishing your body and soul starts in the kitchen. Naturacentric already provides a wide range of healthy and practical items, however their latest launch is a household must-have. This Wellness Elixir, made up of Reishi Mushroom, Elderberries, Astragalus, Echinacea, Rose Hip and local raw honey, can be used by the entire family. You can take this handcrafted syrup once a day by spoon, but it works just as well in a refreshing and delicious cocktail. We applaud the Founder of Naturacentric, Natalie Meneses, for thanking the health care workers in her community by sending them wellness elixir shots. NON-ALCOHOLIC WELLNESS COCKTAIL Fill glass with ice 1 shot wellness elixir  A splash of cranberry juice Top with soda water  Decorate with a garnish: cinnamon stick or candied ginger Co-Founder of Naya Traveler company, Sarah Casewit, decided to compile a cook book filled with nostalgic recipes from around the world. Sarah, who was born and raised …

Letter From Editor: Back to Basics and Fighting Stress With The Power of Five Human Senses

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Letter From Editor (Paulina Kajankova) Main Image: Thich Nhat Hanh, master and father of mindfulness Our world is going through a powerful shift. We can feel the stress radiating from our very souls. We see and feel it from health care workers, health institutions, our neighbors, our own homes, and radio or the news provides little to no escape. Thich Nhat Hanh said: “strong emotions are like a storm”. Let’s learn to calm them though mindfulness. During this time of Covid-19 pandemic, self discipline and self-care has never been needed more. As a creative individual and depression sufferer, who was used to working from home long before the pandemic, I started to brainstorm new ways to cope and calm the stress. Since I live in New York City and have decided to stay put in the city that I love; my small apartment is my shelter. Many think New York City is a place for the rich. That is far from the truth. Many native New Yorkers make a medium income of 40,000, if that. …

Medical & Wellness Experts on Healthy Living & Staying Emotionally Well During Covid-19

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We are living a stressful existence right now. Anxiety levels are high and while it can certainly feel like we are not in control, there are small ways we can all help ourselves and those around us. It is all about personal decisions and actions. Besides following common sense advice from the World Health Organization to wash your hands, practice social distancing and staying home when sick, there are other ways you can take control. Take extra care of yourself. Self-care and compassion towards others has never been needed more. Taking it one day at a time, we can boost our immune system and try to get answers to some of our pressing questions. The wellness and beauty communities have taken their own actions by putting in extra effort into either shutting doors or taking time to clean spaces more vigorously. Some have taken to social media, creating online workshops on health, exercise, even hobbies to occupy our time. Greetings at spas have changed from handshakes to Buddha greetings, but many spas and beauty shops …