Health July/August 2021

A friend of mine says, by way of motivation, “The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do.” No matter how you get moving, don’t you finish feeling good? And of course there are the many significant benefits: Exercise reduces the risk of disease, eases stress and anxiety, aids in weight management, makes your bones and muscles stronger, and helps you live longer and better. A study this spring even showed that if you develop COVID, having had a regular exercise habit may lessen your risk of becoming seriously ill or requiring a hospital stay. The current government guidelines suggest that adults do 150 minutes of moderate exercise (like walking briskly) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (like jogging) a week. But experts often boil it down to this: Just…

FULL SWING The kettlebell is a triple threat, combining strength, cardio, and flexibility training. There’s a ton you can do with it, but first, let’s get the basic swing right—a true total-body move that targets your arms, shoulders, and back, and basically works every muscle. Start by creating tension and engaging muscles before you pick up the kettlebell, says Venus Lau, CPT, a fitness trainer in Los Angeles. In a hinge position, with the kettlebell 12 to 18 inches in front of you, engage your hamstrings and glutes. Ground your feet as if the floor was pushing back at you, tilt back the kettlebell, and then grip the handle with both hands. Swing the kettlebell back through your legs and then upwards directly in front of you. “At the top of…

YOUR TEXTURE: Wavy Without a little help, waves can dry lopsided or fuzzy. To coax out those ripples, try this technique from celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager (and use the smart code below for a video of the technique!): Rake mousse through damp strands and part hair. Place an old silk scarf across the top of your head, with ends down by your ears. Secure scarf at the crown with a hair clip. Working away from your face, wrap sections of hair around scarf, picking up hair as you go. Secure the ends with a scrunchie. “This method allows you to control your end result—wrap hair tighter for more of a curl or looser for a dragged-out wave,” says Brager. Wait until hair is dry (you can even sleep on it) to undo. If…

What are they—and how are they triggered? Scientifically speaking, “endorphins are neurochemical polypeptides that your body releases to amplify pleasure and diminish pain,” says Sheila Farhang, MD, a dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics in Oro Valley, Arizona. Simply put, your brain signals your body to release these happy hormones after experiencing something exciting or relaxing—really, anything that puts you in a good mood, passive or active, can get them going. Endorphins can also be released in times of distress, adds Dr. Farhang. In those situations, the body uses the hormones as a defense mechanism, since they help to alleviate discomfort, too. How Circulation Plays a Role Since blood flow encourages an endorphin release and a generally healthy complexion, experts recommend incorporating massage techniques into your beauty routine too. Spicy foods…

Oksana Masters BIATHLON, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING & ROAD CYCLING THE 31-YEAR-OLD Paralympian was adopted from a Ukrainian orphanage at the age of 7. The first time she ever heard of the Paralympics was in 2008, when the director of her rowing club in Louisville, Kentucky, told her that she had the potential to win big. And that she did—earning a bronze medal in rowing at London’s 2012 Paralympics, and then going on to master three other sports: biathlon, cross-country skiing, and road cycling. After placing fourth and fifth in cycling events in the 2016 Rio Games, Masters says she has “unfinished business.” What’s your workout schedule like? It consists of a whole lot of coffee—from 5:30 in the morning until 9 o’clock at night. I’m training for both Tokyo (Summer 2021) and Beijing (Winter…

ONE AFTERNOON when I was in my late 40s, I was having a facial—a rare treat—when suddenly my skin felt like it had burst into flames. As my face grew redder and redder, it began to hurt so much that I cut the facial short and practically ran out of the treatment room. When angry bumps blossomed on my cheeks a few days later, I visited a dermatologist. She confirmed that I had joined the estimated 16 million U.S. adults who have rosacea. I had no idea I was susceptible to this chronic inflammatory skin condition—and I’m not alone. A survey by the National Rosacea Society (NRS) found that a full 95 percent of rosacea patients knew little or nothing about its symptoms prior to diagnosis. Those symptoms, says Heather Goff, MD,…