From forest bathing that relieves stress and boosts mood to cacao ceremonies for inner awakening and creative guidance, cultures all over the planet still guide and influence us. It was the trailblazer Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, who coined the textbook definition of mindfulness: “Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges through paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Mindfulness is not a new concept. Buddhism has extolled the powers of mindfulness for thousands of years. Many of these practices—especially meditation, mindful movement (yoga, tai chi, etc.) and healing breathwork (pranayama)— have migrated to the West and become standard fare in our quest for accessing deeper levels of relaxation.…

Expert tips for setting goals and achieving them in the New Year.We’ve all done it. Setting ambitious goals for everything you want to change and accomplish in the New Year is an age-old tradition. And so is disappointment, when you realize that those goals are far too ambitious to achieve. But if you enlist the support of family and friends, according to wellness expert and The 5-Day Real Food Detox author Nikki Sharp (nikkisharp.com), you are much more likely to succeed. “The New Year is a great time because you are not doing it alone,” says Sharp. “It is more motivating to stick to a new, healthier lifestyle when you…

I do a womb meditation in the morning before getting out of bed. I connect with myself, place my hands over my womb, breathe into this area and tune into whatever intuitive messages are speaking to me.  Arriving into consciousness with our womb is done through meditation, healing breathwork and movement, massage and, in essence, energy work. There are many powerful yogic methods to heal and transform our sacred womb.   Our womb is above the pubic bone and below the navel. The energetic center that relates to the womb is Swadhisthana or the sacral chakra, and can be translated as “the dwelling place of the self,” or the home of one’s…

Getting plenty of rest is an essential component to overall physical and emotional well-being. From soft bamboo sheets to a mattress devoid of nontoxic materials, here are 10 items we’re eyeing for a dreamy, sanctuary-like bedroom. Rest and RelaxationMade entirely of upcycled beechwood in an FSC-certified facility in Los Angeles, the Wood Slatted Bench is ideal draped with a throw blanket at the foot of the bed.avocadogreenmattress.com Nap ZoneTransform the bedroom with the multifunctional Fez Upholstered Room Divider made of tropical hardwood and 100 percent woven cotton upholstery. anthropologie.com Ambient LightBrooklyn-based fragrance maven Chrissy Fichtl, founder of Apotheke, concocted the hand-poured, soy-wax blend Black Iris Oak Candle with notes of…

After months of self-quarantine and social distancing, many of us are craving human contact with our loved ones. Zoom calls just don’t seem to do it anymore. As the days get longer and the sun heats up, summer parties are typically in full swing. But right now, our world is anything but typical. Here’s some good news: by following social distancing and other Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, we can think about hosting small get-togethers, and the Fourth of July is a great time to start. In June, the CDC shared their “Considerations for Events and Gatherings.” Obviously, events carrying the lowest risk, according to the CDC, are virtual-only,…

Dr. Jennifer Ashton Photographer: Michael Benabib Dr. Jennifer Ashton, chief medical correspondent at ABC World News, shares tips to make well-being attainable When it comes to the word “well-being,” a yoga class, soothing spa treatment or walk in nature may come to mind. For Dr. Jennifer Ashton, the chief medical correspondent at ABC World News, self-care equals well-being. In fact, she sees them as interchangeable. “When you have well-being, you’re practicing self-care,” she explains. As a solo parent with a high-profile job, a thriving medical practice and demanding travel schedule, Dr. Ashton is the first to admit that carving out time to practice self-care isn’t always easy. For her, “it…

Facing adversity such as a pandemic, illness or financial uncertainty, while challenging, offers us the opportunity to grow resilience. We pull from our inner resources to cope, and bounce back from sudden, unexpected change. We find fresh ways to respond, emerging stronger as we support our health and well-being.  Resilience empowers us to remain present, flexible and adaptable, to move forward and find creative solutions while supporting the health of our family, community and the planet. At-home self-care has become essential to maintaining health during social-distancing. Here are five practical tips to help build resilience through self-care:   1. Design your day to include pause breaks Take 10- to 15-minute…

There is a lot of talk among spa owners about when and how to reopen the spa industry these days. With COVID19 top of mind, spas are working around the clock on plans to keep staff and clients safe. The International Spa Association (ISPA) recently collaborated with close to 100 volunteer spa leaders, medical professionals, resource partners and more to develop the “ISPA COVID-19 Spa Reopening Toolkit,” link below,  a consolidation of resources that are designed to help spas reopen safely and successfully, and establish the proper levels of sanitation and hygiene.  Meanwhile, scores of individual spa guidelines are flooding my inbox, as everyone in the industry is trying to…