Wellness

Wellness

The term "naked mom" sounds like internet bait. In reality, it describes something far less dramatic: a mother moving through her own home without turning every day moments like showering or changing into a performance of modesty. Supporters see it as a way to strip shame from bodies and raise kids who aren't scandalized by anatomy. Critics, meanwhile, worry about boundaries, privacy and where comfort should - and shouldn't - begin inside a family.

Stephen Niese, of Flatbush, wore nothing but his swim trunks when he swam his usual 100 yards along the iconic coastline, where the blistering 36-degree water temperatures were paired with a 22-degree wind chill ahead of this weekend's snowstorm. "It's like a rush. You feel superhuman after you come out of the cold," Niese, 62, told The Post after what he called a relaxing dip.

Each decade of life comes with its share of pluses and minuses, but there's something special about being in your 40s. You're wiser and more mature than you were in your youth, more comfortable in your skin and you know what you like. Sure, you may not have quite as much energy as you once did. But you're still having a whole lot of fun - it's just that your definition of fun has changed over time.

"The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character." ~Arnold Schwarzenegger The gym. Just saying the word makes some people break into a sweat-and not the good kind. Bright lights. Mirrors everywhere. What do I wear? That "everyone is staring at me" feeling (spoiler: they're not; they're staring at themselves).

The conversation around workplace productivity has shifted. For years, the focus sat squarely on output: longer hours, faster responses, and relentless availability. But a growing body of evidence suggests that sustainable performance depends less on time spent working and more on how effectively professionals recover between periods of high demand. This shift is playing out visibly across the capital's business districts, where mobile massage in London is becoming increasingly popular as a scheduled necessity rather than an occasional indulgence.

For one, she was surrounded by wellness founders at her local gym who loved testing new products and building community. Second, Liu also realized that many of these founders, especially women and minorities, were struggling to fund their ideas due to limited access to founder networks. To bridge this gap, she launched Crush It Ventures, a wellness-focused early-stage fund. The firm hopes to back companies building across the wellness sector, including in mental health, fitness and sport, beauty, and hospitality.

At the start of the year, the most activity I can manage is to pop on a podcast and haul myself into a bubble bath. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. It's a comfort that has made me an expert in every bath cream, foam and salt on the high street. I am practically incapable of passing a shelf without popping a new one in my trolley.

Office life is demanding, and with all the other responsibilities of life, it's hard to take time to look after your well-being. A sedentary lifestyle can take a toll on your physical and mental health. But the solution could be as simple as adding some easy yoga poses into your daily routine. Yoga includes physical poses along with breathing techniques and meditation. It provides office workers with a mind-body approach to offset the troubles caused by long hours of sitting.

Perched high atop a dappled-colored horse at Alisal Ranch, I stroked the equine's coarse hair in an effort to bond before sauntering off to an authentic cowboy breakfast. I was with a group of like-minded women in search of a wellness weekend but we chose to trade our spa robes for cowgirl hats and forgo mani-pedis for dusty trail rides. This was not a typical dude ranch experience. It seamlessly blended nurturing self-care, enriching workshops, nourishing meals, and fostering friendships.

Clare McKenna's new book Would You Be Well? is timely - both in terms of a January release and also, on a macro level, as a guide through the increasingly complex world of 'wellness'. The book is a very detailed look at the many aspects of health - physical, emotional, psychological, as well as the delicate balance between these - and is clever about breaking down the sometimes-intimidating advice out there into small, manageable actions.

In 2025 the University of Oregon concluded from their research that "... hot-water immersion produced measurable changes in inflammatory markers. These effects can persist beyond the session, suggesting a sustained health benefit." Long before this the Romans knew that a good soak in hot water had therapeutic benefits for the body and mind. Hot tubs, spas, aren't considered just a luxury anymore, they're great for wellbeing as well as for fun, family time and a lot of je ne sais quoi to life in France.

"Supernatural is amazing, but I am canceling it because of this," Chip told me.

I'll admit it upfront: I'm difficult when it comes to mattresses. My husband lovingly (and accurately) calls me the Princess and the Pea. I notice everything. Too firm? My hips complain. Too soft? My lower back stages a full protest. Too hot, too sink-y, not supportive enough; nothing escapes my attention. Chronic lower back pain will do that to you. Over the years, it's turned me into a real mattress snob with extremely strong opinions and very little patience.

Capricorn season is closing out with an incredibly productive new moon, perfect for finally executing some of the New Year's goals that have been swirling around in your brain for the past few weeks. Rising on Jan. 18, this month's lunar reset brings the sun and moon together in the ambitious and determined sign of Capricorn, and it's motivating people to invest in themselves and their passions. Everyone can tap into this lunation's power, but for the signs least affected by the Jan. 18 new moon, it'll be a little more lowkey.

What can AI do for my health? Before testing Google's revamped Fitbit Premium, powered by Gemini, I didn't believe it could do that much. Of course, I'm aware of the technology's ability to comb through large datasets to decode patterns. That's helpful for exercise, sleep tracking, or predicting illness or strain. It's one of the reasons I love using devices like smartwatches and smart rings to track my health.

Hot water is the way to go. If you get bloated, hot water. If you have period cramps, hot water. If you're a naturally cold person, hot water. If you have bad skin, hot water. First thing in the morning, when you wake up, hot water. And your life will change. You'll start to feel better.

Many women begin the year with broad ambitions: Do more. Progress faster. Lead better. But without a clear career plan, it is easy to get caught in urgency, competing priorities, and other people's agendas.A strong start to the year is not about doing everything at once. It's about building a focused, realistic plan that aligns with your goals, values, and current season of life.This post outlines a step-by-step approach to planning your career for 2026 so that you can move with clarity rather than pressure.

This one hour class provides an introduction to IMPACT Bay Area's style of empowerment self-defense. In this class students develop intuition, situational awareness, congruent body language and verbal skills to deescalate and deter assault and harassment, as well as learn two simple and effective physical techniques. Students who complete this class will receive a discount off a future full-length Basics course.

Alexander Basil has created a cosmos. His instantly recognizable style and established color palette implicate the subject matter in a process of calm and sure scrutiny. Central to this cage is the familiar figure that reappears, on a quest through daily life. The protagonist is both the subject and object of reflection that morphs in and with his surroundings, travelling worlds beyond the room he finds himself in.

After working for 40 years at the county's Department of Agriculture, my grandpa started a part-time job at a local towing company. He didn't have to, financially, but he wanted to stay busy. What started as a fun retirement gig evolved into three more decades of dedicated work. Even into his 90s, he didn't fully quit working, and that's just how he liked it.

Die Sauna is free after 6pm, she said cheerfully in a mix of German and English, adding that all I needed was a towel. From that day on, sweating in the steaming sauna became my nightly ritual. I couldn't quite join the occasional conversations that bubbled up around me my German was very basic and my confidence level was hitting rock bottom. So mostly I sat quietly, listening, nodding, absorbing the rhythm of strangers unwinding at the end of their day.

The radically inclusive SASV is a secular and service nonprofit that celebrates life, welcomes all people and supports everyone fulfilling their potential. It aims to help people "live better" with inspiring, thought-provoking and practical ideas that help people lead the lives they want; "help often" by encouraging community action and lives of purpose; and, "wonder more" with talks, singing as one, readings and games to connect with each other and world. Most of all, have fun, be nice and join in.