What if you could feel better about yourself and more empowered in your life simply by saying nice things about yourself? That's the idea behind positive affirmations, and a great deal of research suggests that people who practice positive self-talk might be onto something. But while positive affirmations can help people feel more confident or able to successfully navigate trying times, they can sometimes have the opposite effect.Before you start working with affirmations, read on to learn what positive affirmations are, how they can affect you (both positively and negatively), and … [Read more...]
DIY Face Masks For All Skin Types
Not only can face masks alleviate skin problems, but they can also double as a stress reliever during a long, hard week. While a trip to the spa is a nice treat, too many facial appointments can leave your wallet empty and your skin longing for more. For a quick, healthy, and cost-effective mask, go the DIY route by turning to ingredients you already have in your pantry and refrigerator.The Importance of Face MasksLocking down a daily routine of cleansing, toning, and hydrating is great, but adding a mask once or twice a week can deliver additional ingredients that address issues such … [Read more...]
5 Yoga Poses You Can Do at Your Desk Chair
Posting up at a desk for eight or more hours a day can do a real number on our bodies. Extended sitting not only has prolonged health risks, it can make you feel stiff, achy, and uncomfortable in a matter of hours. The good news: Yoga can help. By incorporating a few yoga poses into your daily work routine, you can stretch out the muscles that get tight and sore with all that sitting—no mat or form-fitting pants required. Read on to learn how. Raised hands This pose, also known as Urdhva Hastasana, is a modification of the standing pose by the same name. It helps stretch and elongate the … [Read more...]
7 Realistic Tips to Actually Drink More Water
We all know the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” So why isn’t there an equivalent rhyme for how much water we should drink? Water is arguably one of the most important items we can—and need to—add to our diet. In fact, we should think of it as a nutrient, just like we do with the vitamins and minerals we get from fruits and veggies.There are well known—and surprising—health benefits to drinking water. We’ll break those down and then dive into tips to drink more water no matter how busy you are. Benefits of H2O Before we explain how to drink more water, let’s talk about why … [Read more...]
13 Foods You Should Store in the Fridge (Not the Pantry)
Storing food in the right place isn’t just about flavor, it’s about food safety. Some foods in your pantry or on your counter should be refrigerated—and some guidelines might surprise you. Here are 13 foods that should go from your pantry to the fridge.Condiments Ketchup, mustard, mayo, horseradish, and barbecue sauce can contain enough vinegar or other acid to make them shelf-stable, but once opened, refrigeration keeps them fresher longer. Opened mayo may be stored in the fridge for up to a month, and ketchup, mustards, and barbecue sauce for up to a year. Fruit spreads Fruit spreads … [Read more...]
Sit or Stand: Which Is Better in the Weight Room?
Open any popular fitness magazine and you’ll see tons of seated exercises for the back, biceps, and shoulders. But do seated resistance training exercises reign supreme? Or is it better to stand during weight training session?Here we break down the risks and rewards of both seated and standing exercises, which exercises are best suited for each position, and how to lift safely—whether you stand or sit. The Posture Analysis Sitting allows us to feel more stable: Our center of gravity is closer to the ground. However, when seated versus standing, a look at the spine shows how difficult it … [Read more...]
Find Yourself in a Bind?
The Benefits of Yogic Binds What takes a normal yoga pose and makes it a bind? Yogic binds involve rotating the torso and shoulders and clasping the hands together. They require both intense focus to help stay in the pose, and flexibility to actually get into the pose. Binding can help take your yoga practice to the next level and deepen your pose. It also engages muscles and aids in digestion by stimulating the abdominal organs.Binds can be difficult to get yourself into. It takes the proper balance between effort and ease. To little effort may prevent properly getting into the pose, … [Read more...]
Brush Up on Your Brushes
The Ultimate Makeup Brush Guide Blending and powder brushes may look similar but their uses are very different. This is the case for many makeup brushes—and when used incorrectly their full potential is being missed. Understanding how to properly use each makeup brush can take your makeup routine to the next level.Explore these tips and guidelines for makeup brush use and cleaning. A better understanding of your brushes will help you easily navigate the often confusing world of makeup application. … [Read more...]
Win an Apple Watch Sport + More!
*The Giveaway is now closed - Thank you for entering!* Simply enter your email below to sign up for the Health Perch Newsletter and your name will automatically be entered to win a new Apple Watch Sport. Ten additional prizes of NorthWestPharmacy.com $50 store credits will also be awarded! If you are currently signed up for the Newsletter, your name is already entered to win and you do not need to complete the form below. This promotion starts on Sunday, May 8th and will end on Wednesday, May 27th.Subscribe to Health Perch and win * Indicates required fields Email Address … [Read more...]
The Best Desk Stretches to Limber up, Get Focused, and De-Stress
Prolonged sitting, even for those who exercise 30 minutes a day, increases risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and early death. By performing simple desk exercises. This is especially problematic for desk workers who spend 8 hours of their day sitting. Desk stretches can minimize the effects of sitting at work and are easy to incorporate into your day.During a break at work, try out some of these easy desk stretches. From arms to legs—these exercises will get your heart pumping. … [Read more...]
