Like most women, I don’t have a ton of free time. Even if I do have a full hour-plus of discretionary time each day, I’m not spending it putting on workout clothes, doing a full workout, stretching, and washing my hair. That’s just not how I want to use my limited free time, and at this point in my life, I’m okay admitting that sometimes, that’s the only excuse I need. The fact remains: Moving our bodies is important. It’s healthy, it pays off in the long run, and sometimes the line between honoring your wants...

If you’re on the Internet at all, you’ve almost certainly heard of semaglutide in its more common name-brand forms: Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and/or Rybelsus®.  Semaglutide is a medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. It mimics the action of a naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar, insulin production, and appetite.  Initially approved for managing type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has gained popularity in recent years for its significant weight-loss benefits, especially for individuals who are overweight.  When coupled with exercise, this combination creates a powerful strategy to improve...

Over the past decade, workout classes have become popularized as a way to exercise without needing to think about crafting your own routine at the gym. Their low-maintenance, return on investment model helped create the notorious Barry’s Bootcamp, CorePower Yoga Sculpt, and Solid Core. However, not all workout classes are created equal. While the end result may leave us feeling sweaty and accomplished, research has revealed that our favorite classes can actually be adding extra stress to our bodies. Depending on the intensity and timing of an exercise, workout classes can create cortisol spikes. Cortisol...

Whether you’re just coming around to the idea of establishing a fitness routine, or you’re someone who already incorporates lots of movement and exercise into your days, you may wonder, "Is it bad to work out at night?" On the one hand, it’s easy to understand the “If I save my workout for bedtime, I’ll just wear myself out for a good night’s sleep!” school of thought. On the other hand, there has been speculation that regular evening workouts can negatively impact not only how long it takes you to fall asleep on average, but...

Ever had that moment during a workout when your stomach decides it's just not cooperating? For women living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), finding the right balance between staying active and managing symptoms can feel like solving a complex puzzle. Let's break down exactly how exercise and IBS interact, and discover the best ways to keep moving while keeping your gut happy. First, what is IBS? IBS is a chronic condition that affects both the stomach and intestines, and studies have revealed that it's more common in women than men. IBS can affect the body in...

updated Feb 16, 2025

Somatic exercises are different from your typical HIIT or weight-lifting workouts. They’re slow. They’re intentional. They focus on the mind-body connection, allowing you to better understand where you hold certain tensions and emotions within your body.  You might be wondering how slow movements can help with weight loss and overall health, but we’ll break it down for you — from the benefits to exercises you can do at home.  Somatic exercise and being present in the moment Somatic exercise requires that you focus on your inner experience as you go through the movements and expand...

In the past few years, we’ve taken a good, hard look at the damaging effects of diet culture. For those of us who grew up in the Diet-Coke-and-100-calorie-snack-pack landscape of the ‘90s, then began navigating the “clean eating” movement as young adults, it feels almost impossible to dethrone those diet culture…but we’re finally getting somewhere. And now, it’s time we get equally clear about dismantling our long-held ideas about exercise. Exercise used to be viewed as something you had to do, especially if you’d been “bad” with your eating habits. It was meant to be...

As women, many of us may have historically viewed our cycles, especially our periods, as “curses.” But it turns out, they can be our superpower if we’re willing to fully lean into each stage and give our body what it needs in those moments.  Part of what sets women apart is that we operate off of two biological rhythms instead of one.  Woman’s second biological rhythm: The menstrual cycle  Everyone has a circadian rhythm, aka your 24-hour “biological clock” that controls your sleep-wake cycle, hormone production, energy, metabolism, body temperature, and more. However, women have...

Women and men are not biologically the same.  At this point, it’s probably clear to many of us that women are not small men. We are biologically different, meaning we have different needs and focal points when it comes to our health.  This is not to say one sex is better than the other, just different.  Why?  Women operate off of two biological rhythms: their circadian rhythm (24-hour cycle) and infradian rhythm (~28-day menstrual cycle). Meanwhile, men operate off their circadian rhythm only.  This means women’s hormones fluctuate week after week as they enter different stages...

Let's dive right in: The pelvic floor consists of a series of muscles that sit at the base of your abdomen and connect all the way towards the bone you feel when you sit down for too long — the "sits" bone for short. The pelvic floor helps to support, stabilize, and secure your pelvic organs and has a strong connection to your "core" as well as to maintaining sexual function. Now, the core is a huge buzzword, especially in the fitness world. But do we even truly understand what the core is? Don't worry,...