We can characterize all our relationships along two dimensions of negativity and positivity. With our true friends, we have high levels of positivity and low levels of negativity. With our enemies, we have the opposite—these relationships are clearly toxic. When it comes to our acquaintances, we don’t spend much time and energy on them because we have low levels of both positivity and negativity with them. But then, what about the people with whom we experience both high positivity and high negativity?...

But aside from a wince-inducing sensation, what exactly is hamstring tightness? And more importantly, what can you do about it? Here, we take a look at this common phenomenon that can affect pretty much everyone—from runners to HIIT enthusiasts to yoga devotees and even folks who aren’t all that active. We’ll explain what’s going on in your body when you experience hamstring tightness and give six simple stretches you can do to feel better ASAP....

Let’s dive into what the researchers learned about these gastrointestinal symptoms—and what might help mitigate them. The results showed that women are statistically more likely to experience nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, heartburn, weight gain, and bloating during premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal states. Interestingly, the only GI symptom that wasn’t more prevalent and more severe during these states was weight loss. Some of the study’s most striking observations were racial and ethnic associations....

Again, it’s important to note that yoga is an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years, possibly to 2700 B.C. In fact, “yoga” is mentioned in the oldest known Indian scripts, the Vedas. Yoga first arrived in America from India through teachers like Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920 and Indra Devi in the 1940s, and it has since grown and changed. Most American yoga schools today place most emphasis on just the physical component of the practice rather than other areas that focus on mind, breath, and inner self....

The following plant ingredients come recommended by herbalists and stress experts for enhancing mood—both in the moment and long term. “It can also act in the brain, working on the serotonin system and the GABA system, which are both related to anxiousness and stress levels2,” Julie Moltke, M.D., a general practitioner with a background in emergency medicine and orthopedic surgery, who currently focuses on mental health, previously told mindbodygreen.* In the long term, hemp products can also nurture and support the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS)3, which regulates many essential physiological processes—from sleep to the stress response....

In psychology, these mental gymnastics are known as defense mechanisms. People are typically not aware when they’re using these self-protective methods, according to couples’ therapist Alicia Muñoz, LPC. “Because they’re survival adaptations, it would be misguided to say defense mechanisms are bad, wrong, or unhealthy,” she adds. “At the same time, they tend to block our awareness of our true underlying experiences, create tension in our bodies, and make it harder for us to be truly intimate and vulnerable with others....

As you breathe in, imagine the grounded and nourishing energy of the earth, mountains, trees, plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs coming up into your body. As you hold your breath, visualize the breath spiraling up the center of your body (through the seven chakras) and pulling any energy or thought that does not serve you. Then as you exhale over 8 seconds, imagine that excess energy releasing out of the mouth, and visualize light pouring through the top of your head back down to your feet and the earth below you....