 | Take a Hike I love hiking. The smell of the trees, the rambling conversations, the feeling that I can conquer mountains on my own two feet—all of it is empowering to me. And yet, I’m also sometimes the first person to ask, “Can we turn around now?” As much as I might fancy an adventure, I’m also a worrywart—I’ll start to question whether the trail is too slick, or if we have enough time to make it back before dark. Sometimes my concerns are warranted; sometimes they’re a cop-out that I later regret. That's why I was so excited for fitness and health writer Rachel Kraus to speak with Jurica Barac, co-founder of long-distance hiking expedition company Highlander, about his best advice for pushing through when you’re tempted to turn around early. While Barac offers some smart tips, he also points out that hiking is something we do solely for fun, so it’s truly NBD to call it early when it’s just not your day. Even so, he adds that overcoming challenges on the trails can build our emotional fortitude in other parts of life—and that's a sentiment that deeply resonates with me. Going (and finishing!) the distance has taught me that sometimes, no matter how hard things get or how grumpy I become, if I stop making excuses and just keep putting one foot in front of the other, I’ll get through it—whether that’s a hike, a tough work project, or a difficult conversation. “Just ask yourself what are the hardest situations in your life that you went through, and compare them with this situation,” Barac tells Kraus. “Put this on the scale, and you'll see that you can really finish this.” I hope you take a chance to head out there this summer and make it to your own finish line, whatever that might be for you!  | Jennifer Heimlich
Senior Fitness and Health Editor | |
Have you heard 👂 This week on The Well+Good Podcast, non-binary certified sex therapist Rae McDaniel discusses their new book Gender Magic with host Taylor Camille. Learn their take on how trans and non-binary folks can live shamelessly, reclaim joy, and step into their most authentic selves—with pride. Listen Now |
🌟Star Student🌟: Stellium At any given time, the planets in our solar system are shuttling through the zodiac signs as they transit in their individual orbits. But sometimes, those orbits line up, placing multiple planets in the same sign at once. When there’s a celestial pileup of three or more planets, it’s called a stellium. And in astrology, the energetic result is just as magnified as the cosmic phenomenon suggests. Like any astrological aspect, a stellium can occur in your birth chart—meaning, three or more planets were in one zodiac sign when you were born—or in real time, suggesting that a group of celestial bodies are currently tag-teaming their way through one sign. With the former, chances are, your personality leans heavily in the direction of the zodiac sign in question, and with the latter, it’s likely that we’ll all feel the energy of the sign in question super intensely. The important thing to remember with stelliums is to not let the energy of the sign involved overpower you. Though stelliums offer an opportunity to embrace and learn from the energy of a single sign, tuning in to the vibe of an opposite sign can be helpful for staying grounded and present throughout. After all, in astrology—as in all things—balance is key. |
An Exercise You'll Actually Like Got low back pain or tight hamstrings? This simple move can ease both (and it feels seriously good—we promise): - Lie on your back with your feet up on a couch or chair.
- Place a squishy ball or a rolled-up towel between your inner thighs.
- Inhale, flex your feet, and press your heels into the chair until your butt is hovering just an inch or two off the ground while gently squeezing the ball between your legs.
- Take three to five long, steady breaths.
- Slowly lower your butt back to the floor and shake out your muscles.
- Repeat three to five times.
Learn why this exercise is so powerful here. |
bite-sized beauty 💄 With summer in full swing, it's key to take a look at your seasonal skin-care routine. So, behold, the "big four" summer skin-care ingredients dermatologists want you to use every day from now through September: - Sunscreen (duh): To protect against the harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer and visible signs of skin aging
- Vitamin C: To stave off sun damage, discoloration, and dark spots
- Hyaluronic acid: To draw moisture into the skin so it can stay hydrated on even the hottest, sweatiest summer days.
- Alpha-hydroxy acids: To melt away dullness-inducing dead skin cells.
And here are some specific product recommendations with those ingredients—obviously we wouldn't leave you hanging. |
COSMIC HEALTH ☀️🛌🌴👭 The sun moves into Cancer on June 21, heralding a new season—and the longest day in the northern hemisphere. Yet, with Pluto back in the sign of Capricorn (he returned to Capricorn last week on June 11), and Saturn stationing retrograde on today, this summer solstice asks us to look at the past and the future simultaneously. As we review Saturn in Pisces’ lessons—how to honor endings and responsibly find closure in ways that heal—take heed. Even with the longer days upon us, you may still feel groggy and need more sleep. Meanwhile, on Sunday, June 18, we have a new moon in Gemini, which opens the gates to fresh dimensions of time and space, inviting in new manifestations. This new moon squares to Neptune, meaning it’ll feel more reflective than usual. Invest time in yourself over the weekend to enjoy incredible energy later in the week as you celebrate the longest day of the year, marked by extra time outside or being with those you love the most. It’s the start of Cancer season, which is an aligned time to gather your friends and family, and to enjoy your favorite activities together. —Jennifer Racioppi, astrologer | |
