Stretch it out

Today, we’re breaking down the mental benefits of yoga with tips from Peloton’s Mariana Fernández.

Plus: 

• A doctor and entrepreneur's top product picks. 

• New futuristic hiking pants, better-for-you candy, sleep aids, and more.

Let’s go!
- Ash Read and Joe Niehaus

Start yoga with Peloton's Mariana Fernández

Yoga benefits the body and brain.

Mindful movement. Beyond fitness or flexibility, yoga can help you de-stress by shifting the body into chill mode. 

• Research shows yoga lowers breathing and heart rates, decreases blood pressure, and reduces cortisol levels.

• Practicing yoga increases your brain’s GABA levels, a key factor in alleviating anxiety and depression.

• A Mass General study found that regular hot yoga cut depression in half.

Winning fans, nearly 17% of Americans now practice yoga, up from just 5% in 2002. With women twice as likely as men to hit the mat. 

Find your flow. Peloton's Mariana Fernández can help. With 11 years of teaching experience, she's got the lowdown on getting started:

• Stop comparisons: There’s no competition in yoga. Celebrate what your body can do, not what it can't.

• Be patient: Mastering poses takes time. Enjoy the journey.

• Breathe it out: When things get tough, focus on your inhales and exhales.

• Have fun: Yoga is better when you can chuckle at yourself when you’re on the wrong side or when you stumble. It brings back a sense of childlike exploration — which is beneficial for brain health in and of itself.  

Getting zen. Follow Fernández’s three-step approach to maximize yoga's mental perks:

1. Breathe mindfully: "Anytime you come to your mat, you are reminded of your breath, which keeps you present," says Fernández. Focus on each inhale and exhale throughout your practice.

2. Move for mood: As you flow through poses, remember that movement boosts serotonin. Pay attention to how each movement makes you feel.

3. Embrace shavasana: "Laying down at the end of your practice... keeps you mindful, present, and in your body." Don't skip this final relaxation — it's important for maximizing the session’s benefits.

The bottom line: More than a workout, maintaining a regular yoga practice enhances the mind and body, creating positive ripple effects throughout your life.

 - Emily Roethle

My Health Stack by Dr. Roshini Raj

Each week in our Health Stack series, Wellworthy taps into its network of health and fitness experts to offer personal insights and recommendations.

This week: Dr. Roshini Raj. Dr. Raj is an gastroenterologist, Associate Professor at NYU Langone Health, NBC Today Show and CNN Medical Contributor, and author. She’s also the founder of YayDay, a digestive supplement with magnesium, fiber, and enzymes.

Here’s Dr. Raj’s five go-to products: 

• Lorna Murray Hat: “You will always find me in a hat, winter or summer. And that’s because I know that the sun is the most damaging thing you can do to your skin in terms of aging. I found this hat at a store a couple of years ago. I have gotten so many compliments on it.”

• Earplugs: “So I don’t use it all the time, but I will if I’m approaching something that seems very noisy, for example, the subway, the trains here sometimes are screeching in it for a long time. And I know that hearing damage can occur with cumulative exposure to loud noises.”

• YayDay: ”I really wanted to create something that’s going to help people just go [to the bathroom] more regularly, have that satisfying morning movement so that they can go on with the rest of the day. That’s why it’s called “YayDay”, because once you kind of have that experience in the morning, you’re all set to have the best day.”

• Tula Beauty Sleep: ”No matter what I’ve done during the day or night, even if I haven’t been so good to my skin, this totally restores, refreshes, and gives a glow and moisture to my skin so that when I wake up, it’s like I slept for 20 hours and I just look totally rejuvenated.”

• Trader Joe’s Golden Raisins: “When I finish a meal at home and I am craving something sweet, which is most of the time, I just have a handful of golden raisins. They have a natural sweetness. They have fiber as well, which we know is great for our gut and overall health.”

Elevate your movement with the Nike Universa leggings

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Nike Universa leggings are designed to help you move with confidence. Their smoothing, extra-wide engineered waistband ensures a secure fit, so you can focus on your workout without distractions.

The midweight InfinaSmooth fabric offers squat-proof support, giving you uncompromising comfort that feels cool and sleek to the touch. These leggings smooth and lift, stretching freely with your every move, making them perfect for everyday practice or just everyday wear.

Built to last, Nike Universa leggings maintain their quality and fit through countless wears and washes. Plus, they feature convenient pockets, adding practicality to your workout gear.

Ready to experience unmatched comfort and support? Try the Nike Universa leggings today and move with confidence.

Just Dropped: Better-for-you lollipops

Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s vitamin and supplement brand Lemme launched a range of limited-edition watermelon flavored lollipops. Made with Grass-fed Collagen, Vitamin C, and Cocoa Butter. Give them a try here. (Launching at 9am PT today.)

More drops:

• Activewear collection. H&M released a new capsule of sports apparel featuring the thin SoftMove™ fabric, promoted by Irina Shayk. See the pieces here. 

• Increasing protein intake. VUUM is the world’s first sparkling plant protein drink. Each can contains 10g of pea protein and no artificial sweeteners. Order here.

• Robotic hiking gear. Arc'teryx and Skip joined forces to create the Mo/Go, a pair of technical pants featuring a device to make hiking easier — it’s unlike any product you’ve seen before. Pre-order here.

• Healthier juice. Loom’s Moon Punch marries the natural goodness of real juice with the light, refreshing qualities of water. Learn more here.

• Recovery shoes. Bedgear released the Airknit Performance Slides, a pair of responsive shoes that offer breathability and comfort after working out. Get them here.

• Safe surfing. Oakley announced an innovative surfing helmet, the WTR Icon. It’s designed to protect surfers from the most extreme water conditions. Learn more here.

• Vitamin-infused mouth tape. Dream Performance and Recovery launched Dream Tape+, an innovative mouth tape powered with different vitamins for more restful sleep. Get it here.

Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Emily Roethle, Joe Niehaus and Ash Read.

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Send us your favorite gear, personal health stack, or feedback on the newsletter.