Makes four servings Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes INGREDIENTS 2 tbs. tamari or soy sauce 1 tbs. honey 1 tbs. rice vinegar 1 1/2 tsp. sesame oil, divided 1 tbs. avocado oil 1 tbs. minced fresh ginger 2 cloves garlic, chopped 5 oz. frozen shelled edamame 10 oz. frozen broccoli 5 oz. frozen sliced carrots Cubed roasted tofu or chopped sautéed chicken (optional) 10 oz. frozen cauliflower rice DIRECTIONS In a small bowl, whisk the tamari, honey, rice vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil. Place a heavy skillet over high heat for 30 seconds, then add the avocado oil. Wh ..read more

As we watch Congress grinding through the sausage-making process of the latest COVID-relief legislation, it’s helpful for impatient citizens to note that our elected representatives are actually moving relatively quickly to provide succor to a pandemic-torn nation. I’m here to tell you that things could be a lot worse: You could be going deaf and waiting in vain for the government to approve the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. OK, I’m exaggerating. The virus has killed more than a half-million Americans, ruined the lives of countless others, and widened a political and cultural ch ..read more

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is a disease that is both prevalent and potentially deadly: One in five Americans meets some of the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder at some point in their lives. Yet the real rate of depression is likely much higher. An estimated two-thirds of depression cases go undiagnosed, in part because the disorder doesn’t always show up the way we imagine it should. Not every depressed person cries or stays in bed all day; in fact many appear fine to those around them. Some may conceal their internal struggle because of the linge ..read more

We tend to train strength in straight lines, moving a weight from point A to point B along the most efficient path. The squat, bench press, and deadlift, for instance, are all one-liners with clear paths. But lifting, like life, doesn’t always present a clear-cut path — there may be stops along the route and transitions that must be negotiated. Simply put, some lifts not only make you strong but also help you learn when to work around, work through, hold steady, and shift to meet each step along the way. The Turkish get-up (TGU) is precisely the kind of multistep movement that builds strength ..read more

As a somatic (body-centered) therapist, Resmaa Menakem (www.resmaa.com) has counseled families dealing with domestic violence, acted as a trauma consultant for the Minneapolis Public Schools, and led workshops on cultural somatics with the Minneapolis Police Department. He also managed the wellness and counseling services for civilians on 53 U.S. military bases in southern Afghanistan. Menakem’s book, My Grandmother’s Hands, explores how we all carry the trauma of what he calls “white body supremacy.” His workshops and therapy practice are centered in helping people embark on a “course for hea ..read more

Excess weight has been linked to a higher risk of early death, but where you carry it could be key. On certain body parts, those extra pounds may actually lower the threat. For a meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal, researchers screened 98,745 papers and focused on 72 co­hort studies from around the world involving a combined 2.5 million participants. The review looked beyond the common-but-flawed body mass index (BMI), which does not distinguish between lean muscle and body fat. In fact, as EL reported, a 2013 study in JAMA found no linear relationship betwee ..read more

Whose voice has eased the most minds since the start of the pandemic (a.k.a. the most super-stressful year)? If you’re one of the 65 million–plus members of Headspace, it’s likely that of Eve Lewis Prieto, the director of meditation and one of the meditation teachers for the popular mindfulness app. Yet Prieto, with her elegant and inspiring tones, didn’t spring from an enlightened Buddhist ashram. Rather, she grew up working at the family hotel in the west Scottish countryside — and then pursued a career in advertising. “I was living in London, on the verge of chronic anxiety and stress,” Pri ..read more

Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, which means it can be tempting to reach for it in the morning after tossing and turning all night. But its stimulating properties make it a double-edged sword for insomniacs. “We think that caffeine makes us more alert,” says Orfeu Buxton, PhD, a Penn State University professor of biobehavioral health. “It actually makes us more anxious and a little more alert, and the anxiety lasts longer than the alertness.” Caffeine is also habit-forming and tolerance-inducing — meaning you’re likely to need increasing amounts to achieve the same buzz. Along with the 2 ..read more

Do better.” These words have echoed in many of our minds, driving us to strive for more, whether it’s related to a short-term work project, the wider scope of our career, or even our performance as a parent or partner. But, for many, that motivating spark can cross the line from helpful to hurtful, generating anxiety, spirals of procrastination, and an unfillable hole where a healthy sense of self-worth is meant to reside. “Perfectionists tend to be more personally critical of themselves for not measuring up to their own ideals, and then punish themselves for that,” says psychotherapist and ex ..read more

Religious acolytes, warriors, and early Olympians all understood the power of breath. One thousand years ago — and still today — Japanese Zen monks used breathing as a step to achieve a deep meditative state. U.S. Navy SEALs train in breathwork known as box breathing to maintain focus and calm in tense situations. And athletes such as modern-day collegiate runner Rosalie Fish of the Cowlitz Tribe connects her breathing to her mindset: “My mood and mentality directly impacts my breathing. I find it extremely beneficial to keep a grateful mindset while running, which helps keep my mind calm and ..read more