Big life transitions hit us all pretty hard. The stress of a new job, career, or overall lifestyle can become overwhelming and make us feel sluggish. At the same time, being stuck in the same routine week after week can have the same effect.
When we’re feeling overwhelmed and not like our best selves, it's easy to put self-care to the wayside. What we love to do isn’t prioritized, and we often forget how to incorporate movement and fun exercise into our daily lives.
To get moving again it’s easy to say that you’ll sign up for more yoga classes or head to your local gym, but this can put even more pressure on you than there already is. We’ve found that the best way to incorporate exercise into your routine is by making small adjustments.
Instead of making big leaps away from your current routine, find ways to take a few minutes each day to dedicate to yourself. The little moments can add up and have a greater impact than you may have imagined.
We’ve laid out some simple ways that you can slightly adjust your day so that it has more movement and stress-relieving endorphins:
#1 Take Care Of Your Furry (Or Not Furry) Friends
Whether you have a dog or a less active pet friend, caring for it can add some extra exercise into your day.
Walking your dog is one of the more obvious ways to get some steps in, but dog owners typically recognize they’re signing up for a walking buddy when they go through the adoption process.
For our non-walking pet owners you can still get some exercise by taking care of your pet. Use part of your afternoon to set up some climbing shelves for your cat or lizard. Has your fish tank been a bit neglected? Spruce it up by using your muscles to give it a thorough cleaning.
If you don’t have the motivation to get yourself moving, maybe helping out your pet will improve your atmosphere and overall mood.
#2 Go Out For A Fun Night
It’s a lot easier to go out with friends than it is to get yourself to the gym, we know. Honestly, both activities can add an equal amount of exercise to your day.
Think about it; showering, getting dressed, walking to the Uber, dancing all night, walking to the closest food joint, and getting yourself back home. A whole night out can result in thousands of steps and a bunch of hours continuously on your feet. Just watch out for the cocktails.
Next time you’re invited out, go for it. Enjoy your nights out and get some exercise out of it at the same time!
#3 Spend Time With Some Rascals
Kids have a lot more energy than we do, if you want to get moving spend some time with some rascals. Between playing tag, house, and monsters you’re bound to work up a sweat.
If you have kids of your own, then you already know about the workout that comes with raising them. If not, hang out with your nieces and nephews, your little sibling, your coworkers’ kids, or the little ones growing up in your apartment complex.
Kids can brighten up your mood, let you escape adulthood, and help you get in some exercise.
#4 Go Swimming
Swimming is one of the most fun ways to exercise for anyone. Swimming is an aerobic exercise that gives your whole body a workout. If you avoid exercising because it hurts your joints, then swimming is a great way to get moving without the pain.
Hit your local pool or even trudge through sands to the beach and get your heart rate going.
#5 Play Your Favorite Sport
Walking or running can feel like obvious workouts, making it harder to get yourself out the door and moving. Hitting the courts however with your friends can be a lot more fun. Playing basketball, baseball, or tennis is a great way to use your whole body and raise your heart rate.
If you find it hard to find a partner or group of friends to play with, there are some solo sports that you can get into. Consider jumping rope, trying out rock climbing, or martial arts. Grab a few yummy and protein-packed bars, and get outside for a few minutes or hours.
Having a sport that you love is an easy 'in' to exercising, but trying something new can be just as exciting.
#6 Gardening
Your traditional perception of a home workout may involve Youtube videos and exercise bands, but another at-home exercise idea is taking care of your home.
Pulling out weeds, raking leaves, and lifting heavy pots can be an awesome form of physical activity. Gardening is a two in one way to lift your mood and feel proud of yourself: getting in some exercise and beautifying your garden.
#7 Video Games
You may think that video games are the antithesis of exercise, but it depends on the ones you play. The Wii craze of the early 2000s enlightened us all on how videogames can get us moving. There are still systems and games that offer dancing, tennis, and even water-rafting.
Video games provide such easy exercises for beginners all in the comfort of your living room. Grab a remote, stand in front of your TV, and get going.
Rethink Exercise
We all have nightmares about workout routines that involve the plank position and squeezing glutes. Sometimes, the best way to conquer your fear is by thinking about the situation differently.
Exercising is about moving, getting on your feet, and getting your heart rate up. There are so many ways to incorporate a great workout into your day without the gym or the booty bands.
Sometimes, all that’s keeping you from exercising is your body being inadequately fueled. Be sure to set yourself up for success by enjoying a bottle of Soylent, packed with what your body needs; 39 essential nutrients, and 20g of protein to keep you going.
We hope that these seven different forms of exercise come to mind the next time you’re overthinking what it means to be active.
Meet 7 Inspirational Women Who Changed Their Stories and Changed Their Worlds
Los Angeles, CA, January 25, 2022 — Can something as simple as a story change the lives of others? Do you ever wonder if your life — your story — matters?
“Of course, it does,” says international speaker and sought-after story expert, Linda Olson. “Everyone has a story, and your story can bring transformation and impact into the word today.”
In Olson’s latest book, Story Matters! Empowering Your Hope When Going Through Tough Times, sheprovides real-life examples of seven ordinary women who faced major challenges. These women embraced their stories and learned to rise above nearly insurmountable obstacles. They did it through strength, courage and their faith in God, and they are sharing their stories to light a path forward for others facing difficult circumstances.
In this book, readers will learn:
- How a single woman rose above childhood trauma to conquer fear and loneliness.
- How a young mother moved through grief and loss when her young child was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- How a caring sister became embroiled in a devastating lawsuit and discovered that forgiveness is a choice.
- How a middle-aged woman, faced with a choice to live or die, once again found joy.
- How a career woman who achieved the many pleasures of the world discovered her real fulfillment was through commitment.
- How a college student fulfilled her dream, only to find out her real dream lay deep within her.
- How a teenager, devastated by the death of her brother, became a professional storyteller.
“All of these women wanted to give in and give up because they felt themselves giving out,” Olson said. “But something kept them going!”
And now they’re using the power of their stories to make a difference.
Linda Olson is the go-to story expert who helps authors, speakers and entrepreneurs impact millions with their stories. She is a TEDx Speaker, multiple bestselling author and founder of Wealth Through Stories.Her mission is to impact a million people a year with multiple authors in her series, Story Matters! Linda and her husband, Rick, reside in sunny California. They enjoy their two married daughters, sons-in-law and five adorable grandchildren who are the best part of their story.
Athleta Partners with Alicia Keys to Further Cement its Commitment to Women’s Well-Being
A Purpose-Driven Partnership Centered on Empowering Women which includes Creating Product Offerings, Building Community and Expanding Access to Well-Being ResourcesThe First Series of Product Offerings will Release on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022
Toronto, CA, Jan. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Athleta announced a new holistic partnership with 15-time GRAMMY Award winner Alicia Keys. Together, Keys and Athleta will drive awareness of and access to women’s well-being through co-created product offerings, impact grants and unique community content. Keys joins Athleta’s Power of She Fund grant program as a mentor and advisor, and will also work with the brand to connect meaningfully with women through community conversations in AthletaWell, Athleta’s digital community that supports women’s well-being.
Always an advocate for women’s empowerment, Keys has spent her expansive career cultivating a deeper connection with herself as a path to finding her true power. Today, on her birthday, Keys celebrates the momentous day with the announcement of this new partnership, which amplifies her ongoing commitment to health, wellness and uplifting women alongside Athleta’s platform, “Power of She.”
“I was drawn to Athleta because we both want to encourage women to discover, accept and OWN their power,” said Keys. “We’re all about the uniqueness of women, body positivity and creating a lifestyle that showcases our immeasurable power within. It’s time to thrive - not just to survive - and my hope is that these offerings are another outlet for you to amplify your personal power, your possibility, and feel comfortable in your own skin.”
In celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8, 2022), Keys and Athleta will release the first in a series of product offerings. The Athleta x Alicia Keys collection will be available in sizes XXS-3X starting March 8 at Athleta.ca and in all Athleta retail locations. The limited run collection brings together Keys’ style with Athleta's consciously inclusive designs to give women the freedom to move, breathe, and feel powerful in their own bodies.
Athleta has rewritten the blueprint for partnerships, prioritizing authenticity and shared values that drive both business and impact, and supporting its partners as whole women, beyond their artistic or athletic achievements. Keys joins a roster of powerful, like-minded partners, including Simone Biles and Allyson Felix, who bring these values to life.
"Alicia has made a powerful commitment to well-being and we are thrilled to welcome her to Athleta's community of empowered women,” said Mary Beth Laughton, president and chief executive officer of Athleta. “As we work toward our goal of reaching $2B in net sales in 2023, part of our growth strategy is constantly listening to our customers' needs. With the recent launch of our digital community, AthletaWell, we created a space where women can connect with each other around topics of well-being, health and purpose. With a values-driven partnership like this one with Alicia, we are ideally positioned to continue to meet our customer’s needs in the well-being space and support her across all aspects of her life.”
Core to the partnership is Keys’ involvement in Athleta’s Power of She Fund grant program that supports women and girls, businesses and organizations that are committed to making well-being accessible, specifically in the BIPOC community. Keys will help select recipients and provide them with mentoring resources and learnings from her own well-being journey over her career. Launched in 2020, and activated by the Women’s Sports Foundation, applications for the next cycle of well-being grants will open in June 2022. For additional information about the Power of She Fund, visit womenssportsfoundation.org/wellbeingforall.
Today, Keys and Athleta released a first look from their upcoming campaign together, “Within You.” Launching March 8, the campaign explores the relentless strength within women through conversations between Keys and three remarkable women celebrating their accomplishments and finding inspiration in the tools they use to foster their own healthy mind, body and spirit.
About Athleta: A certified B Corporation, Athleta is a performance lifestyle brand with a mission of empowering a community of active women and girls. Athleta’s versatile premium performance lifestyle apparel is designed by women for women with inclusivity at its core. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to support women across their entire lifestyle – from yoga and training to travel and sleep. In 2016, the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in San Francisco, CA and a Gap Inc. brand (NYSE: GPS), Athleta apparel is available at its over 200 retail stores across the United States and Canada, through its catalog, and at Athleta.com.
About Alicia Keys: Alicia Keys is a 15-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, producer, founder of Keys SoulCare, New York Times best-selling author, film/television and Broadway producer, accomplished actress, entrepreneur, and a powerful force in the world of activism. Since the release of her monumental 2001 debut album, SONGS IN A MINOR, Keys has sold over 65 million records and built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments. Alicia has become the #1 RIAA certified Female R&B artist of the millennium with 27.5 Million worldwide certified digital sales (US) and 20 Million Album Sales (US). She released her eighth studio album, KEYS (Original and Unlocked) - a double album, December 2021. The ‘Original’ side showcases Alicia’s signature musicality which is mirrored by a sampled version - experienced through the lens of ‘Unlocked’ (a collaboration she did with Mike Will). A first look from the new music was featured in Alicia’s YouTube Docu-Series titled, Noted: Alicia Keys The Untold Stories, which was released this past September. In addition to her dynamic music journey also comes a rolodex of creative outlets and endeavors. Alicia released her book, “More Myself: A Journey” via Flatiron Books which debuted and spent multiple weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List. On March 1, she will release her first graphic novel titled, “Girl On Fire” with HarperCollins. In line with Alicia’s vision for self-care and mindfulness comes the launch of her lifestyle beauty brand, Keys Soulcare, which Alicia leads as the founder and Goddess-in-Chief. The collection of offerings aims to go beyond skincare and illuminates true care for the whole self; body, mind, and spirit. Her latest partnership is an empowering product offering co-created with Athleta that drops on International Women’s Day (March 8).
SEIZE THE DAYS THIS WINTER AND EXPLORE CANADA’S GREAT OUTDOORS
TORONTO, ON, Jan. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From ski slopes in British Columbia to snowshoeing trails in Nova Scotia, there is so much to see and do during the winter season. Days Inn is calling all travellers to embrace the beauty of the great outdoors with a last-minute trip to one of our cool Canadian destinations.
Close to Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks, Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Revelstoke, BC is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Revelstoke Mountain Resorts features 3,121 acres of terrain, four alpine bowls, and world-famous Selkirk tree skiing spread over 69 runs and areas during the winter months.
Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Days Inn by Wyndham Hinton-Jasper, AB is the perfect starting point for a Rocky Mountain adventure. Hinton in the winter is a magical place covered in snow and ice. Book an ice walk adventure to explore frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and incredible ice formations.
Saskatchewan offers some of the best snowmobiling in North America and the Yorkton area ranks top for facilities and snowmobile conditions. With access to over 400 kilometres of groomed snowmobile trails, this is one destination not to be missed! The award-winning Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Yorkton, SK provides easy access to all nearby winter attractions.
The World’s Largest Snow Maze is just a short drive from Days Inn by Wyndham Steinbach, MB. Enjoy the challenge of the snowy maze, try the Giant Luge run, slide down Snow Mountain or be amazed by the snow carvings and buildings. For those staying at home during the pandemic and dealing with restrictions, it is a chance to stretch their legs and add a little adventure!
Find a multitude of outdoor activities conveniently located near Days Inn by Wyndham Berthierville, QC. From dogsledding to fat biking, snowkiting to snow tubing, relish in endless hours of winter fun. Located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, Berthierville is a magnificent playground for anyone who enjoys adventures big or small!
Located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland, the vibrant town of Stephenville offers a unique mixture of culture and tradition. Looking for winter paradise? You won’t want to miss the Stephenville Winter Carnival running from February 25 – March 1, 2022. Treat yourself to some rest and relaxation with a stay at Days Inn by Wyndham Stephenville, NL.
A famous hub for snowmobilers, the Miramichi region offers much more to beat the winter blues! Experience the burgeoning local food and beverage scene if snow activities are not your thing. Right in the heart of downtown, Days Inn by Wyndham Miramichi, NB provides easy access to all attractions and recreational activities.
Winter is a prime time to explore Nova Scotia’s great outdoors. For an intense challenge or a fun family time, discover enchanting landscapes on a variety of snowshoeing trails available in the South Shore region. Days Inn & Conference Centre by Wyndham Bridgewater, NS a prime spot off Highway 103, making it easy to reach exciting attractions and activities.
Days Inn by Wyndham hotels in Canada offer free Wi-Fi, either an on-site restaurant or a free breakfast, a pool at many locations and kids stay free. Plus, earn valuable Wyndham Rewards points while you travel then redeem for stays at thousands of Wyndham hotels, vacation club resorts & vacation rentals worldwide. Members can also redeem Wyndham Rewards points for flights, car rentals, gift cards, online merchandise and so much more. Reservations can be made by visiting daysinn.ca or by calling 1 800 DAYS INN (1-800-329-7466).
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About Days Inns Canada: Part of Realstar Hospitality, Days Inns Canada is one of the country's leading hotel chains with over 105 independently owned and operated properties and over 8,385 rooms. Its franchises cover a wide range of urban, airport and resort properties in primary and secondary markets across Canada. Every Days Inn by Wyndham in Canada participates in the Wyndham Rewards guest reward program. Part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH), Days Inn by Wyndham is a globally recognized hotel brand with over 1,600 properties across 23 countries. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by number of properties with approximately 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents. For more information about Days Inns Canada, to make an online hotel reservation, to become a Wyndham Rewards member or to learn more about the elevated health and safety protocols with the Count on Us program, visit daysinn.ca or call the bilingual reservations hotline at 1 800 DAYS INN (1-800-329-7466). Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/daysinncanada, follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/daysinncanada and follow us on Instagram, instagram.com/daysinncanada.
Numbers Reveal COVID Lockdown’s Human Toll
St. Paul, MN, January 25, 2022 — How does a nation, and a world, respond to one of the greatest public health crises of our times? And at what cost?
With the logic of a lawyer and the scientific expertise of an immunologist, Hugh McTavish, J.D., Ph.D., walks readers through the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy decisions that were made to keep the virus in check in his eye-opening book, COVID Lockdown Insanity. Dr. McTavish’s fact-filled exploration reaches beyond the simple metrics of case and death counts and reveals the unsettling consequences of society’s responses to this disease. His careful examination of the scientific evidence related to COVID-19 transmission and his analyses of both the human and economic costs of the lockdown strategy illuminate the dysfunctionality of the government’s policy response. In the end, he lights a path toward making more enlightened decisions that offer hope of real solutions.
In the book, Dr. McTavish dissects the data that shows:
- The COVID lockdowns threw 63 million Americans into major depression.
- All evidence suggests that the lockdown response to COVID failed to decrease COVID deaths at all.
- Even if the lockdowns prevented 200,000 COVID deaths, which they probably did not, the lockdowns caused more loss of life in increased suicides, drug overdose deaths, cancer deaths and heart disease deaths than they saved in prevented COVID deaths.
- For every 1 COVID death prevented, the lockdowns caused these harms: 1/3 of a death of despair (suicide or drug overdose); 316 people thrown into major depression; 127 people out of work; 350 students out of school; 1,640 people denied the right to live their lives as they wish.
- Mask wearing has “little or no effect” on COVID cases or deaths.
- Hand washing and hand sanitizer use is the best intervention and could dramatically reduce COVID deaths, but this was underemphasized.
- Asymptomatic people very rarely spread COVID.
- Children do not spread COVID, and closing schools had no effect on COVID spread at all, and we knew that by the summer of 2020, and CDC staff wrote a paper saying so in January 2021.
In conclusion, Dr. McTavish says, “Lockdowns have no advantage at all. If you think life is better than death, a long life is better than a shorter life, happiness is better than depression, more money is better than less, education is better than ignorance, child abuse and domestic abuse are bad things, and more personal freedom is better than less, then you agree the lockdowns were a mistake.”
Hugh McTavish is a Ph.D. biochemist and immunologist and a patent attorney. He has authored 18 refereed scientific journal articles and is the inventor of 21 U.S. patents. He has also written two prior books on public policy and nature. He has started two pharmaceutical companies off his own inventions. He lives near St. Paul, Minnesota.
COVID Lockdown Insanity: The COVID Deaths It Prevented, the Depression and Suicides it Caused, What We Should Have Done, and What It Shows We Could Do Now to Address Real Crises
Boca Raton, FL, January 25, 2022 — In The One-Hour Miracle: A 5-Step Process to Guide Your Self-Healing, authors Andrew Hahn, Psy.D., and Joan Beckett, L.M.H.C., present their revolutionary Life Centered Therapy (LCT) — a healing framework that is a blueprint for transforming most problems.
The book explains how to apply Life Centered Therapy to heal from pain that is physical (such as chronic pain, asthma, addictions); emotional or mental (including depression, PTSD, OCD, paranoia); relational (releasing destructive patterns); and spiritual (alienation, despair, inertia). And sometimes, according to the authors, the transformation takes just one hour.
Filled with testimonials from real people who have benefitted from this approach when other methods failed to help, The One-Hour Miracle provides readers with an entirely new way of understanding their suffering, giving them inspiration and hope that they can create miracles in their own lives.
“The One-Hour Miracle includes a protocol that allows people to facilitate this process on their own by finding the root cause of their suffering and shifting it,” say Hahn and Beckett. “This framework helps them live engaged lives of freedom, peace, joy, wisdom, and vitality.”
The authors provide readers with clear, step-by-step instructions that can be implemented immediately to achieve authentic transformation. Additionally, therapists reading this book will have enough information to start using the approach with their own clients.
About the Authors Andrew Hahn, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and podcast host of Guided Self Healing/Fearless Living; and Joan Beckett, L.M.H.C., MBA, M.A., C.A.G.S., a licensed mental health counselor and former divisional controller of a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company, are thought leaders in the field of consciousness and spiritual, energy and somatic psychology. They are principals of the Life Centered Therapy Institute.
The One-Hour Miracle: A 5-Step Process to Guide Your Self-Healing Publisher: HCI Books Release Date: March 15, 2022 ISBN-10: 0757324150 ISBN-13: 9780757324154 Trade Paperback, 304 pages Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and other online retailers
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Through a Glass Darkly: Nike Sues Lululemon Over Mirror - by Aron Solomon
This is your author a few days ago, sporting his new digital camouflage Lululemon Surge Warm Half-Zip that had arrived the night before.
Inside the box was a card trying to sell me something called Lululemon Mirror. The image on the card was very similar to what Lululemon has on their site:
My first reaction was “This looks like something Nike would make. I wonder if they’ll claim to own the IP rights.”
I was doomscrolling on Twitter a few hours later and yup, I saw that Lululemon is being hauled into New York Southern District Court by Nike for patent infringement for their new “smart home gym that gets to know you.” Lululemon now gets to know their lawyers better than they had ever hoped to because, when it comes to intellectual property rights, Nike doesn’t play.
The Nike battle with Lululemon all comes on the heels of last week’s massive patent rights win for Sonos over Google. In both cases, the defendant is accused of embedding proprietary technology in their branded product - Nike’s technology in the Lululemon mirror and Sonos’s technology in Google’s Chromebooks, Pixel phones, Chromecast, and the like.
Tim George, a Pennsylvania lawyer, explains why these companies often pursue legal action so quickly:
Companies such as Nike and Sonos have spent countless millions to become what is known as first-choice brands. When you think of sneakers and innovation in sports, you think of Nike. So if Nike doesn’t actively protect their intellectual property rights, that status quo changes and they may never reclaim their place. That’s why these disputes move so quickly to the courts, if not necessarily as quickly through them.
Mirror is undoubtedly ultra cool. It is everything anyone could want in a Coronavirus-era home gym product. It looks to be highly-engaging, fun, and in Lululemon’s own words, “the ultimate studio, with over 10,000 classes, taught by world-class trainers—right on your wall.” In an era where people are uncertain whether they should invest in gym memberships or in-person fitness classes for the foreseeable future because of new virus strains and forced closures, the products and services that best replicate the experience of actually being outside of your home will win - and Mirror does exactly that.
So you might be thinking “What’s the issue here - did Nike actually make their own Mirror? I would have remembered seeing this.” The simple answer is that they didn’t, but that doesn’t mean that Nike won’t win this lawsuit - and here’s why:
Nike sees itself as a technology company and a research and development company with the same intensity that many of us see it as a great sneaker company. They invest massive amounts of money into not only imagining what’s next and what comes after that, but actually working on the Next Next Next Big Thing.
Technology is a great thing but sometimes it can bite us when we don’t appreciate its qualities and parameters. As the always excellent blog, The Fashion Law, explained, it’s Lululemon’s own very expensive tech acquisition here that has them in extremely hot water:
In its complaint, Nike asserts that the technology at the heart of the $1,500 at-home exercise system – which Lululemon brought in-house when it acquired fitness startup Mirror in June 2020 for $500 million – “practice[s] the claimed inventions of [its] asserted patents,” namely, U.S. patents 8,620,413; 9,278,256; 9,259,615; 10,188,930; 10,232,220; and 10,923,225, all of which are utility patents (as distinct from design patents), and thus, protect the invention of a new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter.
In other words, Nike is saying that they have been the leaders in digital technology as it relates to sports for eons, in part because they actually patent stuff they invent and might not be ready to use today but might use tomorrow. That’s what they assert happened here and, if they’re right, Lululemon is going to have a tension headache that a quick home workout won’t help.
Nike has slid under our collective radar as a technology company since at least 2019, when they immersed themselves deeply enough into data science, augmented reality, and machine learning to essentially chart a new path for the future of the business. By reimagining the business as a tech company that makes hardware (shoes, clothing, and accessories) and software (well, actual software), the engine becomes the pixels and the car becomes the future of the business.
What separates Nike from all of their competitors individually and collectively is that they are powerful enough to innovate for themselves, meaning that they can build, test, iterate, file as many patents as they like - and then rinse and repeat as many times as they like - without ever affecting either their market share or the primacy of they brand in the eyes of consumers. How many companies in the world in any vertical can say this?
Lululemon envisioned a similar future for themselves. It’s honestly a great brand. Coming off a rough patch in which some customers felt that the very high quality of their products had declined, the brand is at an all-time high in every possible metric and poised to hit the $2 billion revenue mark as early as this year. They’re going to need that money, because their $500 million investment in Mirror could triple once Nike leaves the courtroom. That wouldn’t kill Lululemon because of both cash on hand and a line of investors who would happily fund a new equity round, but it would be a solid gut punch.
This is, of course, a wasted opportunity for both brands. At their core, Nike and Lululemon are a perfect fit. Not for an acquisition, but to play together on new fields they would co-create. And maybe that could be the eventual result of this lawsuit in an ideal and perhaps 25% less competitive world - that these two iconic brands could find the synergy to allow them to build something common from the foundation of each other’s strengths and user base.
But for now, both sides will prepare for the battle that costs not only money and effort, but represents a wasted investment of time and resources that should be focused on building great things that make their users happy.
Small changes in your workspace can create massive momentum in your life and in your business. Adora Winquist is the author of Detox Nourish Activate, Plant and Vibration Medicine for Energy, Mood + Love and an innovator in the field of aromatherapy and energy medicine.
Here’s Adora’s top tips on how connecting with your physical environment can help you achieve your goals.
Aromatics:
Aromatherapy offers potent medicine to address our holistic wellbeing. Essential oils are the most volatile, biochemically active representation of the plant kingdom and are products of plant metabolism.
I use aromatics and aromatherapy to help balance my emotions and stress response, increase my energy and focus myself and my environment, as essential oils offer a range of interventions that can assist us in restoring vitality from the physical, emotional and spiritual continuum of our lives.
Also known as the “quintessence” of the plant, essential oils are alchemical harbingers of higher vibrational energies that assist us to awaken and accelerate our path of personal transformation and spiritual evolution.
Specifically I like to use Patchouli essential oil, which is derived from the species Pogostemon cablin and is distilled from the leaves.
Setting Intentions:
First off it’s important to focus on what is it that you desire most from your home or workspace? Where our attention goes, our energy flows. Where is your attention called to? Do you desire to be more focused, creative, have greater prosperity, and harmony?
Making shifts in your living and workspace can bring about a lot of emotions, triggers and require releasing of the past. Setting your intention will provide you guidance on where to focus your attention first without feeling like you have to do everything all at once. It is ideal to set an intention when your world is quiet and still so you can fully tap into these areas that require your focus.
Sit in your space with your eyes closed. Start to take long deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. With each breath, start to open yourself up and connect with the space around you. Connect with your space as an extension of yourself. You will be drawn towards a specific intention or physical area within your space. Address the message that you receive, give appreciation, and take one final deep cleansing breath.Open your eyes and come back into the space around you.
Music:
Remember the last time you walked into a store and it was dead silent? That’s because retailers long ago figured out that music motivates customers to make purchases. It inspires creativity and focus, while making a room somehow feel less empty.Study after study has shown that music improves workplace productivity. University of Miami professor Teresa Lesiuk published “The effect of music listening on work performance”, stating that “When music listening in the work environment is encouraged by project directors and the workers are amenable to music listening, then certainly music listening has a positive effect.” She then says it follows that removing music at work leads to a psychological withdrawal of an important stimulus.
Kevin Kniffin, an applied behavioral scientist at Cornell University says his research shows that music significantly and positively influences cooperative behavior, especially happier music.
Anneli B. Haake, a PhD and expert on workplace music, did a study in the UK interviewing nearly 300 employees to get qualitative and quantitative data that demonstrated music was shown to increase “inspiration, concentration, positive distraction, stress relief and managing personal space.”
In other words, music in the workplace is better for your bottom line.
How to Get the Quality Health Care You Deserve: Insider Tips Straight From a Medical Professional
Concord, NC, January 25, 2022 — Everyone needs health care at some point in their lives. Understanding the risks and benefits of procedures, making sense of medical bills, and interacting with insurance companies are all lessons we have to learn on the fly — and often when we’re already shouldering the stress of battling an illness ourselves or helping a loved one.
After 28 years in the health care field, Dr. David Wilcox has seen enough to realize that proactive patient education can actually have a life or death impact.
“Entering the American healthcare system, one has to have a basic knowledge of it to be safe,” he said during a recent interview. “Medical errors are the third leading cause of death. Not a lot of people know that.”
In his new book, How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival, Dr. Wilcox offers information, facts and tips that can help patients and family members navigate through the morass.
“I have seen some alarming situations that nursing school never prepared me for,” Dr. Wilcox said. “Not being prepared and knowledgeable means you will have little control over the health care you receive.”
His goal in writing this book was to level the playing field, enabling consumers of health care to understand how to avoid getting caught in the systemic net.
In his own words, Dr. Wilcox’s book explores “what to do if you have to go to a hospital, how to handle an insurance company’s claim denial, how to find an alternative to high-priced prescriptions and why the current pay-for-fee system is inadequate. You will also discover the direction the healthcare system needs to move in, to holistically care for you, the patient … information that the health care entities would prefer you didn’t know.”
Dr. David Wilcox is anAmazon international bestselling author and health care professional who believes proactive patient education enables those accessing the healthcare system to be better partners in their health care. He also believes that everyone has the right to access the American Healthcare System safely. A Doctorate-prepared nurse who also holds a Master’s in Health Administration and is Board Certified in Nursing Informatics, Dr. Wilcox has nearly three decades of health care experience as a bedside nurse, hospital administrator and in health care information technology, which has helped him to develop his unique perspective on the American Healthcare System. For more information, please visit https://drdavidwilcox.com/.
How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival
St. Paul, MN, January 25, 2022 — How does a nation, and a world, respond to one of the greatest public health crises of our times? And at what cost?
With the logic of a lawyer and the scientific expertise of an immunologist, Hugh McTavish, J.D., Ph.D., walks readers through the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy decisions that were made to keep the virus in check in his eye-opening book, COVID Lockdown Insanity. Dr. McTavish’s fact-filled exploration reaches beyond the simple metrics of case and death counts and reveals the unsettling consequences of society’s responses to this disease. His careful examination of the scientific evidence related to COVID-19 transmission and his analyses of both the human and economic costs of the lockdown strategy illuminate the dysfunctionality of the government’s policy response. In the end, he lights a path toward making more enlightened decisions that offer hope of real solutions.
In the book, Dr. McTavish dissects the data that shows:
- The COVID lockdowns threw 63 million Americans into major depression.
- All evidence suggests that the lockdown response to COVID failed to decrease COVID deaths at all.
- Even if the lockdowns prevented 200,000 COVID deaths, which they probably did not, the lockdowns caused more loss of life in increased suicides, drug overdose deaths, cancer deaths and heart disease deaths than they saved in prevented COVID deaths.
- For every 1 COVID death prevented, the lockdowns caused these harms: 1/3 of a death of despair (suicide or drug overdose); 316 people thrown into major depression; 127 people out of work; 350 students out of school; 1,640 people denied the right to live their lives as they wish.
- Mask wearing has “little or no effect” on COVID cases or deaths.
- Hand washing and hand sanitizer use is the best intervention and could dramatically reduce COVID deaths, but this was underemphasized.
- Asymptomatic people very rarely spread COVID.
- Children do not spread COVID, and closing schools had no effect on COVID spread at all, and we knew that by the summer of 2020, and CDC staff wrote a paper saying so in January 2021.
In conclusion, Dr. McTavish says, “Lockdowns have no advantage at all. If you think life is better than death, a long life is better than a shorter life, happiness is better than depression, more money is better than less, education is better than ignorance, child abuse and domestic abuse are bad things, and more personal freedom is better than less, then you agree the lockdowns were a mistake.”
Hugh McTavish is a Ph.D. biochemist and immunologist and a patent attorney. He has authored 18 refereed scientific journal articles and is the inventor of 21 U.S. patents. He has also written two prior books on public policy and nature. He has started two pharmaceutical companies off his own inventions. He lives near St. Paul, Minnesota.
COVID Lockdown Insanity: The COVID Deaths It Prevented, the Depression and Suicides it Caused, What We Should Have Done, and What It Shows We Could Do Now to Address Real Crises
