Health & Beauty

Are you one of those people who always thinks that summer is too short? Like it or not, summer must end. Don’t fret: outdoor fun is possible all year round. Fall is the time of leaf piles, camping, hiking, football and kickball. Even as the temperature drops, it’s easy to overextend your sun exposure. But we’ll walk you through how to protect yourself – from the sun and dangerous chemicals, too.

Many reasons to live sustainably ultimately benefit one person: you. What's one of the best parts of joining a local CSA? Fresh, delicious veggies and fruit. Like seriously, better than you've ever had before. Although I certainly avoid preaching to the crowd, my body got out of whack lately between traveling, getting sick and work. After seeing some not-so-flattering photos of myself, I decided to do a mini detox. Kicking back into a healthier version of you doesn't require a juice detox or lots of cash. There's a few simple ways to detox - all cheap, easy and locally. Here's 10 Ways to Get Healthy & Detox on a budget:

Okay, becoming a morning person may not be high on your list of goals, but indulge us for a second. Consider your answers to these questions: Do you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to tackle your ever-growing to-do list? Do you spend the first hour of your day feeling groggy and resenting the morning? Is caffeine an absolute nonnegotiable in order to feel like a human?   Most of us can probably answer  'yep' to at least one. You may think being a night owl suits you just fine, or maybe you find those who chirp about the "early bird" annoying. That may be the case, but studies consistently show that there's a slew of advantages to being an early riser including a more optimistic outlook, better ability to anticipate problems, and even an easier commute. Find out more about the advantages of waking up early, and how to become a morning person:

Want to find a way to glow from the inside out? Yoga is a great way to find inner peace and better yourself. Although it may feel like everyone else has gotten on the yoga bandwagon, it’s never too late to start. No, yoga is just not a girly excuse for exercise, either. Yoga has some serious health benefits for men and women of all ages. Here are 5 health benefits from practicing yoga:

As many active Philadelphians know, there’s less than 8 weeks until the Broad Street Run. On Sunday May 4th, runners will embark on the largest 10-mile road race, starting at the Central High School Athletic Field, passing the legendary City Hall and finally ending at the Navy Yard. While I've always been an avid runner, this will be my first time competing in a race (excluding my short lived cross country career in 7th grade). I’m scared, excited, nervous and electrified all bundled into one. Find out Philly's best running trails, tracks & running clubs after the jump!

For a lot of us stretching just isn't a priority. And,  I get that. If you're a gym person then you probably want to get in, get sweaty and get out. If you take fitness classes then you may have noticed that a lot of instructors skip stretching all together. (Some don't believe it's necessary, some expect that you'll do it on your own). In the fitness community stretching has become somewhat of a controversial subject. When I was studying for my Personal Training & Sports Medicine certification I realized that opinions of Fitness Experts are all over the board. So, I've made an effort to study and research the whole stretching she-bang for the past few years. Here's what I've learned - stretching is key - especially for those of us who spend a good portion of the day sitting. However, old school stretching before exercise is not of paramount importance and doesn't necessarily improve athletic importance. Personally I love my weekly yoga class as a way to work in stretching. But I'm an intermittent yogi and when I can't get to class I have to make an effort to carve out stretch time; Or, I feel it. I recently realized the hard way just how bad my body needs that stretch (and I'm not even a "desk worker" most days!) when I woke up feeling like a 90 year-old lady lacking full range of motion in my neck and complaining of creaky joints after a week without stretch time. If you aren't a regular stretcher I urge you to add even just 5-10 minutes into your routine two or three times a week. Do it first thing in the am pre-shower, as a mid-workday break or right before bed - just get it in and your bod will thank you. Click through for 6 reasons you need to stretch.

Hi. My name is Julie, and I'm addicted to Lithe Method. I've witnessed others try this workout since the first studio opened while I was living in Northern Liberties. Beth had her bout of Lithe Method addiction. But I didn't think it could happen to me. As a loyal PSC customer for over 6 years, I checked my attendance record in September. 10. times. total. (in 6 months.) My warmer months were spent running and biking, but I needed something new for the winter. I wanted to give the Pilates, Cheerleading and Ballet combination of Lithe Method a whirl. Find out more about my Lithe Method Trial & Review, after the jump.

We sure do love browsing Instagram for inspiration, cuteness and overall as the alternative to whiny Facebook feeds. And when we start to get a little gloomy about the shorter, colder days of fall - a picture can say 1000 words. Like "there's still hope outside!" Or "Look at the cool things people are doing in Philly." We searched the web to share our favorite Instagram accounts that capture the best of sustainable and healthy living in our city! (And make sure to follow us on Instagram while you're thinking about it.) Find out which are Philly's 10 Best Healthy Living Instagram Accounts, after the jump!

Sometimes you just want to get outside and try something new. L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools allow you to cool off in the hot, hot sun and find your new favorite water sport. I occasionally suffer from NLC Syndrome. Not Leaving City (NLC) Syndrome occurs when you get accustomed to all the awesome things that happen inside the city and decline activities outside the limits. On Sunday morning, (Find out more about our journey, after the jump!)