BASIC TRAINING TECHNOYOGA? BIG CHILL
Go lightly into winter.
Meditation and yoga are certifiably calming, but new research published in the scientific journal Technology suggests that they can sharpen your computer savvy too. Biomedical engineers measured participants who controlled a computer with their brain (via non-invasive caps) and found that yogis learned computer skills three times faster than those with little or no yoga or meditation experience. This research could spell future opportunities for physically disabled people who have lost limbs, are paralyzed or suffer from cerebral palsy or ALS. Bush Country ($36, at christine chanter.com), a fragrance oil for your lower level. “It’s time to love up your lady garden,” says Toronto-based creator Christine Chanter. The scent is made of cinnamon bark, which “is warming and increases blood flow,” and jojoba oil, which acts as an anti-microbial. Vetiver and sandalwood induce “sultry memories,” while black pepper and lime “wake you up—there might be something to get excited about.”
When supermodel Elle Macpherson (a.k.a. “The Body”) turned 50, she didn’t celebrate with a standard grocery-store sheet cake (as if) but with a kale-coloured Benjamin Button-making powder called The Super Elixir ($145, at welleco.com). The humbly named nutrient-dense supplement is designed to keep your body in an alkaline state (as opposed to an acidic one) and was originally created for The Body herself by her doctor. Two spoonfuls mixed into coconut water or almond milk or sprinkled over food should boost energy levels and aid digestion. The UV-resistant glass caddy—designed by artist Jasper Dowding—keeps the 45 different ingredients fresh.
Curtail the misery that is the outdoor winter workout with Lolë Love 2 Gloves ($50, above) and Lolë Earflap 2 ($50, both lolewomen.com). The brand’s polished, sweat-wicking fleece ensures that you’ll feel coddled in warmth (polar vortex be damned) but never smothered in rapidly cooling sweat. The Ultraviolet Protection Factor 50+ fabric shields your exposed forehead from harsh UV rays reflecting off the snow’s surface. Off you go now. ■