Gladiator Gym

01/03/2022

As a busy, working mom of three I fully understand the difficulties that come with prioritizing your own needs. I often go through an entire day without eating a full meal, drinking enough water or even peeing when I need to. My mental health needs — like my meditation and yoga practice, seeing a therapist or simply enjoying time to myself — can be even harder to protect. I know that I am not alone in this experience, it is incredibly challenging as a mother to prioritize your mental health and set aside time to care for yourself. I also know that it is imperative that we shift the paradigm and cultural expectations on this topic so that mothers can experience healthy, happy, fulfilling lives and avoid the burnout and overwhelm that so many of us experience. This is more important than ever before as parenting during a global pandemic has increased pressure and decreased social support leaving more mothers experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.

27/02/2022

As moms, we all start our summers stocking up on sunscreen and grabbing slippery children for one more quick reapply before they cannonball into the pool. We select sun hats that maybe (hopefully!) the kids will keep on. We spend those glorious, warm, and sun-soaked months carting umbrellas and tents to the beach and wrestling kids into rash guards. But even with all of that, you’ll likely be shocked by the new viral “In the Sun” doc from Neutrogena that shines a big ol’ light on the sun-safety mistake that so many of us are making: Focusing all of our protection attention on the summer months alone. Here’s why that’s a dangerous habit.

23/02/2022

The journey of pregnancy to childbirth can feel long and stressful at times. After all, you’re getting ready to birth another human, which includes not only a whole lot of hormonal shifts but the reality check that you’re getting ready to birth another human from your body — a human who will be under your care for at least 18 years. No wonder the idea of childbirth can be daunting and overwhelming for new parents and birthing people.

19/02/2022

When I was young, I didn’t give much thought to my appearance. My mother did. She pulled my long, curly hair into ponytails, pigtails and fishtails. She dressed me in adorable outfits. I wore tights, button downs and seersucker skirts. My patent leather shoes shined. I always looked polished and tidy.

15/02/2022

We’ve come a long way as a society when it comes to understanding the complexities of sexual violence. Now, thanks to more and more people speaking out about their own experiences — and as these high-profile cases gain attention, others are coming to terms with the fact that at one point in their life, they may have been sexually assaulted, and many survivors and victims are beginning to come forward in some capacity to talk about their experiences. And we are starting to accept that sexual violence is far, far more all-encompassing and, unfortunately, pervasive in our culture than most people realized.

11/02/2022

Like most small children, I didn’t have a firm grasp on the intricacies of rheumatoid arthritis. I knew that both my mother and her mother had it, but the way my grandmother said it with a thick Eastern European accent — “Arthur Itis” — led me to believe that it was a man named Arthur who was responsible for their pain.

07/02/2022

When your back is aching, the last thing you want to do is exercise. But there’s one type of workout that can do wonders: Yoga for back pain. It has enormous benefits when it comes to strengthening back muscles and stretching out knots and tension that causes pain. There are ways to practice and modify poses to ensure that those with injuries or impediments can still experience yoga that supports a healthy spine.

04/02/2022

The 2018 U.S. Open was a life-changing moment for Naomi Osaka. The then-20-year-old clinched her very first Grand Slam title in a highly publicized battle against 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. Almost three years after that pivotal moment, Osaka announced that she was choosing her mental health and well-being over the international scrutiny that has overwhelmingly heightened as she tries to do her job — and now we know why.

30/01/2022

Legendary Olympic gymnast Simone Biles announced on Tuesday her decision to withdraw from the women’s team events at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo after walking off the mat during the competition.

26/01/2022