Latest news with #bestie
The Independent
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ancient ‘bestie' figurine charms modern visitors
A painted pottery figurine depicting two women holding hands, housed at the Luoyang Museum in Henan province, has recently gained widespread attention online. The artefact, dating back over 1,500 years, has drawn large crowds eager to snap a photo with its touching portrayal of an ancient 'bestie' friendship. Standing side by side at just 6.7 inches tall, the two women each wear their hair in double buns and are adorned in cross-collared, left-overlapping, wide-sleeved robes with long skirts. Their elegantly poised stance with hands clasped together proclaims an enduring bond, as if declaring, 'We're the best of friends in the whole wide world!' The figurine's endearing and whimsical appeal has attracted a growing number of visitors, who come to witness the enduring bonds of female friendship that have remained resonant since the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Pairs of young women have waited in long lines to take a photo with the figurine wearing hanfu, a traditional Chinese garment. Shen Yu, a 25-year-old from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said she and her friend rushed to the 'bestie figurine' after seeing it on social media. 'We'd heard there were always long lines, and sure enough, we could feel everyone's enthusiasm,' she said. Shen is interested in the figurine's traditional clothing and makeup. She is moved by 'this kind of heartwarming friendship that stands the test of time'. 'We wore hanfu to take photos here, like a tribute to our own friendship, wishing it lasting strength and joy,' she said. The relic was unearthed from the tomb of Yang Ji, an important politician from the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was found with other pottery in the shape of warriors, ceremonial attendants and female labourers. Huang Chao, director of the exhibition research department of the museum, praised the relic's exquisite detail, saying it vividly captures the postures and expressions of different figures. 'Pottery figurines in a hand-holding or side-by-side pose are exceptionally rare,' he said. 'This 'millennium sisters' figurine, with its unique design, resonates perfectly with young people's pursuit of ancient cultural knowledge and aesthetics.' Sun Haiyan, the museum's deputy director, said that the figurine was relocated to maintain order and better meet audience needs. 'This 'cross-temporal dialogue' fulfills young audiences' emotional connection with cultural symbols while expressing their appreciation and endorsement of traditional culture,' Sun said. Geng Shuo, associate professor of the School of Humanities at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, said the figurine's popularity reflects the evolving social role of museums. 'Traditionally seen as spaces for learning history and acquiring knowledge, museums have now transformed into multifaceted venues that encompass leisure, photo opportunities and more,' he said. He added that the 'hand-holding figurine' might have been an artisan's spontaneous expression of emotion about 1,500 years ago. 'Little did they know that their work would evoke a cross-temporal emotional connection with people millenniums later.' He suggested that museums leverage public interest to deepen historical and cultural knowledge dissemination. Du Xiaofan, a professor at the Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology of Fudan University in Shanghai, said that in recent years, what captures public attention isn't always the artefacts of critical significance in the development of Chinese civilisation. 'People are now more drawn to exhibits that offer emotional comfort, joy or personal resonance. These artefacts, whether intentionally or not, connect with modern audiences on an emotional level, making them more relatable and engaging,' he said. Du said museums traditionally focus on helping the public understand the past by presenting historical facts. But today, they must evolve and inspire visitors to reflect on their present lives and future possibilities.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What Happens to Your Body if You Walk 20 Minutes a Day, According to Doctors
Listen, by now we all know that exercise is great for our heart, brain and even our mental health, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're all about to become gym good news is, you don't need to feel guilty about that, because literally and figuratively, small, simple steps add up in a big you're short on time, potentially just starting out on a fitness journey or getting back into the groove after some setbacks, walking can make a huge difference in how your body feels and how your body functions. When you find out how walking just 20 minutes a day can do wonders for you, you'll likely grab your earbuds, bestie or fur baby and want to at least do a lap around the block.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 First things first: Everybody is different, and every body is different, so what works for a lot of people may not work for you specifically (and vice versa). That said, walking daily for 20 minutes is generally regarded as safe, but you should check with your doctor before starting any sort of fitness regimen to be sure whatever you're doing is right for you."Unless someone has a condition that impacts their mobility or balance, daily walking is generally considered a low-risk activity," , board-certified cardiologist and co-director of sports cardiology at RWJBarnabas Health tells Parade. "Using proper footwear and keeping to flat, even surfaces can help reduce the chances of injury or strain. Those who are concerned about their fitness and heart health are advised to speak with their physician before beginning a new exercise program.""While walking is generally a low-risk activity, it can still lead to overuse injuries, including shin splints or knee pain," , orthopedic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, says. "These risks are increased if walking surfaces are uneven and if proper footwear is not used. Those with preexisting joint instability or biomechanical issues should discuss a tailored walking or fitness plan with their physician."Now that all that's out of the way, onto the (very!) good stuff!Related: If you generally sit for most of the day or are recovering from an illness or an injury, walking for 20 minutes a day can really benefit you in a big way.'If someone has a sedentary lifestyle and begins walking at least 20 minutes per day, they might begin to notice improved energy levels, less stress and a better mood," Dr. Lander says. "Daily walking can also contribute to slight reductions in blood pressure and resting heart rate over time."Once it becomes a real habit for you, Dr. Lander says that it can help you maintain a healthy blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels too, as well as improving your If your lifestyle is more couch potato and less CrossFit cultist (no judgment here, seriously), you can see benefits in how your joints feel when you start a 20-minute daily walking habit. "Sedentary individuals who begin a daily walking routine may notice improved flexibility and reduced stiffness, especially in the knees, hips and ankles," Dr. Lopez explains. "Over time, they may also experience a decrease in joint pain and improved core and lower-body strength as well as improved balance."Walking doesn't just help the joints directly, either, Dr. Lopez says—it also helps build muscles that support your joints, especially your hips and knees."For many people, especially those recovering from injury or managing joint conditions, 20 minutes of walking per day can be a helpful way to maintain mobility without overloading the musculoskeletal system," she adds. "Regular walking also maintains synovial fluid circulation, which keeps joints lubricated and properly functioning."Related: Dr. Lopez reminds us that, as weight-bearing exercise, walking can help promote increased bone density, which can help stave off brittle bones and If you and your doctor agree that you need to lose weight, walking can be a crucial and relatively low-effort way to kickstart that journey for you."Walking can promote healthy weight maintenance, and every pound of weight loss from regular walking removes about four pounds of pressure on the knee joints," Dr. Lopez tells Parade. That adds up fast!"For many adults, a brisk 20-minute walk each day can support basic heart health while reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Lander adds. "For people concerned about their heart health and overall fitness, a discussion with their doctor can help them tailor a walking or exercise plan that is right for them."Related: Exercising means we might be less likely to eat junk food later in the day because we don't want to feel like we wasted all that effort. As it turns out, those types of decisions, over time, can make a big difference in motivation to exercise and more. Dr. Lander points out that walking 20 minutes every single day can have a compounding effect on the rest of your choices, noting, "This simple daily habit can lead to broader lifestyle improvements and reduce overall cardiac risk." Up Next:, board-certified cardiologist and co-director of sports cardiology at RWJBarnabas Health , orthopedic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health
