Latest news with #mindfulness
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Beach
Spending a day at the beach can be an absolute blast. Your fellow beachgoers, however, can make it decidedly less enjoyable. 'In general, etiquette is all about being mindful of other people, which certainly includes being mindful of other people at the beach,' Nick Leighton, an etiquette expert and co-host of the 'Were You Raised by Wolves?' podcast, told HuffPost. 'Although you're outside, you are not alone and your behavior can and does affect other people.' To help beach days more enjoyable for yourself and others, HuffPost asked Leighton and other etiquette experts to share some common faux pas they should avoid on the shore. Here are a few rude behaviors to avoid at the beach. 'Find a spot that is at least three paces from other's belongings,' suggested Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. 'The idea here is to give others a bit of personal space. The spacing should allow for beachgoers to walk between your towel and the other towel without kicking up sand on either.' If it's too crowded and you have to be a little bit closer to others, be extra careful as you walk by to avoid kicking up sand or otherwise disrupting their beach time. 'Don't assume other people want to talk,' said Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert, author of 'Modern Etiquette for a Better Life' and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. 'Watch their body language and if they engage, feel free to continue. If they put their ear buds in, it's a sign they want to be left alone.' Be mindful of the people behind you as you set up your area as well. 'Many beachgoers like to bring all the comforts of home,' Smith said. 'This is fine so long as it does not prohibit others from enjoying the sights. Your umbrella or tent should not inhibit other people's ability to view the water.' Continue to be mindful of the people around you if you decide to smoke at the beach as well. That includes paying attention to where you smoke and what you do when you're finished. 'If you are at a beach that still allows smoking and you want to light up, you will need to head way down the beach,' Smith said. 'Do be sure to dispose of your butts appropriately. It can be quite dangerous for birds, dogs and children to ingest cigarette butts they have found 'buried' in the sand.' Of course, every beach is different, but as a general rule, it's best to avoid feeding birds and other animals along the shore, as this can impact the local ecosystem. Take care not to disrupt them in other ways as well. 'Beaches allow us to connect with nature ― fish, snails and other living things,' Smith said. 'While it is fun to pretend that starfish is your pet, it needs to be returned to the water before you go home.' 'It's rude to shake your towel or sandy clothing near others or toward the direction of the wind,' said etiquette expert Juliet Mitchell, also known as Ms. J. 'Sand in your mouth, in your eyes and on your body doesn't sit well with others.' Smith echoed this rule ― recommending a 'gather, then shake' approach to the conclusion of your beach day. 'Walk away from the people before shaking any of your blankets and towels that have collected sand,' she said. 'The windier it is, the further you need to go. This does make packing up a two-step process, but waving sand in people's eyes is not a good way to end a great day.' 'For any games, find a clear area away from other people,' Leighton advised. 'Frisbees going overhead can make some people nervous.' In the interest of respecting people's space, establish some distance between your activities and other beachgoers ― both to avoid balls and other items whizzing by and for sand purposes. 'Set up your volleyball net away from other people,' Gottsman urged. 'Same goes for playing games in the sand that involve kicking up sand.' Another reason to set up your game far from others, cutting down on disruptive noise. Many people go to the beach for peace and relaxation. 'Things like music and loud cellphone conversations easily travel beyond the boundaries of your blanket and affect other people, so be mindful of what's escaping your bubble,' Leighton said. Pay attention to the volume and content of your conversations with your group as well. 'Watch your language, especially around children,' Mitchell advised. 'Be respectful, be considerate and be civil. No profanity and no fighting.' There's no excuse for leaving your beach area in a worse state than you found it. Littering is not just rude (and illegal), it's dangerous. 'Please do not litter, especially purposely, and clean up your area before you leave,' Mitchell urged. Both public and private beaches have listed rules and guidelines, and it's important to heed them. 'Follow the signs that act as warnings for your safety and the safety of others,' Gottsman said. Familiarize yourself with different flags and what they mean. Don't venture beyond the permitted limits. 'Boundaries are set for a reason,' Mitchell said. 'Stay within the 'swim boundaries' or other boundaries that could cause harm to yourself or others.' And don't just adhere to the explicitly written rules. 'All etiquette is local and it's important to learn and follow the local customs,' Leighton said. 'Every beach has its own.' The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Airport The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Dog Park The Rudest Things You Can Do On A Plane
Vogue Arabia
a day ago
- Health
- Vogue Arabia
Unwind This Eid Al Adha at Talise Spa: A Coastal Sanctuary for the Soul
Photo: RUPERT PEACE Elsewhere, the Remedy Suite steps into the future of wellness. Cryotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and infrared detox treatments provide touchless healing for modern ailments: jet lag, stress, or simply the wear of a relentless schedule. These aren't gimmicks — they're tools for restoration, grounded in science and guided by care. For those yearning for deeper calm, the Mindfulness Lounge may be where the holiday truly begins. Here, vibroacoustic therapy merges sound, vibration, and meditative practice in a setting that feels more sanctuary than spa. Whether choosing a Sleep Well journey or a program aimed at easing anxiety, the intention is simple: to make space for stillness. Evoto Photo: RUPERT PEACE And if indulgence is part of your Eid tradition, Talise Spa offers its own kind of luxury — one that doesn't shout, but soothes. Facials and body treatments fuse clinical innovation with ancient wisdom, from oxygen-rich skincare rituals to body sculpting with cryo therapies. Every treatment is an invitation to return to yourself. Eid Al Adha is a time of reflection, connection, and renewal. At Talise Spa, those values are not only welcomed — they are honoured. This is not just a destination for pampering, but a retreat for the senses and the spirit. As the city celebrates, perhaps the greatest gift you can offer yourself is a few hours by the sea, in the stillness, finding balance once more.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hoda Kotb Opens Up About What She Misses Most After Leaving 'Today '(Exclusive)
Hoda Kotb opens up about what her life is really like after walking away from the Today show The former co-host is keeping busy and still making regular trips to Rockefeller Center Today anchor Savannah Guthrie shares with PEOPLE what she misses most about having Kotb as a colleagueIt's been five months since Hoda Kotb walked away from one of the most coveted spots in broadcasting, as co-anchor of the Today show. In that time she's been settling into a new life, relishing the amount of time she has for her daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 6. She's also making plans for the future, with a new wellness company, Joy 101, complete with an app, live events and a subscription newsletter that will all center around themes of joy, mindfulness, meditation and wellness. 'When someone erases your schedule and says, 'Okay, here you go. Have fun,' you're sitting there going, 'Oh my gosh, what am I supposed to be doing right now?'' Kotb, 60, tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. 'On the very first day, I was scribbling in my journal and feeling a little off. There was a big, huge, full moon and it was so bright in my office, it was like a light was on. I still remember looking up and Haley scampered down the stairs and jumped in my lap. She looked and me and she goes, 'You really are here.' It was really, really beautiful.' But she admits she does miss her old life. "I do. I just had coffee with Savannah [Guthrie] a little more than a week ago and we sat across from each other and, in that one hour, we laughed, we cried, we held hands. She shared all this personal stuff and I did too. And she asked me, 'Tell me what it's like on the other side,'' Kotb recalls. 'And I said, 'I'll tell you what I miss: I miss this.' I miss walking in a room and having an instant daily connection that you don't have to put on a calendar." She adds, "I saw Savannah and Jenna [Bush Hager] every day, without fail, and we shared our lives. It's so funny. It's not the work part of it, but I miss that a lot. It's like an empty space for me.' That feeling is mutual. 'I've missed her giggle so much,' says Guthrie. 'She could really walk in a room, giggle, and everything in the world just fades away.' To read more about Hoda Kotb's life after , pick up the newest issue of PEOPLE on stands now. Kotb's been into the city and back at her old Rockefeller Center stomping ground a few times since leaving Today, as she hosts her podcast Making Space from the Today offices. On May 28, she went on Today to promote her new company — and stuck around as Bush Hager's surprise guest host for the 10 o'clock hour as well. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Every time I walk in, I feel warm and fuzzy,' says Kotb. 'It's not like when you break up with someone you're like, 'Oh God, there he is!' I don't feel that. I want to see everybody. And look, the pictures are now Craig [Melvin] and Savannah. I like looking at them. I'm not like, 'Well that was quick!'" Read the original article on People
Medscape
3 days ago
- Business
- Medscape
Can Mindfulness Therapy Ease Resistant Depression?
In patients with depression resistant to National Health Service (NHS) Talking Therapies, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual was more effective in alleviating symptoms than treatment as usual alone, a new trial found. Additionally, MBCT plus treatment as usual had a 99% probability of being cost-effective. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a parallel, randomized, controlled, superiority trial across three sites in the United Kingdom (2021-2023). The study included 234 patients with major depressive disorder (mean age, 42.5 years; 71% women; 86% White) who couldn't achieve remission after ≥ 12 sessions of NHS Talking Therapies. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either treatment as usual alone (n = 116) or MBCT plus treatment as usual (n = 118), with minimization on the basis of depression severity, antidepressant use, and recruitment site. The primary outcome was depression symptoms, measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 at 34 weeks. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using the Adult Service Use Schedule. TAKEAWAY: Participants who received MBCT plus treatment as usual had significantly reduced depression symptoms than those who received treatment as usual alone ( P = .0006). = .0006). MBCT plus treatment as usual resulted in lower costs and higher utility scores than treatment as usual alone during the study period. Analysis revealed a 99% probability that MBCT plus treatment as usual was cost-effective at the £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year threshold. No serious adverse events related to the trial or treatment were observed. IN PRACTICE: "Our findings show that psychological further-line treatment for depression can bring clinical benefit at an affordable price, potentially helping to reduce the long-term disability burden and economic costs associated with difficult-to-treat depression," the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Thorsten Barnhofer, PhD, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, England. It was published online in the June 2025 issue of The Lancet Psychiatry . LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by a short follow-up period of 6 months. The representativeness of the findings was limited by a predominance of female and White participants. The trial was not powered for subgroup analyses, preventing gender-specific analyses. Additionally, limited information was available on the type and quality of psychologic treatment patients received as treatment as usual. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research. One author reported writing a book on MBCT. Several authors reported having financial or professional ties with various organizations. Details are provided in the original article.
New York Times
4 days ago
- General
- New York Times
How to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself
If a friend is struggling with a big challenge or feels defeated, it's usually our first instinct to offer words of comfort and understanding. But often it's not so easy to do this for ourselves. We can be our own harshest critics. Practicing a little self-compassion, though, goes a long way. Research shows that when people go through challenges or stressful situations, those who display more self-compassion are more resilient. 'We can say, 'I made a mistake,' as opposed to saying, 'I am a mistake,'' said Kristin Neff, an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied self-compassion for more than two decades. 'It's a healthier alternative to self-esteem, because it's not about judging yourself positively, it's just about being helpful and kind to yourself.' What is self-compassion? Self-compassion is the process of expressing support, warmth and understanding toward yourself during difficult times — and recognizing that you aren't alone in your imperfections. It arises from mindfulness, which involves staying focused on the present moment without judgment. Self-compassionate people can identify when they are feeling defeated or inadequate, but avoid becoming lost in those feelings so that they can respond to themselves with kindness instead of ruminating, Dr. Neff said. Being kind to yourself doesn't mean hosting a pity party. Our suffering is not unique — flaws and failures are part of what make us human. And while we all suffer in different ways, the knowledge that suffering is universal can help prevent feelings of shame or isolation. What are the myths about self-compassion? One common myth is that self-compassion will undermine motivation to improve yourself or your circumstances. But research suggests that support, encouragement and constructive criticism are more effective motivators than negative feedback, Dr. Neff added. Another myth is that self-compassion is self-indulgent. But in reality, Dr. Neff said, it has been shown to reduce burnout and therefore allow us to better care for others. Self-indulgence, on the other hand, involves behaving in a way that is ultimately harmful — either to yourself or to others. Finally, self-compassion is sometimes confused with self-care, but it's not just about soothing, said Steven C. Hayes, a clinical psychologist and the creator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which emphasizes the types of skills that are useful for building self-compassion, like living in the moment and focusing on values rather than imposed expectations. Self-compassion 'is the empowerment to be yourself, to feel what you're feeling, fully and without needless defense,' he said. How do you develop self-compassion? There are a number of ways to practice self-compassion: Say kind things to yourself every day. Think about how you show up for yourself throughout your day, Dr. Ness said. Are you supportive and encouraging? Or are you your own worst enemy? 'The vast majority of people are significantly more compassionate to others than they are to themselves,' Dr. Neff said. If you're prone to beating yourself up, she added, then try speaking to yourself kindly, just like you would to a good friend in the same situation. Take a compassion break. Tara Brach, a psychologist and the author of 'Radical Acceptance,' suggests the RAIN method: Recognize, allow, investigate and nurture. The idea here is to recognize the emotions you're having and then allow those feelings to exist without reflexively pushing them away. Next, investigate how your body is affected by your emotions — is there a hollowness in your stomach or a clenching in your chest? Take time to also explore the beliefs associated with those emotions — are you assuming that something is wrong with you? 'That is probably the biggest suffering that people have: 'I'm unlovable, I'm falling short, I should be doing more,'' Dr. Brach said. Then, nurture. What does the suffering part of you most need right now? Understanding? To be forgiven? A kind message? Put a hand over your heart or use another soothing touch that feels caring. Send a kind message inward: 'It's OK to feel this.' or 'You're doing the best that you can.' These tiny gestures can make a big difference. One small study of 135 undergraduates found that those who regularly spent 20 seconds a day placing their hands over their heart and belly while thinking kind thoughts like 'How can I be a friend to myself in this moment?' reported feeling less stressed and were found to have more compassion for themselves after a month. Pay it forward. By giving yourself compassion, you become better able to receive and offer compassionate care to others, Dr. Hayes said. 'Show them that they're not alone,' he added. 'We need people who are more self-compassionate and compassionate toward others.' Self-compassion might involve establishing healthy boundaries in a relationship or even turning your compassion outward — for example, volunteering for an important cause or attending a protest to try to bring about positive political or social change. In this sense, self-compassion can be fierce and strong: Think 'mama bear' energy. 'Part of caring for ourselves means trying to end harm on the societal level as well,' Dr. Neff said. 'It's bigger than just our individual selves.'
