Whether you live in New York City or Los Angeles and love it, or you live in one city, but secretly, desperately (or not so secretly or desperately) wished you lived in the other, New Yorkers tend to think that the center of the universe begins and ends in the Big Apple. Though the jury is out on whether New Yorkers are right about their self-image, the fact of the matter is, when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, we could stand to take a few pointers from southern Californians, and here are some of them:
Juice, Juice, Juice. You may have never tried juicing or you may have an aversion to this word you now feel as though you see trending everywhere. But as Los Angelenos know, juicing can be awesome! It’s all about finding the right and delicious, customized cleanse that feels good for you and your body. Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds or just looking to do a detox and clean out, juicing is a great system reset. I recently completed a 3-day cleanse that allowed me to eat a small, raw (light fish and salad) meal every night, which was perfect and just what my body needed. I would now consider doing a juice cleanse twice a year, or even once a season if I felt it was truly necessary for me personally. Your body is different. There are a number of great juice bars all throughout the city with accomplished health professionals who can help you to assess what is right for you.
Fake it, don’t bake it. Want to look great in 20, 30, 40 years? Wear sunscreen and a hat when necessary. And if you’re really into having that all-around glow, then fake it, and don’t bake it. Spray tans, lotions and bronzers can be your skin’s best friend, and will leave you looking younger in the long run than a marathon day at the beach covered in baby oil. A real suntan is so 1986. It’s the 21st century now. Fake it ‘til you make it.
Minimize your stress. New Yorkers thrive on being busy – so busy that we love to talk about just how busy we are so much so that if we just shut up for a moment, we would have more time to devote to that that task or project keeping us so busy and then get it done faster so we could move on and talk about the next thing that will keep us busy. Los Angelenos are a little less uptight – years of sitting in traffic has built up their tolerance. Stress is not good for you, and you need to manage it – this is part of your good health prescription. DASHA® is a great place to d-stress – come in for a massage or acupuncture – less stress means greater health, happiness and longevity! Stress means more wrinkles, and we know that no one on either coast likes those.
Move, every day. Both LA and NY are all about looking good, all the time. With the massive presence of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, you never know who is checking you out. Yes, people in the City of Angels spend a lot of quality time sitting behind the wheels of their cars in traffic, but they also make time to get outside in that gorgeous weather and hike, run or bike, or take a yoga class or hit the gym. Those of us in the concrete jungle have no excuse! This is a walking town! We make time for the things that are important to us, and good physical health should be a primary goal for everyone.
No one is flawless, you just have to know how to package your beauty. You think all those celebrities you see in the gossip magazines are perfect? Hello! They’ve got wrinkles, cellulite, and fat. They’re human. Work to be the best you can be in all aspects of your self, including physical, but also know that part of looking good is knowing how best to package your assets. What cuts and colors of clothing do you look best in? Don’t know? Ask a friend. And then stick to what works for you. If you feel fabulous and package your fabulousness correctly, you won’t be able to avoid looking fabulous.
Produce veggies in your basket at the supermarket. There are great restaurants on both cities, and both New Yorkers and Los Angelenos are health conscious, but they really love their produce and vegetables in southern California. So load up and stock up. More fruit and vegetables in your diet are great for your skin, your heart, your bones, your colon, and so much more!
DASHA® is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
