When Michigan high school basketball star Wes Leonard collapsed and died soon after sinking the game-winning shot, Mary Beth Schewitz of Lake Bluff could imagine the emotions. She could imagine that family’s exhilaration and pride at watching their son — and the profound shock and sadness that would follow. “We had those same feelings when […]
The relentless quest to get pregnant can take its toll on women. Research shows that infertile women have similar rates of depression and anxiety as women with cancer. Hard to believe, right? Not if you’re Tami Quinn of Wilmette and Beth Heller of Chicago. They both struggled to start their families, and because of what they went […]
Keeping your guy’s crotch cool while using a laptop may save future generations—literally! While it has been known for a while that heating up the nether regions of a man’s anatomy can impact fertility, not until recently was a study done that actually measured increased heat in the scrotum when using a laptop. In a […]
Anxious to lose that extra weight, but not too excited to go outside right now? When it’s too cold and icy to go outside, try one of these challenging, fat burning, treadmill workouts designed for running or walking. Grab a towel and water and get moving Before you hit START, spend a few minutes warming […]
This simple but challenging exercise will activate core and hip muscles as stabilizers, while arms and head are moving through different planes of motion. This movement improves balance, builds greater spinal stability, and strengthens hip and butt muscles. 1. Stand tall with relaxed shoulders and good postural alignment. 2. Lift right leg so you are […]
Yoga veterans Miguel and Mary Latronica of Riverwoods have opened up their own studio. Miguel will teach his patented Latronica Method, which uses a yoga band as a stabilizer to work the unused parts of muscles, taking advanced practitioners to the next level. The studio offers a variety of classes, as well as teacher […]
I used to think hot yoga was completely crazy. Kind of like sky diving or eating a mouthful of jalapenos. I mean, sure, you could hold poses in 105-degree heat while sweat soaks through your shirt, but why would you want to? But hot yoga enthusiasts insist that the practice isn’t crazy at all. In […]
Back in December, the editors at Make It Better asked me to write about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). But I just couldn’t muster up the energy to open my laptop. Because like 10 percent of all Chicagoland residents, I suffer from SAD, a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year – […]
Good posture can alleviate back pain, enable you to lead a more active lifestyle—and help your clothes fit better. If those aren’t reasons enough to stop slouching, chew on this: You can look at someone’s posture and predict the incidence of chronic disease as well as the effects on the heart, lungs, and blood pressure, […]
