There are just not enough hours in the day sometimes, especially when the hectic holidays come around. And all the fun and obligations of the season can equal one thing — stress — which can lead to sickness. Stress has been shown to suppress your immune system by raising your levels of the hormone cortisol (which can also lead to other unwanted side effects like insomnia and weight gain). Read more

I love the crisp, colder weather of Autumn, but I hate that it also signals the start of cold and flu season. There are plenty of things you can do throughout your day to prevent catching a cold, but here are five things you should keep in mind specifically on weekends. Don't Overdo It on the Booze I don't blame you for wanting to de-stress from your crazy work week by letting loose with a drink Read more

Spring may be right around the corner, but don't let your guard down just yet — cold season is still in full effect! The combination of dry Winter's air, a turned up thermostat, and closed windows can wreak havoc on your respiratory system. The best way to combat dry air and reduce your susceptibility to infection is to invest in a humidifier. Aside from babies and my parents, I didn't know why Read more

Women may not get as many stress-induced colds as men, but sometimes no one's immune system is a match for the perils of cold and flu season. Whether you're braving life outside your home with a cold or just trying to navigate your way through all the sneezing and coughing surrounding you, here are some ways to prevent the spread of those nasty microbes. Avoid gym germs. The gym can be rife Read more

Stress is no good for the immune system and can make you vulnerable to upper respiratory viruses, aka the common cold. One common source of stress is work, and a new study found that men were more likely to catch colds while dealing with workplace stress than their female coworkers. The study followed 1,241 workers after assessing their stress levels based on demands of the job, job control, and Read more

A little cold I can handle, even a sinus infection, but the flu? I don't remember ever feeling as bad as I did the week I came down with the flu. I was so delirious from my 103° fever, and combined with the chills, body aches, and pounding headache, it was just unbearable. To prevent feeling that horrible every year, I make sure to head to my doctor's office for a flu shot, but it doesn't always Read more

'Tis the season for colds and the flu, and it's also New Year's resolution time. Couple those together, and I've seen one too many sick Sallies in the Saturday morning yoga class I teach. This Vinyasa style class is fast and sweaty, so I get a lot of type A personality students who like to work hard. That also means they feel bad missing a class. Last weekend, one person came dragging in with her Read more

I'm a germaphobe — at least when it comes to yoga. I don't like loaning out my mat and won't borrow one unless I know that it's clean. Something about another person's sweat makes me squeamish. Recently, I found myself in a predicament: new yoga studio, no mat of my own, and community mats were not cleaned. Seeing the uncomfortable look on my face, a fellow student handed me a Jo-Sha yoga mat Read more