Women's Health January/February 2023

CARDIOLOGY Jennifer H. Mieres, MD Professor of cardiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell; senior vice president, Center for Equity of Care, Northwell Health DERMATOLOGY Mona Gohara, MD Associate clinical professor, department of dermatology, Yale School of Medicine Ellen Marmur, MD Founder, Marmur Medical Joshua Zeichner, MD Director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City FAMILY MEDICINE Navya Mysore, MD, MDCM, DABFM, CFPC Primary care physician; sexual and reproductive health expert FERTILITY Sheeva Talebian, MD Fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist, CCRM New York FITNESS Ben Bruno, CFSC Certified functional strength coach and private trainer Betina Gozo, CFSC Certified functional strength coach; NASM corrective exercise specialist; Nike master trainer; creator of Women’s Health’s The Woman’s Guide to Strength Training Lauren Kanski, CPT NASM-certified…

Behind any headstand—or race finish line, polished presentation, the list goes on and on—is an awkward, uncomfortable beginning. When social media, our friends and colleagues, heck, the entire world seem to reward the neat and tidy finished product, trying something new feels humbling…even painfully raw. I say this from personal experience, because the yoga inversion you see in the image to the left is the culmination of many messy beginner moments. It took six months of twice-weekly classes, hundreds of scapula pushups, many discombobulated leans against a wall, plus a ton of guidance from friends and yogis, to get myself into that position. Full disclosure: I used to be afraid of beginnings. I was so obsessed with perfection that I avoided opportunities to learn and grow. But one of the…

How to Forge a New Path Step one on a beginner’s journey: getting uncomfortable. The thought of trying something new often spurs fear of rejection or embarrassment, says Keith Rollag, PhD, a professor of management at Babson College and author of What to Do When You’re New: How to Be Comfortable, Confident, and Successful in New Situations. But a quick mindset shift can help you embrace this awkward feeling and find confidence where you least expect it. First, think about something you’re good at. Then imagine a rookie joining and asking for help. How do you feel? You likely don’t look down on or make fun of them for their lack of experience; you’re happy to show them the ropes. “Putting yourself in the ‘expert’ position helps you realize that…

You’ve always wanted to try Pilates, but you’re reluctant because you think you’ll be bad at it. When you do go for it, you only notice the teacher correcting you, while everyone else seems to do each exercise effortlessly. You should just give up, right? Not so fast. You’re caught in a common thinking trap known as cognitive bias. It’s a shortcut in which your brain forms opinions and makes decisions quickly, says psychologist Leah Katz, PhD, author of Gutsy: Mindfulness Practices for Everyday Bravery. And it’s usually based on past successes, as your mind wants to replicate them in similar situations. However, “just because something worked once before doesn’t mean it was a good strategy,” says Amy Morin, LCSW, author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Some…

Wake up, hit the gym, swing by your favorite coffee shop, head to work…if you’re like most people, you’ve got a routine on repeat. While having a structured calendar is often necessary, going through life Groundhog Day–style causes you to activate the same brain pathways every day. Which is not always a good thing. Mixing up your manner of operating, by tweaking a step or slowly honing a fresh skill, can create all-new neural roads, which helps keep your mind sharp and, surprisingly, your mood high. Yep, trying something new can make you happier, according to Claudia Aguirre, PhD, a neuroscientist and Women’s Health advisor. “There’s a ‘wow’ factor because novelty taps into that part of the brain that is the reward center, so you get a dopamine release,” she…

THE FIRST TIME I… Walked Again After a Diagnosis “Despite being in a wheelchair for almost two years after being diagnosed with two neuromuscular autoimmune conditions, I made it my goal to walk down the aisle at my sister’s wedding as her maid of honor. As I slowly made my way down the aisle, I locked eyes with my mom. We were both smiling and crying, and she was nodding to say You can do it. With each step, I thought I’d collapse. My knees felt wobbly, as if they might give out. But I coached myself along, and I did it. Though I believed in myself, it wasn’t until after achieving that wedding goal that I knew I’d be walking again regularly. After a lot of work, I’m now…