Just because the leaves have fallen and the grass is no longer visible under inches of snow doesn't mean that the wildlife is gone–especially the best kind of wildlife. In this case, birds. While winter might not be the most colorful time of the year, many birds are still in their resplendent glory: bright red cardinals and soft pink juncos, black-capped chickadees and brilliant blue stellar jays. Attract the avian species to your winter backyard with just a few simple changes, and reap the benefits all year long.

1) Plant native species

Everyone has a “hunch,” nowadays. I’m not talking about that little feeling you get. I’m referring to people, and how they can’t seem to sit or stand up straight. Sometimes work, relationships, or life in general deliver added pressures that before long, make it hard to move or feel normal again. Physical therapists are having a field day, but the experience is painful to the rest of us. Here are five easy ways to keep your spine healthy.

These past couple years have been taken over by the wellness trend, with yoga, meditation, juicing and even vegetarianism becoming mainstream. With that shift comes a slew of new dieting and self-help books that are no longer seen as taboo. Instead, everyone from celebrities to world leaders has something to say about how to be “well.”

Fall is officially here, which can only mean two things...the world is about to go pumpkin crazy...and pomegranates are in season. For the sake of all of our orange squashed sanity, for this article, I'm going to focus on the surprisingly versatile pomegranate and present to you three delicious and unique recipes using this delightful Middle Eastern fruit.

Fasting is a recent trend that is gaining popularity, but is it really healthy to abstain from all or some particular foods and beverages for certain periods of time?

Fasting is often referred to when talking about various religions, but nowadays it is becoming a fad diet for the everyday layman. Is the hype all it is cut out to be, a quick fix to the bulging waistline or a scheme to detoxify the body?

Whether your substance of choice is alcohol, nicotine, or prescription drugs, a dependency on any of these may lead to a significant impact on your emotional, mental, and physical health. For those of you on the road to recovery, or exploring ways to begin that journey, the future feels terrifyingly uncertain.

The best way to get (and stay!) clean is to explore and embrace new passions that support behavioral change.

I remember those days when I still lived at home, spoiled by a mom and a gran who love nothing more than feeding and caring for the family.

If I had just a hint of a sniffle, I would be plied with home remedies, most of them involving honey. Basic honey water for something mild, or the famous arad milk for more serious colds.

Called “arad milk” because of the very visible inclusion of arad (also known as haldi or turmeric) in the ingredients, this strange-looking, often-changing concoction was a staple of my childhood sick days.

Sitting stagnant in an office all day has detrimental effects on your body; your posture, your blood sugar levels, and your muscles all suffer from lack of movement.

Many people, myself included, cannot recognize and understand much of the flora around us with much expertise. It is often said that American children recognize more logos than local species, and the Go Wild Education Company in the UK offers a quiz, in which you can test your own logo vs. leaf identification skills.

Ardha Chandrasana/ Half moon

Benefits:

Improves balance and coordination.

Strengthens knees and legs.

Tones lower spine. Good for sciatic pain.

Challenging but stimulating.

Foundation & General Alignment:

One foot and one hand, bearing weight equally.

Standing foot is at a 90 degree angle, four corners weighted.

Legs are fully engaged, knees lifted.

Lifted foot is flexed encourages lengthening of the low back, keep foot fluid.