Jan. 30, 2020, 11:53 AM UTC

LONDON Even birds of prey may have trouble losing those post-holiday pounds.

A British wildlife charity has said that an owl that was found in a ditch in early January and initially thought to have been injured turned out to be simply extremely obese.

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary in eastern England told NBC News on Thursday that the sopping wet little owl (Athene noctua) was brought in by a member of the public in early January. When staff examined and weighed the bird, she was a rather chunky 245 grams, according to the groups social media.

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This is roughly a third heavier than a large healthy female little owl. The extra weight meant she was unable to fly properly due to the fatty deposits.

As it is unusual for wild birds to be in this condition, the sanctuary's falconers decided to monitor her for a few weeks to see why she had put on weight.

The sanctuary concluded that "natural obesity" was to blame. Due to an unseasonably warm December, the area where the gluttonous owl was found was "crawling with field mice and voles."

Its been very mild here, and prey species are on a cycle where they increase every four years, head falconer for the charity Rufus Samkin said.

When these two things happened to coincide, she absolutely gorged herself and got very fat. She had a lovely time, but went too far, he said.

The owl was put on a "strict diet" to slim down to a more "natural weight." Sanctuary staff also encouraged her to exercise in the rehabilitation center by feeding her low to the ground.

The owl lost between 20 and 30 grams over two-and-a-half weeks, while staff monitored her food intake.

The whole thing is quite exceptional, as most birds we see are starving, Samkin said.

The little owl was released back into the wild, flying gracefully off into the British countryside at a much healthier, and happier weight, according to the groups social media.

Read more here:
'Extremely obese' owl released back into the wild after being too fat to fly - NBC News

The moment your doctor first said the words rheumatoid arthritis, a million questions probably went through your head. What does this mean for my future? Will I be able to work or raise a family? Will I ever feel like I did before my symptoms began?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the joints and other parts of the body. This causes painful inflammation in the joints as well as the eyes, mouth, skin, lungs and blood. Other symptoms include fatigue, stiffness and low-grade fever. There is no cure, but there are several medication options and lifestyle habits that can help (such as diet, exercise and reducing stress).

Every person with RA has a unique experience, and not even a doctor can tell you exactly what your journey will entail. But sneaking even a glimpse of what other RA warriors have experienced and learned since they were diagnosed can help you feel more prepared for the roller-coaster ride of RA.

Related: How Rheumatoid Arthritis Changed My Relationship With Pain

We asked our Mighty RA community to share what they wish they knew when they were diagnosed with RA bits of knowledge that might have made their path a little less bumpy, or that would have reassured them and shown them that what theyre feeling is completely normal. Consider the following list your RA cheat sheet. If youve just been diagnosed, youre now ahead of the game.

Because RA includes the word arthritis, many people assume the condition only targets the joints. However, RA is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation not only in the joints, but other body systems as well, including the eyes, skin, mouth, lungs, heart, and blood. Fatigue and low-grade fever are also common.

[I wish I knew] how many other things apart from joints are affected. I really thought it just meant having a few stiff joints like you normally hear about arthritis but its so much more than that, it affects almost everything. Natalie P.

Related: Fighting the 'Stoner Stigma' as a Medical Cannabis Patient

Again, because of its association with arthritis, people often dismiss kids who exhibit RA symptoms. Doctors might have told you your symptoms were just growing pains or misdiagnosed you with another condition. Not only is it possible to develop RA as a child or teen, but its also common enough that theres a name for it: juvenile idiopathic arthritis. An estimated 300,000 kids and teens in the U.S. are affected by JIA, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

[I wish I knew] that young people could get it too. I kept being told I couldnt have those issues because I was too young for that and I ended up internalizing that idea. I wish someone told me illnesses dont care whether youre young or old, theyll still get you. Nicole S.

Some people find that with the right medications, their symptoms are drastically reduced, giving them the ability to lead a relatively normal life. On the other hand, certain medications can have absolutely no effect or make you feel worse. The point is, its important to take medications seriously. Dont stop taking them without a doctors approval, and know that if a certain medication isnt working for you, there may be another that will work.

Related: 7 'Red Flags' You Need a New Rheumatologist

I wish my doctor had expressed the severity of everything and that if we found the right med combo that I had a chance to go into remission. Twice I quit the meds due to side effects and I wish a nurse or someone had called me and told me the importance ofthe meds and staying under a doctors care. Meredith I.

Many people with RA find that fatigue affects their quality of life just as much as the joint pain. Fatigue can make you feel like youve run a marathon even though its only noon and prevent you from working, spending time with friends and exercising. People who dont live with chronic illnesses may think youre just tired and will feel better after a nap, but fatigue typically isnt resolved with a few extra hours of sleep.

Not everybody will understand about the rest days or the fatigue that strikes. Julie R.

[I wish I knew] that I would experience unpredictable episodes of extreme fatigue that extra rest and/or sleep will not cure. Genevieve M.

Lifestyle habits dont cause RA, and changing up your eating or exercise habits wont cure it. However, some find that eating a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet, quitting smoking, prioritizing sleep, reducing stress, and staying as physically active as possible helps minimize their symptoms. Talk with your doctor about strategies that make sense for your body.

Growing up I wish I had known more about implementing a healthy lifestyle (eating the right foods, staying in shape, etc.) when I was younger and it wouldnt be as hard now. Montana F.

Lets say it together: You did not cause your RA! In fact, scientists still dont know exactly what causes RA, though factors like gender, age and family history can contribute. Rather than spending energy feeling guilty about what you must have done to cause your RA, its more productive to focus on managing the condition as best you can.

[I wish I knew] that other kids had JRA as bad as I did, and that having the disease wasnt my fault. Alyson K.

There are a few blood tests physicians use to help diagnose RA. These tests look for the presence of antibodies that signify you have high levels of inflammation in your body. These tests include rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, ESR and CRP. These tests, combined with your symptoms and imaging scans, contribute to an RA diagnosis. However, just because you do not test positive for RA, does not necessarily mean you dont have it. If you still exhibit the symptoms of RA, you might have seronegative RA, which means you dont have the antibodies that usually indicate seropositive RA. Make sure you see a rheumatologist who understands this possibility (as well as the possibility of testing positive for RA, but actually having a different autoimmune disease like Sjogrens syndrome).

Wish I knew my bloodwork didnt have to be positive to RA. Danielle F.

If you have one autoimmune disease, you are at risk for developing another (or two). Experts think genetics may be at least partially to blame since one gene could be linked to several different autoimmune diseases. Exposure to environmental factors could be another trigger. About 25% of people with autoimmune diseases have a tendency to develop additional autoimmune diseases, according to research.

[I wish I knew] that I could be more prone to other autoimmune diseases as well. I am at three now. Dani L.

Since RA causes your immune system to attack healthy tissues, some drugs treat RA by targeting the parts of the immune system that cause inflammation. As a result, a common side effect is a weakened immune system and greater susceptibility to illness since youre less able to fight germs.

If youre taking medications that lower your immune system, youll want to take steps to avoid coming into contact with germs; for example, by frequent hand-washing and staying away from people who are sick.

If anyone suggests that RA is no big deal or can be easily cured, they must not know anyone living with RA. Far more than just joint pain, the condition often forces you to limit or alter activities you used to do with ease. Its only natural to experience some anxiety and/or depression while you come to terms with your diagnosis. Theres no shame in reaching out to friends, family, therapists and/or online support groups for help.

I wish I knew my life was going to change completely. Most people dont understand what RA really does to a person. I have found people that think and they have told me that RA is curable. Its very frustrating trying to explain them. They think they know more than my rheumatologist. Janeth G.

No two people with RA are exactly alike, and one medication can work amazingly well for one person and have no effect on someone else. Thats why its important to find a rheumatologist who is willing to try different treatment options and approach your relationship as a partnership. Settling for the first rheumatologist you meet, even if they arent enthusiastic about finding the best treatment for you, could mean you miss out on helpful disease management strategies.

I wish someone would have told me that a relationship with my rheumatologist was a beneficial step in my care. Finding a rheumatologist who believes we are a team and hears me out is so important to my overall care. Knowing me as a person and not just a patient humanizes my appointments. Elaine W.

Check out these stories for more insight on RA from our Mighty community:

Tatum O'Neal's Honest Photo Reveals the Painful Side Effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis

An Important Message to Doctors Who Treat Young Patients With Chronic Illnesses

What I Want Others to Understand About Life With Chronic Illness

See the rest here:
11 Things People Wish They Knew When They Were Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Yahoo Lifestyle

Half of Irish workers say their job leaves them too tired to exercise.

That is according to a new Mater Private report into the health and wellbeing of employees.

500 adult workers were surveyed about their attitudes towards diet, exercise and work life balance as part of this Healthy Working report.

It found one in four spend more than six hours a day sitting, and over half do not have the energy to exercise after a day's work.

The research also found that roughly seven in 10 employees experience stress at work, while four in ten claim they have suffered from 'burnout' at some point.

Mary Morrogh from the Mater Private Wellness programme says in many cases, health can take a backseat:

"We found that only 45% of people will go to their GP for a frequent check-up despite the fact that over 40% of people might have a serious illness," she said.

"The average spend of an Irish employee on personal health and well-being was only 2, which is less than a cup of coffee, just about the price of a newspaper every day."

She is encouraging people to create more healthy habits like to walk more and sit less.

She is also encouraging employers to introduce workplace benefits like healthy lunches, on-site health checks or subsidised health insurance.

Read this article:
Jobs leaving half of workers too tired to exercise - BreakingNews.ie

My name is Frances Carpenter (@isfrannyfityet), and I'm a 30-year-old executive assistant in Riverside, California. At 331 pounds, I felt like my weight was holding me back in life, and I decided to commit to a healthy lifestyle. By following a low-carb diet, meal prepping, and trading emotional eating for gym time, I was able to lose 151 pounds.

Growing up, I would always turn to food to make myself feel better about any and every situation, good or bad. My childhood was full of dysfunction, which caused me to constantly overeat. Through adolescence and into high school I gained a lot of weight. I was around 200 pounds my senior year.

I moved to another state after graduation and gained even more weight over about seven years, and I found myself at my highest weight of 331 pounds. I would constantly eat fast food. I was a nonstop snacker, eating between every meal, and I always found myself eating late into the night.

I had limited physical ability when I was at my heaviest and I was very sad and depressed, so I continued to eat to soothe myself with food. It was an extremely hard cycle to break.

I was 26, and I was at my highest weight of 331 pounds. I was always tired because my weight was constantly interrupting my sleep.

I couldn't walk for long periods of time, and I couldn't comfortably fit in restaurant booths or movie theater seats. I was in a horrible place physically, but it was also hurting my mental state. I knew I wasn't living my life to its full potential, and there were so many things I wanted to experience without my weight being the first thing I always had to consider.

Low-carb has always been my go-to approach for weight loss. With my low-carb meal plan, I am able to eat decent-sized meals, feel energized, and lose weight all at the same time. There are so many great low-carb meal plans and recipes available to people now, and I know it will be my long-term lifestyle.

I also have a regular exercise schedule. I currently work out five days a week, alternating between different body parts. Three days a week I do 60 minutes of cardio, and the other two I do 30 minutes of cardio, which is usually the StairMaster. I also spent about three years doing CrossFit, which helped me build a workout routine and get stronger as well.

Before I started this journey, I wish I knew more about the emotional aspect of weight loss and how it would impact me. It's fun and exciting to lose weight, but I found myself having to deal with a lot of emotions, old and new. Before I lost my weight, I was using food to comfort myself and soothe past traumas, and I can no longer do that. Now, I have more time to think about and process things that before I would have shut out with foodbecause I'm not spending that time and energy eating. It's possible to get through it, but its a lot of work from the inside out.

My weight loss has changed me in ways that I did not know were possible. It has of course made me more confident in the looks department, but I have gained a new level of self-love. Even four years later, this lifestyle is still somewhat new considering how much of my life I spent obese. I choose myself now, and have made it my priority to never go back to my old ways. I have a new outlook on life and enjoy the little things that I so desperately wanted before.

More here:
'Meal Prepping And Discovering CrossFit Helped Me Escape A Vicious Cycle Of Emotional Eating' - Women's Health

Tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia when your heart rate is faster than normal. A healthy resting heart rate for most adults is between 60 and 90 beats per minute (bpm), but adults with tachycardia usually have a resting heart rate greater than 100 bpm.

Here's what you need to know about what causes the different types of tachycardia and when the condition is considered dangerous.

There are multiple types of tachycardia, which are categorized by where they originate in the heart. Some are not considered a danger to your health while others should be monitored closely. These include:

Many types of tachycardia can lead to emergency medical events, like sudden cardiac arrest, a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. But according to Solomon Sager, MD, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the Chicago Cardiology Institute, you might not even know you have it.

While those with tachycardia won't always notice, there are a few common symptoms. The first indicator is a heartbeat that feels too fast, which you can check by taking your pulse. Other symptoms may include heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness.

You're more likely to develop some form of tachycardia as you age. That's because structural changes in the heart may cause these abnormal heart rhythms over time, Sager says.

Patients who have a family history of tachycardia or congenital conditions at birth are at a higher risk. Certain health conditions are also associated with an increased risk, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and anxiety disorders.

With the help of wearable health trackers like the Apple Watch, more people are discovering they have tachycardia, even when they don't experience symptoms. Sager says you should take this kind of data seriously and follow up with your physician if anything is out of the ordinary.

Physicians treat tachycardia in a variety of ways, often involving critical lifestyle changes. Sager says people diagnosed with AFib are encouraged to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and treat underlying health issues, such as sleep apnea or diabetes. They should also cut down on alcohol and quit tobacco.

People with ventricular tachycardia more often require medication, surgery, or ablation. Doctors may prescribe antiarrhythmic medications to prevent arrhythmias from coming on, beta blockers to slow heart rate, and blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Patients who still have tachycardia despite medication may undergo catheter ablations. During this two- to four-hour procedure, a cardiologist guides a flexible wire into the heart that burns affected heart tissue using radiofrequency energy. This stops abnormal electrical signals with a 90% success rate in some types of tachycardia.

If you experience a prolonged or recurring high resting heart rate, along with other symptoms of tachycardia, you should go to the emergency room or call 911.

Read more from the original source:
What is tachycardia, and when a high heart rate is dangerous - Insider - INSIDER

When Ryan Grover sat down with Coach Philip Tabor at CrossFit Coordinate in Cary, North Carolina in April 2019, he had no idea he was about to embark on a journey that would help him lose nearly 100 lb. in just nine months.

The 29-year-old weighed 348 lb. at the time. Today, hes down to 250 lb.

The first thing Tabor got Grover to do was to come up a selfish reason he wanted to lose weight. After some soul searching, Grover had a breakthrough.

I never had a dad I could throw a ball with, or just go outside and play and be active with. And I realized that when its my turn to have kids, I dont want to be this way. Through conversation with (Tabor), we talked about what my dad was like, and it helped me realize what I wanted, Grover said.

Thus, what he really wantedhis real reason whywas to lose weight and become healthier and fitter so he could be a more capable father than his father was to him.

Identifying this purpose is a big part of what helped him stick to his commitment to exercise and clean eating in the months that followed, he explained.

The reason Tabor asks his clients to find their selfish reason is simple: Nobody loses weight for others. They might say it, but at the core we only make changes when they are selfish in nature, Tabor said.

Some people say (they want to be able to have) better sex. Others say (to live a) long life. One client did it because his dad just died and he was headed there next. But whatever the reason, its their reason and I keep that in front of them. It drives them, he added.

When people are able to find their deeper reason for wanting to lose weight and get healthy, theyre then able to change their identity and their perception of themselves, Tabor explained.

In Grovers case, it allowed him to shed the idea that he was an obese man, and start doing the things healthy, strong, fit people do, Tabor said.

Thats why the weight came off so fast, he added.

Clearly the approach works, as Grover is one of four clients at CrossFit Coordinate who have lost 100 lb. in the last year, while five others lost at least 60 lb.

A second key to Grovers success is having a coach to keep him on track, Grover explained.

The accountability part was the big piece for me, so I could do simple things like send (Tabor) pictures of my food. He would give me advice like, Next time. shrink the portion of potatoes. Having that constant nudge from someone has been really helpful to keep me on track, Grover said, adding that the nutrition coaching he received from Tabors wife Holly Tabor, also played an integral role.

Today, Grover no longer eats at fast food joints, and he doesnt overeat regularly like he used to. Instead, he mostly eats lean protein, a lot of vegetables and some starch.

And because Grover feels like he has made habit changesas opposed to embarking on a strict, short-term diethe said he knows these changes are here to stay.

It took a while to get used to the new routine, but now I dont have a lot of cravings. I do want a pizza every now and again, but I dont miss fast food. It actually hurts when I eat it because my body is working on a much cleaner diet, he said.

He added: Its definitely a lifestyle change. I dont want to go back.

The rest is here:
Ryan Grover Took Up CrossFit and Lost 98 Pounds in 2019 - BarBend

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Kelly Brook was once left mortified after she farted in front of Madonna at the iconic singers house and was never invited back again.

Say whaat?!

Turns out that Kelly once bagged an invite to have dinner with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow at Madonnas home to try the macrobiotic diet they were following at the time.

Such a diet primarily focuses on eating local and organically produced vegetables, whole grains and beans.

Its associated with Zen Buddhism and balancing the yin and yang elements of food, and Madonna reportedly follows a very strict version of the macrobiotics diet which cuts out wheat, eggs, meat and dairy and is all about sea vegetables (basically edible seaweed).

Well, Kelly certainly wasnt going to turn down a dinner with Madonna, even if it did mean tucking into seaweed, and lets just say said dinner didnt exactly agree with her.

Speaking on Heart FM, she said: Honestly it was like it happened yesterday OK, so about 20 years ago I got invited to a macrobiotic dinner party at Madonnas house its basically like you eat whats in season, you eat whats grown around you.

Its all like vegetarian, vegan, its very healthy. Lot of pulses, lots of beans, chickpeas all that stuff. So Id known about this diet that Gwyneth [Paltrow] and Madonna had been doing for a while so obviously Im kind of in awe of them, Im only 20 years old so I want to be like them.

Kelly, who recently revealed she has lost two stone, continued: Id been doing the diet, probably like a week before, but Im like a real big meat eater, so my insides were just not liking this new diet you can imagine.

So I turn up, we had the meal, we had gone in the living room it was the first episode of The Sopranos so we put it on, so it was like a big screen and there was loads of people there.

I remember kneeling down talking to Madonna about something and I just remember my stomach gurgling and Ive let out the smelliest blow off, like honestly, it was so bad, it filled the room.#

Wow.

[Madonna], she just kind of , she just turned her head away because obviously it went straight up her nose, Kelly said. It was like something had crawled up there and died. I had never ever done anything like that in my life.

And I just remember like Jason [Statham] just looked at me and was like, was that you? and I was like, yes, I dont think this macrobiotic food is agreeing with me, and that was it, I was never invited back.

She knew it was me. I was mortified.

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Kellys revelation comes after Madonna was forced to cancel her first London show on her Madame X world tour.

Madge explained under doctors guidance she has been forced to rest for a few days and apologised to fans for not being able to perform.

The last thing I want to do is disappoint my fans or compromise the integrity of my show, she wrote on Instagram. So I will keep going until I cannot please know that it hurts me more than you can imagine to have to cancel.

Kelly Brook presents Heart London Drivetime with JK on weekdays from4pm 7pm.

If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Piers Morgan and Stephen Fry lead celebrity tributes to Nicholas Parsons as Just A Minute presenter dies aged 96

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Kelly Brook reveals she once farted in front of Madonna - Metro.co.uk

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Up News Info Actress and model Kelly Brook He kept his face red after she passed the "more smelly" wind while attending a meeting in Virginis at home with the singer's friend Gwyneth Paltrow.

The "Piranha 3D" star remembers attending a macrobiotic dinner (diet based on Zen Buddhism) many years ago, but admits that the food did not agree with her.

"I knew about this diet that Gwyneth and Madonna had been doing for a while, so obviously I'm a little amazed at them, I'm only 20 years old, so I want to be like them," he said about the event on his iHeart Radio radio show. K and Kelly Brook, which happened decades ago. "So I had been on the diet, probably like a week before, but I am like a big carnivore, so my guts just didn't like me with this new diet."

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When Kelly and the other attendees settled for a previous screening of the pilot episode of "The Sopranos," her stomach began to rumble.

"One of the actresses of & # 39; The Sopranos & # 39; was there," he recalled. "Herb Ritts the photographer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, like, everyone was there. And I remember kneeling talking to Madonna about something and I just remember that my stomach was gurgling and I let out the most honest smell. Honestly, it was so bad, it filled the room. And she (Madonna) simply just turned her head because it obviously went up her nose. "

Her boyfriend at that time Jason StathamHe was also among the guests and definitely noticed the bad smell.

"And I just remember that Jason looked at me and said: & # 39; Was it you? & # 39; and I thought: & # 39; Yes, I don't think this macrobiotic food agrees with me & # 39; that was all. , I was never invited back. She knew it was me. She was mortified. "

The rest is here:
Kelly Brook remembers letting out the smelliest wind in front of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow - Up News Info

We look at why John Baldessari burnt his art and baked cookies with the ashes, Francis Bacon slashed his best paintings, and Robert Rauschenberg erased a work by Willem de Kooning

During the mid-20th century, the 'art of destruction' emerged as a theme in the work of many celebrated artists. Although this tendency has existed for centuries Claude Monet allegedly slashed at least 30 of his water lily canvases the 20th century heralded a new age for creative auto-destruction. Defined by artist Gustav Metzger in the 1960s, 'auto-destructive' art reflected the recent violence of the Second World War, the ideological nihilism of existential philosophy, and the rising tensions of nuclear warfare during the Cold War.

Conceptual artists sabotaged, ruined or destroyed their artworks, either as a deliberate, artistic strategy, or as a result of malaise, anxiety, or displeasure with their work. To destroy an art object was not only radical but iconoclastic a gesture that disavowed the artwork as a material object that could potentially sell for vast amounts of money.

Contemporary artists, from Gerhard Richter to Banksy, have followed in the footsteps of their predecessors. Ironically, some of these artists have proved that destruction isnt always defeatist, or for the purposes of sheer vanity, but allows for liberation, which in turn, inspires new bounds of creativity.

Named the godfather of conceptual art, John Baldessari passed away on 2 January 2020, at the age of 88. An artist who irreversibly changed the landscape of American conceptual art, he worked across all artistic mediums, from installation to video art to emojis.

In 1970, he decided to destroy his entire body of work created between 1953 and 1966. Rather than throwing them away, he took them to a crematorium. Afterwards, Baldessari stored the ashes in a bronze urn (in the shape of a book), which he placed on his shelf. He also bought a bronze plaque inscribed with the birth and death dates of his deceased works, as well as the recipe to make the cookies.

Cremation Project was not only practical but strategic Baldessari was commenting on the cyclical process of the creative process, which could be conceptually recycled.

At one point I made cookies out of the ashes, Baldessari reflected, only one person I ever knew ate one.

By erasing his past oeuvre, Baldessari cleared his artistic slate. The following year, he gave instructions for a work titled I Will Not Make Any More Boring Art an oath to never create dull work again.

In 1953, Robert Rauschenberg arrived at the house of abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning, who at that time was one of Americas most respected and highest-earning artists. Then, a little-known artist, Rauschenberg asked de Kooning whether he could erase one of his works.

Reluctant at first, de Kooning eventually agreed. He offered the 27-year-old Rauschenberg a pencil, ink, charcoal, and graphic sketch. Over the following two months, Rauschenberg erased the artwork. When finished, he retitled it Erased de Kooning Drawing (1953)

Echoing the readymades of Marcel Duchamp and precipitating the arrival of appropriation art, Rauschenbergs gesture ignited conversations about the limitations of art (specifically, can art be created through erasure?), as well as questions about authorship.

In late 1954, at the age of 24, Jasper Johns destroyed all of his work. Later in life,he would reflect that it was time to stop becoming and to be an artist... I had a wish to determine what I was... what I wanted to do was find out what I did that other people didnt, what I was that other people werent.

Just as Baldessari found a new vision after destroying his work, the obliteration of Johns practice boosted his creativity as if freed from the intellectual shackles of his former self.

Not long after, Johns dreamed of painting an American flag. Shortly after, he made his dreams a reality and conceptualised his most famous work, Flag, 1954.

In 1967, the Canadian-born painter Agnes Martin one of the few female members affiliated with abstract expressionism decided to destroy her earlier works. Known as a reflective and quiet woman, her modular, muted paintings reflect a desire for tranquillity.

Before dedicating her energy to the motif of lines, bands, and the grid (her trademark) she experimented with biomorphic abstraction: pale-hued paintings influenced by organic, or geometric forms. Her mature style developed in the 1960s and moved towards restrained abstraction.

1967 brought about great rupture in Martins life. Not only did she experience the sudden death of her close friend, the artist Ad Reinhardt, but she also suffered from a decline in mental health, which would eventually lead to schizophrenia in her 40s. She retreated from New York and left for New Mexico where she followed the principles of eastern philosophy: Zen Buddhism and Taoism.

Martins decision to negate her former style could be read as a purifying of her former life as she embarked on a new journey, albeit one characterised by descending mental health. Her displeasure for her older work was so great, that she commented that if collectors wanted to sell them back to me, Id burn them.

Towards the end of Georgia O'Keeffes life in the 1980s, she purged works of art she no longer liked. But she also destroyed photographs by her former husband, Alfred Stieglitz.

Among many paintings, she attempted to bury Red and Green II (1916), an early watercolour that she documented as destroyed in her personal notebooks. Only publicly displayed once, in New York in 1958,O'Keeffes work despite her attempts to remove it resurfaced at a Christie's sale in November 2015.

After Francis Bacons death in 1992, hundreds of destroyed canvases were found in his cluttered studio in South Kensington. In total, 100 slashed canvases were retrieved from his home.

Known for his masochistic tendencies and emotionally-charged works, the cycle of creation and destruction was central to Bacons torturous, creative process. He allegedly referred to his art as an exorcism a cathartic, painful release of raw emotion. And once described the violent application of his paint as to do with an attempt to remake the violence of reality itself.

One of the destroyed works found in his studio Gorilla with Microphone used his repeated motif of a glass box, within which a central figure was cut out, leaving two white, negated spaces.

According to Jennifer Mundy, Bacon reflected that some of his destroyed works were among his best. He found it difficult to finish a work, and his canvases often became so clogged with pigment that they had to be discarded. He also routinely destroyed works he was not pleased with.

Noah Davis was a prodigiously talented LA-based painter who founded the Underground Museum. He tragically died aged 32 from a rare form of cancer in 2015, though he left an impressive artistic legacy.

A visionary and efficient painter who followed the mantra of less is more, one of his closest friends, Henry Taylor, described him as an artist who was constantly growing.

According to Bennett Roberts (the co-founder of Roberts & Tilton) The only problem with Noah, was that he would call me and say, Come to the studio, I painted 10 great new paintings. He was very fast when he was working. Id go in there and just be mesmerised. These are unbelievable, can we get them to the gallery? Ill photograph them. Two days later, he would say, Oh, sorry, I painted over every one of them.

Banksys self-shredding artwork dominated the headlines in 2018. When his most recognisable work, Girl With Balloon, sold for over 1 million at a London Sothebys auction,the artwork promptly began to self-destruct. Unbeknown to onlookers, the artist had previously installed an automated shredding device into the frame of the picture.

Shortly after, Banksy uploaded a video of the scandalous moment on his Instagram account, with the caption Going, going, gone Ironically, the destruction of the work was left incomplete; the work was supposed to shred entirely but stopped halfway through. To the surprise of many, the artwork increased in value after its public decimation.

In homage to Picasso, Banksy remarked: The urge to destroy is also a creative urge

One of the most prolific artists of the twentieth century, Louise Bourgeois left her New York townhouse in a state of bohemian disarray after her death in 2010. Known for her chronic anxiety, erratic moods, and sudden outbursts of creativity, the artists close friend and assistant, Jerry Gorovy once remarked, If she worked, she was OK. If she didnt, she became anxious... and when she was anxious she would attack. She would smash things, destroy her work.

If Bourgeois disliked a small sculpture shed been working on, she was known to push it off the end of her kitchen table and watch it smash and break into small fragments.

Read more here:
8 famous artists who dramatically destroyed their own artworks - Dazed

An acupuncture pop up, stream New Yorks most cultish class, sky-high yoga and a way to pay it forward with a massage: Here are a few ways to keep on top of those wellness goals.

Elite Pilates studio Erika Bloom Pilates is launching its 2020 Master Practitioner Bi-Coastal Pop-Up Series next week by bringing Jill Blakeway to its Brentwood location: Blakeway is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, who has three clinics in New York and founded the acupuncture program at the NYU Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn.

Bloom said that inviting Blakeway to helm a Los Angeles pop-up was aligned with her own approach; her Pilates studios already offer acupuncture services.

A pop-up at Erika Bloom Pilates features New York doctor of Chinese medicine and acupuncture Jill Blakeway.

(Erika Bloom Pilates)

Jill is evidence-based in her treatments, said Bloom. We want to offer alternative practices, but ones that have science behind them.

Blakeway, author of the 2019 book, Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing, says her sessions offer an energetic version of acupuncture.

We diagnose within Chinese medicine and look at how one system of the body interacts with another, she said. Treatments encompass acupuncture, breath work, visualization and recommending herbal and dietary regimens and lifestyle changes. Blakeway will be in Los Angeles through Jan. 30, and again from March 9-13: $250 for an hour-long session. Private Pilates class before or after is $130 an hour.

Info: At Erika Bloom Pilates, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 545. For bookings and information, call (212) 288-3410 or email info@erikabloom.com, erikabloompilates.com

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Evening yoga classes 70 stories high will take place in February and March in downtown Los Angeles

(OUE Skyspace)

OUE Skyspace, the observation deck and event space at the top of the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles, kicks off its evening yoga events in February.

The hour-long classes, run by an instructor from the neighboring Soho Yoga studio, will precede time to mingle, enjoy the views and take a ride on the SkySlide, a 45-foot, glass-enclosed slide outside the building, 1,000 feet up from the street. The classes are typically a yoga flow-type class, with a focus on breathing and flexibility.

Info: Classes are at 6 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 18 and March 17, on the 70th floor at the U.S. Bank Tower, 6333 W. 5th St. Tickets are $30 for class and unlimited SkySlide rides at oue-skyspace.com

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Taryn Toomey, the New York-based fitness trainer whose the Class workout has a near-obsessive fan base, is bringing her signature moves to living rooms everywhere.

Classes from Toomeys Tribeca studio are now being streamed three times a day, and in the next few months will expand to an hourly schedule. We want to cover both coasts and all time zones, said Toomey.

The Class variously described as cathartic and transformative, uses repetitive movements across plyometrics and calisthenics to a specifically curated playlist for a full physical and mental workout.

It took a long time to come to terms with the idea of creating a digital platform to get the work of the Class to as many people as possible, said Toomey. Theres something powerful about knowing that there are hundreds of people all over the country doing the same workout at the same time. It feels palpable, and it holds the student accountable.

Info: $400 a year or $40 a month. 30-day free trial. digitalstudio.theclass.com

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The idea behind Lifehood, a new massage studio in Culver City, is that youd feel so good when leaving that you will want to pass on the happy vibes to someone else.

The newly opened Lifehood in Culver City is a massage studio that encourages customers to love it forward by gifting a treatment, often anonymously.

(Elizabeth Daniels)

We are based on the principles of movement, kindness and loving it forward, said Amy Krofchick, founder of Lifehood, which opened this month. The 1,600-square-foot massage studio operates as others, offering a menu of chair or table massages be that Swedish, deep tissue and lymphatic drainage. Clients are then encouraged to love-it-forward by gifting a massage to anyone in their circle or to to celebrate unsung heroes from volunteer groups or nurses, said Krofchick. You can gift anonymously to someone who may be in need of some love.

The cycle can then continue, said Krofchick. We intend to spark a kindness revolution, from What do I get to What can I give.

Info: Prices start at $45 for a 25-minute chair massage, $35 to gift one and $85 for both. At Platform, 8810 Washington Blvd., Suite 101, thelifehood.com

Excerpt from:
The coolest place to do yoga in L.A. is 70 floors above it - Los Angeles Times