But by telling you to skip the occasional workout, I don’t mean that you should ignore your body! Instead, I wanted to share a technique I just discovered. It’s called One-Moment Meditation, and it comes from a book called (drumroll please) One-Moment Meditation! The idea behind this technique is that it’s a short, simple meditation. And the best part? Once you’ve had some practice, you can do it anywhere. So it’s perfect for those moments when you wish you could restart your brain like a computer.

This video takes you through the basics of the One-Moment Meditation technique. I tried it and loved it. It made me feel relaxed, energized and happy. What are you waiting for? Give it a shot!

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. She is “that person” who starts dancing at a party when everyone else is standing around, and if there were a Facebook stalking Olympics, she would be a gold medalist. She also loves cheesy 90s music, and almost died of happiness when Vanilla Ice retweeted her. Once. Follow her on Twitter @garnethenderson.

Since most of us won't get near those nasty tubs in the communal bathroom, I've got a few better ideas for relaxation...

October is a busy month. Between midterms and registration, and finding the perfect Halloween costume, things can get pretty crazy there for a while. But it’s important to remember to take a step back from it all for a while. Relax. Enjoy the little things. Relieve some stress.

Here’s how…

10. Indulge in some junk food. This probably isn’t the best advice, since eating your feelings isn’t exactly healthy, but chocolate cures all. At least for a little while. So just indulge for a little bit. Something sweet, or something salty, or something sweet and salty (chocolate covered pretzels…mmm…). Just a little pick me up. Besides, isn’t dark chocolate good for you anyway?

9. Dance it out. Yes, I am totally ripping off Grey’s Anatomy here, but the “twisted sisters” know what they’re talking about.  Dancing is an excellent stress reliever and you don’t even have to have any rhythm whatsoever. (Trust me. I would know.) Just enjoy yourself. And relax.

8. Shop. “You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that’s what it’s like when I see a store. Only it’s better.”  Oh Becky Bloomwood, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

7. Get that heart rate up. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” –Elle Woods. (I apologize for that one but Legally Blonde was on WeTV this week.)

6. Organize and categorize. Maybe it’s just me but I’ve always found the process of putting things in order to be extremely calming. Freaking out about a big test? Make a study schedule. Nervous about a date? Plan the perfect outfit. Once you know exactly what you’re doing it will be a lot easier to get it done.

5. Get in some quality BFF time. Whether you and your friends are staying in with pizza, beer, and bad TV, or heading out in heels, a good old fashioned girls night cures all. Who cares about what’s happening next week when you’re having the time of your life right now? Let loose. Have some fun. Let your friends distract you. Nothing will seem as bad the next day (except maybe that hangover…).

4. Curl up in bed and watch a movie. Or you know, have a Gossip Girl marathon. The point is that losing yourself in someone else’s drama will distract you from your own. Whatever you have going on won’t seem nearly as terrible after you’ve seen Jenny Humphrey’s eye makeup.

3. Laugh. Search some YouTube videos. Visits Texts from Last Night. Call up your funniest friend. Look at last weekend’s Facebook pictures. Just let off some steam and enjoy some absurdity.

2. Catch up with CollegeCandy. You need some downtime to just breathe and be? Put on your favorite pair of sweats, get comfy, grab your laptop and start reading. Want to feel inspired? Check out this article. Or maybe you need a good laugh? Morning after stories will do that for you.  Or just scroll through the feed and see what you missed.

1. Make a list. Like I said when I took on this column, list making is my life. It keeps your organized. It makes you feel like you have some semblance of control of everything going on around you. It gives you a focus for just a little while. It makes you feel good when you get to cross something off.  And the results are always entertaining.

How about it, ladies? Has this week been as stressful for you as it has for me? What do you do to let off some steam? Let me know in the comments below!

Although I have fallen in love with Lush’s unique products and packaging, it is the company’s goals and mission that keeps me coming back (and spending the extra cash).

They make it their business to use fresh ingredients, make the products by hand (how many places actually do this anymore?), not partake in animal testing, and protect the planet by making the products ‘green’ or vegetarian/vegan friendly. With minimal preservatives in their products, I have truly been refreshed by the products I have tried and I believe that using fresh products like seaweed and avocados has made a difference in the way these bath bombs and gels work.

Buying cosmetics is important to every girl, but in the current state of the economy, spending money on lavish products may seem silly. However, with a company promising to help the environment and its customers with the freshest and hand-made products, dishing out the extra few bucks is worth it… especially when it comes to these guys:

Shampoo Bars: This is probably my all-time favorite beauty invention. Instead of traditional liquid shampoos, these bars come in a circular form and all you have to do is lather the bar in between your hands and then apply it to your hair. Want direct contact? Just rub it on your scalp, and prepare for the suds to take over. Although each bar is 1.9 oz for $9.45 (a little steep, especially in this economy), I promise that they last over and over again (if you follow directions and don’t keep them submerged in water). According to Lush, these bars last “for around 80 washes, saving three plastic bottles along the way.”

My personal favorite is Karma Komba, which is supposed to help prevent tangles, but other bars work for other reasons like the Soak and Float which protects against dandruff and the Hard Solid Shampoo which is made for those that live in “hard water areas.” If you have to try one Lush product, I would recommend this more than anything else. Not into the bars? Lush also has liquid shampoos and conditioners available.

Bath Bombs: Lush is probably best known for its bath bombs, which come in two sizes (big and bigger). For example, there is the Big Blue bath bomb (6.3 oz) and the Big Big Blue bath bomb (28.2 oz). Either size is perfect to cut and divide up into a few baths, no need to use the whole bomb all at once. Once these amazing balls hit the water, your bath will explode into a sizzle of fizz and scent. Colorful and creative, each bomb has its own personality. With the Big Blue bath bomb, seaweed makes its way out of the ball and turns your bath into an instant ocean, while the Supernova bath bomb turns your bath into a party, complete with confetti.

Lush has a variety of bath bombs, so finding one that fits your mood or personality will be no problem. Unlike other bath bombs, Lush has a scent that will linger and stay long after the water is down the drain, and it will leave your skin feeling silky smooth beyond comparison to other similar products. Although these innovative bath time products make a dip in the tub extra fun, the only downside is that the seaweed, confetti, or other special ingredient may clog the drain.

Buttercreams: According to the Lush website, “Buttercreams are a luxurious blend of 15% soap – enough to get you clean but not make masses of lather – and 85% natural, skin-softening butters, glycerine, plant infusions and essential oils.” Although buttercreams can be used in the shower or the bath, it is best to use them cold. Put them in the fridge or the freezer and before getting in the shower or bath, cut a small chunk off and prepare yourself to be pampered. My only qualm with the buttercreams is that the scents like Heavenly Bodies, which is aimed at chocolate lovers, or Ring of Roses, which is covered in rose petals, doesn’t stay and the creamy, softness promised rubs off fast.

And these products are just a few of the extensive Lush product line. Want the most unforgettable bath that will actually keep its bubbles and scent an hour into it? Go for a Bubble Bar. Sick of the same old perfume? Try one of the company’s solid perfumes, which come in lip balm type pots. Guys, want to plan a special evening for your girlfriend? Get a massage bar and give her the spa treatment yourself. From body lotions to shaving creams to solid soaps, there is something for everybody. And with vibrant colors and clever names, shopping at Lush (whether in one of its stores or online)  will be a unique cosmetics shopping experience.

Move over Bath and Body Works, Lush is definitely here to stay!

Talking sex with your doctor isn’t always easy. Whether you are afraid she or he will judge you,  you just don’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your life between the sheets, or you can’t think straight with a speculum between your legs, many people get tight lipped in the doctor’s office. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.

After so many of you wrote in to ask Dr. Lissa Rankin questions during CollegeCandy’s STD Awareness Day, we thought we’d bring her back more regularly. So, every Thursday she will be answering your questions. The ones you couldn’t ask your doctor in person and didn’t really trust the Yahoo community to answer for you. Just leave your questions in the comments, or send em over to us. (We’ll keep it all anonymous for you.) Dr. Lissa will answer anything – really, anything – about sex and other lady things. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!

Q: I feel very uncomfortable with all things sex. I am not very experienced and get really nervous when the opportunity arises. How can I fix that?

A: To answer your question completely, I would want to know more about you. Why are you uncomfortable with all things sex?  Is it because you’re young and inexperienced, or have you had past experiences, such as rape or sexual molestation, that rock your foundations and understandably lead to uncomfortable feelings regarding sex?  And how is your relationship with your sexual partner?  Many people are uncomfortable with sexual activity when they don’t know or trust their partner well.  Are you uncomfortable because you don’t really understand your body? Or are you having pain?  There are many reasons why someone might feel uncomfortable with sex.  Sometimes, those feelings arise to protect you and are worth honoring. But sometimes, they get in the way of sexual bliss and can cause problems.

To help you more, I would need to know the answers to some of those questions.  If you’ve had sexual experiences in the past that are sabotaging your sex life, please see a therapist.  You deserve to process those experiences now, or they will continue to plague you.  If you’re in an unsafe relationship currently, get out.  Your body might be trying to tell you something.  But if you’re in a safe, loving relationship and your past isn’t a problem, here are 10 Tips To Help You Relax Into Your Sexuality.

1.    Take the Pretty Pink Pussy Tour. The first step to getting rid of nervousness during sex is to know and love your body.  If you’re subconsciously shamed by your body, your body and mind will rebel and put up red flags during sexual activity.  Educate yourself, and love yourself.

2.    Do a body blessing every night before you go to sleep. Close your eyes and scan through your body parts, starting at the top of your head and working downwards.  As you approach each body part, pay attention to any negative thoughts that come into your mind, such as “I hate my fat ass.”  Turn it around into an affirmation, such as “Thank you, Bottom, for cushioning me when I sit.”  Do this all the way down to your toes.

3.    Try relaxation exercises before you engage in sexual activity.  Take a warm bath or have your partner massage you.  Close your eyes and take a few very deep, cleansing breaths together. Light candles and incense- whatever it takes to help you relax.

4.    Go slow. If you’re feeling uncomfortable or nervous during sex, perhaps you’re not ready.  If your partner is truly caring, he or she will not pressure you into anything you’re not ready to do.  Give yourself permission to set the pace.

5.    Masturbate.  If other sexual activities make you nervous, try pleasuring yourself instead.  The more you can relax into your own sexuality, the more you can comfortably share it with someone else. If you’re able to masturbate by yourself without feeling uncomfortable, try masturbating together.  That way, you have control of the whole experience, but doing it together can be highly stimulating for both of you.  Once you graduate from that step, you may find yourself less uncomfortable with other sexual activities.

6.    Breath deeply during sexual activity. Deep breathing relaxes your muscles and alters your mind.  Pay attention to your breathing throughout the whole experience. Sounds silly, but it really might help.

7.    Be silly.  Sometimes sex can be so serious, and what better way to release the nervousness than to laugh.  Laughing releases endorphins and stimulates the body in a whole host of ways.  Try some laughter yoga exercises, such as this one: stick your thumbs in your ears and stick your tongue out at each other. Now laugh out loud as hard as you can.  Sounds goofy, I know, but try it! I swear it works.

8.    Talk about how you feel.  Don’t be nervous in silence. If that’s how you’re feeling, share your thoughts with your partner.  And if you don’t feel comfortable sharing with your partner, talk to a girlfriend. It’s honest, and it’s okay. Don’t judge yourself for your nervousness.  In time, this too shall pass.

9.    Acknowledge your fears. What is making you nervous? Write your answers in your journal.

10.    Pat yourself on the back for being brave enough to ask this question. It’s very empowering to gather information, and feeling empowered can make you feel more secure in vulnerable situations, such as during sex.  Other empowering activities include engaging in challenging exercise, donating your time to a charity or campaign you believe in, and making smart health choices.  Anything you can do to increase your sense of empowerment will follow you into the bedroom.

Hope that helps!

[Photo courtesy of Aprille on Flickr.]

Ever find yourself awake at 4am reading Perez Hilton and unable to fall asleep? Between classes, extracurriculars, homework and those 5 trips to Starbucks, relaxing at the end of a long day can be next to impossible. Worse yet, if you study where you sleep (we’ve all tried to read a book in bed, and I personally have a duvet cover stained with pen ink!), your body may not be able to determine when it’s time to focus and when it’s time to pass out.

Yoga can be a great way to increase your energy and wake you up, but there are also a few simple poses you can try before bed that will (hopefully!) relax you and calm your mind.

1. Happy Baby Pose

Lie on your back and bring your knees up to your chest. Grab the insides of your feet and let your knees fall to the side, using your arms to gently tug on your feet and pull your knees towards the floor. This will help you relax your lower back and hips, which both hold a lot of stress!

2. Inversions

Inversions help restore circulation in your body and calm you down.

For the yoga beginner, try legs up the wall, one of the simplest inversions. Sit on your floor, facing the wall, and then lie down. Scoot your bum up towards the wall, then straighten your legs so the backs of them are resting against the wall, turning you into an L shape. Place your hands on your stomach, close your eyes and breathe!

For the more advanced yogi, try plow. Start in legs up the wall, then contract your abdominal muscles and lift your legs over your head, so your toes touch the floor behind you. Rest your arms on the floor under your bum, or interlace your fingers. Make sure that when coming out of the pose, you roll down slowly back the way you came, keeping your abs tight and your legs pressed together.

3. Child’s pose

This pose is meant to replicate the way a child sleeps. It will gently stretch your hips and thighs, and help to relax your brain. Kneel on the floor with your big toes touching, then sit back on your heels and open your knees to give yourself a bit of space. Now lie down between your thighs so that your forehead touches the floor. Rest your arms out in front of you, or place them back beside your feet. You might find it more comfortable to rest your cheek on the floor instead of your forehead.

4. Corpse Pose

Now that you are feeling more relaxed, get into bed and lie flat on your back with your hands by your hips, palms facing up and fingers spread wide. Close your eyes (or, even better, use a lavender-scented eye pillow), and focus on the sound of your breathing. Hopefully you should be asleep in no time!

Hey, I’m a procrastinator too but make sure you get your Mom one (or all) of these gifts that inspire relaxation to show her just how much you appreciate the packages that she sends you, the money she gives you for laundry and the extra food she cooks for you to take back to school with you when you visit home for the weekend.

This AETÓ-ette Botanica Hair & Body Spa On-The-Go makes a great gift for the mom who loves to travel. Each bottle is carry-on approved (under 3 oz.) and the kit contains four products that all soothe and nourish to a state of natural bliss.

The AHAVA In the Bag Gift Set is an incredible at-home spa experience that will soothe, smoothe and pamper your mother like she truly deserves (think of all those times you gave her grief). The gift set contains a mineral body lotion, mineral shower gel, dead sea bath crystals, the AHAVA bath mitt, and it even comes in a cute mesh beauty bag with a mirror key chain!

This Japonesque 5-Piece Grooming Kit has all the essentials for the perfect manicure and pedicure. The adorable pink case makes the nail/brow scissors, tweezer, nail clipper and file that much more luxurious PLUS $1.00 is donated to Breast Cancer Research for every pink set sold.

Let your mom have her well-deserved beauty sleep with a Cris Notti Sleep Mask. These masks are padded with 100% natural unbleached cotton and have a pure silk back in super cute designs. They come in every pattern and design from leopard to geisha-print to faux mink – definitely a Mother’s Day essential.

Lastly, take a look at Fragrancenet.com and pick out one of their ultra-calming candles for your Mommy. There’s nothing like the smells of French vanilla, gardenia and lavender to relax and calm the senses.

In honor of my own mother, I’m going to sign off by saying what she still, to this day, says to me at the end of nearly every conversation, “be good, don’t stay up too late and don’t drink and drive.”

Well, maybe my second installment of Spring Semester Freak-Out Remedies will help ease the pain. In this episode, we will be discussing meditation. The easy kind. None of that lotus-position hour long advanced yogi stuff. Let’s be real, almost none of us has time—or the back strength—for that.

Meditation, even in its simplest form, can bring your body and mind back from crazy land. It’s a centering practice, an easy way to feel rested in only a few minutes. And best of all? You can do it lying down!

Step 1. Make sure you have at least 15 minutes of quiet time. 15 minutes where you know the roommate won’t be around, when no one’s going to be knocking on your door, and there’s no rush to get down to the dining hall. If you have more time, awesome, but 15 minutes is a good place to start.

Step 2. Shut off all your lights. Close your curtains. You don’t need to be in pitch dark, but the atmosphere should be calming and quiet.

Step 3. Make sure you’re in comfy clothes. Tight jeans and tube tops does not a calm girl make.

Step 4. Lie down on your bed, but stay above the covers. Getting under the sheets is too much temptation. We want you to relax, not fall asleep. Make sure you’re laying on your back with your feet a comfortable width apart. Let you arms recline against your sides, palms up.

Step 5. Breathe with acknowledgement. What does this mean? It’s just a fancy, hippy way of saying be conscious of your breath. Listen to your inhales and exhales, think inhale, exhale, picture your lungs filling and letting out air.

Step 6. Block everything out. This is the hardest step. A lot of us have trouble keeping our minds completely blank, me especially. I’ll get thirty seconds in and then think, yes! My mind is blank! Which is, of course, counterproductive. The best way to keep your head clear is to focus on your breathing. Keep thinking inhale, exhale. Breathe deeper and deeper, allowing yourself to ‘fall into’ the breath. If thoughts creep in, gently push them out. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to think about things later.

Most importantly, let your body relax. Meditation is all about coming back into yourself, realizing how awesome your limbs and lungs and heart are. The better you get, the longer you can stay in this peaceful state and the more rested you feel after only 15 minutes. If you’re like me and have a hard time taking a nap in the middle of the day, meditation might just be for you. Because your body is not going completely unconscious, you don’t have to deal with that woozy ‘nap drunk’ feeling when it’s all over.

…Just think, next time you’re walking back to your dorm after European History with that new hottie, you can ask him if he’s ever meditated before, and when he looks at you with surprise, smile and say, “I do it all the time. It really centers you.” He’ll be so impressed with your earthy ways he might even ask for a private demonstration, and you’ll have these handy steps to make it seem like you’ve been doing this all your life.

You might even want to work in an extra step which requires all practitioners to be naked…

He’ll never know.