Photo: Thinkstock

For many of us, the novelty of piano lessons wore off after the first sunny afternoon we found ourselves stuck inside practicing "Für Elise." But our parents, with their unwavering faith in our hidden talent (and their desperation to recoup their investment in the instrument that took up half the living room), demanded that we keep with them long after our teacher had declared us to be the opposite of a musical prodigy.

But then, years later, came that epic night that started with flirtatious banter with the hotel bartender and ended with us playing "We Are the World" from memory on the Steinway grand while the entire lobby sang along. Then there was the "LOST" viewing party where we impressed fellow fans by plinking out the show's "sad theme" on the host's keyboard.

Now science is providing yet another reason for us to appreciate our early education in the musical arts: it may help us fend off age-related hearing loss. An interesting NPR story yesterday explained that hearing difficulty as we get older is usually due to our inability to tune out background noise (listen to the story for more info about the physiological reasons behind this). Musicians, studies have found, are not only better at deciphering different notes and tones, but also at remembering sentences they heard earlier, making it easier for them to follow a line of conversation.

There's still no conclusive evidence that picking up an instrument for the first time later in life can stop hearing loss. However, it's not a bad idea for us lapsed pianists and marching band alumni to refresh our skills...and thank our parents for helping us to develop--and hopefully maintain--an ear for music and other sounds.

Photo: Thinkstock

A new study about personality and weight confirms what anyone who has tried to balance eating well and living well knows: the people who are most likely to get invited to a last-minute luau are the same people who will have the hardest time resisting the pineapple upside-down cake.

Researchers from the National Institute on Aging analyzed data from a study of 1,988 people using the assessment tool of the "Big Five" personality traits, which include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. [Curious about your personality profile? You can learn more about the Big Five personality test at the Berkeley Personality Lab site, and then take an online version of the test.] 

What would it take to change your life for the better? It may be less than you think—we’ve got mini-makeovers to help you upgrade everything from your workout to your weekend.  #9: A fast and free mini-massage for instant relaxation.

Photo: Thinkstock

You can schlep to a masseuse for $100 an hour, or relieve stress in minutes for free, using acupressure—the Chinese art of applying pressure to specific points on the body, says Dr. Mehmet Oz. Start by gently tugging your earlobes, pressing lightly with your thumb and index finger. Rub your lobes and move up the outer rim of the ear. This can stimulate endorphin production and reduce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
Keep Reading
30 days of makeovers
The hidden health benefits of massage
4 easy ways to incorporate touch into your day

Photo: Thinkstock

One of the friends I like to go for walks with has a problem "down there," and I don’t really want to get into it, but I will tell you that her kids have started asking her why she crosses her legs when she sneezes. Another friend has a different issue that affects the same general area, and it involves a practically-unpronounceable medical diagnosis that translates as "it feels like someone has taken a Brillo pad to my crotch and then poured rubbing alcohol all over it." And then there's that dear friend who gave birth a few weeks ago, and is still dealing with discomfort in the baby-making vicinity, as well as a mysterious case of post-partum leg numbness.

When I first heard these personal stories about private parts, the most I could offer my friends was a sympathetic ear (and I know they appreciated that). But after researching a burgeoning area of physical therapy, I now know where to refer these women--and others like them.

Read more about physical therapy for issues like incontinence, pelvic pain and post-partum complications, and find out the two exercises every woman should think about doing to help with problems like these.

 

Photos: Best Life

Every week or so, we'll be asking one of the Best Life experts for advice on diet and exercise, ways to get better rest and strategies to live a little younger.

If you have a question, send it to us!

Q: How should I handle a midmorning snack attack?

Adam before: "I let myself go physically, emotionally, and spiritually."

Many things cause people to make a radical change--a new job, marriage or moving to a new city just to name a few. But for O's creative director Adam Glassman it was a yearly physical with his doctor and the discovery of high blood pressure that caused him to re-evaluate his relationship with food. A self-described skinny kid, he says, "I never had to diet in my entire life."

After doing a search online, he found one major cause of high blood pressure was salt. He didn't often add it to meals, but he found it was in everything--especially processed and canned foods. (And the heavy, rich business dinners and fast food he ate during late nights at the office didn't help either). In addition to eliminating sodium from his diet, he put his gym membership to use, doing 45-minute cardio sessions every morning while he caught up on the news. "The first 45 days are the toughest, but it took me that long to break bad habits," says Adam. He quickly noticed that he didn't just lose weight and lower his blood pressure, but he had more energy, his mood and skin improved, and he slept better. Compliments didn't hurt either. "Every person told me I looked younger," he says, "I never realized that I had gotten big or looked like a hag." 

It wasn't until a visit to dermatologist David Colbert, M.D., that Adam found a more detailed regimen for him to follow in the doctor's book, The High School Reunion Diet. He cut out red meat, coffee, white foods (like bread and pasta), alcohol, and soda and replaced with healthier options, reminding him that dieting doesn't mean you have to feel deprived or unsatisfied. After sticking to Colbert's plan for three months, he started to slowly integrate things back into his life--like the occasional glass of champagne at a party--but found he no longer had the same cravings. "My palate had completely changed," he says.