While at-home fitness has always been an appealing option—especially for those who work from home or simply don’t have the extra hours in the day to make the commute to and fro to the gym—but it’s never been as in-demand and frankly, as accessible as it today. Given that many gyms, fitness studios, and group exercise classes are still shut down due to tight social distancing restrictions—and may stay that way for the foreseeable future— virtual fitness and at-home workouts have never been more in demand.  Finding creative ways to stay active (let alone sane, TBH) when we’re stuck at home and unable to attend the gym or our favorite workout classes IRL has undoubtedly propelled the luxury at-home fitness equipment arena’s success within the past two years or so, with enhanced and premium fitness equipment like the coveted Peloton bike and its many competitors.

Alas, the future of fitness is here, folks, and fortunately, this budding sector of remote workout gear allows us to enjoy the perks of a boutique fitness studio from the comfort (and safety) of our living rooms while we’re all just tryin’ to do our best to adjust to the ever-pivoting “new normal.” One of the hottest new innovations in the luxury fitness category is brought to you by none other than Lululemon Athletica. The MIRROR is touted as “the world’s first nearly invisible gym,” which offers members a vast selection of customizable workouts, on-demand classes, and even one-on-one virtual personal training sessions via a super-futuristic reflective mirror-screen hybrid. This thing is literally next level.

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So just how does this marvelously avant-grade virtual workout mirror actually work? Basically, it’s the next best thing to having a real live fitness instructor because it allows you to seamlessly check your form by comparing yours to your instructor’s without interruption and get live feedback like you would in person. Mourning the loss of your favorite group spin class? MIRROR’s got thousands of live and on-demand classes to give you the sense of community—and perhaps a healthy dose of competition—to keep your motivation levels firmly in check. As evidenced by one glowing MIRROR member, “The Mirror provides constant feedback on the workout and how you are progressing through it. You feel like you are really in a class!”.

Aside from offering thousands of different workouts from HIIT training to yoga, it also monitors all of your stats to chart your progression, the MIRROR also comes with a slew of other upgraded features, including Bluetooth-powered heart rate monitoring, W-Fi-enabled music and fitness app synching, and real-time optimizations based on your preferences ~and~ performance. Plus, as a functional mirror when not in use, the sleek, minimalist-approved design won’t mar your chic home decor vibes like other bulky treadmills and exercise bikes.

Courtesy of Lululemon.

Fancy features and stats aside, let’s get to the fine print, shall we? The price. While the physical mirror itself will set you back about $1,500, you’ll have to pay the monthly membership to reap the benefits of the MIRROR, which is an additional $39 a month. However, to help soften the blow, Lululemon ~is~ offering some pretty reasonable financing options, which can break down the price to about just $42 per month. If you think about how much you pay for your gym membership, let alone your pricey exercise classes, that’s actually pretty darn cheap.

While I haven’t personally had a chance to use the MIRROR for a full workout class or 1:1 training session just yet, I have checked out the awesome device IRL, and let me tell you, it is seriously stellar. I’ve scoured through pages of member reviews, and frankly, I’m struggling to find one posting that the investment wasn’t worth the coin. Who knows when we’ll be allowed in the gym again, or heck, if we’ll even want to make that back-and-forth commute, now that we know that the MIRROR exists.

I sit on my living room floor, in front of the fire, after my morning tea. This is my time; time to slow my breath, relax my body and just be present. This is my way of soothing my mind and releasing the tension in my body. Nothing fancy, nothing strange; this is mindfulness meditation and I love it.

Many of us associate meditation with Eastern gurus in saffron-colored robes, monasteries and chanting – blissed-out mental states that have nothing to do with our ordinary lives. It’s true that the practice of meditation is thousands of years old. But a sweeping change has come, and now it is being practiced by sports teams, car dealers, physical therapy clinics, schools and hospitals!

The evidence is mounting daily. You can’t ignore it. Your doctors, dentists and therapists are talking about mindfulness meditation, a simple practice that helps reduce loneliness, insomnia, chronic pain and depression, just for starters!

Research Supports the Value of Mindfulness Meditation

Around the world, researchers are reporting astonishing benefits particularly relevant to older adults. For example, a recent UCLA study found that mindfulness meditation reduced loneliness and improved immune functioning in adults, mostly women, ages 55 to 85.

Additionally, research has indicated that mindfulness meditation can slow the aging process for women, reduce the suffering associated with chronic pain, reduce the likelihood of relapse in depressive illness and improve brain and immune function.

Is this enough to arouse your curiosity? Should you take a closer look at this technique?

It depends. Maybe you are a relaxed woman who is able to focus peacefully on the small moments of folding laundry, cooking, watching the birds, playing with grandchildren. But if you suffer from anxiety, racing thoughts, depression, chronic pain or difficulty sleeping then definitely yes! You owe it to yourself to find out more about this free, harmless and research-based effective practice that can enhance your quality of life.

What Is Mindfulness Meditation?

I checked out dozens of descriptions and definitions and this was the one that made the most sense to me:

“Mindfulness meditation is the practice of paying attention to what you’re experiencing from moment to moment without drifting into thoughts about the past or concerns about the future and without analyzing or making judgements about what is going on around you.”

What Does It Look Like?

You sit quietly every day for five minutes or longer relaxing your body, focusing on your breath, and practicing other mental techniques to slow your thoughts. Don’t worry, I will give you more details and examples!

Here is how I learned to meditate, what I tried and what worked for me.

In my 60s, I found myself struggling with persistent anxious worry due to family issues. I knew I needed to find a way to calm myself. So, I sat myself down, crossed my legs, and contemplated my breath. For about five seconds. Then thoughts came crowding in and I decided, I can’t do this!

But calming my anxiety was a powerful motivator, so I attended workshops, read books, and listened to CDs. Finally, I read a book about meditation for women that told me that in the West – as opposed to the Eastern parts of the world – we need things for our minds to focus on. Emptying our minds just does not work!

Plus, women are so accustomed to thinking and planning that it is impossible to just shut off our minds. The only solution was to give the mind something else to focus on, something calming. Finally, someone understood!

The book taught about a five senses meditation where you notice in turn what you are hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling on your body and seeing. This worked for me! I loved noticing all the things going on that I had never noticed before. Thus gradually I created my own system that keeps my mind occupied and focused on slow, restful present-moment things.

I am going to share with you, very specifically, the mental techniques that finally helped me to slow down my mind, my heart and my breath.

How My Mindfulness Meditation Works

First, I get comfortable, sitting or lying down, on a chair or on the floor, outside or inside; it does not matter. I close my eyes.

I take a few deep breaths, noticing what they feel and sound like. This always creates a grounding feeling, like, Oh yes, here I am.

Next, I go through each of the five senses, about two minutes each. Every time my mind wanders, I gently bring it back like a little puppy. For each sense, the trick is to really deeply focus on it and tune in to the smallest details. My favorite is the listening.

What am I hearing right now? Spend at least two minutes noticing every detail of what you are hearing. What am I tasting in my mouth? What am I smelling? What am I feeling in my body? The last thing I do is, I open my eyes and notice what am I seeing around me, noticing even tiny details. By then my mind is nice and slow.

I do a gratitude meditation. I remember all the things I am grateful for since my last meditation. I’m always amazed at the small precious things I had forgotten all about.

I imagine the people I love bathed in a warm glow.

Finally, I pay attention to my breath again for a few seconds.

This whole practice can take from 10 to 40 minutes. When I am finished, I feel calm, slow, and relaxed, with a delicious sense of well-being. If I get an upsetting text or phone call, I am much less ruffled by it. This peaceful feeling lasts for at least a day, maybe more.

Further Suggestions

Some people may be able to practice and reap the benefits of meditation by relaxing in their living room, listening to their breath and perhaps using other mental techniques. Others may need to learn through personal instruction, such as a guided meditation class.

I checked online and there seem to be some offered through community education, hospitals and yoga studios. A guided meditation CD may also be a great option. I checked the library and there were a few choices. Jon Kabat-Zinn is the person who introduced mindfulness meditation into the world of Western medicine, and he has quite a few CDs available.

We older women are mistresses of reinvention. We know we need to be flexible and open-minded. We are practical, and we do what works. So maybe it’s time for you to sit down, cross your legs – or lie on the couch – take a deep breath, and try something new.

Have you thought about or tried meditating? Do you think that mindfulness can help us stay in the present moment and not worry about the future? What resources would you recommend to others in the Sixty and Me community? Please join the conversation!

Do you sometimes feel unsteady on your feet? Have you noticed that you walk more slowly and cautiously? Would you like to feel more confident when you’re out walking?

If you’re starting to notice your balance when you walk, you’ll know how much this can affect your enjoyment of walking.

In the last 15 years as a specialist exercise instructor, I’ve helped hundreds of people to feel steadier on their feet and more confident with their walking.

I know that walking well matters, which is why I’ve written a series of articles to help Sixty and Me readers feel more confident walking.

Why Is Walking Well so Important?

Walking well is crucial to our ability to go places and do things. We need to maintain our ability to walk well for as long as possible.

When we feel steadier on our feet, we’re happier walking to get places, going out to run errands, and walking for pleasure. We can enjoy our surroundings and companions because we aren’t worrying or feeling unsteady.

Walking allows us to see more of the people we care about, explore new places, and connect with nature. It gets us out of the house and can help to reduce stress and anxiety.

It’s also so important for how we feel about ourselves. When we’re confident walking, we can do more of the things we want and need to do. We feel better about ourselves and more optimistic about the future.

What Is Walking Well?

It’s a long, long time since we learnt how to walk. We’ve carried on walking for the last 50, 60 or 70 years without giving it a second thought. I know it’s a bit strange, and perhaps slightly frustrating, to have to think about how we walk.

But, if you’re starting to notice your balance when you’re walking or don’t feel as steady as you used to, you will benefit from paying attention to how you walk.

Walking well means thinking about our posture and our overall walking technique. Taking some time to learn about and practise walking well will help you for many years to come.

And, while I know practising walking sounds a little funny (I know you’ve been doing it for more than 50 years!), a little bit of time spent practising at home will pay off when you’re out and about.

The video above explores what we need to do with our arms when we walk, and how this can help us to walk well. When we think about walking, we mostly think about what our legs and feet are doing. Walking should be a full-body activity, and we can all use our arms to improve our walking.

Arm Swings

Demo video:

<iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/464966824″ width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen” allowfullscreen></iframe>

Practice this now at home (yes, I mean NOW!). See how different your walking feels when you swing your arms (make sure the swing is coming from the shoulder, not the elbow).

Then, next time you’re out walking, try and remember to keep those arms swinging. You’ll feel more powerful and confident when you do so.

A Note About Your Handbag

I love a good handbag as much as the next person. Large ones, small ones, clutches, over the shoulder and cross-body bags… keep them coming!

However, carrying things does get in the way of us using our arms when we walk. Having a bag in one hand, or even over one shoulder, makes it much harder for us to swing our arms properly and walk well.

If you’re just going out for a walk, try and fit anything you might need (keys, phone) in your pockets. You’ll feel lighter for not having a bag on your shoulder, and your walking will be better.

If you’ve got shopping or other items to carry, consider a backpack. I know it might not feel that fashionable, and it may be years since you last used one. However, think about how great you’ll look standing up tall and walking confidently.

Plus, having your arms free for swinging, or holding on if needed, will reduce your likelihood of tripping or taking a tumble.

Exercises for Walking Well

Once you’ve mastered the arm swings, you’ll probably want to do more to improve your walking and feel steadier on your feet.

If you want to improve your walking and balance further, the recommendation is to perform targeted exercises.

If you aren’t already doing regular strength and balance exercises, consider adding these to your routine.

There’s lots of evidence that combining strength and balance exercises will help you improve your balance and reduce your risk of falls.

Forget the Lycra!

Many people think that starting an exercise programme involves an hour of leaping around in Lycra every day, sweating, while someone shouts at you. Forget about that!

You can get stronger and improve your balance with just 10 minutes of exercise a day, and you get the best results when you’re doing movements selected for you (not designed for a 25-year-old gym bunny!).

A good exercise instructor will encourage you to work at the right pace for you. They will demonstrate the routines clearly so you feel confident doing the exercises that will help you.

If you want help and support to exercise at home, take a look at the Vida Wellness Studio. It’s an online exercise studio for people who wish to improve their balance and posture, feel stronger, and move more easily. Our videos are clear and easy to follow, and most of our routines are 10-15 minutes long, so you can easily fit them into your day

Do you notice your walking more than you used to? How different does it feel when you swing your arms while you walk? Are you already doing strength and balance exercises?

She’s been teasing us for months and now, JLo Beauty is finally here. You might not be able to shop it yet but we have all the details so you can game-plan what to add to your skincare routine. Because if the 51-year-old uses her own line, well, we know it seriously works. Just look at that “JLo Glow.”

JLo Beauty was inspired by Lopez’s lifelong mantra, The Five S’s: sleep, sunscreen, serum, supplements and sano—from the Spanish phrase, vivir sano, meaning live healthy. Lopez is all about that life, shunning drink and smoking, eating well, exercising and drinking lots of water. Self-care and skincare go hand-in-hand with this ethos.

Growing up, Lopez’s skincare routine was much simpler: Ivory soap and Avon. Her mother told her olive oil was a cure for everything so Lopez made her it was the base for her skincare line. “It’s all about the family tradition of using olive oil for skin and hair,” she told STYLECASTER. The line aims to give you hydration and a “full, youthful, glowy look.” Not that looking younger is the key to looking beautiful. Lopez tells herself, “I’m beautiful and youthful at any age.”

“I think there’s an unnatural standard with all the filters and fillers in the world right now,” she continues. “Aging in a graceful way is a crazy thought. You look great, whatever age you are. Not great for 50, great period!” Not that she wakes up feeling amazing every day. Lopez is actually human. “I have mornings I wake up and feel like crap,” she admits. “I tell myself, like my idol Barbra Streisand, ‘Hello, gorgeous!’ I tell myself I’m going to have the best day ever, the best day yet.”

Source: Instagram

Keep reading for all the details on the new eight-piece line that officially launches January 1. But set your iCal, because you can get early access to shop on December 8.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

JLo Beauty.

That Fresh Take Eye Cream with Peptides

This hydrating eye cream is packed with patented peptides to help smooth fine lines, sugar-derived matrix for firming and a blurring complex to hide the look of dark circles.

JLo Beauty.

That Hit Single Gel-Cream Cleanser

This gel-cream cleanser features the brand’s Olive Complex, an antioxidant-rich, olive blend of
squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract for all-day hydration.

JLo Beauty.

That JLo Glow Serum with Olive Complex

Here’s that JLo-glow promise in a tube. It contains the Olive Complex, as well as yeast-derived ferment for softer skin, Japanese rice sake ferment for brightening and sugar-derived matrix for firming.

JLo Beauty.

That Limitless Glow Sheet Mask

Keep the glow going with serum-packed sheet masks.

JLo Beauty.

That Star Filter Highlighting Complexion Booster

Would it be a JLo line without bronzer and highlighter? In three shades, mineral pigments give an instant glow. Use it alone or add it to moisturizer.

JLo Beauty.

That Inner Love

Lopez says “you can’t really have great skin if you don’t do something from the inside out.” This supplement contains olive extract, vitamin E, manganese and copper. Check with your doctor to make sure they’re the right vitamins for you.

JLo Beauty.

That Blockbuster Wonder Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

Along with the Olive Complex, this “wonder cream” is full of antioxidant-rich peptides, hyaluronic acid and yeast-derived ferment for silky smooth skin.

JLo Beauty.

That Big Screen Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Forget having great skin without sunscreen! Not only does this one have broad spectrum SPF30, but it also contains marine bamboo to help protect skin from blue light, as well as hyaluronic acid,
glycerin and natural sugars for hydration. 

Additional reporting by Alana Peden.

Editor’s Note: Before considering job opportunities that may put you at risk, consider the current Covid-19 conditions in your state/country.

Have you ever noticed that finding fun jobs for retirees isn’t as easy as it should be? After all, we have decades of experience and a strong work ethic. Unfortunately, this isn’t always enough.

So, to help the women in our community who are looking for some extra work, I’ve compiled a list of 9 part-time jobs for seniors. I hope they help you to meet your financial goals!

Jobs for Retirees Don’t Have to Be Boring!

Women over 60 are no strangers to hard work. Most of us have worked all our lives, whether it’s at a full-time job or caring for children or aging parents.

But as we approach retirement age, many older women are starting to think about the best part-time jobs for retirees – not only to make some extra money, but to find a sense of fulfillment and fun.

Some women are in a position where they don’t “have” to work for money. For them, finding a job in retirement may be more about staying involved and keeping their minds active and healthy.

For other women, finding work in retirement is more of a necessity. In either case, at our age, we are looking to do something that we genuinely enjoy.

If you aren’t sure what types of part time jobs would be most interesting to you, think back to what you loved to do as a child, or try to remember one of your favorite jobs from when you were younger.

Here are a few great jobs for retirees or seniors to spark your imagination:

#1 Craftpreneur

#2 Blogger

#3 Gardener

#4 Seasonal Worker

#5 Shop Assistant

#6 Freelance Writer or Editor

#7 Non-Profit Worker

#8 Massage Therapist

#9 Makeup Artist

Craftepreneur – Make Money from What You Love to Create

There’s a big market for handmade items such as soap, knitted stuffs, macramé, candles, and other personal crafts and artisan goods. If you have a hobby for making things with your hands, turn it into a small business on the side! People enjoy purchasing and gifting unique items that are handmade.

You can easily set up a virtual shop on Etsy and sell your items online. The website is user-friendly, and they take you step by step to set up your store. This type of business opens the door to worldwide potential customers. The website takes a small fee for their service and assures payments are safe and secure.

You can set up your own personal website through services like Shopify if you have some website building skills (or you can pay someone to do it for you).

Also, you can check with your community for seasonal craft fairs and set up a small table with your crafts for sale.

Blogger – Share Your Knowledge with the World and Gain

The Sixty and Me community started as my own personal “part-time retirement job” – but it’s grown into so much more. You can do this too – start your own website dedicated to sharing information and building a community related to something you care about and are an “expert” in.

Over time, as you build the audience for your site, you can earn money from advertising, selling merchandise, and selling products and services of affiliate businesses that you believe in.

For example, have you become an avid photographer over the years? Have you learned skills that you can now share with others who are interested in photography? You can build a website (or hire someone to build it and upkeep it) and share your photos and also write useful articles about photography techniques and gear.

In your articles, you can promote cameras and photography accessories that can generate revenue for you when readers click on the links.

The great thing about running your own website is that the whole world can be your audience.

Don’t think that it’s possible to start a content-based business after 60? This video has my own story.

Gardener – Turn Your Green Finger into Green Money

If you love to garden, there are many ways that you can turn the green things you grow into “green” money in your pocket. You could grow herbs and sell lavender pillows. Or perhaps you should consider drying the herbs and selling them in packets.

You could also have a garden sale where you offer your locally grown plants and vegetables to other people in your town. As an added bonus, you may finally get to meet your neighbors from across the street.

If you have a big garden and are willing to do some marketing, you might even consider renting space at your local farmer’s market. People love to buy locally-grown fresh produce, and your garden could help meet this demand.

Do you like to grow beautiful flowers? Be it roses or wildflowers, you can create unique and personalized bouquets to sell.

Seasonal Worker – Make Every Time of Year the Best Time of Year

Have you ever wanted to live in a resort destination or beautiful wilderness area? What if you could get a part-time job that paid you to live and work in a dream location?

One of the advantages of being women over 60 is that we often have more freedom to relocate or live in multiple places throughout the year.

So, if you’re willing to pack up and move for a seasonal job, check out the website CoolWorks.com. They provide information on various seasonal jobs at places like summer camps, dude ranches, and vacation resorts.

Over 55? Check out the Experienced Services Program and apply to work on specific project assignments in the National Parks. This is a fun program that provides you with an opportunity to use your valuable skills to support the National Park Service.

Jobs at national parks and other great destinations are wonderful ways you can make money while living in a beautiful place – and some of the jobs offer free housing!

Shop Assistant – It’s Not What You Remember from Your Teenage Years

If you love to spend time in a retail environment, restaurants, or cafes, perhaps you could get a part-time job working at one of your favorite shops or coffee establishments.

Places like Starbucks offer health benefits and free coffee. Working in a bustling coffee shop is a great way to meet people and feel connected to the daily activity of your community. Retail outlets offer some of the most reliable jobs for retirees.

Take advantage of the fact that retailers need some extra help every year during the upcoming weeks leading to the Holidays/Christmas season. You don’t have to make it a full-time job and you can also get discounts on your own holiday gift shopping.

Freelance Writer – Turn Your Words Into Opportunities

If you have some skills as a writer – whether from your career or just as a hobby – you can make money in retirement by working as a freelance writer or editor.

In the interview below, I talked with a successful freelance writer who works online. We discussed advice for women over 60 who want to turn freelance writing into a source of income.

Writing is one of the best part-time jobs for retirees because you can do the work anywhere, on your own schedule, and you can work with clients all over the world. The sky’s the limit!

You can find freelance writing projects on Upwork (formerly Elance).

Also, if you have the desire to write a novel or a memoir this may be the perfect time to do it. Places like Amazon make it easy to self-publish your work and sell it online.

Nonprofit Worker – You Might Not Make Much Cash, but, You’ll Make the World a Better Place

Many women over 60 want to do something “meaningful” with their lives in retirement. Idealist.org is a good source of part-time jobs for retirees, depending on your skill set and your location.

Non-profit jobs can be competitive, so you also might consider volunteering to get started. Then, once you have a foot in the door with the organization, you can transition to paid work.

Massage Therapist – Relax Your Way into a Great Part-Time Job

As the population gets older, there will likely be a growing demand for massage therapy services to help people relieve aches, pains, and stresses on the body. People of all ages are discovering the health benefits of regular massage – so why not “cash in” on this trend?

Being a massage therapist is another great part-time job for retirees because you can set your own hours and practice out of a shared space.

It often doesn’t require a lot of money to get certified as a massage therapist, and once you’re licensed, you can work in a variety of fun settings – whether it’s a local spa or a cruise ship! Check out the Massage Therapy License website for more information about qualifications and requirements to become certified.

Makeup Artist – A Beautiful Job, if You’re Willing to Learn

You’ve been putting on makeup all your life, so you might as well get paid for it! Becoming a cosmetologist is another great part-time job for seniors because you can work from home, meet new people and make a difference in helping women feel better about themselves.

As part of your training, you could also volunteer at a local retirement home, theater company, or cancer hospital. There are many ways to bring extra beauty into the world!

Also, makeup counters in big box stores always need people passionate about makeup to sell their products. Why not apply at the shops that specialize in makeup for older women?

Want more ideas about how to get started finding a part-time job during retirement? Read our article that can help get you started on your new job search – from creating a resume to tapping into your network.

What do you think makes a great part-time job for retirees? Do you have a dream job that you plan on pursuing in retirement?