[NOTE: If you are just joining us for the first time, you can find my previous Sixty and Me Free Piano Lessons on my Author page. You can join our lessons any time!]

Many of you report to me that you are taking your lessons more slowly than I am posting them, and that is great, and completely expected! There is no set timeline for your learning as long as you are able to maintain consistent practice. Try to get to your keyboard at least 3-4 days per week in order to keep progressing.

Start each new lesson when you feel you are playing your current pieces fairly smoothly. All of my Sixty and Me lessons will remain posted on my Author page which you can access at any time.

If you haven’t already, read MORE ABOUT CHORDS on Appendix p.iv at the back of the book. There are 4 basic chords you will be learning about in our book Upper Hands Piano, BOOK 1: MAJOR, MINOR, DIMINISHED and AUGMENTED. I discuss these chords and CHORD SYMBOLS in my video:

11.1 MAJOR, MINOR, DIMINISHED and AUGMENTED chords, and Chord Symbols

11.2 Exercise #3

Exercise #3 is great for developing dexterous, agile fingers. We will be playing this exercise in all 12 keys. Use the PENTASCALES chart at the back of your book if you are not sure of the 5 notes for each Pentascale.

Play the first two measures of Exercise #3, three times. Two times forte (loudly) and one time piano (softly). Then play the chords: MAJOR, MINOR, DIMINISHED and back to MAJOR. Play each exercise with each hand, separately. Here is my demonstration video for Exercise #3 in C and G:

11.3 Chord Calisthenics

The chord calisthenics are here to help you to review and start to memorize your triads (three-note chords). In Chord Calisthenics #1 we play the chords “broken” (one note at a time) as well as “block” (all together).

Notice that there are chord symbols above the block chords. The chord symbols are like a shortcut, telling pianists and guitarists (and other instrumentalists) what chord to play, without having to read the bass notes. For the next 2 weeks play the Chord Calisthenics in C, G, D and A (the first 2 lines).

11.4 Aviemore Bells, p.41

Try playing Aviemore Bells with each hand separately before putting your hands together. Notice that in the first and third lines, the melody is played with the left hand in the bass staff, and the right hand plays chords. In the second and fourth lines the right hand plays the melody in the treble staff, while the left hand plays chord accompaniments. Very tricky! But a great challenge for you for the next two weeks.

While you play Aviemore Bells, notice the new bass note on p.42! You will soon be playing bass D in the following pages, but for now, keep reminding yourself that Dessert D is on the middle line of the bass staff.

Passion Practice!

1. Exercise #3 in C AND G. Play each exercise 3 times: 2x Forte (loudly) then 1x Piano (softly) with each hand. Use the PENTASCALES chart at the back of the book if you are not sure of the hand positions for C and G.
2. Chord Calisthenics #1 – first 2 lines with each hand separately (in C, G, D, and A).
3. Aviemore Bells, p.41.
4. Review p.29-30 and The Irish Washerwoman if you have time.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have a favorite chord? I am partial to minor chords myself. That’s probably because my parents listened to a lot of Middle Eastern music while I was growing up. Most Middle Eastern music is based on minor chords, and I got used to that dark sound. What music was playing in your house growing up? Do you like the music your parents listened to or did your tastes diverge from theirs?

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It is well known that regular exercise can improve overall health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve mental well-being.

However, the question arises: is exercising a fun activity or a chore we must do?

The answer to this question depends on how you perceive exercising. If you find exercise a chore, keep reading for some insights on how to change your approach to exercise.

For many people, exercising isn’t fun. It is something that they feel they must do to stay healthy, and they don’t enjoy it. They may find it boring, tiring, or even painful. These people often struggle to motivate themselves to exercise and may even skip workouts altogether.

On the other hand, some people view exercise as a fun activity. They enjoy the feeling of working up a sweat, the rush of endorphins that come with exercise, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving their fitness goals. These people look forward to their workouts and find them to be an enjoyable and rewarding part of their day.

If you are someone who views exercising as a chore – don’t worry, you aren’t alone. There are a few things you can do to change your perception.

Ask Yourself What You Enjoy Doing

First, try to find an activity that you enjoy. I know this sounds simple but try to think outside the box. Whether it is dancing, swimming, roller skating, hiking, or playing a sport, there are many different ways to exercise besides joining a gym.

Find something that you love, and it will not feel like a chore anymore. Often that answer is in our youth. What did you like to do as a child? Run, dance, swim, play soccer? It can be incredibly fun and playful to revisit activities you liked to do as a child as an adult.

I had a friend who did not like exercising but she loved to dance! So instead of joining the gym, she started clogging. She had fun while working up a sweat and dancing to music.

Set Attainable Goals

Second, set achievable goals for yourself. Start small and work your way up. If you try to do too much too soon, you may become overwhelmed and discouraged. By setting achievable goals, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and be motivated to continue.

I post short Pilates exercise videos on my YouTube channel that you can easily squeeze in at any time of the day. My intention with my YouTube community is to give you short but effective exercises to inspire you to get moving.

Doing even a couple of minutes of Pilates every day is better for you than 1 hour once a week. You’ll feel empowered and healthy with these quick but effective Pilates routines, carefully curated to challenge, strengthen and lengthen you in all the right places, anytime, anywhere.

Community Is Important

Third, find your tribe. Exercising with a community of people can make it more enjoyable and can also keep you accountable. You can motivate each other and celebrate each other’s successes. Plus knowing that you are exercising with others can be incredibly validating. Just knowing others are caring for their health and wellness reminds us to stay active and push ourselves to show up each day!

When I started my online Pilates classes during the pandemic, I was surprised by the quick built up into a wonderful community of members. Each morning we would meet together online to exercise. It was a lovely way to stay in shape, be accountable and keep up with a daily movement habit. Since then, the community has continued to grow with members from all over the world!

If you are someone who already views exercising as a fun activity, keep up the good work! It is important to continue challenging yourself and trying new things to keep things interesting.

Consider trying a new workout class or setting a new fitness goal for yourself. I often say, “In order to change yourself, you need to challenge yourself.” Don’t get stuck in the same boring routine. Switch it up, try a new class or activity, or find an instructor who keeps things fresh and works your body in many different ways.

In conclusion, exercising can be either a fun activity or a chore, depending on your perception. By finding an activity you enjoy, setting achievable goals, and finding your tribe of like-minded people, you can turn exercising into a fun and rewarding part of your day. Remember, exercise is not just about staying healthy; it is also about feeling good and having fun!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you find exercise a chore or a fun part of your day? What do you find fun about exercising? Or what is stopping you from making exercise a regular part of your routine?

Originally posted at: Tamra Judge’s Black One Sleeve Confessional Look

Sanya Richards-Ross’ Burgundy Asymmetric Dress

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 15 Episode 4 Fashion

I feel like Sanya Richards-Ross is the queen of asymmetric sleeved dresses. She wears them quite often and now she’s wearing a cute burgundy one . I mean would be too if I had a couple olympian trained arms to flaunt. Just kidding, of course you don’t have to have any type of arm to rock a dress like this. All you need is a dress like this. Which of course is conveniently located in our Style Stealers below.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to See Her Bardot Dress

Originally posted at: Sanya Richards-Ross’ Burgundy Asymmetric Dress

Mobile apps that we install on our phones or tablets have become useful for everyday life. From fun games to exercise apps, there’s an app for everything!

Are you looking for apps that can help you stay healthy? There are many useful apps that can help track your pills, provide morning meditations, suggest healthy recipes, and more.

Read 20 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL APPS FOR WOMEN OVER 60.

Also read 5 LANGUAGE APPS FOR WOMEN OVER 60.

Most apps have free versions or free trial days that typically include in-app advertisements. When you purchase an app or subscribe to a monthly plan, you get an ad-free experience and general access to more features. The price will be at the top right-hand corner and will tell you if there are in-app purchases.

Remember that most apps will automatically charge your account after the free trial period. Make sure to check your subscriptions on the App Store or Google Play store and manage them closely.

There are thousands upon thousands of apps out there and it can get quite overwhelming and downloading too many apps can get confusing. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps you can use to stay healthy.

Of course, these apps don’t replace regular doctor’s visits and are not intended to replace medical care.

Best Health Apps for Women Over 60

Pill Reminder Apps

Chances are you take medications daily and have some type of system to remind yourself to take them. Every time you miss taking a pill, you put your health at risk. These apps make a list of your medications and send you a reminder when it’s time to take them.

Medisafe Pill Reminder

Pharmacists rank Medisafe Pill reminder #1 among the pill reminder apps. It has been downloaded millions of times and helps you manage your pills, your refills, and reminds you of your doctor’s appointments. It will even let you know about drug interactions and other health concerns.

Medisafe for Android

Medisafe for Apple

MyTherapy: Medication Reminder

Another great app to help you keep track of your medications and other health issues is My Therapy: Medication Reminder. It not only manages your medications and refills, it also tracks your injection sites and weight fluctuations and more.

MyTherapy for Android

MyTherapy for Apple

Pill Reminder

Pill Reminder is another popular medication tracker for seniors and works very similarly to the other apps. You can monitor your medication schedule, take photos of your medications, send reports by email to your doctor, and much more.

Pill Reminder for Android

Pill Reminder for Apple

Monitoring Apps

Some apps can even monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, calorie intake, and daily habits.

Instant Heart Rate: HR Monitor

Get your heart rate in less than 10 seconds, check your stress levels, and see trends and insights with the Instant Heart Rate app. The app uses the camera and flash on your phone so you don’t need an additional device to track your heart rate.

Instant Heart Rate for Android

Instant Heart Rate for Apple

Ada – Check Your Health

This app can help diagnose a health concern. You simply answer questions regarding your own or someone else’s symptoms and the app assesses your answers against its medical dictionary of thousands of disorders and medical conditions. You then receive a personalized assessment report that tells you what could be wrong and what to do next.

Ada on Android

Ada on Apple

Fabulous: Daily Habit Tracker

Your mental health should be a priority. Create healthy habits and daily structures with the Fabulous app. The app is a self-improvement, coaching, and mental health platform that helps you take care of yourself.

Fabulous for Android

Fabulous for Apple

Healthy Eating Apps

Lifesum: Healthy Eating

The Lifesum app is a food diary with a convenient barcode scanner, a calorie counter, a macro tracker (protein, carbs, and fats), and a water tracker. It also suggests diet plans for weight loss.

Lifesum for Android

Lifesum for Apple

MyFitnessPal: CalorieCounter

This food tracker and health app is like having a nutrition coach, intermittent fasting tracker, meal planner, and food diary right in the palm of your hand. MyFitnessPal is a health app to help you track your habits, make smarter food choices, and find motivation and support to stay healthy.

MyFitnessPal for Android

MyFitnessPal for Apple

Water Reminder – Daily Tracker

We all know we should drink plenty of water every day. With the Water Reminder app, you can schedule notifications to drink water during the day and track your consumption during the day.

Water Reminder for Android

Water Reminder for Apple

Meditation & Sleep Apps

Sleep is important for our general well-being and can affect our mood. Meditation can help you sleep better, reduce stress, and alleviate moods.

Headspace: Mindful Meditation

Listen to guided meditations to help you sleep better. Headspace is an everyday mindfulness and meditation app that helps you make mindfulness a daily habit. Learn how to relax, manage stress, find your focus, and release tension in both your mind and body.

Headspace for Android

Headspace for Apple

Sleep Cycle: Sleep Tracker

The Sleep Cycle app monitors your sleep patterns and gives you detailed reports every morning. The smart alarm clock only wakes you up when you are in your light sleep phase for a more restful sleep and gentler awakening.

Sleep Cycle for Android

Sleep Cycle for Apple

Calm: Sleep & Meditation

Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. The app offers daily meditations, sleep stories narrated by well-known voices like Matthew McConaughey, calming music tracks from Keith Urban, and more.

Calm for Android

Calm for Apple

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you use apps to track your health? Which apps do you use? Do you have any apps to suggest to our readers? What do you like about health apps? Do you have any questions regarding using apps on your phone or tablet? Tell us about it in the comments below.