The coronavirus has shaken us up. Even
if you never get it, and don’t know anyone who has, the virus and our reactions
to it have changed us individually and collectively. I’m an eternal optimist
(my middle name is Hope), and I see one very positive and powerful trend – live
online yoga classes.

We all know that there are a zillion yoga videos on YouTube. At this moment, I see 388,000,000. Sixty and Me created gentle yoga videos. I’ve made some myself. Those videos are a wonderful resource. I’m glad to know I can find so many yoga videos at any hour of the day.

But something new is happening. Plato
said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Because many are home-bound, yoga
teachers are offering classes and 1-on-1 sessions online.

Keep reading to find out why live
online yoga lessons are awesome for seniors (and everyone else). I’m offering
my lessons on ZOOM, so any technical references below are for that platform.

Accountability

Something’s missing in those
388,000,000 YouTube videos, and that’s accountability. The lovely yogi or
yogini who recorded the videos might know that you watched it when you press
“like” or leave a comment, but they won’t really know if you did the yoga.

With the coronavirus, or really
anytime, most of us benefit from some commitments in our week. Retirees often
float a while in the bliss of not going to work, but then find they need some
structure to make life work.

We need to schedule time for important
things like exercise and self-care, so that we don’t let it drift too late in
the day and skip it.

With live classes, you generally have
to register in advance and pay a fee. That small commitment makes you far more
likely to continue committing when you put it on your calendar, get ready, and
actually do the class.

I’ve recently started teaching online.
I “arrive” to the video room early and check in with each of my students. I see
them. As we are doing the class, I see them. If it’s a small class, I can notice
when they are a bit off track with their alignment.

I may say their name and invite them
to adjust. This ability will vary depending on the teacher and how many
students are on the video connection. Just like in a local class, I will notice
if a registered student does not show up.

Efficiency

When I started teaching online, I was
extremely pleased with how efficient it is for me and my students. You can put
breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the oven, do the class, and wrap up just in time
to walk straight into the kitchen and eat!

You don’t have to drive in traffic or
park your car. You can fold your laundry or walk your dog up until class time,
and just plop down in your living room to do the lesson.

If you are a caregiver for kids,
grandkids, a spouse, or another loved one in your home, you can take a short
break from being a caregiver without travel time. It is good for your loved
ones to see you doing something for yourself.

Privacy

Live online yoga lessons are ideal for
people who prefer privacy. You may be an introvert. You may love being at home.
Maybe you don’t want to chit-chat with people before or after class at the gym
or yoga studio. You may feel a bit shy about going in public in yoga pants. You
may have cat or dog fur on your yoga pants.

These are all excellent reasons to do
yoga at home, in whatever clothes you want to wear.

If you don’t want anyone to see you
doing the poses, simply turn off your webcam. In Zoom the individual users have
the ability to turn off their audio and video at any time for privacy.

You’ll still benefit from the
accountability because the teacher knows you are there even if he or she cannot
see or hear you. You’re “in the room,” doing the yoga, and getting the
benefits, on your terms.

There’s another element of privacy. It’s mental privacy. When you aren’t
near other people, you won’t watch them do their yoga poses. You can focus
internally, breathe, and feel what your body needs.

Yoga was designed as a personal
spiritual practice and path. Practicing at home is ideal for that quiet mental
space.

Global Impact and Connection

Online, amazing teachers and students
can connect from anywhere. My yoga teacher lives only a 90 minute drive from my
home. I have not made the trip in almost a year. When she offered online classes
due to the coronavirus, I was happy to connect with her in that way.

I am now also taking online classes
with a teacher in California, 3000 miles away. You can pick and choose from the
best instructors in the world!

We can also connect with fellow
students and dear friends. Depending on what video format your teacher uses,
there may be a time and opportunity for students to see each other as well. In
my first few online classes, I cried with joy to see friends and students
joining me from other states and countries.

You can see your local friends at
online yoga class, even if you are still home-bound.

Safety

Online lessons are safe for seniors
because you choose your teacher and your class. You can choose a teacher with
experience working with older adults.

It’s safe because you can stay home if
you have a weakened immune system or allergies. You can stay home if you are
self-quarantined because you’ve traveled.

And finally, of course, it’s safe
during the coronavirus. You practice in your own space, on your own mat, with
peace of mind.

What You Need to Know to Get
Started

You will need some level of technical
skill. You will likely need to register for the class online and feel
comfortable paying online with a credit or debit card. You will receive an
email confirmation. Usually you will have a link to click to view the class.

In my case, I allow 15–30 minutes
before each class to make sure my students have logged on and can see and hear
me.

An added bonus of live online yoga
classes is that you have to make a space and put your mat on the floor. You
have created a space for yoga in your home. This is a powerful step towards
creating a habit!

Eckhart Tolle said, “Adversity is a
great opportunity to deepen spiritual awareness. Use it, don’t waste it.”
Adversity is also a great opportunity to try new things. We will all be glad
when the coronavirus is over.

I cannot see ahead much further than a
few days. I see live online yoga classes as a huge positive that has come from
this situation. I am certainly open to continuing online classes even when we
have the option to go to class locally.

I invite you to join me in online yoga classes and wellness services. Click here to book a complimentary phone or video consultation with me. I look forward to meeting you online!

What are you doing to stay connected
to your favorite teachers and wellness guides? What online classes are you
taking from home? What do you enjoy most about them? Please share with our
community!

Dorinda Medley’s Satin Confessional Blazer

Real Housewives of New York Season 12 Fashion

Although she may be gangsta, Dorinda Medley totally looks like a class act in her Real Housewives of New York confessionals this season with this gold satin blazer. And if you want it for yourself (her exact colour is sold out however others are still up for grabs) you better click on the link down below quick, because kindergarten’s starting and you don’t want to be late for the bus.*

Fashionably,

Faryn

*Yes I know that doesn’t really make sense, I just needed an excuse to say it.

Also Seen on Hannah Brown in Silver:

And Kandi Burruss in Pink:

Click Here to Shop her Cinq a Sept Blazer in White

Click Here to Shop it in Blue on Sale

Click Here to Shop it in Dark Pink

Click Here to Shop Additional Stock on Sale

Originally posted at: Dorinda Medley’s Satin Confessional Blazer

Summer can wreak havoc on color-treated hair, whether you’re a balayaged, beachy blonde, a vibrant redhead, or a rich chestnut brunette. The summer presents the perfect storm of color-fading elements: increased sun exposure, chlorine, salt water, wind, and amplified heat. Incorporating a richly pigmented color-enhancing shampoo can help you push back frequent trips to the salon for color refreshes, saving you both money and time.

There are a few preventative measures that will prolong the life of color by shielding your strands from environmental stressors, from wearing hats with UPF (sunscreen for textiles), keeping your hair conditioned with regular masks and treatments (color binds better to healthy hair), and investing in a good shower filter to remove hard water damage. However, adding a color-dispensing shampoo to your routine will make the most visible and immediate impact.

Some tinted shampoos are so pigmented that the color payoff is actually pretty comparable to the result you’d get after an appointment with your colorist for a color refresh, toner, or glaze — and they’re (presumably) a lot cheaper. There are plenty of color-depositing shampoos to enhance each color of hair — whether natural or color-treated. Silver and purple shampoos will help to brighten light blonde and platinum hair color and combat brass. Redheads on the other hand can especially benefit from a cherry or copper toned shampoo, as red is one of the fastest fading color — and ironically the most difficult to remove. Brunettes can also benefits from a rich chestnuts or mahogany hue to add some dimension to their color. See below for some of the best options for blondes, redheads, and brunettes.

Amazon.

1. Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo

This red-infused shampoo is ultra pigmented and will deposit a noticeable red-refresh with just one wash. You can leave it on for 10-15 minutes for a more amplified effect, or for 2-5 minutes for a less intense look. This formula is so opaquely-hued that some lighter-haired reviewers even used to it go from blonde to copper using only this shampoo. It’s also sulfate-free and gentle on comprised hair.

Buy: Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo $9.50

Amazon.

2. Fanola No Yellow Shampoo

As a bottle blonde myself, I’ve interviewed and gotten my highlights done by a vast array of different colorists, and I’ve spotted this top-selling purple shampoo at several of salons over the years. In fact, I know colorists who actually use this shampoo in clients in lieu of an actual toner — it’s that good. As most violet shampoos, this ultra-pigmented brass-buster cancels out yellow and orange tones in blonde hair, making blonde locks brighter and icier.

Buy: Fanola No Yellow Shampoo $12.98

Amazon.

3. John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Shampoo

This upgraded version of their original Brilliant Brunette Shampoo is even more intensely tinted with dimensional, brown dies to give your locks a lustrous vibrancy when summer’s elements have left it looking dull. Because it is much more pigmented than the original version, lighter brunettes will notice a darkened effect with a couple uses. You can leave it for an extended period of time (10-15 minutes) for more intense results or rinse immediately for subtle touch-up.

Buy: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shampoo

Are
you, like me, spending a lot of time in your kitchen these days, as we all ‘shelter
in place’ and follow social distancing mandates during this very difficult
time?

My
kitchen has become my sanctuary. It is providing me with much needed activity
and purpose and is forcing me to exercise creativity daily as my pantry becomes
more and more empty.

While
beans, lentils, rice, barley, and pasta have become staples for many of us, I
am also trying to stock up somewhat on root vegetables, which have a longer fridge
and shelf life than many of their fresh counterparts.

Keep It Simple

It’s
my belief that always having a few basic ingredients on hand will ensure that
meals never become bland or boring.

For
me, the list includes extra virgin olive oil, garlic, onions, carrots, sweet
potatoes, and a variety of fresh or dried herbs and spices. Any soup or stew
that starts with sautéed onions and garlic as its base is sure to be flavourful.

Root vegetables, also known as tubers
or vegetables that grow underground, have been a staple in many South American
and Asian diets for thousands of years.

In addition to providing essential
nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and dietary
fiber, root vegetables are usually inexpensive and easy to prepare.

Studies suggest that including these
vegetables in our diet, with their numerous antioxidant properties, may help to fight cancer, diabetes,
obesity as well as inflammatory-based disorders like heart disease and
arthritis.

Examples of common root vegetables are:
potatoes, beets, parsnips, carrots, celeriac, sweet potatoes, fennel, Jerusalem
artichokes, jicama, yams, radishes, and turnips. Turmeric, garlic, and ginger
are also root veggies, even though we think of them more as spices.

The Potato in My Bed

I love roasted vegetables – so easy
to prepare, so flavourful, and so nutritious. Nothing is easier than using
leftover roasted vegetables and pureeing them into a soup.

Soup has always been the ultimate
comfort food for me, especially in winter. My TCM acupuncturist, who was a
medical doctor in China, strongly advocates including numerous root vegetables
in our diets, especially in winter, as they are ‘warming’ foods.

Because I suffer from rheumatoid
arthritis and low thyroid hormone, I am always cold. She has even encouraged me
to take a potato to bed with me, emphasizing that the earth’s warmth of this
tuber would be released in my bed. I can’t say that I have tried this yet!

Below is one of my favorite go-to
recipes for immune-boosting, vegan, gluten-free, yummy roasted vegetable soup. I
used butternut squash, but you can also use parsnips, sweet potatoes, yams,
Yukon potatoes, or any other root vegetable that you fancy. Change up the
ingredients and make it often!

Roasted Vegetables

In a large roasting pan, add:

• One butternut squash, halved and with the seeds scooped out
  (or any combination of parsnips, sweet potatoes, Yukon potatoes, yams)
• 3 large carrots, peeled and quartered
• 3 medium onions, peeled and quartered
• Many cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed

Drizzle the veggies liberally with
olive oil and add your favourite herbs and spices – smoked paprika, lemon and
pepper seasoning, garlic powder, rosemary and sea salt, etc. Add ¼ inch of
water to your roasting pan. Cover and roast the vegetables in a 375-degree F oven
for 75 to 90 minutes.

The aromas that fill your kitchen are
going to make you salivate! So, have a plateful of these veggies when they are
done, before you puree them into a soup.

The soup

After the veggies have cooled scoop out
the flesh of the butternut squash into a large stock pot. Add the other
veggies, mash them manually, and then add at least 2/3 litre of low sodium
vegetable broth.

With an immersion blender, puree the
veggies into a soup. Now is the time to add your favourite spices – ground
ginger, a little cumin and mild curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper. I
also added some ginger lemon sriracha spice blend – to give it a little ‘kick’.

The sweetness of the squash combined
with the savoury spices will leave a lingering taste sensation on your palate!

Bittersweet

I made this soup again yesterday, and
when I finally sat down to savour and enjoy it, my only regret was that I
couldn’t share it with friends around my dinner table, given our current social
distancing recommendations.

Instead, I solemnly enjoyed this meal alone and before eating it, gave thanks to God and prayed that this daunting global pandemic would soon come to an end. Stay well and stay safe, everyone.

How have mealtimes changed for you during this unprecedented time of self-isolation and social distancing? Are you enjoying cooking, or do you see it as a simple necessity? What suggestions do you have to keep meals simple yet nutritious? Please share a recipe in the comments