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Archive for May, 2010

I have been practising yoga on and off for the last ten years, first having tried it thanks to my very fit friend Yana, who dragged me to a yoga class, even though this type of fitness was alien to me at the time. The next day I couldn’t get off the bed-my legs and thighs hurt, so did my arms and all of my muscle groups, including the ones I didn’t know existed. I groaned and got off the bed eventually, doing it in slow and weird motion. I called Yana and voiced my concerns but she just laughed, saying it’s normal and I will grow to love it-and boy, did I want  to believe her, because that woman had a naturally sculpted body of a goddess.

Years passed, I went to different classes and tried different types, loving Ashtanga-the one Yana introduced me to, Hatha and Iyengar, but not Kundalini for example, maybe because every time I ended up with instructors whom I found too mellow-after all, we all are different and different things inspire us. Mind you, I am still learning and evolving, having never triedAnusara or Jivamukti, for example .

Not so long ago I caught a piece of an interview with Jennifer Aniston, another woman with a body of a goddess, who was talking about her instructor Mandy Ingber and the yoga and toning exercises that she combined to create Yogalosophy. I was really intrigued and scored the Internet in order to find the DVD, as yet not available in the UK and somehow Amazon, my normally perfect provider,   wasn’t too keen to ship it for me from the States-so I ordered it from Mandy’s site direct (see details below).

Now, before I tell you about my experiment with Mandy’s ‘Yogalosophy’ DVD (believe feel become), let me just say that I have come across many instructors, some were ok, some were uninspiring, on a few occasions I even walked quietly out of the class-and I wasn’t trying to be rude, the classes were just beyond me, one particular, a private one I had in the blissful Maldivian resort comes to mind-to say that the instructor was boring, would be a complete understatement-let me just say that he sounded like he was reciting a content of a book to a complete idiot-you get the idea….. Some experiences, rarer ones, were amazing, like a retreat that I did with Katy Appleton in Ireland (Katy’s teacher was Shiva Rea, who has one of the most beautifully filmed yoga DVDs and I swear by her pre & post natal yoga DVDs during my pregnancy with my son and later helping me get my body back into shape)-she was fun and encouraging and her classes left you inspired and uplifted-I still use her ‘Yogaworks’ DVDs at home. There were regular classes with a wonderfully self-depreciating Beatrice Palazzo, who did classes at my regular gym and I think most of the people attending her class were huge fans-every class was unlike the previous one, even though we often did the same poses. We laughed but be under no illusion-Beatrice made us practise properly, paying attention to our bodies, alignments and poses. Anyway, having had my share of experiences, I still keep on looking for new directions in my yoga practises-hint-Christy Turlington’s book ‘Living yoga: creating a life’s practise’-wonderful and so is Maya Fiennes’s ‘Yoga for real life-a kundalini method’, but that will be a different story, I promise you.

Now, back to Mandy Ingber, who I haven’t met, as she is LA based, but would like too, if our paths ever cross. Anyway, her Yogalosophy DVD contains two 30 minute practises-(if you are a beginner, be warned-your muscles will hurt but in a good way), 6 yoga extras and a full 55 minute practise. You can do this DVD silently, i.e. just following the poses/exercises or you can do it with Mandy’s commentaries, mantras, funny banter and inspirational thoughts-hint: check out her cool yoga vision mat .). Personally, I enjoy listening to her and feeling like we are doing a private session-ah, the life’s little luxuries! Mandy is small and lithe and her manner is very welcoming-she makes you feel like she is an old friend, who will teach you something interesting and will let you in on her secrets and experiences, which your body and mind will welcome. Your mind is very important when you are doing yoga, as it takes you to a completely different place during the practise and Mandy talks a bit about our desires that drives us forward and helps us achieve things.

I find Mandy’s DVD challenging in places, simply because an element of cardio is added to it as a bonus for your muscles but the practise invigorates you and does give you leaner, more defined silhouette over time-if you practise regularly, that is .) Give it a go and see what you think, because now I am a big fan and so are my muscles.

http://www.mandyingber.com/about.php

When you are looking after kids full time or are working from home, your social skills might take a beating and your brain might go stale- women who are stuck doing routine tasks will understand what I am talking about. But what if that doesn’t work for you, what if you want to continue being ‘current’ and social and you want your brain to be creatively stimulated?

I have found a perfect solution and I would highly recommend it to any man or woman for that matter. Intelligence Squared organises events called 5 x 15, where interesting people talk about a chosen subject for yes, you guessed it, 15 minutes. The latest event, that I attended, took place in Notting Hill, at a place called Tabernacle where you sit comfortably on your own or with a girlfriend or friends, have a lovely Spanish snack and a glass of wine and listen to completely different people talk about politics, life, humour, music, economics, books-the possibilities are endless as are the subjects for stimulating conversation.

The evening started with a beautiful and self-depreciating, albeit the chosen subject-history of political assassinations-Fatima Bhutto, niece of belated Benazir. She talked about political dynasties, politics and violence, the unique silence when it comes to violence in Pakistan and the nuclear power that has deprived the country of resources and where polio remains uneradicated.

She was followed by a very dapper Andrew O’Hagan who talked about his new book, called ‘The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and his friend Marilyn Monroe’-if that doesn’t intrigue you, I would be quite surprised….

15 or so minutes later Terence Blackercame on stage and reduced the audience to piles of laughter with his smart and soulful songs, the one in particular about Brit Anglais who desperately wants to be Francais was beyond words in its originality and humour.

Frances Stonor Saunders added a serious note to the evening with her story of Violet Gibsonwho failed to assassinate Mussolini but was declared insane and put into asylum until the day that she died. The story was sad, evocative and emotional.

Yotam Ottolenghi, the chef who started Ottolenghi in Notting Hill talked about growing up in Jerusalem and a relationship between food and politics. I was fascinated and have to admit that I love the seared tuna and the cakes from his restaurant. There are people who are vegetarian and I am a carnivore who hardly eats vegetables but when you are queuing to buy food and your eyes feast on beautifully presented salads it’s almost hard not to give in.

The evening ended with a sweetly charming Maureen Lipmanand I left the venue to have dinner with my husband and his colleagues, feeling elated, brimming with ideas and emotions evoked by those very different and immensely unique people. In one evening you touch many subject, listen to very different people and get educated in the process. Are you inspired? I was!!

www.intelligencesquared.com

www.5×15stories.com

As any of you knows, we need to take care of our teeth. That includes brushing twice a day for at least 3 minutes at a time, flossing and maybe even using a mouth wash-so far, so straight forward, if you want your teeth to look good, the breath to smell fresh and even prevent problems with your heart . Almost boring in its routineness….

Well, all that is about to change thanks to the news range of tooth cleansers-yes, that’s what theyare called !-from a famous dental duo Drs. Andrew Dawood & Susan Tanner, who run a multi-tasking dental practise in London. Tooth cleansers come in 4 flavoursome bursts-Sicilian lemon, Brazilian lime (my current favourite!), Garden Mint and English Peppermint. They are currently stocked up at the larger branches of Boots and I bought mine on a ‘get 3 for the price of 2′ deal, which is still going on by the way .)

Each cleanser is formulated to ‘remove plaque & prevent decay, restore natural whiteness and keep gums health and breath fresh’. They do contain sodium fluoride and are safe to be used by kids too, so the whole family can have fun in the morning or before bedtime.

I kidd you not when I say that those cleansers are bursting with flavour and I swear that my teeth feel cleaner since  I started using them. Oh, and I am going to give them as stocking fillers this Christmas as they are THAT good. Who says that our daily habits have to be boring and pleasure-less?

www.dawoodandtanner.co.uk

www.deliciousteeth.com

It is wonderful to have good friends for many reasons but mine never cease to surprise and inspire me.

A few days ago a dear friend of mine, who is also a neighbour, came over to bring me a jar of pesto sauce and some hummus (the love of which we have in common) that she bought when she visited a food fair.

The next day I could relax, as sunday lunch was ridiculously easy, thanks to the delicious pesto that my family devoured with gusto. The sauce came with a card outlining the home made range of pastas and sauces that Seriously Italian produce.

I, being the ever curious person, went on their site and found out that they regularly take part in farmer’s markets around London, including one not far away from me. So, I ventured and came back home laden with pesto sauces-basil (beyond delicious and certainly the best pesto I have tried so far), rocket, tomato and my boys loved the wild boar ragu sauce-the range is so addictive I have to re-stock every week and sometimes, if I am not early enough, the sell out. Giovanni, a smiley Italian with a passion for cooking and wonderful ingredients and his partner Natasha, a Russian pesto whizz, also make lasagnas and pastas and can cater for you too. Life is always better when you have a well stocked fridge and you see the genuine pleasure on the faces of your loved ones, isn’t it?

www.seriouslyitalian.com

A little while ago I wrote about Ellis Faas, a renowned make-up artist who created her own make-up range that is stocked up at Liberty’s of London.

Well, now we can meet her in person on Wednesday, June 9th at Liberty’s, where she will be appearing at 18.00 pm. Ellis will be interviewed about her work and brand and later the audience will be able to ask her questions and meet her in person.

You will also be able to play around with the ELLIS FAAS products and learn make-up tricks and techniques. There is a booking fee of £20 for the event but it will be redeemable against purchases made during the evening. For more details call 020 7734 1234 ext. 2506.

I have already booked my ticket, as I am really keen to meet the person who got me addicted to wearing black eyeshadow, that doesn’t look goth but stylishly sexy. I hope to meet you there too.

www.ELLISFAAS.com

One would think that kids don’t belong in the ‘cooking’ area of the kitchen-the mess, the dangers, the frustration…?

Not so, thought Rebecca Coleman when she started her blog ‘Cooking with my kid -creating an adventurous eater one recepy at a time’ . The premise behind it is to cook 365 recepies together with her son, letting him take an active part in choosing and cooking the ingredients, thus making him enjoy a variety of foods. Definitely something to add to you regular PC links. 

http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/

Life is full of surprises, sometime good and sometimes not so. You are prepared for some and some leave you bewildered or helpless. The latter recently happened to our friends.

We all went out to have lunch with kids and were having a jolly good time in one of the Chelsea’s french bistros. The food was delicious, the waiters attentive and kids were not fussy about the food for a change. One of our friends was feeding his toddler son seafood soup which the child was very much enjoying, when all of a sudden he started crying, coughing and being uncomfortable. Initially we thought that the spoonful was hot, one of us thought that the child might have bitten on a peppercorn but the child’s dad was convinced it was a small fish bone. I, for one, was completely lost, having never come across the fish bone stuck in the throat. Our friend just gave his son a piece of bread, then another and eventually the little guy settled and continued eating courgettes and potatoes with chicken and the peace was restored at the table, with adults breathing the sign of relief.

When I came back home I went on the Internet and called a friend of mine, who is the doctor, because  I wanted to be prepared for the future, in case a similar thing happened to my son or to anyone I know.

So, the advice is this-if the child is relatively ok and breathing, try giving him or her some soft bread or a ball of cooked rice or a piece of banana. A spoonful of olive oil might be handy too. However, if the child is uncomfortable, try not to put your fingers in their throat and just go to the closest A&E, so the doctors can deal it. In most cases the fish bone will resolve itself.   

Parenthood is full of surprises, and noone fully prepares you for the fact that you have to be on your toes for the rest of your life. Worth it though .) 

I finally got my hands on the latest edition of ABOVE magazine (I mentioned it in one of my earlier posts this year) and it doesn’t disappoint. You have Luciano Benettonand his Green star certified Tribu boat, you have ‘kind’ cashmere from Aymara knitwear, an article on the new, modernist homes by Marmol Radziner-really cool idea by the way!-, interview with unstoppable and ever evolving Philippe Starke and the beautifully smart Elettra Wiedemann,accompanied by unusual photos Bettina Rheims-and believe me, I keep an eye on fashion spreads daily .) Then there is Cecilia Rodhe, who sculpts something very cool and so much more, I hardly scratched the surface of the volume.

I like this magazine because it combines cool layouts and photography with education mixed with thought provoking pieces-what more can you ask for to keep you curious and make you more aware of the world on a wider scale?

My only complaint is that I can’t buy this magazine at any of my local newsagents and have to go to Selfridges in order to buy it. Can newsagents & magazine distributors take notice, as this magazine is truly a gem ?    

http://www.above-magazine.com/

Today was a very special day for all the Russians, the day which we have been celebrating in my family for as long as I can remember. The day that brings tears to my eyes and makes us, Russians, be very proud of our ancestors, our great-grandfathers and grandfathers, who fought for lasting peace and lost over 26 million of lives in the process.

Both of my grandfathers fought in the Second World War and were lucky to come back alive. One of them, Vladimir, is still alive and even though he is getting on with years and is becoming quite frail I love him dearly and am very proud of what he, together with many of his comrades, achieved and later taught us. My other grandfather, Yvan, burnt in the tank but survived that and finished the war in Berlin-he truly was an extraordinary man and I miss him greatly.

Today’s military parade on the Red Square was extraordinary, the fireworks took your breath away and for the whole day people went out, putting flowers at War memorials, hugging and thanking our frail veterans and giving them their due. Moscow and many towns were a riot of beautiful flowers, special war memorial bands and the air was filled with old, beautiful, soulful wartime songs, which make every Russian reflect and reminisce.

Every 9th of May I feel very proud of my country, of our grandparents and of the courage and will that Russian people poses. The War came unexpectedly but we survived, we fought every stay of the way, showing humility and great courage in the face of horrendous events, deaths, hunger and torture. Thank you to every single man and woman that made this day possible and the Russian spirit even stronger.

Mineral and organic make-up has been in the news for the last few years but until now the items that I have tried, I found disappointing, mostly because they made my skin feel drier or no different at all to the products that I have used in the past. But the beauty market doesn’t sit still and Cult beauty girls are on the money again, I predict, with an organic  mineral range by make-up artist of 25 years Rose-Marie Swift, called RMS.

Rose Marie has used all kinds of make-up and throughout her career as make-up artist she studied the effect of chemicals on the beauty products that we use. In the end, having found nothing that lived up to her expectations, she started her own line RMS, that doesn’t dry the skin and uses organic natural oils, like Coconut, argan, vitamin E and Bee propolis. So far you can buy concealer, lip & skin balm, a multi-tasking lip2cheek, living luminizer and mineral cream eye shadows via Cultbeauty.

I have used my share of balms, but RMS’s lip & skin balm (it comes in 2 flavours, vanilla and simply cocoa-I have tested the latter) is truly a wonderful addition to my make-up bag and is there to stay. It moisturises your lips, can be used around the eye area (I am truly fussy about eye creams, but this one is both gentle and moisturizing).

 The second product that I am becoming addicted to is the Living Luminizer (supposedly Gisele Bundchenis a big fan)-you put it on your forehead, bridge of the nose, cheek bones, on the lip’s Cupid’s bow, under the eye brows and can also put it on your eyelids. It highlights and adds a healthy glow, that  actually stays through the day-definitely one of the best that has ever graced my bathroom’s make-up shelf and my face.

Both products also smell delicious, so there is your added bonus of a therapeutic effect.

www.cultbeauty.co.uk

p.s As of mid-May I have two new additions to my ever expanding RMS collection: a lip2cheek in smile, which is beautifully creamy pink and glides on the skin and gives lips and cheeks a rosy glow and an ‘un-cover’ cover -upconcealer that hides the under eye shadows and doesn’t go into the creases nor does it leave a powdery residue-a worthy addition to the summer make-up.

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