Seven Months Into the Pandemic and I’m…Loving Learning to Play Tennis.

In the fall of 2019, I started a new sport: tennis.

Previously, I had never tried to connect one moving object with another moving object while moving myself unless it was swatting deer flies on a trail run. All my previous athletic endeavors moved my body, but didn’t require agility or coordination; I can't even do a crow pose in yoga. 

However, last fall I realized I needed a new focus. A fresh start. Those activities that had brought me joy and happiness felt empty and left too much space in my head. In 2015, our older son Evan, then 11, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Sadly, he died two years later at age 13. During that time, I completely gave up doing much of anything.

When I tried to return to my favorite sports I couldn’t stop my head. I would be out running or doing yoga, and all I could think about was Evan, what he went through, what he was robbed of, what our family and our world was missing. (Also, Evan and I had run a couple of 5Ks together, and he would have been an amazing runner, which just added to the grief.)

Picking up a racket and whacking a ball was both physically and emotionally releasing. When I was there, I had no space in my head for anything but thoughts about tennis. And that gave my brain and body the opportunity the chance to practice existing in the present moment.

In March of 2020 as school closed and work changed, I focused on the game. I went to a court that was open at a school and hit a basket of balls over and over. Serve. Forehand. Backhand. Slice. Volley. Sometimes I went with my son Gavin, now 13, which gives us an activity to do together.

These days, tennis has become a physical chess game. Not only am I focusing on hitting but also placing and moving. Tennis has given some meaning to my running and workouts. My runs now are shorter and harder and hillier, and incorporate strides, sprints, laterals, and (gasp) suicides. My weight training is focused on core and upper body. My flexibility training keeps me from getting injured. And my meditation practice allows me to work on being in the present.

The result? My forehands actually go where I want them to every once in a while. My serve is in the box. My backhand rules. And my mind is focused: you can’t be thinking about anything before or after each shot.

We moved to a new city and state in 2019 to give ourselves a fresh start after our loss of Evan. Tennis has helped me make new friends—something that’s hard to do once your kids get older. Nothing will bring Evan back, but tennis offers a space—and community—for me to simply be.

Read more Seven Months into the Pandemic essays.

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Seven Months Into the Pandemic and I’m…Somehow liking my husband more than ever.

My husband and I celebrated our fifteenth anniversary this September, so I would like to think that we have a sense of what it’s like to be married.

And we do: it’s really hard. (And he’d say the same. I’m far from the perfect lifelong roommate.)

Simon and I have always really loved each other as human beings, but all of the warts, the insecurities, the annoying habits? We haven’t always known how to deal with it.

For instance: When we're having an issue, Simon, a Brit, and me, an American, both uphold our cultural stereotypes. Simon likes to “keep calm and carry on,” maintaining a stiff upper lip, while I pester him to express his feelings and share hearts so we can find a meaningful resolution. (Yeah, turns out pestering isn’t the best way to get a person to open up.) 

Then we had kids. Three of them. Boys. You may know the drill: diapers, crying, whining, disagreements on how to parent, lack of sleep, less time for just the two of us. 

Keep in mind Simon is incredibly loving and patient; he does laundry; he thinks I’m attractive and tells me; and he puts the kids and me first always (sometimes to a fault). Still, sometimes I wondered how we’d make it to the other side of raising three kids still liking each other. 

Then COVID-19 hit. Would all of the time together create more arguments about the most mundane of things? Would we emerge having said things we wish we wouldn’t have, our hearts a little more calloused? 

Anxiety crept in as our world shrunk down to five humans, a Wheaten Terrier, and a tarantula.

The thing is, we both kept running, always making time for each other to get in miles, knowing how much we both needed the movement and time alone.

In April, Simon ran my #sexypace to help me match my old half marathon PR that I didn’t think I was capable of. (Simon is the best pacer for me; I think it comes from helping me through three births. Giving birth: uncomfortable and painful. PRs? Also uncomfortable and painful.)

As we ran, he knew not to mention the fact that we’re running. He talked about the kids, current affairs, future plans...all the while knowing I’m not very conversational on the run.

At mile ten he asked, “How’s this going?” I told him I thought we were close to my PR. He’d had no idea. "Well cool, let’s push this. We’ve only got 5k to go.” 

At this point, I sort of hated him; when I’m struggling, his heart rate is probably at 130. (That speedy bastard!) I trust him to help me get where I want to go. (Both to a PR and also in life.)

In September, I biked alongside Simon while he took on 13.1. The night before, he didn’t want to talk about his goal. He’s not into verbal affirmation or attention. Just wants to get on with it. #british

I’m a mediocre biker at best and honestly worried I’d crash into him. I didn’t let my concern show. Instead, I tried to return the favor and entertain him with stories that didn’t need responses. Being the caretaker he is, he chatted back. I carefully passed him Tri-Berry and Espresso Love GUs, then handed him a water bottle to chase them down.

As we got to miles 11 and 12, things were getting tough, so I reminded him that he'd done the work. At the very end, he hought he was shooting for 13.2, so he was pretty excited when I told him that half marathons end in .1 and that he was done!

It hasn’t been all about running, of course.

We drank red wine and listened to old dance music from our 20s.

We allowed frequent family movie nights that included classics like “The Princess Bride” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”

We got creative using forgotten toys and books and took daily “I spy” walks around the neighborhood to keep the boys entertained and active.

We worked as a team to get work—our kids and ours—done. Simon would wake up early to get ahead on his job as a special education teacher. I was in charge of guiding our then 2nd grader through his assignments while Simon managed preschool skills with our youngest. (The tween was self-sufficient.) In the afternoons and often late into the evenings, I focused on my jobs.

Of course we have our rough times, but that's to be expected fifteen years into marriage and seven months into a pandemic. I'll kick him out the door to run—or he'll do the same for me—and when one of us returns, it always feels better.

Read more Seven Months into the Pandemic essays.

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Seven Months Into the Pandemic and I’m…Looking to the Moon

1. Seven months in, and I'm a moon gazer. Summer in July spent on my in-laws front porch, facing southwest. Months after not seeing or hugging them (we still don’t), we sat gazing into the mid evening, pre-sunset sky and took stock of the moon.

Every night, it appeared later, lower in the horizon and further south. or so it seemed. As a novice astrologer, I could discern the shape (gibbous or crescent) and where it fell in its cycle (waxing or waning), but not much else. It seemed like a mystery.

But I could always count on its rising in some form, even if it was not at night, which I’ve often expected.

2. Seven months in, and I'm run/walker. I love the run/walk. Obsessed. Pre-babies life (not too long ago), I pooh-poohed it.

Felt like walking was being “soft”, somehow undercutting my identity as a runner. Returning to the run post baby #2 (and a groin strain, thank you, relaxin) I relish in the walk. The self-care reminder it brings. The pause it allows me to take in order to reset and “notice everything”. That has become my grounding mantra in these unsettled times.

Notice everything. The feeling of the sun. The changing of the leaves of the trees. How the run feels different at different times of day, as the seasons blend into each other. First winter, then spring, to summer, now fall.

The pain in my lungs. The stress in my body. Hoping if I notice it, I can acknowledge it, name it. Then let it go.

3. Seven months in, and I'm owning my identity as a mother. After Maya, my first child, I pretended to see glimmers of my past life. Similar routines of long days teaching/dog walks/dinner prep/long runs on the weekend or training runs before the sun.

Now after Ari, my second, everything has shifted. I’ve been forced to embrace the ebb and flow between rhythms; resistance leads to struggle and disappointment.

But I am able to soak in the sweetness more too: the weight of his body as we sway cheek to cheek singing, Dear Ari Thomas, what to say to you? The light in his eyes when he giggles. The joy of discovering something for the first time.

I am forever changed by all this: hopefully softer towards my family and myself. But also a believer that there is still something out there for me—the moon and the run—no matter the form it currently takes.

Read more Seven Months into the Pandemic essays.

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The Internet Would Kindly Like Firass Dirani To Withdraw From SAS Australia

Last night, episode four of the new military-styled reality TV series SAS Australia aired, and the Internet definitely had . . . feelings.

So far we've seen Sydney PR guru Roxy Jacenko, convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, ex-WAG Arabella Del Busso and former Aussie cricketer Mitchell Johnson withdraw from the show. However, there is one recruit viewers (and some other recruits *cough* Shannon *cough*) really wish would withdraw: House Husbands actor Firass Dirani.

Since the start of the series, Firass has done nothing but talk back, give attitude and be rude to his fellow recruits. On Tuesday night, he even admitted to having "a problem with authority" and being yelled at . . . should someone maybe tell him this probably wasn't the best reality TV series to sign up for, then?

Anyway, the Internet is pretty over his bad attitude and lack of willingness to compete in a show HE SIGNED UP FOR and decided to drag him over the coals on Twitter:

Related:

Everything We Know About *That* Feud Between Candice Warner & Roxy Jacenko

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7 Expert-Approved Exercises That Will Give You Stronger Abs and Improve Your Posture

If your body feels out of whack and your neck, shoulders, and back are constantly tight and achy, you probably need to show your muscles some TLC and focus on your posture. When we spend long periods of time seated and on devices such as laptops and cellphones, we begin to adopt poor posture habits, and it's not good for your body. One simple way to start improving your posture is to focus on strengthening your abs.

"The core is the foundation of our body," Pamela Geisel, MS, CSCS, an exercise physiologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery's Tisch Sports Performance Centre, told POPSUGAR. When you think about the core, your abs are probably the first thing that come to mind, "but it's actually so much more than that," Geisel said.

Your core stabilizes your spine, which is one of the most important things it does, according to Geisel, and it also allows you to transfer power. "The core is responsible for every movement possible," Geisel said. When you're sitting at your desk, your core keeps you upright. When you walk and run, those movements originate from your core, she continued. "It's so important that we pay attention to it, because it helps us move in optimal patterns that decrease the risk for injury and also allows us to excel at the activities that we love to do," she said.

How a Strong Core Helps You Maintain Good Posture

Because people are sitting more, upper crossed syndrome, where the upper back is rounded and the head shifts forward, is becoming more common. People with upper crossed syndrome also tend to have elevated and protracted shoulder blades and poor thoracic spine (your lower spine) mobility. "So we put all these things together, it creates havoc." It can lead to headaches, lower-back pain, and tightness and stiffness throughout your body, Geisel explained.

One way to prevent and fix upper crossed syndrome is to make sure the ergonomics of your work station are good, to take breaks often and move your body, and to do exercises at the end of the day to counteract any tightness and weakness that may be present, Geisel said. Specifically addressing tightness in the upper chest and traps with neck stretches and strengthening your deep neck flexors and scapular stabilizers (the back muscles) can help tremendously.

To help you improve your posture and core strength, Geisel shared a few exercises she recommends doing daily. They're easy to perform, and you can do them with resistance bands or light weights, depending on your fitness level. If you want a stronger core and better posture, start adding the following exercises into your movement routine.

Related:

This Is the Difference Between Building Muscle Strength and Endurance, According to Experts

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How A Healthy Home Environment Assists Wellbeing

Many of us are well-versed on the effects of diet and exercise on wellbeing, but our physical environment is less often discussed.

However, the Marmot Review (2010) found that there was a distinct correlation between living standards and health; it revealed that (excluding those with long-term disabilities), the life expectancy for the poorest communities was seventeen years lower than that of the richest.

The poorest communities also experienced the highest rates of childhood obesity and smoking, while engaging in less physical activity, and struggling to meet the five-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations.

In this article, we will look at some environmental factors which contribute to poor wellbeing, and examine the simple changes we can make to overcome these.

Housing

Housing is one of the most important factors for good health and wellbeing. However, according to The Health Foundation (2017), as many as 1 in 5 homes in the UK do not meet the required basic living standards.

Problems can develop from factors such as the materials used to construct the building, along with other influences.

For example, mould can build up in a home due to damp and poor ventilation. This may lead to children developing long term conditions such as asthma and allergies, while 1 in 10 lung cancers are caused by having high radon levels in the home.

Housing can also have a significant impact on mental health; in 2015, as many as 32% of homeless people reported a mental health problem, and people without a fixed address were ten times more likely to experience a depressive episode than the general population.

Among people who have a fixed address, those who live in social housing (as opposed to private accommodation) were one and a half times more likely to suffer a mental health problem, and four times more likely to state that their housing affected their health.

And the impact of housing issues in general population is prevalent; according to a study by ComRes, as many as 1 in 5 English adults said that housing had impacted on their health in the last 5 years.

Air Quality

Air pollution is a major risk factor for a number of conditions including asthma, lung cancer, ventricular hypertrophy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, autism, retinopathy, and low birth weight.

Air quality tends to be poorer around more densely populated areas. As with water quality, this may mean that some groups are adversely affected by living in crowded conditions.

This can be combatted by introducing more parks and ‘green spaces’ to town centres; but the Air Quality Expert Group has said that:

‘Overall, vegetation and trees are regarded as beneficial for air quality, but they are not a solution to the air quality problems at a city scale.’

As such, as a society we should keep campaigning for greener spaces in our cities, but also consider other means of reducing air pollution, such as more public transport, less use of fossil fuels, and encouraging cycling or walking to work etc., instead of using personal vehicles.

How To Create A Healthy Home Environment

While we don’t always necessarily have a choice in where we live due to social or economic circumstances, there are certain ways we can reduce the impact on our health.

• Test your water – If you are concerned about the quality of water in your area, you can check it with a home water quality testing kit.
• Invest in a (good quality) water filter – There are a number of water filters available, but most general water filters will only remove a few contaminants. Clearandwell found that Brita and Pur filters ranked poorly in water purification and product quality. They did however, recommend a few alternative options, such as the top-rated Berkey, or reverse-osmosis systems which are known to remove 99% of contaminants in water, among others.
• Get gardening! A study by NASA in 1989 found that a number of houseplants have the capacity to purify air in the home, reducing the impact of chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichlorothyrene. These plants include Spider Plants, Snake Plants, Peace Lilies, Devil’s Ivy, and Flamingo Flower, among others.
• Air purifiers – Most air purifiers remove particles such as dust from the atmosphere, making them useful if you have asthma or allergies. However, many do not remove harmful gases such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or Radon. If you are concerned about either of these gases, an alternative to neutralise them would be a carbon air filter. However, they are quite expensive, so check your radon levels before investing in one.
• Air dehumidifiers – If you have a problem with mould in your home, you may also choose to try an air dehumidifier. These can be useful if you have asthma and/or allergies to certain mould spores. You can also buy all-in-one purifiers and dehumidifiers.
• Chemical cleaning sprays may have adverse effects. There is evidence that they can trigger and even cause respiratory problems, irritate the eyes or throat, cause headaches, and even cancers. You may wish to swap your usual cleaning products for eco-friendly alternatives, or to make your own.
• Self-building – If it’s an option, then building your home as opposed to buying it can save you money and allow you to create something perfectly suited to your needs.

Our environment is a central part of our wellbeing, so it is crucial to make our homes the healthiest places that they can be. But it’s about more than just us.

For our own health, and the health of our families, we need to keep our homes safe, but to also stay involved with social and environmental issues to ensure good living standards are upheld throughout all our communities.

This article was written by Holly Jackson of Daily Sun

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15 Pairs of Lug Sole Boots to Wear All Season

If there’s one thing you don’t want to have to worry about in winter, it’s falling over outside – which is why lug sole boots are one of the most popular shoe silhouettes for the upcoming months. The thick tread and sleek upper make them a surprisingly simple style that goes with just about everything – from skinny jeans and oversized knits to a more delicate dress, these boots will make make a statement with any outfit.

Look to designers like Bottega Veneta and Prada who pair their chunky styles with high fashion runway looks. The fashion crowd favourite is not only a head-turner but it also happens to be one of the most practical styles we’ve seen since the return of the sneaker. The defined tread and solid soles make these boots the perfect candidate for Canada’s winter weather. Whether you’re after a chelsea or combat boot silhouette, there’s a fit for everyone. Slip resistant and stylish, these boots are made for walking.

Click through for 15 of the best lug sole boots to buy this season:

1/15

Black Combat Boots

($1,745, Givenchy)

2/15

BV Tire Boots

($1,616, Bottega Veneta)

3/15

Cortina

($290, Maguire)

4/15

Chunki

($70, Call It Spring)

5/15

Tredtray Chelsea Boot

($300, Ecco)

6/15

Polido Zipper Boot

($625, Ganni)

7/15

Julika

($120, Aldo)

8/15

Leather Ankle Boot

($1,220, Gucci)

9/15

Chris Croc-Embossed Leather Zip-Up Boots

($625, Nicole Saldana)

10/15

Bruce Brown Coco

($228, L'Intervalle)

11/15

Michigan Boots

($380, Eytys)

12/15

Czech Platform Combat Boot

($215, Jeffrey Campbell)

13/15

Laporte Black Leather Bootie

($450, La Canadienne)

14/15

Chelsea Boot

($890, Loewe)

15/15

Brushed Leather and Technical Fabric Boots

($1,890, Prada)

For more fall fashion must-haves, check out our round up of shirt jackets.

The post 15 Pairs of Lug Sole Boots to Wear All Season appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

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Montreal Brands Call It Spring and Noize Just Launched a Curated Collaboration

It’s clear that many of us are going to be spending more time outdoors in the coming weeks than usual in the name of socializing, and a new collaboration between beloved Montreal-based brands Call It Spring and Noize – who both champion cruelty-free design – has arrived to make dressing for the occasion a little more chic. After all, who knows winter fashion better than Montrealers?

The offering is composed of Call It Spring’s top winter footwear styles, from a natty desert boot made with vegan nubuck leather to more slush-appropriate waterproof styles, plus a range of Noize outerwear – ranging from mild to wild, of course – which is offered exclusively at Call It Spring pricing.

“Call It Spring is thrilled to collaborate with Noize, and deliver to Canadians a one-stop-shop experience for all of their outerwear and footwear needs this winter,” says Alyssa Whited, global director of marketing for Call It Spring. “As two Canadian legacy brands, both offering vegan and sustainable alternatives within our respective assortments, the partnership encapsulates everything consumers know and love about us individually, plus it brings to life exclusive prices for customers that could only be achieved through us working together.”

Featuring vegan materials including a high-tech synthetic made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles and faux fur embellishments, and boasting details like Thermolite and Thinsulate insulation (specs that are waterproof and temperature rated up to -30ºC), the pieces curated for the new collection speak to both brands’ commitment to mindful innovation in fashion design.

Here are our favourites from the new collection (with more styles to be released in mid-November).

 

1/6

Kallie x CIS puffer

($216.00, Noize)

This gradient-effect puffer–which has a reflective effect–is made from recycled water bottles and is windproof and water-resistant.

2/6

Thierrania boot

($89.99, Call It Spring)

Coming in brown and black colourways and feature a fun faux fur lining, these ankle boots are also made of vegan leather.

3/6

CIS x Addie parka

($207.00, Noize)

Versatility is key in this cozy parka; the polar fleece-lined hood and faux fur trim are both removable.

4/6

Kodii boot

($89.99, Call It Spring)

Slip into something comfortable with this faux fur-lined desert boot that will keep your feet warm up to -20°C.

5/6

Penelope x CIS

($198.00, Noize)

If bling is your thing, this metallic bomber jacket, which comes in a shiny black, silver or rose gold tone, is the ideal way to cure your winter blues.

6/6

Mirrendra boot

($99.99, Call It Spring)

With its timeless two-tone look and -20°C temperature rating, this classic lace-up boot will be a go-to for winter walks.

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