5 Home Based Winter Workouts to Add to Your Routine

Ward off those winter blues by adding some physical activity to your weekly routine.

There are many local businesses that have had to change their business models so they can provide the fitness programming you need to keep motivated, offering home-based workouts that will keep you moving through the winter months.

ORANGETHEORY

Their bright orange studios may have closed temporarily, but you can still enjoy a great workout from home! Get upper, lower and total-body workouts scientifically designed for results - plus lower-impact options, too. Weekly challenges will be posted each Wednesday to keep you on your toes, and healthy tips and tricks shared by experts will keep you feeling great inside and out.

YYOGA

Personalize your practice with pose breakdowns, alignment cues and variations. Stream yoga, pilates and mindful movement classes with the best teachers in Canada. Get unlimited access to a huge library of pre-recorded + live streamed classes added almost daily. Be sure to sign up for a donation class where partial proceeds go to an important cause in the community.

ZUMBA VANCOUVER

Some say it's the craziest, most fun, full-out dance party they've gone to since high school. It’s a workout for all ages and abilities, for anyone who wants to “Ditch the Workout, Join the Party”. Zumba® Fitness is fit for everyone - even if you haven’t exercised in years. While online Zumba classes have been temporarily suspended, you can enjoy live online classes from home, so you don’t miss a beat.

TIGHT CLUB ATHLETICS

Tight Club classes dial in on five key elements of functional movement – stability, strength, cardio, agility and mobility – everything you need for a life spent movin-n-groovin. From circuit training to HIIT, retro-inspired aerobics to their cult classic Body Luv, Tight Club classes challenge your body, clear your mind and help you train for life. Check out their Livestream classes to get tight, right from home.

BARRE FITNESS

Get an amazing workout that combines the best elements of ballet barre with pilates, sports conditioning, and flexibility, led by a team of talented and totally motivating instructors. (Almost) better than a barre studio, you can enjoy fun, fulllength barre workouts from the comfort of home, with no equipment needed. Choose from over 40 livestream and pre-recorded classes weekly. Drop in for one class, or enjoy the perks of a virtual membership.

www.WestCoastFamilies.com

What to wear for a virtual performance?

5 MINUTE READ from The Whole Review - Vol. I Issue I- The Summer 2020 Edition by The Whole Review

by Barbara Ackles

Because classical singers are so visible, one would expect these prominent artists to be style mavericks and mavens. This is not always the case. Whether in recital with piano, vocal ensembles, or performing with a symphony, their attire can be under as much scrutiny as their musical phrasing. Of course, things are very different on the larger-than-life opera stage, where costuming is entirely dictated by directors and designers. In the rarefied world of opera, stars from Caruso to Gencer have shown impeccable taste in both their singing and their personal dress. Onstage, though, can often be a different story. However, the nature of performance is shifting, with a concerted push to make classical music more accessible. We are experiencing a trend toward a more relaxed, less glamorous onstage look. I have often wondered if opera style—or lack thereof—has to do with the nature of the art form itself, or if there is something else at play here. Perhaps the often stodgy choices are born out of fear that glamor might overshadow musical values. But can’t glamor and high art work together to serve the overall good of a musical performance?

Since Harper’s Bazaar launched its first issue on November 2, 1867, hundreds of style and fashion magazines have followed in its footsteps, working hard to highlight the latest fashion trends and offer style tips. These magazines have long since expanded their sartorial target audience from women, as men’s fashion magazines and style editorials gained in popularity. Across the board—from Vogue to Elle, from Esquire to GQ—there is no lack of resources for the aspiring fashion neophyte, or even style veterans looking to stand out at their next concert.

I hasten to add that fashions in the classical music world have not always been bland. Let us not forget the fabulous soprano Luisa Tetrazzini, who photographed in ornate, Edwardian S-shaped gowns, generally crowning her look with a plume hat. And there were stylish men as well: for example, the tenor Roland Hayes, whose expressive haberdashery ranged from the then-traditional sack suit to a three-piece houndstooth accented with a paisley tie. There is even a photograph of Hayes in his later years, supremely dressed in a well-fitting, black three-piece suit, with silk piping around the lapel of the jacket and the frame of the vest. Stylish attire for the concert singer is important; it is an extension of personality. If we are being honest, it also adds an element of grandeur and posh to the performance. Who can forget Maria Callas in elegant gowns by Biki, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Lanvin— or Shirley Verrett, stunning in a black chiffon beaded evening coat by Stavropoulos?

In 2008, in celebration of its 125th anniversary, New York’s venerable Metropolitan Opera commissioned John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld to design gowns for the diva Renée Fleming, who starred in the evening’s festivities. Although the gowns nearly upstaged the singer, they added an element of glamor that for many was long overdue. Yet, more often than not in the classical singer’s world, the style choices are predictable and unremarkable.

All hope is not lost, though. After years of strapless gowns accessorized with chiffon shawls, off-the-rack tuxedos and prêt-à-porter bow ties, an emerging pool of exciting, forward-facing classical music talent is embracing fashion as an equal partner to vocal art. Suzanne Vinnik is starting a fashion brand catered to the classical artist. Brandie Sutton and J’nai Bridges are impressing critics all over the world with both their gorgeous voices and designer gowns, while tenor Aaron Blake and bass Soloman Howard’s bespoke suits are gracing the world’s top theaters and concert platforms.

Performing from the comfort of home inevitably raises the question of style etiquette for virtual concerts.

And now, due to the global pandemic, more and more opera companies and arts organizations are using online platforms to stay connected to their audiences, inevitably raising the question of style etiquette for virtual concerts. The first Zoom conferences and virtual concert appearances were marred by on-screen faux pas. Many remember the lady who was caught going to the bathroom during her Zoom meeting, and the news anchor, Will Reeve, who went viral for not wearing pants during a live news broadcast. But what of the classical musician who can be seen sharing his/her art with the masses in jeans and a T-shirt? Should performing from the comfort of your home give license to sing and play in your favorite onesie with a nice blouse on top? In this new era of virtual music performance, vocal artists, like anyone else, are navigating fashion sense as they go.

We asked some of the most fashion-forward artists for their take.

STYLE OPINIONS

Photo: Unsplash, Jonathan Kaufman

“As one of the most glamourous young stars of the day, soprano Brandie Sutton says “dressing up during the pandemic can subconsciously help people feel better about being stuck in the house." When pressed on what to wear, through a light chuckle, she says, “maybe not concert attire, but something that looks really nice and presentable, and definitely not sweatpants and a t-shirt.”

"Classical music evokes a certain sense of propriety and grace from both the performer and the audience. one's presentation “ resounds before a single note is played or sung. Look as good as you want to sound!" Ramon Bryant, Conductor

“Suitsupply’s fall/winter ‘18 textured gray overcoat was inspired by bass Soloman Howard’s immaculate style. So, when he says, “I like to show up to work in performance appropriate attire,” we can expect a dashing figure to appear on screen, dressed in a carefully chosen bespoke suit. Because, as he says, “[even though] it’s a different type of work, it’s still work”.

“Called the “Beyonce of opera,” by BET, mezzo-soprano J’nai Bridges takes a firm position, and says “one should dress up. Wear something that says I am performing and I want to take you into another world.”

Now You Can Blog from Everywhere!

We’ve made it quick and convenient for you to manage your blog from anywhere. In this blog post we’ll share the ways you can post to your Wix Blog.

Blogging from Your Wix Blog Dashboard

On the dashboard, you have everything you need to manage your blog in one place. You can create new posts, set categories and more. To head to your Dashboard, open the Wix Editor and click on Blog > Posts.

Blogging from Your Published Site

Did you know that you can blog right from your published website? After you publish your site, go to your website’s URL and login with your Wix account. There you can write and edit posts, manage comments, pin posts and more! Just click on the 3 dot icon ( ⠇) to see all the things you can do.

#bloggingtips #WixBlog