In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019, file courtroom drawing, defendant Keith Raniere, center, leader of the secretive group NXIVM, is seated between his attorneys Paul DerOhannesian, left, and Marc Agnifilo during the first day of his sex trafficking trial. Raniere, a self-improvement guru whose organization NXIVM attracted millionaires and actresses among its adherents, faces sentencing Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, on convictions that he turned some female followers into sex slaves branded with his initials. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) Disgraced self-improvement guru Keith Raniere, whose NXIVM followers included millionaires and Hollywood actors, was sentenced to 120 years on Tuesday for turning some adherents into sex slaves branded with his initials.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis handed down the sentence in federal court in Brooklyn after a lengthy hearing featuring statements by victims of a sex-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in Ranieres conviction last year.

Prosecutors had sought life in prison while defense lawyers said he should face 15 years behind bars.

Raniere, 60, had shown no remorse, with his lawyers telling the judge before the sentencing that their client wasnt sorry for his conduct or his choices.

The sentencing culminated several years of revelations about Ranieres program, NXIVM, which charged thousands of dollars for invitation-only self improvement courses at its headquarters near Albany, New York, along with branches in Mexico and Canada. Adherents included millionaires and Hollywood actresses willing to endure humiliation and pledge obedience to the defendant as part of his teachings.

NXIVM has been the subject of two TV documentary series this year, HBOs The Vow, and the Starz series Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.

Prosecutors said Raniere led what amounted to a criminal enterprise, inducing shame and guilt to influence and control co-conspirators who helped recruit and groom sexual partners for Raniere. He was convicted on charges including racketeering, alien smuggling, sex trafficking, extortion and obstruction of justice.

They said that among other crimes, Raniere began a sexual relationship in 2005 with a 15-year-old girl and confined another teenager to a room for nearly two years.

Raniere had come under harsh attack on Tuesday from former followers during sentencing in his sex-trafficking case.

India Oxenberg, the daughter of Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenberg, called him an entitled little princess and a sexual predator and lamented that she may have to spend the rest of my life with Keith Raneires initials seared into me.

The likelihood of leniency had seemed to dissipate with the recent sentencing of Clare Bronfman, 41, an heir to the Seagrams liquor fortune, for her role in what has been described by some ex-members as a cult. Bronfman was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison. Prosecutors had only sought five years.

Ex-followers told the judge that Bronfman for years had used her wealth to try to silence NXIVM defectors.

Renieres followers called him Vanguard. To honor him, the group formed a secret sorority comprised of female slaves who were branded with his initials and ordered to have sex with him, the prosecutors said. Women were also pressured into giving up embarrassing information about themselves that could be used against them if they left the group.

Along with Bronfman, Ranieres teachings won him the devotion of Hollywood actors including Allison Mack of TVs Smallville. Mack also has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

In a sentencing submission, lawyers for Reniere said he continues to assert his complete innocence to these charges.

They wrote that his jury conviction at an unfair trial resulted from a media campaign involving witnesses who were motivated to testify falsely as part of a heavy-handed prosecution that threatened potential defense witnesses.

His lawyers said the life prison term prosecutors sought was excessive.

No one was shot, stabbed, punched, kicked, slapped or even yelled at, they said. Despite the sex offenses, there is no evidence that any woman ever told Keith Raniere that she did not want to kiss him, touch him, hold his hand or have sex with him.

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Self-improvement guru sentenced to 120 years for turning some followers into sex slaves - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland

Books to help you centre yourself and realign your goals.

The feeling of getting lost in a book is incomparable not even a binge-worthy TV show comes close to the peace, quiet and grasping power of literature. Self-improvement is a genre of reads on rise, more so in the recent years end especially right now when the circumstances of 2020 have forced us to take a long, hard look at ourselves and how we want to life our lives to truly be happy. Its a journey, and a good next step forward is to escape (ironically inwards) with books that people have praised for helping them reshape their outlook on life. These are our favourites of the best self-improvement books today.

With a title immediately gripping, the New York Times Bestseller is a modern day self-help guide with all the cuss words, good jokes, and cold hard truths. Mark Manson, who also blogs, believes the key to life is living without trying to be happy or positive all the time. The author believes in embracing the mediocracy of human nature and the world itself while defining what matters, and who matters, to drive your everyday choices. As he not-so-subtly puts it, there are only so many things we can chose to truly care about and this books help you define yours and why some of those cares are the reason for any feelings of being stuck or unfulfilled.

Buy it here.

Pema Chdrn is a very well respected American Tibetan Buddhist, ordained nun, former acharya of Shambhala Buddhism and disciple of Chgyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In this book, Pema collects all the lessons and insight gained from softening through hard times in life, touching on the hardest experiences we all have like death and other losses. Her advice draws from Buddhist wisdomswhile including personal stories of her hardships, and how she uses the teachings to transform. The book is now released with a cover for its 20th-anniversary edition.

Buy it here.

Oprah Winfreys Super Soul Sunday is a spiritual-themed series you can thankfully also catch on YouTube. Each episode is as Oprah puts it an aha moment. This book is a collection of all the biggest aha moments of the three-time Emmy Award-winning show, organised into ten different topics or branches of spirituality. These insights come from guests includes Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, and Elizabeth Gilbert. There are also accompanying photographs and a personal essay by Oprah herself.

Buy it here.

To know where were going, we have to know where we came from and what a lot we can learn our own biological engineering. The no.1 international bestseller is the work of renowned historian,Yuval Noah Harari, who explores the way our history throughout existence has shaped how we function as a human race. All the data forces us to look ahead at the possibilities for evolution of human kind, and within ourselves.

Buy it here.

This is a book for women whove clung so tightly (without even realising) to the ideas of womanhood: what being a good mother, partner, sister, friend or colleague looks, and how we should feel in these roles. If youve ever thought to yourself, Wasnt it all supposed to be more beautiful than this?. are you in for a ride. Glennon Doyle was already a best-selling author of a book about her happily ever after with a husband and kids after overcoming her addiction to alcohol and bulimia. The more she learns what it is to be brave, the more she is inched towards her true self and her knowing, ultimately finding out what it means to be living courageously and authentically.

Buy it here.

(Main image credit: Min An on Pexels)

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5 self-improvement books that will change your life - Prestige Online

Whos leading the way when it comes to cutting back on meat consumption? Women, Democrats, and non-white peopleat least according to a Gallup poll released earlier this year. According to their survey, 23% of Americans are eating less meat, or report that they have reduced their meat consumption in the past year from when the poll was conducted. And when it comes to eating meatless,that was before the coronavirus had more people searching for meat alternatives than ever. Women are about twice as likely as men to say theyre eating less meat, clocking in at 31% to 15%, respectively. Overall, its been estimated that 80% of vegans in the U.S. are womenthats a whopping four out of five plant-based people you meet.

In light of the uptick of women making the plant-based plungewhich we can only assume is growing in the wake of the growing interest in a nutrient-dense, vegan lifestyle to support health in wake of the coronavirus pandemicwe asked experts to weigh in on the gender disparity, sharing both the good and the bad. Below, we dive into the main reasons more women than men might be #GoingVegan.

Women in society are cast to be more nurturing and protectors, which also carries on to their nurturing and protective nature towards animals and the environment, offers Bansari Acharya, MA, RD. It is easier for a woman to show compassion towards animals and provide reasons to her friends, family, or society on why she became vegan as most people will be more accepting towards a woman becoming vegan than a man due to the role society plays in how we differently men and women are perceived. Of course, this isnt to say men arent compassionate people, simply that in mainstream culture, a woman may feel more comfortable publicly avowing her stance on animal cruelty and protecting our planets natural resources.

Women are more likely to undergo change processes in their lives, and this may result in more women than men applying that ethos (or feeling pressured) to their diet. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, A Harvard trained clinical psychologist currently working at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, in New York City, weighs in: Women are [more susceptible to embarking on journeys of change] and therefore inclined to change their diet because they are primed towards self-improvement processes in other domains of their lives.

Of course, this can be an empowering thing, as many women may be inspired to go vegan proactively as a decision to reduce their risk of diseases like diabetes or cancer.

Alas, those The Grill Sergeant and Licensed to Grill macho man shirt logos may simply be a source of eye-rolling at a barbecue gathering, but the underlying psychology of such shirts is telling: Many men feel like grilling is an important part of their identity. Jamie Hickey, NASM, FMS certified trainer, and ISSA nutritionist. and founder of TruismFitness.comhas seen this time and time again with mens egos.

Ive spent years talking to clients and have heard more than a handful of men tell me they have thought about going on a vegan diet but were worried about what their friends would say, says Hickey. Mentally men feel like they need to be tough and a carnivore diet instills the hunter mentality whereas a vegan diet has the stigma of being more of a womens diet.

Societys cultural notions of masculinity have linked meat and manliness together for centuries. Just notice how meat marketing often targets men, not women, comments Marie Elena Bitar, MPH, RD, Founder and Owner of Beyond Food Rules, harkening back to our discussion above about grilling and barbecue culture. On the flip side, Bitar adds that women are often at mercy of the stigma associated with overeating and feel pressured to maintain a trim physique. For some, in turn, this could inspire them to opt for low-calorie vegan meals.

Unfortunately, in these cases, going vegan gives women (or anyone for that matter) an opportunity to shield loved ones from an eating disorder.Its a lot easier to decline a decadent dessert by saying I cant eat that, Im vegan rather than I cant eat that, I have an eating disorder, comments Bitar.

Many women find themselves going vegan as they continue to see the link between plant-based diets and hormone balance. The woman's body is designed to store fat more easily than men so that it can both grow and nurture life, comments Best. Because of this fact, a diet inclusive of animal sources means higher rates of saturated fat and an increase in fat stores. A plant-based diet provides the dieter with nutrient rich-calories that are used more readily by the body as energy rather than excess being stored as fat.

Additionally, as Best elucidates, hormones serve a key role in fat stores. Eating estrogen from animal sources, even organic grass-fed sources causes something known as estrogen dominance. This equates to higher levels of estrogen in the body, excess stress on the liver, and inevitable weight gain and potential toxicity. Plant-based diets are connected with lowering estrogen in the body to a level that is safe and effective, says Best.

From joint pain to skin conditions, inflammation is no fun, and many women want to take the reins on their health and fight that with the powers of plant-based foods and are perhaps more attuned to this than their male counterparts. Another reason for women turning to a vegan diet is the anti-inflammatory nature of the diet itself. Foods on a vegan diet are both void of inflammatory foods and rich in anti-inflammatory foods making it an ideal eating pattern for anyone with chronic inflammation, offers Richards. As women age, the inflammation in their bodies can increase, but this inflammation can also exacerbate existing health conditions like pain, arthritis, energy, and weight gain.

As the wellness industry is more dominated by women than men, its no surprise that more women are inspired to make lifestyle changes than men. One area of particular focus? Sanity.

I follow a plant-based diet, myself, and my reasons are primarily for my mental health and clarity. Cutting out potential allergens and inflammatory foods has improved my personal cognition, says Best. There is certainly research that shows these benefits, but for me, I've observed the proof for myself.

Ready to see the proof in the pudding, ladies? To get started on your vegan journey, check out our 21-day plant-based challenge.

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7 Reasons Vegans Are More Likely to Be Women Than Men - The Beet

As told to Melissa Pandika

I LIVED A TYPICAL American lifestyle in my 20splenty of happy hours and plates of fried Buffalo wings. Then in 2002, when I was 30, it landed me in the hospital with a heart condition. I had never been diagnosed and couldnt afford a screening because I didnt have insurance. The doctors did offer me a pacemaker, but I was scared to have heart surgery, so I ended up checking out of the hospital.

That was a life-altering experience, one that sent me down the path of wellness. I started juicing fruits and vegetables and occasionally attempting the yoga poses in my dads books. I was also running every day. But sometimes my heart would stop beating while I was running, and Id bang my chest and cough. On one of my jogs, I saw my father under a pine tree at the park, preparing to do yoga. Since my heart was acting up again, I decided to head over to him and just die in his arms. Youre looking good out there, he said. I could sense his love and hope for me. Right then I wanted to live. I wanted to practice yoga and embody that aspect of my dads life even more. Later that week, I signed up for my first yoga class.

My dad is 79 now, and he spent 37 years serving as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army, all while practicing yoga. Im not sure how or why he got into yoga, but when he was only 21, his father died. After that, he became an ultra health fanatic. I always thought that juxtaposition was interesting: Here he was, a soldier, but also a man, bare-chested, with his body twisted into knots every morning in the living room.

I think I chose yoga as my main form of fitness to be like him. Id never witnessed him in discomfort or poor health my entire life. After a checkup with my cardiologist, I started regularly practicing yoga on my own, with my fathers guidance, and I found it gave me a heightened body awareness. I can feel a cold coming and know when to intervene. Ive grown more sensitive to what I put into my body. I used to love cosmopolitans and margaritas, but now I dont like the way alcohol makes me feel.

Yoga has brought me a certain emotional awareness that I wasnt used to before.

After three months of my new health regimen, I returned to my cardiologist for a checkup, and he was amazed to find my heart in excellent condition. He told me I never had to come back. I kept practicing yoga until I felt I had something to offer it, in the same way that MCs like Kendrick Lamar provide us with a great body of work and dont just take from hip-hop. I discovered that yoga offered me the same opportunity to give of my whole self.

I set out to create a safe space for other Black men to reap the benefits of yoga, one that was welcoming culturally and with mens bodies in mind. The Black Male Yoga Initiative grew out of that need. My goal: to train 1,000 people of color as yoga teachers, all of whom would train ten more people of color so it becomes a bigger part of who we are as people.

BLACK AND BROWN men are considered anomalies in this countrys yoga community, which is still largely young, white, and female. I actually stopped going to commercial yoga studios and did a self-practice for four to six hours a day. If I felt something wasnt correct, I would read classic texts to identify what I was missing.

The yoga community in Maryland can be surprisingly judgmental: Ill say, Hey, I practice yoga; I own a yoga studio, and the first question out of peoples mouths is often Oh, do you teach in the prisons? When I answer no, they ask, Do you work with kids in schools? I doubt my counterparts of other ethnicities get those questions.

I want men of color to know theyre welcome and wanted, and I want to earn their trust and respect by not committing these or other microaggressions. Ill ask them to hold a downward dog for 60 seconds but let them know that ten is fine. I want these rough-and-tumble guys to feel comfortable. One time, I was in a private lesson, working with this one guy on heart, hamstring, and shoulder openers, when he looked up and said, I feel like I want to cry right now. Whats happening?

Yoga has brought me a certain emotional awareness that I wasnt used to before. Before, if I felt myself get low, Id try to dull the pain by playing basketball. But now I ask, Why is that here? What is this going to teach me? Amid all the polarity and protests against police violence, the practice has given me an equanimity. I dont feel neutral about whats going on, but balanced in my mind and body, and solution-oriented, the same as I would be in a difficult pose.

I ask myself, how can Black men prioritize internal peace when a war is being waged externally on their bodies? That question has guided my personal journey to discovering peace and my calling to make it accessible to all, especially those who look like me.

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Changa Bell Explains Why He Created the Black Male Yoga Initiative - menshealth.com

Chance York is defying stereotypes and proving yoga practice is for everyone.

MINNEAPOLIS October is Emotional Wellness Month, but for Chance York, it's a lifestyle year-round. Of course, you have to start somewhere. For York, it was by following instructions in a pocket-sized book in the dorms freshman year.

"Yoga for Dummies," he said. "They don't even make this edition anymore but it changed my life. I feel connected, I feel peaceful, I feel like I'm learning about myself. I didn't know I could sweat just by breathing."

Then, like many of us, he got busy with other things.

"Out and about all the time, and I just found my lifestyle to be very unhealthy physically, emotionally, spiritually," York said.

Four and a half years ago, he remembered that little book and the way yoga made him feel. Today, he is a certified mindfulness and yoga instructor at several Twin Cities studios and organizations, including One Yoga and the YMCA.

"I use meditation, yoga, behavioral psychology, social-emotional learning to educate people of different ages," he said.

And different backgrounds.

"One of my favorite classes I get to teach is through a nonprofit called Black Boys OM," York said. "Yoga was more presented towards suburban white housewives. That really stigmatized large populations of people to think it's only for those types of people. So there is a lot of just like, you know, 'Black men shouldn't be practicing yoga because it's not masculine or it's not tough.' The purpose of this nonprofit is to destigmatize that."

"It takes a certain amount of bravery to walk into a yoga studio, and even more so if no one in there looks like you," York said.

Due to the pandemic, most yoga studios have moved to Zoom. So it might be a good time for anyone who has felt nervous to start.

"When you think of yoga as more than just being on the mat and just stretching and breathing and stuff, it's really a lifestyle of bringing more compassion and more awareness and less autopilot into your life. And you can get in touch with me, or there are many other great teachers out there," York said.

For more mental wellness resources, click here.

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Twin Cities yoga instructor part of special network for Black men - KARE11.com

Heres a question: What do you get when you add together tons of time spent at home and loads of stress induced by a global pandemic? Answer: a very tired, tight body and mind. A body that desperately craves gentle stretching, room to breathe, and stability amidst the madness, if only for a few minutes every day.

If you arent someone who already practices yoga and meditation, theres no better time to start. Since many classes have moved online during the pandemic, its one of the few workouts you can do in the comfort of your living room with minimal equipment. And with the holidays fast approaching, you have every incentive to seek out the best yoga gifts for someone you love (including yourself). From accessories that complement their practice to studio-quality props (like woven blankets and meditation cushions) that round out their home studio, here is a selection of our favorite yoga-minded gift ideas that will satisfy everyone from the longtime yoga lover to the total beginner.

All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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17 Best Yoga Gifts for the Yoga Lover In Your Life - Self

Local yoga instructor Amlie Goudreau has brought something she saw in Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie

Not many activities sound more relaxing these days than doing some yoga and having a beer with friends.

Amlie Goudreau, a newly-licensed yoga instructor, is currently teaching Yoga and a Pintyoga classes, where event-goers can do one hour of yoga, and then sit and enjoy a pint of beer afterwards.

I went to school in Thunder Bay and they used to do yoga and a pint at one of the restaurants there, so I decided to do my own version where we did yoga outside near the Bushplane Museum and then walked over to Northern Superior Brewing and had a pint there afterwards, said Goudreau, 24. It was a great hit after the first class so when the weather started turning, I wanted to see if there was a possibility to do it inside. With COVID-19 I wanted to make sure that everyone felt safe and that we were still socially distancing, so we decided on a maximum of 10 people.

This is a really fun way for people to try out yoga if they never have before. Its an all-levels, everyone welcomekind of yoga and I really try to create a fun and inviting environment for people to feel at ease. It can be intimidating trying something new, like yoga, that youve never tried, Goudreau said. The idea is that it gets people out with friends to socialize in a socially-distanced manner. Having the pint afterwards definitely adds a little bit more fun and character to the event.

Yoga and a Pintevents are usually two hours long, and the registration fee is $20per person. The fee includes one hour of yoga and a pint of your choice from Northern Superior.

Goudreau, who has been doing yoga for 10 years now, says that the health benefits of yoga are endless.

Theres so many benefits of doing yoga. I know a lot of professional trainers will try and integrate yoga into their practice - whether its for hockey players, football players, boxers, anyone - you cant ever avoid the inner benefits that yoga has. It has so many physical benefits too, like treating aches and pains when nothing else has worked. Once you take the time and really start practicing yoga on a regular basis, you really start feeling more inner peace and a sense of calmness. I truly believe that yoga has benefits for both the inner and outer body and that the benefits can range from actual pains that people feel to emotional pains, Goudreau said.

For Goudreau, teaching yoga is something that she not only loves, but thinks of as a way for her to relax herself and help others find that calm state within themselves. I love teaching yoga, she said.

So far there have been two Yoga and a Pintclasses, with the next one coming up on Wednesday.

Were going to be doing this every second month for two consecutive weeks, Goudreau said.

For people interested in doing yoga classes, not necessarily Yoga and a Pint, Goudreau teaches at the Klub on Queen Street on Thursdays and at Steel City MMA on Saturdays.

For up to date information on future classes, Amlie Goudreaus instagram page can be found here.

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New beer-themed yoga class a hit with beginners, says instructor - SooToday

We know the youth are our future, but this time, theyre stuck in the past.

A nostalgic legging-centric trend first appeared (or rather reappeared) when an Instagram photo of YouTuber Emma Chamberlain started trending as a fashion moment.

The photo showed Chamberlain wearing a baggy Nike sweatshirt, white undershirt and wide-leg black yoga pants like the kind your cool aunt might have worn to Bikram Yoga in the 90s and early aughts. Only she might have called them, simply, yoga pants.

After Chamberlains blast from the past, TikTok teens took to the app with their new discovery, dubbing the stretch pants flare leggings.

Other trend-resetters followed suit.

Fashion stylist Rachel Zoes site, the Zoe Report, posted a contributors TikTok video wherein she tried the pants on for size. The woman in the video recorded her amazed reaction to the discovery. To her delight, she kicked up her leg to show off the bellbottom pant and urged us all to, get themmmm!

And yes, the pants do fashionably flare at the bottom and have the cozy appeal of their tighter, straight-legged sister. But millennials and Gen Xers were quick to chime in with their own looks. Many duetted the TikTok video, both to provide the right moniker just yoga pants and to show off their cool-again relics.

No matter the name, these leggings, yoga pants or groovy duds from the 2000s are back and still as comfortable as ever. Below is a roundup of where you can find flare leggings that fit your style and budget. Go ahead, order a pair to shove into your UGG boots or over your platform sandals and go back to a simpler time for a moment.

These might just be the original yoga pants or in any case, theyre sure to put you back in that early 2000s vibe. The Groove Pant comes in a few styles and colors, including the classic Groove Pant Flare, the Super High-Riseand the Groove Flare slitted version. They are all sweat-resistant and have four-way stretch, in case you actually decide to work out and not just pose for Instagram photos. They also range in size from zero to 14.

The classic Groove Pant is an online-only exclusive, so be sure to check sizes and stock often to snag a pair for yourself.

Amazons athletic line, Core 10, has its own flair for flared pants. The Mid Rise Wide Flare Yoga Bootcut Pant is a mouthful, but it delivers on its promises. The mid-rise fit hits right below the belly-button and the bootcut leg fits the bill for flared. These yoga pants also feature a waistband pocket, which can be a game changer for many pocket-less women at the gym or in the home office.

The Bootcut Pant comes in sizes XS-XL and the style is currently sold in dark heather gray, navy blue and the classic black.

The Kate Hudson athleisure brand has a few takes on this trend. The Ultra High-Waisted PureLuxe Flare pants are a fashionable and functional addition to a legging collection and they come in an inclusive range of sizes from XXS-4XL. Featuring all-way stretch, chafe-resistant technology and a sweat-resistant fabric, these are perfect for a high-intensity workout followed by a trip to the grocery store afterward. If you do feel like changing after your workout, they offer a Flare Jogger as well!

The best part is that they come with a 45-day workout guarantee if they dont hold up, get a full refund. Fabletics offers a VIP membership program that comes with substantial discounts, making these pants under $20 for a limited time if you sign up, but you can also opt out and purchase them at full price.

I dont know if were more thrilled to see these back in style or shocked that they still exist, but the original fold-over waistband yoga pants are still very much available at Victorias Secret. While they did make the switch to calling them Yoga Flare, a compromise if you will, not much else has changed. The Incredible Yoga Flare pants have the iconic fold-over waistband and come in a variety of both new and nostalgic styles, including a rhinestoned logo, animal-print and the classic hot pink. The beauty of the fold-over waist is that these pants can be worn as a high or low-rise style and are comfortable for all-day wear because of the cotton-modal stretch blend.

The pants range in size from XS-XXL and feature three different inseam lengths.

Spanx has come a long way from nylons and shape-wear. The company is synonymous with a super comfortable and sliming fit, and these dressed-up flare pants are no exception. The Perfect Black Pant, Hi-Rise Flare pants use a special smoothing ponte fabric and their trademark Gut Check shaping in the waistband, ensuring your curves are well-hugged and accounted for. They only come in black, hence the name, but the color works for the yoga studio, the office and beyond.

What they lack in range of color, they make up for in sizing, coming in XS all the way up to a 3XL. They also come in three different lengths petite, regular and tall so no more dragging your bellbottoms on the floor for women of any height.

Wait, did that say UV protection in a pair of leggings? These high-tech pants from Uniqlo protect against UV rays for when you want to bring your workout outdoors. The fabric is said to block 90% of UV rays, and they also feature Cool Touch and DRY technology to make sure you stay cool and sweat-free, even in a hot yoga session.

The ankle-length pants have a mid-rise fit and come in two colors: dark gray and black. Currently this style is online only, and comes in sizes XXS-XXL.

Originally posted here:
Where to buy the best yoga pants a k a Gen Z's 'flared leggings' in 2020 - New York Post

There are some simple things you can do to relieve pandemic stress, according to yoga instructor Katie Goodman. To start, she says, just breathe.

SAN ANTONIO A local yoga instructor wants people to know there are simple ways to get through the added stress of 2020, just by breathing.

Katie Goodman of Connected Life Yoga says by practicing remaining in the present moment, people who have addictions of any kind (food, drugs, or toxic people in their lives) can get some instant relief.

Goodman says those unhealthy habits can be a way to escape the present moment or avoid dealing with discomfort - but that by using yoga, you can learn to sit with that discomfort by holding poses and breathing through it.

There are also simple yoga poses which can be done while sitting in a chair.

Goodman also calls yogas physiological effects impressive for the way they calm the body when triggered. She says a consistent practice calms the nervous system and mental synapses that are triggered when tempted to give in to an addiction. It also helps to increase and regulate key hormones like serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine.

Fitness event in San Antonio, TX by Heard on Monday, October 26 2020

Connected Life Yoga is hosting a donation-based yoga class for the HEARD Foundation, which offers wellness and financial relief to those in the service industry. The first 15 people who come will get a shirt, and the first 10 people who show up who work in the service industry will receive a free mat.

The class is being held on Monday, October 26, at 4 p.m. at Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen, located at 103 East Jones Avenue in downtown, about a block away from the San Antonio Museum of Art.

For more details, check out Goodman's Instagram.

Excerpt from:
Just breathe - how yoga can help you get through the pandemic - WFMYNews2.com

Temple Adas Israel is located in Sag Harbor.

Temple Adas Israel is offering an online tour of the "Modigliani Unmasked" exhibition at New York City's Jewish Museum at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The show features early drawings by Amedeo Modigliani, an Italian-Jewish painter and sculptor. Many of the works are being shown for the first time in the United States.

The John Jermain Memorial Library is open by appointment for 20 minutes of book browsing, printing, and faxing, and 45 minutes for computer use, while the Zoom programs continue on Tuesday with a 20-minute meditation class starting at 10 a.m. A gentle yoga class will be held at 11 that day. A trivia contest with a Halloween theme will take place on Friday at 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 was the 110th anniversary of the library's opening, and in honor of the occasion an anonymous donor pledged to match donations to the library if $10,000 were raised by the end of the month. Donations can be made by visiting the library's website, johnjermain.org.

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Art Exhibit, Meditation, and Yoga in Sag Harbor - East Hampton Star