A Better Day: 1-hour ashtanga class, Draw with Rob

Each weekday, our editors are sharing their quick tips, workouts, recipes and observations to help us make the most of our time at home. We hope it makes your day a little bit brighter. #stayhome

Let’s start with some good news…

If, like us, you’ve become rather fond of wearing Havaianas while living in Dubai, then you’re about rate them even more. Alpargatas, the parent company of the flip flop brand, has converted Havaianas’ factories to produce essential protective equipment for local health care professionals, including 250,000 N95 masks and 18,000 pairs of shoes. What’s more, they’re distributing 100,000 kits containing essential products to vulnerable communities across Brazil.

Do this for a healthy body

Dubai-based Underdogboxn has a number of different kinds of workouts on its main Instagram feed, including the gruelling 45-minute Shadowboxn and 45-minute Yin Yoga.

Do this for a healthy mind

Ashtanga is a rigid set yoga practice that requires a great deal of strength and commitment. This hour-long guided ashtanga class by Laruga Glaser is for dedicated yogis that follow a consistent ashtanga practice. Laruga leads the half-primary series, cueing the positions and breaths in Sanskrit.

Delicious deliveries to your door

If you need a little help resisting the urge to comfort eat, the newly launched Right Bite Supper Club is your go-to for healthy meals delivered to your door. Simply let their gourmet chefs do all the shopping, prepping and cooking for you and get those yummy, wholesome meals delivered (contactless, of course) direct to your door. Order before 4pm at least 24hrs in advance to guarantee delivery.

What to watch

With all this extra time on your hands, you can finally get round to watching those classic films your friends are always talking about. Let’s start at number 50 of Empire magazine’s Greatest Movies of All Time list: Lawrence of Arabia (1962). This epic classic sees British Lieutenant T. E. Lawrence sent on a quest to find Price Faisal to help the Brits and Arabs defeat the Turks during World War One.

What to listen to

Musicians discuss the stories and secrets behind their music, featuring global artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Norah Jones, along with the team behind the iconic Game of Thrones soundtrack, in the Song Exploder podcast on Apple Music.

Home help

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, it’s a great time to give it some TLC. For useful tips on planting, check out Umm Al Emarat Park’s gardening 101 series, which is being beamed into homes across the UAE. Part of its #GrowAtHome campaign, available via its social channels, the online sessions will turn you into an expert gardener in no time.

Isolators we love

Some days you’ll be positively full of energy; other days you’ll be craving the opportunity to sip your coffee in peace… and that’s okay! Author Rob Biddulph is teaching kids how to recreate the characters in his books, so why not challenge your children to #DrawWithRob while you take a 20-minute break today?

Join the party

British band Radiohead is streaming live weekly concerts from its archives via its YouTube channel at10pm UK/2pm PT/5pm ET for the foreseeable. We recommend you Creep on over for a little listen.

Cook like a pro

Sombreros on as we head down Mexico way for fabulous fish tacos courtesy of executive chef Ezequiel Cardozo of Malibu Deck, at Paramount Hotel Dubai.

Ingredients
For the Tacos:

• 4 pcs flour tortilla
• 135gr mahi mahi
• 5gr salt
• 1 gr pepper
• 8 ml olive oil
• 1 avocado
• 1 lime
• Coriander leaves

For the Chimichurri:

• 20 gr parsley
• 5gr onion
• 3gr garlic
• 5ml red vinegar
• 2gr salt
• 1gr pepper

Marinated red cabbage

• 15gr red cabbage
• 8ml lime juice
• Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

• Marinate your favourite fish (we like Mahi Mahi) with chimichurri sauce and a passion fruit, ideally a few hours in advance and keep refrigerated.
• Marinate red cabbage with lemon juice, salt & pepper.
• Grill the fish in a hot pan or a grill, you can also stir fry it but we like a healthier option.
• Prepare avocado puree, blend 1 to 2 avocados with a dash of olive oil, lime and bit of salt.
• Dress up your tortilla with the cabbage, add the grilled fish, top it up with avocado puree and finish with coriander leaves.

And lastly…things we’d never thought we’d miss #6

Pulling a sickie because you’d rather sit on your couch than go to the office. Now, your couch is the office.

Please feel free to share your own frivolous yearnings via editor@hotmedia.me

For your home interiors, advice and inspiration in the UAE visit https://blivinguae.com/