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Declan Mair is one of our resident yoga teachers. His class Online Yoga For Beginners is on every Tuesday from 5.30 to 6.30pm. Declan uses yoga to find balance, stillness and peace in the chaos of modern life. Here Declan shares one of his favourite yoga poses ~ Wide-legged Forward Fold. WIDE-LEGGED FORWARD FOLD “Prasarita Padottanasana, the wide legged forward fold ~ it’s a simple forward fold that when working with the breath is just bliss! Through each exhale just let your body give in, relax and enjoy!” Declan Mair THE BENEFITS OF THE POSE A calmed mind.Relief from stress, anxiety, and mild depression.Relief from mild backaches.Opened hips.Relief from neck and shoulder tension.Toned abdominal organs.Improved digestion. ACCESSING THE POSTURE Take a nice wide step on your mat, pointing your toes forward. The wider the better, but make sure its comfortable for you. Exhale as you fold over the legs, fill the movement with your breath and really feel through each vertebrae of the spine as you lower. Either let your arms hang or hold on to the elbows. Take a bend in the knees, even if you don’t think you need it. This allows the lower spine to release and just ease into the fold. With each inhale, make a little more space in the spine and with each exhale, just allow the body to release further as you deepen. Enjoy it here for a few breaths and when you feel ready… Plant the palms on the floor, keeping the hips in line with the ankles. Almost as if the heels and hips are against a wall, even use a wall if you think it will help. Keeping the hips where they are, walk the palms forward as you fold down further. Relax, breathe and enjoy! When you want to come out, gently walk the palms back in and then gently raise to standing. Wiggle or step the feet in and there you go! This is my favourite pose by far. It’s fairly simple but works wonders for the body, it stretches into so many areas while allowing you to release, energise and relax.Use your breath to guide you, each inhale as you lengthen from the hips up the spine creating space and each exhale allowing you to deepen. Combining the breath with each movement really allows you to deepen your practice and explore further. Just give it a go and see what happens! Namaste.Declan Wellbeing at Restoration Yard Our open studio space in The Wellbeing Lab sits in the eaves of our gorgeous stableyard, with views out to the beautiful nature surrounding us in Dalkeith Country Park. It usually plays host to our varied programme of classes, which all have a focus on health through wellness of spirit, mind and body. Enjoy yoga, Pilates, mindfulness and baby sensory classes as well as one-off wellbeing workshops. During the Covid-19 outbreak we are currently offering a programme of online yoga, mindfulness and fitness classes via Zoom! These classes are easily accessible through your home device with our teachers’ expert instruction and guidance. Take a look at our current Wellbeing Timetable.

Are you an NHS worker or know someone who is? We’re giving away free spaces on every class via Restoration Yard’s virtual Wellbeing Lab as a gesture of thanks so those working to care for others at this difficult time. A timetable for lockdown When lockdown was announced, the team at Restoration Yard recognised that it was more important than ever to look after our mental and physical health. With our Wellbeing Lab closed, the team worked together to create a new virtual programme offered via Zoom with a range of classes to suit everyone on lockdown. You’ll find a range of yoga styles, 30 minute fitness sessions with a personal trainer, mindfulness sessions and reducing stress classes to help us all navigate our ‘new normal’. How to sign up To sign up, email wellbeing@restorationyard.com with your NHS employee number and let us know which class you’d like to take part in. Not an NHS employee? We’ve set our prices low so ensure our classes are accessible. Fitness for 30 (minutes) classes are £3 or yoga/mindfulness (1 hour) are £5 per session. Or buy six for £25 – you can use them on any class giving you the flexibility you might need each week to try something new – or stick to one class! View the class timetable here. See you there!

By emotional wellbeing coach, psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher, Jen Wood The 18th May marked the start of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, and this year the theme is kindness. During lockdown, I have found solace in the many small acts of kindness that have punctuated the last few weeks. A smile from a passing dog walker, an offer of help to pick up groceries, a neighbour checking in on me or an invitation to an online dance class from a friend have all warmed my heart. While we are surrounded by so much uncertainty, things that I may previously have taken for granted in my busy life, have become moments to cherish. To help balance the roller coaster of emotions that I’ve been experiencing, it felt important for me to record these small kindnesses. I resumed a practice which I often invite clients to do. The ‘3 Good Things’ practice is a simple but powerful way to increase positive emotion by literally ‘letting in the good’. It can also set us up for a good sleep and sweet dreams. Kindness Exercise – 3 Good Things Spend a few moments reflecting on your day before you go to sleep. Think about 3 things that went well for you / brought you joy and gratitude. Write them down in a journal or notebook. Spend some time really savouring each one. When we can slow our awareness down and reconnect with the present moment, we can start to notice kindness and beauty all around us. I’ve been hearing more birdsong and enjoying the lush nature that surrounds me. Even the rain feels nourishing. Kindness and generosity are linked to a more fulfilled life, more satisfying relationships, better physical and mental health and living longer. It feels like we need this so much just now. Kindness also contributes to a positive feedback loop. When we are kind to others we tend to feel happier, and when we feel happier we tend to show more kindness to others. It’s a win win. Our impulse to be kind is also increased when we feeling more connected to others, so how can we cultivate this during lockdown? One evidence based mindfulness technique shows that we can use the power of our minds to recall memories of feeling close and connected with others, which will in turn increase our ability to be kind. Kindness Exercise – Memories of Kindness Sit in a comfortable position, with relaxed and open body posture and facial expression. Allow your breath to deepen and slow down until you feel more relaxed and centred. When you are ready, remember a time when someone was kind to you. Remember what it was like to receive that kindness, using all of your senses if possible. Recall the facial expression of the person who was kind to you and model it, if you can. When remembering the memory, follow these steps if you can: Remember what the person said, including the tone of their voice. (1 minute) Focus on the emotion that this person felt towards you. (1 minute) Focus on the whole experience, particularly on how this act of kindness kindled feelings of gratitude within you. (1 minute) After doing this exercise, journal your thoughts and experiences. You can also try Jen’s Loving Kindness Meditation – stop and take just 15 minutes out of your day to help yourself feel better. LISTEN TO JEN’S KINDNESS MEDITATION (15 MINS) We don’t know what life will be like when we come out of lockdown. If we can emerge with a deeper sense of gratitude, feeling more connected to those who matter most to us and able to show more kindness to others, and to ourselves, we may have found the silver lining in this pandemic cloud. Kindness is contagious. Let’s spread it during Mental Health Awareness Week, and beyond. How can you be kind today? Jen Wood is an emotional wellbeing coach, psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher with 20 years’ experience. She is also our Wellbeing Consultant at Restoration Yard. Jen is offering online Mindfulness Meditation (Mondays) and Reduce Stress – Feel Good (Fridays) classes via Zoom on Mondays and Fridays at 12noon. Jen also offers individual wellbeing coaching, therapy and mindfulness sessions via Zoom or by phone. To find out more, head to Jen’s website.

Shopping Sales can be a minefield (nothing is a bargain if it sits in the closet with tags on). So we asked one of our favourite stylists – Sarah Thomson Style – for her top tips on how to shop Sales and win! And we give you the heads up on the best Wardrobe Icons in our online Sale right now. Sarah’s Top Sale Shopping Tips Sarah Thomson is a personal stylist based in North Berwick, near Edinburgh. She has a flair for fashion and worked in the industry for several years, before achieving a diploma from the prestigious London College of Style and completing her advanced colour training with renowned Colour Counsellor Jules Standish.Sarah has a passion for the power of personal style and its ability to transform how good you look and how confident you feel. Getting it right on how to shop Sales boils down to asking yourself a few questions before you commit to buy. So here are Sarah’s questions to ask your shopping self before you head to checkout. Do you LOVE it? Would you buy it if it was full price? Can you think of at least three occasions you will wear the item? Will you wear it 30 times? #30wears Look for classics. Knitwear, leather or denim that won’t go out of fashion and will be wardrobe staples, forever. “So many times, when I do wardrobe edits, I’ll find all the unworn items with tags on are the Sale items and were only bought because it was a bargain.” Sarah Thomson THE WARDROBE ICON EDIT As Sarah says, Sales are an opportunity to get the building blocks of style into your closet for a whole heap less. Here’s our heads up on how to shop Sales and get you some amazing Wardrobe Icons that will be your go-to pieces, everyday. Forever. For less. The Bringing-it Blouse Part Two Barbette Blouse WAS £89.95 NOW £44.98 We are big fans of a leg-of-mutton sleeve blouse with delicate cuff detail – so on-trend and just soooooo forever. This blouse does that classic 1970’s cut super-well. And the delicate floral print? Adore. This Part Two Barbette Blouse in Dark Floral Blouse WAS £89.95 NOW £44.98 has romantic feminism nailed. It’s featherlight and slips on beautifully over floaty skirts or preppy jeans – you name it, it works. RY Style Tip: We say work it on Zoom with anything but it looks great dressed up with sharp tailored trousers. The Surefire Skirt Otto’dame Gonna Skirt WAS £129.95 NOW £64.98 The sun has been peeping through at last. Yay. That makes it skirt season and we adore this fresh take on a pleat by store favourite Otto’dame. This little icon is super light to wear, in crisp blue and white stripes and, oh did we mention, its the perfect length for flattering the early summer tan – what’s not to love about the Otto’dame Gonna Skirt WAS £129.95 NOW £64.98? So now yet totally timeless. Love now, love forever. RY Style Tip: Make like a vision in blue and white ~ wear with a tucked in, crisp white shirt or tee. The ‘It’ Dress Part Two Briella Dress WAS £129.95 NOW £64.98 Have you ever pondered a dress and let it go. Then, it’s dastardly chased you around the internet via clever web algorithms. Don’t let this Part Two Briella Dress WAS £129.95 NOW £64.98 be that dress. It’s a winner. And really, who doesn’t love a flattering wrap? These super pretty puff sleeves are an added bonus too if you haven’t been doing a daily dose of Joe Wicks. And in this gorgeous soft shade of café creme soft pink…we are just in love with its easy on the eye prettiness. RY Style Tip: This beaut is a standalone winner. Wear it with metallic strappy flats or a pair of statement wedges. The Best of Blazers Pom Amsterdam Confetti Kisses Blazer WAS £140 NOW £70 Every woman needs a great blazer in her wardrobe. And this, by all definitions, is a great blazer. A blazer takes you everywhere – pop it on over a sloppy tee and you’re a Zoom professional. Ta-daah. The Pom Amsterdam Deep Blue Confetti Kisses Blazer WAS £140 NOW £70 is a keeper. Blazers can be dull but you’ll find this one is anything but. Its contrast lining, ‘lucky charm’ buttons and razor sharp cut make it a standout classic that will complete a myriad of looks. RY Style Tip: Team it over silky printed skirts or pop it on over a white tee and jeans. Instant style. The Shirt of Dreams Vilagallo Gaby Shirt WAS £99 NOW £49.50 So holidays to far-flung places may be on hold. Why not hold your surf dreams dear and wear them on a crisp white shirt? What’s not to love about a little quirk of print on a white shirt when life is a little wobbly? The injection of colour in the form of little surfboards just makes us smile and so will all you greet via screen or in actual real life too. Vilagallo Gaby Shirt in Waimea Print WAS £99 NOW £49.50. RY Style Tip:There’s nothing simpler than a great shirt tucked into denim. When you get back to normality play it up with gorgeous tailored wide-legged trousers or tucked into a coordinating coloured pleated skirt. The Forever Knit Otto’dame Maglia Sweater WAS £110 NOW £55 At Restoration Yard relaxed style (with a hint of gorgeous) is our go-to. And there is nothing more relaxed than a great knit. We live in Scotland – we have to love a little warmth in our layers even in spring and summer. But that doesn’t mean we have to wear woolly pullies that aren’t worth it. This Otto’dame Maglia Striped Jumper WAS £110 NOW £55 is testament to the fact that knits should never be dull or done badly. Choose well and you make a style statement. RY Style Tip: Simply throw over a simple tee and jeans and you go from mundane to marvellous. SHOP THE FULL SALE HERE

Alis Atagan is one of our resident yoga teachers. Her classes include Sunrise Yoga on a Monday at 7.30am and Restorative Flow Yoga on a Wednesday at 12noon. Alis believes yoga is for everybody. It has had a profound impact on her, helping her through difficult times and has helped her learn to love her body. Her classes focus on learning how to soften into feeling. Here Alis gives us insight into a mainstay pose in yoga ~ Downward Facing Dog. DOWNWARD FACING DOG “Adho Mukha Svanasana, translated as Downward Facing Dog, regularly shortened to Down Dog is a frequent visitor in the yoga class, so it’s worth getting to know!” Alis Atigan Downward Facing Dog forms part of Sun Salutation A, B and Classical. It is also used in a Vinyasa or Hatha class as a way of transitioning from one side to the other. For example, we might do one or a series of poses on one leg, then return to Downward Facing Dog, before doing the same postures on the other leg. It is held for anywhere between one to five breaths. It is a posture we come back to throughout the whole practice. The Benefits Of The Pose Downward Facing Dog stretches the posterior chain of the body, lengthening the hamstrings, calves, hips and back muscles. This pose helps develop strength and cultivate awareness in the arms, shoulders and chest. Downward Facing Dog gently tones the abdominals, because there is a light lifting of the abdominals towards the spine. This is very basic inversion, and great for all levels including beginners. Having the head below the heart will bring blood flow to the brain. This posture can increase energy, and help to bring clarity and focus. When the neck is fully relaxed it will release tension from the neck. Accessing the posture The starting position for this posture might be from a table-top position or from the belly after doing cobra pose. For beginners a good place to set up for Downward Facing Dog is the Table Top pose (on your hands and knees with a flat back). Start by placing the hands shoulder distance apart, middle or index finger points forward. Spread all ten fingers wide, press into the thumb and index finger knuckle. Ensure your weight doesn’t fall into the pinkie edge of the hand. Curl the toes under and lift knees from the floor. Feet are hip width apart, and toes are not turning out. When hamstrings, or calves are tight, and causing a restriction, bend the knees. This will allow optimal lengthening for the spine, take the weight out of the shoulders and stop the lower back from rounding. Over time the hamstrings will lengthen. Forearms have a mild internal rotation to help bring attention to the thumb and index finger, and the upper arms are externally rotating. As the upper arms and shoulders are externally rotating it frees up space in the neck and shoulders. This activates and strengthens the teres minor and infraspinatus muscles (two of the four rotator cuff muscles). Line up the back of the skull with sacrum, this means that the head is not lifting, nor is the head reaching back towards the legs. This will keep the neck from straining. While reaching out through the fingers, lengthen the rib cage away from the shoulders to decrease the weight in the hands and wrists. Knit the front ribs together, and lightly draw the abdominal muscles in. On first encounter Downward Facing Dog will feel challenging. Over time though it becomes a wonderful place to pause and come back to stillness, and grounding. Wellbeing at Restoration Yard Our open studio space in The Wellbeing Lab sits in the eaves of our gorgeous stableyard, with views out to the beautiful nature surrounding us in Dalkeith Country Park. It usually plays host to our varied programme of classes, which all have a focus on health through wellness of spirit, mind and body. Enjoy yoga, Pilates, mindfulness and baby sensory classes as well as one-off wellbeing workshops. During the Covid-19 outbreak we are currently offering a programme of online yoga, mindfulness and fitness classes via Zoom! These classes are easily accessible through your home device with our teachers’ expert instruction and guidance. Take a look at our current Wellbeing Timetable.

By Head Chef Colin Halliday Ingredients Makes 4-6 600g Scottish salmon fillet200g plain mashed potato (potato only!)Zest and juice of one lemon2 cloves of garlic – peeled and crushed2 tbsp of chopped plat leaf parsleyHandful of Panko breadcrumbs if requiredSea salt (I use Maldon) and freshly ground black pepper4 – 6 medium sized free range eggsPlain flour / egg wash / panko breadcrumbs4-6 wedges of lemonMixed leaves For the Remoulade: 1/4 chunk of celeriacCouple a tbsp of mayo (I use Hellmans)1 tsp coarse grain mustardSqueeze of lemon juice1 tbsp finely chopped chives Method Firstly pan-fry the salmon for 2-3 minutes to obtain a nice colour on the outside, but keeping it pink in the centre, then remove and cool. Bring a pan of water to the boil then add the eggs one at a time and cook for 6 minutes. Remove them, place into cold water and whilst warm crack the shells which will allow the cold water to get behind the membrane making them easier to peel. Before they have cooled, peel and leave in the cold water. Once the salmon has cooled, remove the skin and flake into big chunks, then add to a bowl containing the mashed potato, chopped parsley, lemon zest and juice and mix carefully. Season to taste and if the mix appears a little wet, add the panko breadcrumbs. This will absorb excess moisture, giving a better end product. Mould the fishcakes into even sizes then place them in the fridge to firm up. While they are in the fridge, make the remoulade by peeling and thinly slicing the celeriac before slicing into thin match sticks. Add the mayo, mustard, chives, lemon juice and seasoning, then set to one side for an hour or so to soften and take on the flavours. Remove the fishcakes from the fridge and pane them. This means dusting them with plain flour before dipping them in beaten eggs and coating in panko crumbs. Take your time doing this so as to only apply one coating. Two coats of breadcrumbs is too much. Once paned, heat a frying pan, add enough vegetable oil to shallow fry, then once hot add the fishcakes. Once golden brown flip over. Color the second side then place them on a tray to go in the oven. Place in the oven 180c for 5-6 minutes then remove. While the fishcakes are in the oven bring a pan of water up to the simmer before adding the peeled boiled eggs. Allow them to warm for 2-3 minutes before placing on the plate along with the fishcakes, remoulade, a wee bit of salad and a wedge of lemon. The Kitchen’s Head Chef Colin Halliday has an impressive CV including stints at Gleneagles, Edinburgh’s The Caledonian Hotel and as Nick Nairn’s executive head chef. Colin heads up the team in The Kitchen and for our weddings, corporate and private events.

By Marketing Manager, Shelley Gibson Sending a surprise lockdown gift has been one of my favourite things to do during this pandemic. It’s so tough not seeing family and friends, but knowing a lovely (and beautifully wrapped) parcel is en route to a loved one helps make it a little more bearable. So I wanted to bring you my top picks for lockdown gifts for all the different people in your life, whether it’s a special occasion, a birthday or a simple ‘I’m thinking of you’ gift. I hope you enjoy them – stay safe and sane out there. For the Chef of the House: Bohns Spice Rubs I want to buy one of these just to cheer someone up. Not only does Bohns produce some seriously tasty spices and seasonings, its packaging is also great fun. As a company, Bohns is on a quest to deliver the perfect mix of seasonings to elevate home cooking to a new level. It believes that some of the tastiest and most succulent meats are produced using slow cooking methods with spices, sauces and marinades. With its products, this is easily achieved. You can view our full range of spice gifts here. Bohns Rubs: Butt Massage, £4.95 Bohns Rubs: Memphis Rub, £3.95 For the Small Person: Floss & Rock Tabards and Bottled Baking Co. I bought my three year old nephew this Space Tabard a couple of weeks ago and he LOVES it! Designed to help little ones stay clean during messy play, he decided to wear it for meals, stored toys in the pouch and became an astronaut all in the space of a day. It kept him very happy. Choose from Space or Mermaid Theme. See the full range of kids activities here. Floss & Rock Space Tabard, £13.50 Floss & Rock Mermaid Tabard, £13.50 I also sent them one of my favourite new products from The Bottled Baking Company. These caught my eye from the moment we got them in The Store – I love the bottle and their quirky, colourful designs. Each comes with a simple six step recipe guide with only basics to add such as eggs or butter. My supermarket has been out of flour for weeks now, so this is my next buy for myself! Choose from Marvellous Cookies & Cream Muffins, Fabulous Unicorn Cake, Seriously Smart Cookies, Un-Bee-Lievable Chocolate and Honey Cookies or Irresistible White Chocolate and Raspberry Tray Bake. Shop the full range here. The Bottled Baking Co. Fabulous Unicorn Mix, £9.95 The Bottled Baking Co. Seriously Smart Cookie Mix, £9.95 The Bottled Baking Co. Marvellous Cookies and Cream Muffins, £9.95 For Mindful Time Filling: Jigsaws and Puzzles Puzzles. Let’s face it, jigsaws are having their time back in the spotlight. And how grateful we are for them. For the adults, we have 500 piece Cat Jigsaw or Yoga Jigsaw (both £15.95). For kids, we have a big range which have been flying off the shelves since lockdown began. My favourite has to be this rainbow puzzle – a gorgeous symbol of hope in these testing times. Browse all adults’ games here. Kids’ puzzles here. Talking Tables 500 Piece Yoga Jigsaw Puzzle, £15.95 Floss & Rock Rainbow 80 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle, £16.50 For the Gardener: Seeds and Pots Our gardens are cherished just now and what better way to spend lockdown than cultivating some new blooms or herbs? No garden? No problem. Even if you have a window box you’ll be able to grow seeds. Our Growbars and Seedballs have been flying out the store as there are so many options from Shaded Garden Mixes to Butterfly Mixes. Shop all here. The Gluttonous Gardener Pizza Herbs Bar, £12.00 Seedball Hedgehog Mix, £6.95 Your garden friend will also love our new Dutch pots by Grand Illusion. Its shabby chic designs will bring a stylish touch to any garden, balcony, kitchen or table top. Shop Here. Grand Illusions Small Dutch Pot Assorted Designs in Teal, £8.25 Grand Illusions Large Dutch Pot Assorted Design in Black and White, £17.50 For the Fashionista: Primrose Park Blouses New brand on the block, Primrose Park just arrived in Store before we closed. A celebrity favourite, luckily these gorgeous blouses are online too so you can buy a special gift for your fashionable friend or treat to yourself. I love blue, so this blouse has to be one of my favourites. Team it with jeans for everyday wear. Even better, it’s now on Sale. Shop the full range here. Primrose Park, Sandy Shirt Tiger. Was £119, now £83.30. For the Home Maker: Tweedmill Throws I have one of these at home and it’s my favourite blanket to keep me cosy when reading or watching Netflix (which is a little too much right now). Made in Britain, Tweedmill is renowned for its quality and innovation. We love the new colourways, reminding us of summer days gone by. Shop the full range here. Tweedmill Ombre Rosewood Lifestyle Throw, £59.95

By Jen Wood Ever thought about journalling to help your own sense of wellbeing, but don’t know where to start? Restoration Yard’s emotional wellbeing coach, psychotherapist and wellbeing consultant, Jen Wood, gives us some great tips for starting in her post below as we navigate our ‘new normal’. Journalling. It may conjure up an image of a young girl writing ‘Dear Diary’, or Bridget Jones, but there’s a lot more to journalling than meets the eye. I have journalled, on and off, for 30 years and have found it one of the most helpful therapeutic tools. For anyone in the health profession, the idea of being a reflective practitioner will be very familiar. Having worked in palliative care for many years, I remember feeling frustrated that it was important to notice and record how certain experiences had impacted me, when all I really wanted was a cup of tea and some chocolate. The benefits were undeniable, as it allowed me to feel the feelings that came up, rather than numbing them out with chocolate and wine. Journalling for our wellbeing can play an important part in helping us understand our thoughts and feelings, and can be a great way to vent. You’ve heard the expression, ‘better out than in’? Well it turns out there’s science to prove it. Anne Frank, possibly one of the most famous journallers of all time, wrote “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” What is Journaling? Journalling is the practice of writing in a diary or journal about the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations that come up for us in connection with life events. It can be focused on processing our emotions, achieving our goals, overcoming writers’ block or reconnecting to ourselves and our inner wisdom and innate wellbeing. I always recommend to my coaching and therapy clients that they journal and reflect on our sessions, to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. It’s also a great way to clear our heads and start to make sense of overwhelm. It’s a type of active meditation. Just allowing words to flow on to a page, like a stream of consciousness, can be a very meditative and healing experience. It can help with externalising the dialogue that can happen in our meetings between our inner critic (or perfectionist) and our inner wisdom. How can it help us? To be more mindful – by being more aware of our mind and make connections between our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. To be happier – by remembering and savouring positive experiences, we can enhance our resilience and positivity. To enhance our wellbeing. To reduce worry and anxiety. To enhance our creativity – Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages idea of starting the day off with a flow of consciousness writing can unblock creative and emotional blocks. To help us achieve our goals. To help us develop more awareness and self-awareness. It can help us process difficult experiences. How to do it? Write in a private space where you won’t be interrupted. Centre and ground yourself before writing. Reflect and balance yourself after writing. Schedule a regular time to write. Write whatever feels right in the moment, and be totally honest. Your journal is for your eyes only. The Centre for Journal Therapy have a useful acronym WRITE: W – What do you want to write about? A good tip is to start writing about anything – like what you had for lunch or your trip to the supermarket – and then keep going and see what comes up. You can’t make a mistake! R – Review or reflect on any situation. Start sentences with ‘I feel…’, keep things in the present and be mindful. I – Investigate your thoughts and feelings and behaviours as you write. If you get stuck, reconnect to your breath, and the sensation of your feet on the floor, and write about that. T – Time yourself. If something feels like it will be quick and easy, you’ll be more likely to do it. Set the timer on your phone for 5 minutes and stop when the time is up. If you find it helpful you can increase the time gradually. If 5 minutes feels too much, start with 1 minute. E – Exit consciously. You might just close your journal and feel the texture of the cover, or you might choose to read over what you’ve written. If you can make a ritual of it, it will feel more nourishing. I wonder if we could use journalling to find the silver lining in this dark coronavirus cloud? If we use our journal to help us to remember what we really appreciate in life, that perhaps we can’t do at the moment, it may help us to savour life more fully when this is all over. How can we start to notice the little things now, that are bringing us pleasure? I have been planting seeds and I’m surprised how much joy I experience when they germinate and start to grow. I’m keen to remember this, and come out of this situation with more awareness.There are so many benefits to journalling, not least the excuse to buy a lovely new journal. However, the most important thing is that you enjoy it. And if you need a new notepad, The Store at Restoration Yard has plenty to choose from here. Or take a peek at our pick below. Matthew Williamson Hummingbird Notebook, £6.95 Bee Luxury Soft Cover Notebook, £29.95 Speak Easy Notebook, £10.95 Jen is offering online Mindfulness Meditation (Mondays) and Reduce Stress – Feel Good (Fridays) classes via Zoom on Mondays and Fridays at 12noon. Jen also offers individual wellbeing coaching, therapy and mindfulness sessions via Zoom or by phone. To find out more, head to Jen’s website.

Do you stare more at yourself than anyone else on a video conference call? Obsessing with how you look and not giving two hoots about anyone else’s appearance? So you want to do it better? We asked some of our favourite experts for their top tips and their must-wears for how to look good on Zoom. ALSO, we take tips from designer Tom Ford on how to create the best lighting and angles. He should know! THE ZOOM EDIT The biggest challenge in nailing your best WFH wardrobe is striking the right balance between laidback and polished. It’s how to navigate that fine line between I’m dressed comfortably and looking presentable enough to meet with my colleagues or even friends via Zoom! So we asked some experts how to look good on Zoom, how they are working their best on-screen style and asked them to pick their favourites from our 30% off Sale. Opt For Style & Comfort Part Two Barbette Dress in Buckthorn Brown WAS £109.95 NOW £76.97 Louise Wilson, editor at MADE magazine is a little bit in love with our Barbette dress by Part Two WAS £109.95 NOW £76.97. She says: “I love dresses and always feel confident wearing them, so for my next Zoom meeting I want to wear the Barbette Dress in Buckthorn Brown. It’s the perfect mix of style and comfort – ideal for working from home.” RY Style Tip: Team it with a statement necklace, cosy socks and slippers – no one will know. But seriously if you’re out and about this dress is super cute with ankle boots. Inject A Colour Lift blank Louisa Dress WAS £175 NOW £122.50 Personal stylist and shopper, Laura Russell of Satisfashion says: “As much as wearing a nice top is the perfect answer for zoom calling (plus leggings and lycra on the bottom of course) – this is that one time to actually dress up and feel great (let’s face it, we don’t get too many at the minute so use this time well). Dresses and Jumpsuits make you feel fun and fabulous. Try to go as colourful as possible as colour really helps to lift your mood and make you feel better. Dresses with fab detailing around neck, shoulders and prints and patterns add interest to your #WFH look. I adore this dress as it does just this.” blank Louisa Dress WAS £175 NOW £122.50 RY Style Tip: This dress is standalone gorgeous, but in summer work its boho vibe with strappy metallic flats or a wedge. Wear Your Happiness Pom Amsterdam Tequila Fun Blouse WAS £140 NOW £98 No stranger to the small screen, Sisi Gibreel, our head of retail says: “I love this top, its quirky happy print puts a smile on my face. I felt fabulous when I wore it for one of the mini videos I did for our social media. As soon as I put it on – it was sold! The fluid Cupro fabric is seriously silky making it so beautiful to wear.” Tequila Fun Blouse by Pom Amsterdam WAS £140 NOW £98. RY Style Tip: Wear it tucked into a silky pleated skirt in a coordinating colour block or simply slip on over cropped jeans. Pop On Some Print Selected Homme Wayne Shirt WAS £55 NOW £38.50 Stylish blogger Scott McGlashan AKA Blu Blazer Guy says: “I am definitely picking this Whale Print Shirt. I love a smart/casual look and I think this shirt not only fits that style perfectly but its print adds a little fun, which we all need at the moment. And of course, it’s blue which is my favourite colour.” Killer Whale Printed Wayne Shirt by Selected Homme​ WAS £55 NOW £38.50. RY Style Tip: Make like Scott and wear with a blue blazer or simply go casual with teamed with dark wash denims. Tips From Tom Ford For Your Best Screen Face When the legendary fashion designer Tom Ford shares his tips on how to look good on Zoom, you sit up and pay attention. The stylish one believes it all comes down to the height of your computer screen, the right lighting and that humble white tablecloth. So here’s his best advice on looking Zoom-fabulous from Grazia. First things first, before you join that call check the height of your screen. ‘Put the computer up on a stack of books so the camera is slightly higher than your head. Say, about the top of your head. And then point it down into your eyes,’ says Mr Ford. Already, you’ll find this angle is so much more flattering. Next tip? ‘Then take a tall lamp and set it next to the computer on the side of your face you feel is best. The lamp should be in line with and slightly behind the computer so the light falls nicely on your face,’ Ford adds. By now, you should be positioned at the most flattering angle and have a lovely warm glow basking on your ‘good side.’ The final touch? ‘Put a piece of white paper or a white tablecloth on the table you are sitting at but make sure it can’t be seen in the frame. It will give you a bit of fill and bounce.’ Oh Mr Ford – we are forever grateful.