Couples Yoga Challenge
With my YouTube channel being mainly fitness focused, I decided to mix it up with a fun challenge video last week. After seeing quite a few people attempting the couples yoga pose challenge and having such a laugh in the process, I decided I had to give this challenge a go with my boyfriend…what could go wrong?
I can’t deny, there were some hairy moments including when I almost plummeted head first through the wall! Needless to say the process of working out how to achieve the different positions made for a very entertaining video. I will admit though, I am at an advantage with my dancer background giving me flexibility and balance.
We simply setup the camera, cleared a space in the living room and using photos of couples yoga which I found on Pinterest, the fun began as we tried to recreate the poses. We attempted about seven positions in total, only one of which we failed to do!
It was certainly a lot of fun making this one and also tested my video editing skills as I had to cut down about an hour of footage to just five minutes. I think it’s always good to go outside of your comfort zone especially when learning a new skill, as this has made me excited to experiment with some different kinds of videos beyond just workouts.
If you’re bored during lockdown and stuck indoors, this really is a great way to pass some time with your partner whilst getting in a little workout too – not to mention the fits of giggles as you find yourselves in some compromising positions 😉
You can watch the full video over on my YouTube channel @DaniAneka – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka5QlSQANhk&t=263s
The ingredients are actually pretty simple and the sort of things you may have in your kitchen cupboard at home. The spicy dipping sauce is just maple syrup (or I used golden syrup) mixed with hot sauce, then for the cauliflower batter you need:
Make sure to pre-heat the oven to approximately 180 degrees (fan assisted) and line a tray with baking paper beforehand as things get messy from here! In a large mixing bowl whisk the flour, milk, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper until combined, before dipping each floret of cauliflower into the mixture. They must be fully covered but not dripping too much.
Once all of the cauliflower is coated and ready on the baking tray, oven cook for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, whisk together the syrup and hot sauce to taste, ready to drizzle over the finished wings as well as saving some extra for dipping.
I plated mine up with some spring onions and coriander to garnish. These turned out to be super tasty and perfect wing texture with that crispy batter crunch coating the tender cauliflower florets. Being so spicy, I would definitely serve these with a cooling yoghurt or tatziki style dip next time along with some more fresh salad too.
These would be perfect finger food for a party and are even relatively cheap and easy to make, not to mention a whole lot healthier than your usual buffalo wings. I love finding these awesome recipe hacks which mean we can enjoy some healthier alternatives to those more indulgent treats.
Even working from home I still get that Friday feeling and treat myself to a glass of wine at the end of the day before winding down for the weekend. I also want to give my favourite clothes a little love as they aren’t getting their usual time out of the wardrobe at the moment!
With the sun shining and the BBQ out once again, I popped on this old but very cute Superdry dress along with my gorgeous Lack of Colours Australian rancher hat.
So even though we can’t currently go out and see our friends for a drink down the pub, it’s always such a mood booster to put on a nice outfit and arrange a virtual drinks meet up with friends and family. Then before we know it, we’ll be socialising and making memories with loved ones again very soon – something we won’t take for granted again!
Living in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, we really are spoilt with some of the most picturesque surroundings which we usually take for granted.
Hopping on the bikes and taking a new route each time we venture out, we’ve been lucky enough to discover some awesome new locations. So when we found this bluebell woods in full bloom we couldn’t wait to do a shoot!
The ideal time to capture such dense woodland is at sunset when the light is peaking through the trees and showering those golden hour hues. It’s always fun to just experiment in order to capture those more natural action shots.
So whilst we may have to wait to go out in the world and travel foreign lands again, I’m thankful to be chasing such picturesque sunsets back in my home country; it’s time to rediscover the natural beauty of our homelands ❤
The recipe is super simple, you just need medjool dates, walnuts (although I used plain mixed nuts as that’s what we had in stock) and cacao powder. Start by blending the nuts then adding the medjool dates and finally cacao powder until a thick sticky batter is formed. Spoon out the mixture into a lined baking tin and use your hands to smooth out the batter to the desired thickness for your brownies. This bit can be quite messy so roll up those sleeves and don’t wear white!
For the topping simply melt coconut oil, honey and more cacao powder on the hob until a liquid consistency, before pouring over the brownies making sure to cover all of the top. I chose to sprinkle coconut chips on mine at this point (optional addition) and then left the brownies to set in the fridge for at least an hour.
Once set, cut into bitesize chunks as big or small as you like. These are super rich and gooey, so store in the fridge and take out 15 minutes or so before serving. You can experiment using different nuts in the mixture and whatever toppings you prefer, but the essential basis to these are just 3 wholesome ingredients and require very little effort to make. Simple, indulgent and believe it or not, healthy brownie treats! Let me know if you try these and what you think – enjoy :)
With pilates being the most conditioning and strengthening discipline particularly for dancers, I prefer to focus on the core, glutei and legs. I then also plank for around 7 minutes before stretching to conclude my normal workouts.
As a newbie to the world of YouTube, I decided to keep my first few videos more simple and fun for viewers to follow along to. Each workout is to a different chart hit which I have choreographed a series of exercises to, sure to get your blood pumping whilst having a boogy too! I think music is such a great motivator when working out and being a dancer, of course a good routine to match is a must.
Some of my videos are a little more challenging and really get you feeling the burn, whilst the slightly easier ones would be a great way to get your heart rate up before a workout. Either way, it’s so important for our physical and mental health to keep active during this time of isolation. With so many options online for at home workouts and even live classes, this is the time to smash those fitness goals!
YouTube is something I’ve always wanted to have a go at, so with all this time on my hands it was the perfect opportunity. It’s great that I can finally work on this little project properly and sharing something which I am passionate about, I too have fun making my videos. I do also plan on branching out with other style content in the future, travel vlogs being my ultimate goal. But for now I hope to inspire some people to get fit and stay active to stay sane!
I was intrigued to try this sweet treat for myself and pleasantly surprised at the simple list of ingredients required. Taking the above recipe which I found on Instagram, I swapped the sugar for stevia sweetener and opted for soya milk.
It certainly takes a good 10 minutes of whisking if done by hand, but be patient and soon your coffee will form a creamy butterscotch foam. As I prefer a less milky coffee, a short tumbler glass with large ice cubes is my favourite way to enjoy this beverage.
This is of course a treat and takes a little more time to make than your usual coffee. However with so much time on our hands at the moment everyone has jumped on the whipped coffee band wagon!
I’d be keen to try experimenting with flavours for the creamy whipped topping, perhaps cinnamon or even coco powder like a Frappuccino . Enjoyed in the sunshine whilst reading my book makes for the perfect morning routine or afternoon pick me up.
This will certainly be one of the most unique periods of life for our generation, as we learn to accept social distancing measures for an extended period of time. In the UK the lockdown has allowed us to get outside once a day for exercise and as we welcome in a particularly sunny springtime, it’s a blessing that we can still enjoy the gorgeous weather and boost our mood with some vitamin D.
Being on ‘Furlough’ from my job has given me the gift of time, so it’s been a great opportunity to get on with my ‘To Do’ list and finally see to those longer term projects which I’ve always wanted to do (more on this in a later post!). I’ve also been able to spend more time looking after my wellbeing as I get rested and can priorities those things which matter most to me; staying fit with home workouts, brushing up on my dance skills in the garden, cooking yummy creations in the kitchen, reading books, taking photos and of course, writing my own blog 🙂
Cooking has always been one of my favourite hobbies too, so I’ve been experimenting with a few new recipes and even tried some baking. The popular quarantine sweet treat which everyone has been making is banana bread and being my first time, I was impressed with my creation pictured above. With the sun shining over the past few weeks, I’ve also been making a lot of delicious fresh summer dishes, including this easy Greek salad.
Maintaining sanity during this time has pulled family, friends and community together as we all find ourselves in the same position. Our extended family now have a weekly ‘Zoom’ quiz every Sunday evening and my work colleagues organise regular drinks via video conference too. Creativity is key also as my Dad decided to host a neighbourhood quarantine disco from our back garden last weekend! Having posted fliers around our surrounding neighbourhood to notify them of the party and to text in with song requests, my Dad setup his sound system in the garden ready for two hours of music from 7-9pm on Saturday.
With the BBQ lit and the bubbles flowing, before we knew it requests for songs were flooding in! At 7pm on the dot we heard cheers from the neighbours in their gardens as we got the music pumping. By the end of the set, we counted over 70 messages from neighbours sending their song choices and thanking us for the disco. Being such a success, our plan is to do the next one to raise money for the NHS which I’m sure our neighbours will appreciate.
So as we continue forward in this period of uncertainty and apprehension, I remember how incredibly fortunate I am to be in my position during this pandemic. With my job secured, a comfortable home to reside in a lovely village and most of all a healthy family, I’m optimistic that my life will go back to normal once this all blows over. In the meantime, I hope this pause on our busy lifestyles will help us all slow down, appreciate the simple things and build a stronger relationship with loved ones as well as ourselves.
Having previously made the move to Aus solo, it was a different experience to be holidaying with my buddy. As two outgoing, confident individuals, as a pair we had no trouble making friends and weren’t afraid to explore new places and try new things. Of course you can’t take yourself too seriously and it’s so important to be able to maintain humour particularly at yourself.
I would definitely recommend travelling with one or two very close friends to have that someone to share your experience with, laugh alongside and to have one another’s backs no matter what. That’s not to say travelling alone isn’t doable, as I did so myself, it’s just so awesome to have someone to do things with and reminisce on the moments shared.
One of the lessons I learnt early on in my travels was that ‘if you dare to remove yourself, the true you will follow.’ I know that taking myself away from the safety of home when I originally moved to Aus, was a huge learning curve and proved that I am capable of achieving so many things on my own. The same applies when you’re travelling even with a partner, as you are both out of your comfort zones and have to adapt to the spontaneity of the adventure.
Being my 3rd year in a row celebrating in Aus, it’s always a big one as coincidently my birthday falls on Australia Day – the anniversary of when the first fleet of British ships arrived on the shores of Australia. Although a controversial national holiday given the impact white man had on the indigenous Aboriginal people of the land, it’s an excuse to get out the BBQ and join together with friends to soak up the peak of summertime.
This year I found myself back down in the Southern Highlands with my closest friends from my time in Aus. It was also another friend’s birthday that weekend, so the guys pulled out all the stops for a fantastic party including delicious food, good old Aussie garden games and even a coffee cocktail cart!
One of my old housemates comes from a Portuguese family of foodies, so produce is super fresh and nothing done in half measures. I was very happy with the array of cocktails on offer, including my favourite Espresso Martinis made with the best Australian roasted coffee. The night previous I also got involved prepping homemade hummus and even fermenting sauerkraut and kimchi. However the star of the show was the Hog Roast which got going on the spit from 9am to be ready for the afternoon.
After such a feast and plenty of beers down, we spent the arvo basking in the sunshine and listening to Triple J Radio top 100, before going out into the field at sundown for an obligatory game of Cricket. It just wouldn’t be an Australia Day if we didn’t play Cricket and it’s become a tradition to do so on my birthday… along with the need for VB Beers to keep me smiling of course!
As golden hour glowed and the sunset, I was so happy to have spent another fabulous birthday in the land down under. I’m very lucky to have made such special friends during my time living in Sydney and I don’t doubt we will be partying together again in the very near future. Cheers for the beers and awesome times Straya!
Dani Aneka 