Prime Women spotlights a special guest — a woman who thoroughly embraces her age and lives her life to the fullest. Yazemeenah Rossi, a model, actress, yogi, whole foods enthusiast, beach lover, and inspiration to us all.
Yazmeenah Rossi, is a bit of a free spirit. Though she adheres somewhat to a daily routine, our guest this month doesn’t have the typical 9 to 5 work schedule, and she is able to relish the natural beauty of Malibu and the beach where she has lived for the last several years.
“Nothing is systematic,” she says. “I am very flexible, and I always look to find balance.” The 61-year-old model, photographer, and aspiring actress believes in living healthfully but not at the expense of having fun. “A playful spirit is essential for an happy, enjoyable life,” she says.
A day for Rossi without formal work obligations includes simple pleasures: fresh, whole foods; gentle exercise; and a healthy dose of gratitude.
6/6:30 am
Wake up. Splash cold water on my face. Drink hot water with lemon or apple cider vinegar while reading emails in bed. Sometimes FaceTime with my family in France, since there is a nine-hour time difference, or correspondence with my agents overseas.
8 am
Yoga and meditation. Then a second glass of water with consciousness and gratitude. I am very present to the moment, to the path of the water in my body, to my childhood memory of the water collected at the spring where I grew up in Corsica. I end my shower with cold water, connecting to the memory of washing in the river as a child; we did not have running water until I was 10 years old.
9 am
Shower.
9:30 am
Clean my home and make sure things are in order.
10:30 am
Cook and eat the first meal of the day. This could be mussels with tomato, fennel, and white wine, or it could be soft-boiled eggs with avocado, sprouted wheat toast, and French butter. I drink black coffee with egg yolk, coconut oil, and ghee.
11:30 am-1 pm
Work on my projects.
1 pm
Fresh fruit or vegetable juice and a half-hour of naked sunbathing on my balcony. I meditate about the work I have just done or let new ideas inspire me.
2-4 pm
Back to work.
4 pm
Prepare second meal of the day.
5 pm
Hike on the beach if it’s low tide. (I follow the tide charts closely. I go walking in the water at low tide, so since that changes all the time, I have to be flexible and change the time of my daily walk as well. If it’s low tide early in the morning, I go for a walk after my hot water and lemon.)
6 pm
Return home and eat my second and last meal of the day.
7 pm
In summer, I go back out to the beach. If it’s not summer, I clean the house or work a little more on my projects.
8:30-10 pm
Shower or take a hot bath with Epsom salt and take care of my skin. Sometimes I do a little stretching. Occasionally I will meditate. I might also read a book or watch a movie on my iPad.
10/11 pm
Bedtime. I love falling asleep to the sound of the waves.
Photos: Courtesy of Yazemeenah Rossi
>READ: THE 5 STEP MORNING ROUTINE FOR AGING WELL
>READ: WANT TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER? CHANGE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
