Kickstart This Year with These Trainables

BY PAUL FARKAS, TECH DIRECTOR

MICROSOFT BAND 2

Train smarter with Microsoft Band 2, the smart band created to enable you to live healthier and achieve more. This wristwearable tracks your heart rate, exercise, calorie burn and sleep quality, and keeps you connected with email, text, and calendar alerts. Advanced sensors track data specific to running, biking and golfing, and technology from the band and Microsoft Health lets you share your activity data with your favorite fitness apps; gives you actionable insights; and access to experiences with premier sports and lifestyle brands. Live healthier and reach fitness goals with guided workouts and be productive with personal reminders, custom notifications and social updates that matter.
 
SAMSUNG GEAR VR

Samsung Gear VR is underway towards being the first VR headset to get mainstream attention. It makes it possible for anyone to enjoy virtual experiences anytime, anywhere, turning their 2015 Samsung GALAXY flagship smartphones into a portable virtual reality system. Whether you will want to join an immersive fitness experience, take a virtual zen vacation, watch videos hanging out with your friends in a virtual space, or interact with a movie, the possibilities with Gear VR are limitless. 

Out of the gate you’ll be able to explore 70+ movies from 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate, access 9,000 videos from Vimeo or live broadcasts from Twitch, and explore the world around you in 360 degrees with more than 200,000 immersive photos captured by the world’s leading photographers. Gear VR customers can also watch the entire Netflix catalog of original series, documentaries and films through the Netflix Gear VR app. 

JAWBONE UP4

Stay in style with the elegant Jawbone Up4. This popular activity tracker has breakthrough heart health monitoring sensor technology that features both Resting Heart Rate and Passive Heart Rate. Its on board analysis also gives diet and sleep insights. Also, it boasts quick tap to pay for American Express® Card members for taxis, buying coffees, groceries and more.

Winter Skincare Tips

Many have experienced mild (and surprisingly warm) temperatures over the winter holidays, January tends to be quite chilly. In addition to staying warm. it’s about protecting your skin - face, body and armpits too! Dermatologist and Dove Deodorant Spokesperson, Dr. Alicia Barba shares how skin can stay nourished this season.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How do we care for skin with temperatures and wind chill that can cause damaging effects?

DR ALICIA BARBA: There are a lot of factors that affect your skin in the winter months, especially in colder climates, that lead to dry skin. Everything from the wind to heating systems to low humidity can wreak havoc on healthy, glowing skin. To defend against the elements, it’s important to wear soft, natural clothing fibers such as cotton, as well as outerwear such as hats, scarves, and gloves that will act as your first line of protection, and recognize that moisturizer will be a key element in protecting your skin.

AM: How can we maintain moisture within our face, body, and underarms?

DR B: Never be exclusionary with your skin care routine, and that means paying attention to your entire body including your face, hands, neck, knees, elbows and even underarms. Look for multi-benefit products like Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant, which will provide odor and wetness protection as well as moisturizers to keep your underarms soft and smooth. Face creams with SPF and moisturizing body washes are also great for a simplified routine. 

AM: How do you know when your skin has been affected by extreme temperatures?

DR B: You can tell your skin has been affected by cold temperatures when chaffing occurs, or when it appears burnt, flaky or ashy. This can sometimes lead to itchy skin, which I call “winter itch.”

AM: How important is SPF in the winter especially on days when we don’t see the sun?

DR B: SPF is extremely important in the winter! During the colder season, the ozone layer is thinner, which can increase the damaging effects of the sun. 

On cloudy days when we don’t see the sun, it’s important to protect your skin against harmful rays as UVA and UVB penetrate clouds! All year, you should wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or more. 
 
AM: What should the skincare routine be during the winter when you’re maintaining great skin?

DR B: During the winter, take short showers in water that’s not too hot since it can have a drying effect on the skin. Use a gentle shower cleanser and follow with moisturizing body and face creams. Areas like your underarms where many women shave also need to be moisturized, so I like to use Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant that has built in moisturizers in addition to 48 hour odor and wetness protection. As always, for any skin that is exposed to the sun, be sure to apply sunscreen. 

AM: What products are perfect to use in the winter in colder climates?

DR B: This time of year it’s all about moisturizers and protectants, and you can often find multi-benefit products that can do both. Everything from moisturizing lip balms and cleansers to face creams with SPF to antiperspirants that provide moisturizers for softer, smoother underarms. 

AM: Are there certain ingredients that we should aim to include within our routine for optimal skin?

DR B: As mentioned, look for multi-benefit products that emphasize the inclusion of moisturizers and protectants. Other products that are great for your skin are plant-based oils such as avocado, primrose and almond. These oils sink into your skin to keep you hydrated longer.

 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Dove

Bingely Streaming

After exiting from E!, back in 2014, we knew that Chelsea Handler wouldn’t be gone for very long. After much anticipation, funny has returned. She’s hosting  a series of programming with Netflix® in a four part documentary series. First up is, “Chelsea Does,” which is original content for the network. Each one is like a film and covers marriage, drugs, racism and Silicon Valley.

The introspective documentaries, are available to stream on Jan 23rd, are separate from the talk show that will air on the same platform. This is their first time doing a news format with plans to continue to increase investment within this and documentary and original programming.

| New Girl, Season 4 | Jan 5th | KEY ART COURTESY FOX/New Girl

Our DVR works overtime with so many great shows. Every now and then a season escapes us or maybe we have to relive the shenanigans due to a long flight. Season 4 of FOX’s hit TV show, New Girl makes its way to Netflix with our favorite roommates. With 22 episodes and guest appearances by Jessica Biel, Reid Scott, Kaitlin Olson, Lisa Bonet and Regis Philbin to name a few, it’s a great way to catch up before returning to Season 5.

| Spotify | Radio Station: Afternoon Acoustic | PLAYLIST COVER Spotify

Whether you’re staying in to crank out some serious work, staying in due to bad weather or want to just lounge all day, you need a soundtrack that has an array of your favorite songs where you can work without having to shuffle from one song to the next.

Spotify’s Afternoon Acoustic is the perfect way to get things (or nothing) done. This station includes many of your favorites songs within an instrumental track including The Beatles, Hozier, Jack Johnson, Sam Smith and more for nearly 7 hours of music.

Of course, there are a number of stations available for you to listen to no matter the mood.

Bingely Books

At one point in time, everyone has had a roommate experience or two. The very idea of this subject generates an array of stories that could make you laugh, cry or stay confuzzled. 

New York Times best selling author (fresh off Maybe Someday) Colleen Hoover brings the story of Warren to life when he not only gets a roommate but one that is female! He’s excited about the opp;ortunities that could come from this pairing - or maybe not. 

His roommate Bridgette is not the warmest person and at times seems to be calculating. The tension that erupts between the two results into tempers that don’t allow them to be within the same room.  As uncomfortable as his living situation has become, Warren begins to think that anyone who has such a focus on hating everything could have the ability to love. Could all this hate transition into passionate love?

Even after enduring such strains, Warren decides to take on the ultimate challenge with Bridgette and decides he will personally test his theory. As curious as it sounds, he takes it upon himself to not only have her warm up to him but to learn the power of love.

Maybe.

Maybe Not.

| The Age of Reinvention | Karine Tuil | BOOK COVER COURTESY Simon & Schuster

Life is what you make of it and when this Gatsby-esque International Bestseller tells the story of Elite Manhattan criminal defense attorney, Sam Tahar has a life that looks great on paper. From good looks, the perfect family (include a wife from a prominent family) and well deserved prestige. In all accounts, his life is the perfect story. 

But this picture book lifestyle is not what it seems as Sam Tahar grew up as Samir Tahar. He grew up in a poor Muslim family in a gritty Paris apartment. By all accounts, his life was a social jail and one day he decided that he refused to be imprisoned in a life that was not his destiny. 

All his success sits on a lie and intricate love triangle that took place  years ago during his law school days. Ultimately, his decision brought hijm to America with a new identiy and life. Decades later, the love triangle resurfaces and forces Sam (Samir), his former friend Samuel Baron and Nina  collide to deal with the issue of becoming someone else.

| Catching the Sky | Colten Moore with Keith O’Brien | BOOK COVER COURTESY Simon & Schuster

Author Colten Moore is a six times X-Games medalist and a pioneer in the space, shares a story about finding happiness, family and the connection between brothers.

This autobiographical novel introduces the Moore family whose generations grew up and were nurtured by the vast prarie in the Texas Panhandle. Unlike previous family members, Colten and Caleb did not embrace working on the land and with cattle. They wanted to follow their dreams athletically and trailblazed within the world of X-Games within freestyle ATV and snowmobile circuits.

Colten shares the path to success via sacrifice, determination and the  challenges that come  when passion drives your path in Catching the Sky. His journey and dreams, which are shared by his brother is a deeply moving account with a fresh year ahead.  

Fold Festival 2015

Festival season continues with a new city being added to the list. FOLD Festival kicked off Aug 4th for its two day event of musicians across genres coming together to perform at Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead, NY. Athleisure Mag attended this inaugural festival which focuses on Grammy winning producer and musician Nile Rodgers' love for Freak Out Let's Dance. Check out exclusive behind the scenes as well as performances that took place on both days.

The festival included performances from an array of musicians including Pharrell Williams, Keith Urban, Chaka Khan, Duran Duran and Janelle Monae.

SOUND CHECK

Nile Rodgers

Pharrell Williams

Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers

Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Nile Rodgers and Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Pharrell Williams

Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams

Chaka Khan

Nile Rodgers and Chuck D

Nile Rodgers and Duran Duran

Duran Duran

Duran Duran

Duran Duran

Janelle Monae

Nile Rodgers, Duran Duran and Janelle Monae

Duran Duran and Janelle Monae

Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae

Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers, Janelle Monae and Duran Duran

Nile Rodgers and Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae and Duran Duran

Janelle Monae