ATHLEISURE LIST | STRETCH*D

We find that throughout the week we are always selecting fitness methods based on what we are looking to target or to ease ourselves into the day. Sometimes, you're focused on legs, your abs and on others - you need a really good stretch! We all know that you are supposed to stretch before and after a workout and many of us own foam rollers where we can continue the practice at home.

Stretch*d provides a Stretch*r which is certified to be able to maneuver your body. Whether you have an appointment or not, you can opt for a Quick*e (25 mins), Flex*d (55 mins) and E*longated (75 mins) for a full body stretch out. Even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, they can work within this timeslot as well.

In addition to these packages, there are additional add ons. There are services such as the Anti*aging Stretch which which incorporates a Light Slim LED that focuses on your face, feet and lower leg. You can opt for Get Buzz*d which adds a Hyper Volt to your treatment, Get Relax*d that adds CBD Cream neck massage, Lengthen*r which adds 10 minutes to your base package, Get Puls*d which is a 20 minute leg compression with Normatec Recovery Bootie, Get Stimulat*d is a 20 minute massage with a smart muscle stimulator the PowerDot, and if you happen to not have the appropriate clothing, you can also rent an outfit so that you can be in comfort.

Pre or post your treatments, there is also an area that has foam rollers, stall bar and additional stretching aids that can assist you in further treatment.

The Stretch*d Method was developed due to work with pro-athletes, weekend warriors and those who experience the wear and tear of daily life (extensive sitting, driving, picking up children, etc). The team believes that this dynamic assisted stretching is the most effective form of stretching for all bodies, no matter the activities that you do.

Ultimately, this method will allow you to perform at your peak, improve your
range of motion and posture, reduce pain, increase longevity and keep you stretched out.

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STRETCH*D
27 W 20th St
NY, NY 10011

www.stretchdspace.com

IG @stretchdspace

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | STRETCH*D in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | GAME TIME EATS

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Game Time Eats in issue.

BINGELY SPOTLIGHT

Earlier this month, WWE's John Cena appeared on SiriusXM for Today Show Radio on channel 108 for his interview on "The Hoda Show" hosted by Hoda Kotb to read his #1 New York Times Bestseller, "Elbow Grease," to a group of children.

John's book, focuses on a monster truck named Elbow Grease who is smaller than his four brothers but is determined to show that he is just like his brothers. To prove this, he enters the Demolition Derby to show that he has grit and guts - even though he may not have the same amount of power as his brothers.

This picture book (which is a part of a new picture-book series) is based on John's own experiences with his four brothers growing up and is based in his foundational beliefs of his ethos: hustle, loyalty and respect.

PHOTO COURTESY | SIRIUSXM

Read more from the Oct issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Spotlight in mag.

BECOME CYBER SMART TODAY!

BY PAUL FARKAS, TECH DIRECTOR

We live in a world where cyber threats are all around us in our business, personal and family lives. It is integral to gain knowledge and take action on how to have better habits and get with protection from safeguard third-party solutions. We found a recent industry panel session hosted by Chubb, "Becoming Cyber Smart at Home, Work and Wherever Life Takes You," to be super-informative and recommend looking at these topics, themes and steps to get your digital lives in top shape!

The panel comprised of cyber industry experts from Chubb, ADT, Carnegie Mellon University and CyberScout, and outlined a range of cyber threats facing individuals and small businesses in today's connected world. It describes real-life examples and anecdotes in bite-size answers, and offers some best practices for individuals and businesses for keeping their personal information safe against some of today's biggest cyber risks.

The session delivered an insightful discussion about cybersecurity and its impact on our personal and professional lives by demystifying cyberthreats as well as highlighting practical protections that can be implemented by anyone.

Patrick Thielen, Senior Vice President, Cyber and Technology Product Lead in North America for Chubb, led the panel discussion. “To frame the risk facing consumers, global economic costs of cybercrime are rising into the trillions of dollars annually, and a large portion of that falls squarely on the shoulders of consumers. Since 2005, there have been over 8000 reported data breaches of businesses, in which over ten billion consumer records have been stolen. As of today, 64% of American adults have been victimized by at least one of these
breaches and most multiple times.. The average email user today has over 130 online accounts and we have more and more internet connected devices in our homes. It is not surprising that according to the 2018 Chubb Cyber Survey focusing specifically on individuals, 86% report being concerned about a cyber breach, yet only a small percentage were taking basic precautions to guide against them.”

In fact, 8 in 10 people experience or know someone affected by cybercrime per the noted US Results, 2017 Norton Cyber Security Insights Report. Incredibly, cyber attacks were found to be happening every 39 seconds by a referenced study by The James A. Clark School of Engineering at University of Maryland.

Summer Craze Fowler, Technical Director of Cybersecurity Risk and Resilience at Carnegie Mellon, is responsible for a team and portfolio of work focused on improving the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure and assets. “Businesses of all sizes are targets for these data breaches as they hold so much information and data, not only about consumers, but also about their employees,” she noted. “Typically when we think about these data breaches, we think about credit card fraud, but it has extended well beyond.. we’re looking at lately W-2 fraud and health insurance fraud,” raising that W-2 phishing is up 870%, where tax returns are being filed on behalf of employees and diverting those funds to the bad actors. “Your health insurance information can be used by others getting care and pretending
to be you.”

The session was well-supported by studies and figures. 27% of data breaches in 2017 were medical or healthcare related per the claims data from the Identity Theft Resource Center. A whopping 24% of all Chubb cyber claims are healthcare related.

Adam Levin, Chairman and Founder of CyberScout and author of the critically acclaimed book, Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers and Identity, made some excellent points for business and consumer to note and act upon. “The reality
with the ID theft problem.. is this data can use you as the credentialed person to get into your business network, where they can put malware on the computers of your business; they can steal information involving W-2s; create situations where they do wire transfer fraud; they can steal intellectual property and trade secrets. It isn’t you for you, but as a conduit of all of the other things. The biggest thing they do is phishing attacks, they do drive-by attacks, they find ways to get malware on your computer and do keystroke attacks, ransomware and then they also get into information about kids.” He shared some appalling scenarios, like child-related identity theft, where the scheme can be as long as a 15-17 year run, because kids’ credit isn’t often checked, and often times it is a person in the home as a relative to set up a separate life right under their nose across the table.

Michael Keen, Vice President, ADT Cybersecurity, chimed in, “[a]n additional threat vector is the home network, like a home router.. there are countless folks that have the same passwords or administrative access to those devices and the same firmware when the device
was issued. Compared to all of the threats out there, you have to look at what’s keeping against threats created yesterday to protect us today. And so the motivation of criminals that
attack the home has also extended to the Internet of Things (IOT) devices. In 2017, the average number of internet-connected devices connected to the home was around 13.. talking
about (connected) light bulb, a thermotstat, a lock, a baby camera, a refrigerator, television, and in terms of motivation, frankly it pays.” He added, “Cybercriminals will always take the
path of least resistance” and gave low cost IOT devices as an example, where the ability to put additional layers of security, firmware updates and testing is nowhere near physical security installed by professionals. The strength of your network is dependent on the
weakest devices in your network. It is either focused on things like denial of service attacks or can even be used to mine cryptocurrency using your network’s power to mine Bitcoin.”

Indeed, studies show costly ransomware is on the rise. Per the Symantec 2018 Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), the average cost of ransomware per attack is $533.

Ms. Fowler continued by pointing to the fact that people need to be practicing good cyber hygiene. “Often times we are offering up the information, like internet quizzes where the data we put online is used by nefarious purposes. Phishing, vishing (voice), smishing (sms) are prevalent and even videos on online dating sites are also being used for ransomware.”

“Unfortunately we are not going to be able to prevent this anymore,” Mr. Levin regrettably noted. “We have hundreds of millions of social security numbers out there due to breaches for many years. Cyberwar has replaced the cold war that we face-off everyday against state-sponsored hackers, for-profit hackers, cause hackers and basement hackers. We have to adopt entirely new paradigm as to how we think about it.” Mr Levin has coined and developed the 3M’s for the industry where “we boil it down to three M's -- minimize, monitor and manage," said Mr. Levin. "It is about minimizing your risk of exposure through adopting best practices, monitoring your accounts effectively and comprehensively, and managing any damage, such as ID theft or stolen accounts that might occur." He elaborated that it was about “minimizing the risk of exposure or reducing your attackable surface; effectively monitoring, and planning for and monitoring the damage.” He said, “it’s not about the technology, it is about creating and following a culture and following it for businesses and
consumers.” Some solid advises Mr. Levin gave were: using strong passwords or getting a password manager; enabling 2-factor identification; creatively changing memorable answers
to security questions; staying away from public wi-fi and using VPN for better protection; updating and backing-up your data; shredding; freezing credit; changing default passwords of
IOT devices; checking and being mindful of credit scores and signing up for transactional monitoring alerts; thinking of more sophisticated monitoring programs; and looking at explanations of health insurer benefits where there are multiple charges due to fraud.

“The culture of security and acting on things today is very important,” Mr. Keen added. “A variety of different service partners can provide installations of hardened security equipment, like how a network is setup.” He gave examples of considering implementing guest wi-fi that can be configured on your behalf, and staying on top of security patches and firmware updates, as well as monitoring – all which are readily available services and solutions by providers.

Ms. Fowler highlighted that it is also a culture of resiliency, “where the internet is a part of our lives and we need to exercise resiliency.. and have a response plan.” Some questions to think
about are, “who would you call as a family as victims of a breach; whether you have an attorney ready with something more serious, like physical attempts and ransomware, and also
knowing how to access financial institutions with bigger problems and whether people have and test backups to make sure they work. She noted that when going away on travel, it is good practice to have other ways to access funds than a primary credit card as a backup plan. “Basic hygiene includes having a response plan,” she stated.

“The 3rd M is manage the damage,” Mr. Levin pointed out. “It really has to do with knowing who to call and knowing what to do. In a business you would create a breach response plan,
game this plan, and know you would have to respond urgently, transparently and empathetically. As a consumer, many institutions have programs available either to policy holders, account holders or employees, so (they can) check with insurance agents, financial
services organization, and HR departments and find out how to be part and the cost is one of the cheapest investments you can make versus the agony and financial loss you can have,” he
warned.

Mr. Keen agreed, “be partial to action, these suggestions are easy and free or inexpensive if implemented today. Think of the prevalent use of mobile phones and whether security has
changed to meet those demands.”

“Technology is moving at breathtaking pace and families should discuss with children and elderly and monitor use online. Often adversaries are coming with sense of urgency, if too good to be true, it likely is, either with big discounts and savings or fear of quick force like threats of governments coming to your home. Take a breath and think about things before doing things that could open you up and expose you,” Ms. Fowler noted.

In response to one of the audience questions, Mr. Levin creatively added, “when you say the word portfolio, the Pavlovian response of most people is investments - but the truth is we also have other portfolios in our lives – we have our credit and our identity, and have to be professional managers, because business, governments, and truthfully, consumers have not done enough, there needs to be a shared responsibility of cooperation, collaboration and communication… It is incumbent upon us to help one another. The AthleisureMag.com extra step is sometimes the harder step to understand the threats and extra things to do to protect yourself, and look to trusted institutions with relationships to get assistance. Be bold, ask and when there is some assistance take it.”

Answering another query to the panel, Ms. Fowler alluded, “from a business standpoint, they need to be cognizant of what they bring into their environment. It is really critical to understand what assets you have inside - people, technology, the facilities themselves – it is a prioritization process.”

Mr. Levin added another array of things to target optimizing for business: 2 factor identification; training; segmenting data as need to use and need to know; mapping data to be readied for incidents; aggressive vulnerability analysis and patch programs, and more. He
forewarned we “have to assume there is going to be an incident. A defining moment can be how a breach is handled. In the future, regulators, class action attorneys and the public will judge businesses on how well they protected the data and how well did they respond for customers, employees and business partners.”

Indeed, within the last few years, there are several products in the market that will offer cyber protection for individuals stated Mr. Thielen. “There are policies that cover financial fraud,
extortion and ransomware, privacy breaches, cyberbullying and other disruption victimization. Incident response coaches will have steps of what to do and facilitate,” noting they should be contacted in the first steps.

Adding layers of redundancy to make a security culture was also stressed by Mr. Keen. “Victimized business owners may face obligations from rules and regulations to notify customers or partners that could lead to loss of revenue, so it makes a lot of sense to mitigate risk through policies. Cyberthreats are evolving constantly, the latest stat is 250,000+ strands of malware are created daily, so if you are not evolving at an equal pace you are continuing to be left at risk. The reason why there is so much cybercrime is because it is easy and because it pays.”

Mr Levin underscored that “the truth is technology makes us powerful, but it also makes us vulnerable. When convenience trumps security, there are issues. And we know as technology
evolves, the protection tends to catch up and there are responses to the flaws and issues, the bad guys find a work-around, because there is more money on the dark side, and so we need to work together and find new ways to do this and find ways to better accurately authenticate people. Especially for businesses, we have to move toward privacy by design and security
by design, and can't be a bolt on - they have to be a core of things from day one. IOT devices should not be allowed to be connected to the internet until a new password is entered to work, so devices can be updated and upgraded automatically.”

“As businesses, the threat is evolving everyday,” concurred Ms. Fowler, “but we are really worried about the impact, be it from a cyberattack or a natural disaster, so it is very important for businesses to think about what is it that is most important for the operations of this business, and then make sure they have the right protections around those things most critical and more broadly than cyber - being resilient to accomplish its most important
objectives. For personal, we look at kids and monitoring what is online and think about what is most important and build protections around that.”

ATHLEISURE LIST | SWITCH PLAYGROUND

Switch Playground came to NYC in fall of 2016 by way of initially launching in South Africa in 2014! Steve Uria, a longtime fitness entrepreneur and personality launched this fitness method which is fueled by a DJ playing as you go through a number of circuits in 2 minute increments. One of our classes started with a quick yoga warmup and continues with a mixture of TRX workouts, treadmills, medicine balls, trampolines and of course, all done
within a blacklight setting! Although you workout individually, we found that we worked in groups of two and through a series of hand signals, we navigated the workout to figure out if
we would do it again or modify it within our 2 minute slot before moving into the next movement. With an array of instructors guiding you through this bootcamp style workout, you're able to see others who are in your class doing moves that you will do later in your
session, which consists of 20 stations. You have 20 seconds to get from one station to the next one before you start your 2 minute drills.

Those who do this workout find that it is truly a total body workout and it consists of plyometrics, strength training and cardio. It's a challenge that allows you to sync in with your instructors (which there tend to be around 10 that float throughout your session) and your partner as you continue with the workout.

Whether you take the class religiously or just from time to time, the workouts change from class to class so there is no way that you will be bored or be able to go on "autopilot". It's all about intensity, intervals and of course - variety.

This nightclub oriented workout complete with fog machines and dancing by the instructors while you complete your stations, are followed by access to bathrooms that have a number of
amenities including showers as well.

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SWITCH PLAYGROUND
Soho Playground
180 6th Ave
NY, NY 10012

12th St Playground
130 East 12th St
NY, NY 10003

www.switchplaygroundusa.com

www.switchplaygroundsa.com

IG @SwitchPlaygroundNYC

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Switch Playground in Mag.

PARTY AT DAYBREAK WITH DJ ELOY + STATE MGMT'S COCO YU

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Party at Daybreak with DJ Eloy and State Mgmt’s Coco Yu in mag.

ATHLEISUE BEAUTY

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.

UNDERSTANDING THE POPULARITY OF ONLINE GAMING

The rapid growth of the internet has led to the innovation of various useful online platforms. One of such is the online games that are seemingly still growing. And with the tremendous growth being witnessed on various social media platforms, there is no doubt that people are continuously looking for new and better ways to have some online fun. Since we are all different, we also tend to find comfort in various activities. That explains why the world will keep witnessing various innovations, especially when it comes to games, at least until the end of times. But then what's the real power source of online games? What keeps them so prominent? This article seeks to unveil all that and so much more. Be our guest.

The Accessibility To Fast Internet

The availability of the internet and faster internet speed to be precise happens to be a vital requirement when it comes to online gaming. This factor became more prudent especially with the introduction of incredible video games. But why is this so important? Let's look at it this way, with fast connection comes quick transition, which makes the accomplishment of targets much easier. It also almost instantly eliminates all the unnecessary, time-consuming pauses, glitches and messes and gives you and other playing partners ample playing time. So if your internet connection is top notch, then you won't have to experience connection cut-out on your favorite game spinning endeavors.

Additionally, speedy internet connection easily translates to superfast downloading time. So you get to download your favorite game from LiveMobile99 and start playing within seconds. Therefore, there is no doubt that online games have really increased their popularity thanks to the present times steady internet connection in various parts of the world, including some remote areas. And the fact that you can easily access games 24/7 makes it even more exciting. It has also in some way been made possible with the presence of the cloud.

This is something you wouldn't enjoy with a slow connection. Imagine having to endure all those annoying pauses and having to start your game all over again? Very frustrating, right?

Social Media Platforms Changed The Way People Communicate

Currently, the world is full of extension service providers. And with the overwhelming competition rates, each one of them is trying the best they can to maintain and increase their audience reach. Gone are the days game lovers used to heavily depend on online messaging systems for daily interactions. Nowadays the increasing level of social interactions has taken center stage in the world of online gaming. Little by little, people are rapidly embracing the use of online screens and microphones to communicate.

Other social media platforms such as Facebook has jumped at the opportunity to allow its users to expand their online presence and have lots of fun, by allowing them to use their accounts for direct connections with various gaming sites. This has brought a little bit of realism into this sector as people get too warm towards each other through sharing their photos and seeing real faces.

Also, this means that online game lovers can easily interact and form long-term online-friendships with others across the globe. It's a totally new experience that almost everyone (of course in the gaming sector) could not waste an opportunity to try. So the more people wanting to be part of this fast-rising global movement, the higher the demand for various types of games and the greater the popularity of online gaming.

Variety Tones Down Boredom

Imagine having to play the same type of game every single day or even several times a week? How long will it take for you to sink into the boredom spot? Of course not that long, well, unless you're a rare kind of breed that enjoys repeating same concepts and routines. As already mentioned above, the increase in the demand for online games quickly leads to the innovation of various plays to cater to market demand. Of course, since the demand is huge and from all over the globe, there's no way one company can step-up and fill the gap. This has lead to the emerging of various online gaming service providers with various specialties.

Therefore, once you get acquitted with the concept of a particular game provider, you can easily move from one platform to the next in search of a more challenging game. The fact that you have the power to choose what you want to play and at what time, doesn't leave room for boredom. As it's, there is no way two extinct service providers can present an idea the same way. It's that uniqueness that keeps things more exciting, making people glued to their screens with an anticipation of what to expect next. Think of car games, shooting games, candy games all the way to farm games, it's evident that all the fun lies in the variety. And so long as this trend continues, you can be sure that you haven't seen the end of online gaming yet.

Gives An Opportunity To Skill Improvement

Like any area in life, joining the online gaming sector doesn't only revolve around getting a computer and fast internet connection. In facts, it calls for much more and that includes a commitment from the players. But you cannot simply promote your commitment when you don't even know your way through the playing concept. So this is the reason as to why many gaming platforms have introduced a specific section where interested parties get to sharpen their skills by first learning the basic concepts of the playing before joining actual competitions. In some way, this acts like a coaching section to help players gain confidence.

Here you get to involve yourself in various games without being competitive. The required skills for each game is normally provided in form of simple clear instructions and some rules. Remember rules differ from one game to the other, so the more games you want to learn, the more information you will have to grasp. It's like attending a school with essential guidelines and most individuals are taking advantage of this to be part of the online world.

Embraces The Power Of Sight

Almost everything that our brain processes begin with sight. It's what we see that creates the greatest impact. And maybe that's why it's often said that " first-impression matters." Many individuals will gladly confirm having clicked on various online games because of the graphics they present. When we see something we like, it's natural to have a given form of connection to it. So if you as a player likes cars, guns or magical stuff, then you're also likely to get lured into playing games with similar appeal. Besides, you have to be interested in something to want to try it out. You can't build your curiosity around boring stuff.

Online players seem to understand this very well and that's why they dedicate a lot of time in the creative aspects of the game. They deeply embrace the use of graphics and a blend of colors to achieve their goal. This with a combination of playability significantly contributes to the success of these platforms.

The Secret Of Regular Updates

The world is undoubtedly moving forward at a fast pace and that seems to apply in every aspect of our lives. Everyday, people work towards improving themselves and embracing new ways of making certain processes much easy and convenient. Online game providers seem to understand this very well and have always worked hard to ensure their sites stay up-to-standard. That's why they tend to invest a lot in regular game updates. Through this, players get to enjoy new features, additional characters, and game goals. So they typically evolve with the world.

Developers enjoy so much freedom, get to implement their latest discoveries and players appreciate the convenience. This is one of the most outstanding benefits of online games that have managed to see the sector strongly stand against console games. Who doesn't enjoy trying out new things in this creatively advancing world?

The Affordability Of Online Games

Ever walked into a store to purchase your favorite game? How much does it cost? Of course, it doesn't come cheap, right? It even gets out of limit when it comes to newly released games. In fact, some individuals would prefer letting the dust and hype cool down, before purchasing that a new set of their favorite game. Not convenient at all. But what to do in these hard economic times?

Most individuals find the answer to the above questions on the internet; online games. In fact, it costs a fraction of the store prices to play the games online or even use the download option. So it's normal to have many people playing online. Can you imagine using the money you could have spent on one game to gain access to a variety, that too at your convenient time? Wouldn't you too want to join the movement and get to save some bucks?

Another option is to combine your contributions with your friends and get to soak in the fun. If this isn't enough reason for many individuals to want to play online games and understand the logic behind its popularity, then we don't know what is! The combination of saving and satisfaction has always been a winner. Don't expect it to change any time soon.

Gives You Real Opponents

Nothing can be boring as playing and winning against yourself. Is that even a game to begin with? Well, you might find some comfort playing against the machine but the real fun sets in with knowing you're tackling a real opponent. Someone with blood running through their veins and with probably the same or more skills than you. Doesn't it feel good to know there is someone on the other side of the machine all tensed up and psyched up as you?

Some game providers have even embraced the aspect of teamwork and have an option for team competitions. This makes online games seem line real-time games. People gather to cheer on their favorite teams and even place bets on the same. It's an interesting turn of events that has largely contributed to the popularity of this sector.

Gives Opportunities To Upcoming Developers

It's true that opportunities can present themselves anywhere and without warning. Some well-known developers found the opportunities to exhibit their talents through the internet. And this is one area that the online gaming sector seems to maximize very well. Over the years, various platforms have managed to come up with game development segments that allow their players to demonstrate their specialties in development. This isn't surprising as most individuals who enjoy online games tend to possess various tech skills that they can use to improve the industry.

Some platforms such as Steam and The Happy Wheels are known to give upcoming developers the golden opportunity to develop their unique games and add them to the platform's library. In some platforms, recently developed games have to go through thorough scrutiny, which might include voting by the players before being allowed into the pool. So basically, the more followers/players you get to love your game, the more popular it becomes and of you in the process. It's enough motivation to witness the fruits of your hard work. Therefore, so long as platforms like these ones continue to exist, online games will also continue spreading like world fire. In fact, you can look at it as a way of adding variety to the industry.

In Conclusion

If we look at the online gaming industry in terms of expansion and improvement, then we can attribute most of its success to the evolution of speedy internet connection. But then that cannot stand on its own. People have to be interested in the games and increase their demand for popularity. That's why the availability of social media, games affordability and multi-player features play a huge role in this aspect. Besides, there is so much fun online and the industry is undeniably headed to a bigger and better expansion. Be part of it, enjoy the games!

Read the latest from Athleisure Mag

PUMPKIN BEAUTY

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THE PICK ME UP

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IN OUR BAG | AFTER THE STUDIO

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#TRIBEGOALS

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HOW TO DRESS | FOR TROPICAL GETAWAYS

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BINGELY STREAMING

BUSINESS WARS
Wondery

Netflix vs Blockbuster, Netflix vs HBO, Adidas vs Nike, Nintendo vs Playstation, Hearst vs Pulitzer, Beats vs Monster - we could list a number of business wars of titans that exist today and those that lost ther fight.

These business battles have shaped how we view brands, products, status and more and for those companies that exist, we're able to continue to watch their battles as they play out in real time.

Wondery's David Brown walks us through a number of business battles from their origin story, their awarness of their competitors (sometimes within the series a business engages in a battle with a new company). When possible, at the conclusion of the episodes focusing on a particular business battle, David interviews those who were a part of the company to find out more information on these wars. This is a highly bingeable show that takes you through a brand's history and brings an awareness to what it took for them to reach the success, pivots and failures that came their way.

MAKING A MURDERER S2

Netflix Originals

Three years after the docuseries, Making a Murderer appeared on Netflix (which followed Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey who are serving life sentences for the murder of Teresa Halbach), Season 2 drops this month. In these 10 episodes, both men are still serving their life sentences but this season is a followup of additional details and reporting that should give more context to this midwest case.

Season 1 of this True Crime docuseries focused on the theory that both men were framed by a crooked police system that planted evidence as well as creating an enviroment to instigate a confession from the men that they didn't mean to make. Since Season 1, there have been appeals and in June, the Supreme Court decided not to hear Brendan's case - both are still in jail.

This season focuses on Steven's lawyer, Kathleen Zellner and how she plans to fight the State of Wisconsin and how she is building her case. If you have yet to see the first season, it's highly suggested that you start with Season 1 as well as to follow @MakingAMurderer on Twitter for up to the minute news about this case.

THE ROMANOFFS

Amazon Prime Originals

With a stellar cast that includes Diane Lane, Christina Hendricks, Noah Wyle, John Slattery, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart and more - this anthology series tells the story of people who all believe that they are descendants of The Romanoffs (Romanov), a Russian royal family.

The series spans over three continents with each of the 8 episodes taking place in a new location around the globe. Mad Men's Matthew Weiner writes and directs each episode which is released every Friday.

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH WHITNEY PORT

We fell in love with Whitney Port during her days on The Hills as well as The City on MTV! We watched the rise of the budding fashion and PR girl through her internships, love life and more. With the reboot of The Hills coming back, we took some time to chat with one of our fave girls to talk about the importance of fitness, coming back to the show and other projects that she's working on.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We fell in love with you on The Hills and then seeing you step into the next phase of your life with The City! How did you get on The Hills and what was it like for you to be on this reality show?

WHITNEY PORT: I got onto “The Hills” pretty organically. I was an intern at WWD, and I was starting college in the fall in LA. I wanted another fashion internship, and Teen Vogue, which was in the same offices as WWD, was looking for interns. I decided to go in and interview. They told me that they thought I was a great candidate, but asked if I was interested in being on TV because they were starting to film a TV show there. I was unsure at first. They suggested I do a casting tape and see what happens. The next thing I knew I was called back in for the next on-camera interview with Lisa Love at Teen Vogue. Lauren Conrad walked into the waiting room while I was waiting for my interview. I then realized I was auditioning for her spinoff show because I had watched “Laguna Beach” and knew who she was. I had no idea that they had already casted me on the show. The rest was history!

AM: What made you decide that you wanted to continue onto the spinoff and what lessons did you learn from both shows?

WP: I really wanted to start my clothing line, and I saw the power that the show could have in terms of exposure. I joined the cast of “The City” because I thought it would be the perfect platform for me to launch my clothing line. I looked at itcompletely from a business perspetive. I also always wanted to move to NYC and thought that this was the perfect opportunity to do so.

What I learned is that just saying “yes” to things is so powerful and even though you may be scared, just say yes to more things. We are only young once and these opportunities fade so quickly so just really take advantage of these random fun adventures as often as you can.

AM: What can you tell us about The Hills Reboot?

WP: I cannot necessarily share so much at this moment, but we just started filming and its been really fun reconnecting with everyone. I’m excited for fans to see what we are all up to. It’s very different from how we used to spend our time.

AM: Are you excited to be back on the show - how do you think it will be different and what are you most looking forward to?

WP: It’s been ten years since we first started, and we all have grown up so much since then. We all have families and careers, so I think hopefully it will show a different perspective from a career standpoint as well as the intricacies of more mature relationships. A lot of the people that have watched the show have grown up with us, so I think they will be in similar places and have similar situations going on in their lives.

AM: Since being on the reality shows, we have enjoyed seeing you take on a number of projects from your clothing line, TV hosting and more - what are you currently working on that we should know about and feel free to share launches etc.

WP: I’m the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Bundle Organics, which is a tea, snack and vitamin booster line for pregnant and nursing women. We are launching 24 new items in Buy Buy Baby in the beginning of November, so I’m really excited because the new items are really delicious. I’m really excited to be a trusted brand for pregnant and nursing women, who have so many questions about what to put in their bodies and what brands to trust. I’m just excited to be that brand that they can look to.

AM: Health and fitness is important to us as well as to you. Why have you partnered with LACTAID and what is it that you enjoy about it?

WP: I’ve partnered with LACTAID because living a healthy lifestyle is important to me and real dairy is part of my balanced diet, plus I love the taste. I started buying LACTAID Milk because my husband, Timmy, is lactose intolerant. It has become a staple in our home.

AM: We know you created a LACTAID smoothie recipe, what's in it?

WP: Yes, after a good workout, I make sure to refuel with a smoothie made with LACTAID Milk, which has all the good nutrients found in real dairy without the discomfort of the lactose, so my husband Timmy can enjoy it too. The protein and sugar are just what my body needs after a good sweat. Check out the recipe below:

Ingredients:

1 Tsp cacao nibs
3 dates
¼ cup almonds
1 ripe banana
1 cup LACTAID® 2% Milk

Directions: Blend all ingredients and enjoy!

AM: What is your favorite healthy fall meal that you enjoy eating for lunch or dinner and what's a splurge food that you enjoy eating?

WP: My favorite healthy fall meal is my favorite meal year-round. I love steak. It’s always been my favorite food. My husband recently got one of those Big Green Eggs, so he grills the most delicious NY steaks and then we like to make a side of roasted potatoes. I also like an arugula salad for a side. My favorite splurge is French fries!

AM: What are 3 workouts that you enjoy including in your workout routine?

WP: Hot yoga is my favorite because it always feels so refreshing. I also like spinning and Pilates. I love a good sweat. I feel like my workout was worth it if I sweat out a bunch. Pilates is good for strengthening and lengthening. Spinning is just a really good release…

AM: We know you are based in LA, where would we find you working out, grabbing a bite/cocktails for date night and where do you shop?

WP: My favorite workouts are at Core Power Yoga, SoulCycle and Pilates by Amanda! My fave spots to grab a bite to eat are La Scala, Katsuya in Studio City, South Beverly Grill and my new fave Tocaya Organica! I just went to this AMAZING store called Mohawk in Los Feliz that had the coolest stuff ever! I wanted everything! I also love Only Hearts in Santa Monica for lingerie and Barneys just for everything!

AM: How do you balance the demands of being a wife and mother, stepping back into the reality world, running your other businesses/projects as well as taking time for yourself?

WP: I really just try to be as organized as possible with a shared calendar with my husband and all my work comrades! I try my best to be in the moment and stay present at any given time but I find that the need to plan always seeps in. I don’t really find perfect balance, rather I try every day to just be ok with the imbalance. It is REALLY hard and if anyone else has suggestions, I’d love some!

IG @WhitneyEvePort

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Hills Are Alive with Whitney Port in mag.

5 PIECES TO RUN IN FOR THE TCS NYC MARATHON

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 5 Pieces to Run in for the TCS NYC Marathon in mag.

STYLE FILES | OUTERWEAR

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Style Files | Outerwear in mag.

HOW TO GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN SPORTS

So, what, do you suppose, it takes to reach and maintain a competitive edge when competing at an elite level of a sporting competition? Training your body is one thing, but your mind is a whole other, separate issue altogether. And still, it is crucial if you, the sportsman or woman, consistently reach the peak of your potential. To get to the bottom of this poser, we have whittled down the main points of maintaining the psyche needed to install that competitive edge and then keep it, either in the face of defeat or consistently driving for success.

Be Passionate

If you even attempt to take on a sport or competition and lack the necessary passion only leads to another nameless player. Passion, also known as a drive, is what will inspire you to work harder and go further. The best footballers make it in professional sports because they put it the extra time after training or even initiate additional sessions to undertake in their time. Talent alone is not enough. It’s passion that makes you want to push yourself harder and achieve your goals to propel yourself beyond the average and into the elite. It makes you get out of bed every morning to improve your skill set. You must have a passion for your sport and to win, which, along with integrity and character, need to be on the top of your list.

Keep Learning

INFOGRAPHIC CREDIT | iPinimg / CC | Be the best you can be.

Firstly, any elite sportsman or woman will tell you that you can’t ever stop learning. That includes masters of their field. Think the Williams sisters, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer or Lionel Messi. These are perhaps the greatest of theirs or any other’s eras in their sport, all arguably the greatest of all time. All of whom who spent more than a decade at the top, who won it all and yet will be the first to admit that there is always something new to learn. With this mindset, these elites never rest on their laurels, accepting that there is always room to improve. This mindset also helps players like these to identify weaknesses, should they possess any, as well as highlight previously thought hidden potential distractions and illuminating remedies that can effectively deal with them.

Believe in Yourself

Arrogance is key. It seems apparent, but you must have faith in your talent and ability to achieve your goals. That, of course, is not to be confused with cockiness, which often serves only to inspire your opponents and typically foreshadows a fall. Instead, self-confidence provides players with a much-needed unshakable belief in one’s abilities. You must have complete faith in yourself, your talent, your abilities and your internal strength if you are to become the best version of you possible. Such, in turn, allows you to achieve your goals as an athlete.

An Optimistic Mindset

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Image Credit: Wikimedia / CC 4.0 Caption: One of the world’s most consistent winners: Michael van Gerwen.

Possessing a glass-half-full attitude rather than a glass-half-empty attitude is essential in maintaining a competitive edge in battle. That’s because you will, at times, need to bounce back quickly and resiliently in the face of defeat. Defeat, by the way, is sometimes inevitable, no matter how good you or your team are. It’s the nature of the sport. In poker, the term used is “tilt”. What this essentially means is that people must not let a bad beat (a bad run of luck at the poker table) to get the better of them mentally. Currently, in professional darts, Michael van Gerwen is so far ahead of his rivals that he is considered the outstanding sports star of the moment and still, even as the odds-on favorite week after week, he has still lost to complete outsiders a surprising number of times. Nevertheless, a week later when the trophies are handed out, there he is on the winner’s podium. It’s that ability to lock out previous defeats and keep a clear head and positive attitude that allows him to make winning titles look little more than routine. To that end, if you want to excel, then you, too, need to have a positive outlook that allows you to bounce back sharply, regroup and push on for the win.

Persistence Pays

You must keep trying in sports. Michael Jordan admits he missed 9,000 shots, 26 winning games, 26 winning shots and sadly, lost 300 games. Still, as the six-time World Champion said, “I failed over and over, that is why I succeeded.” According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, many sportsmen and women traditionally dedicate a considerable amount of their time to improving their physical conditioning when it comes to a sport. However, you must never overlook the importance of psychological preparation, which can be as critical. Every player will encounter pressure when playing a sport. It doesn’t matter if you’re a boxing contender competing for a championship belt or a world-class poker player playing Texas Hold’em or Omaha Hi Lo in a poker tournament, you need to dig deep every time you play, pushing yourself harder than you ever have before.

Become a Perfectionist

It is imperative that you must consistently strive to improve your weaknesses and build upon your strengths to become the best of the best. After all, did you get to where you are now by being complacent and doing things in a slack way? Of course, not. If you are to be a successful athlete, then perfecting your skills and honing your talent is an essential ingredient to any success that you hope to achieve. Utilizing the above-listed attributes gives you the heart of a champion and instills a winning mentality into your heart and will ultimately help you grow as an athlete or, who knows, even a poker player.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

PREPPING YOUR GARAGE FOR COLD WEATHER SEASON

We sat down with Home Organization Expert, Marty Basher of ModularClosets.com to get tips on de-cluttering your garage when it comes to the cold weather season!

Do you have any advice for prepping your garage for Fall and Winter?

Cleaning the garage is a perfect first step to setting up for an easier and more convenient Fall and Winter. You’ll enjoy having everything from Summer out of the way and everything you need for the cold weather seasons organized, easy-to-access and ready to be used.

Where do you start?

Start with your goal in mind. Is your garage best described as a mechanic’s dream hangout? Or does the garage double as a storage and laundry room? What equipment, tools and supplies will you need for the upcoming season? Having a plan for the final functionality of the space is key to achieving a successful cleaning and organizing. Prioritizing what needs to stay, what has to go, and how much room you need to maneuver in the garage is a lot easier when you have a goal. Sketch out a rough plan and get started.

What do you get rid of and what do you keep?

When it comes to purging items from the garage, start with expired items like old paint cans, oils, solvents, yard treatments and insecticides. These items break down over time and loose efficacy and quality. Only keep items that will last through the coming season. Before tossing paint, document the color codes for anything in the house you may want to touch up or repaint.

Keeping everything is tempting, especially when you have the space and you don’t need to

Worry about drop in visitors. Deciding what to keep can be determined by itemizing your items into categories: Use regularly, Use Annually, Don’t Use, & Sentimental Storage. If you don’t use it, get rid of it. Check annual and regular use items for signs of wear and tear. Replace or store as needed. When it comes to sentimental storage, focus on what you actually want to keep and what you actually have room to store safely.

What is the best type of organization/storage system?

Depending on the amount of space you have to work with, several options can be useful. Narrow spaces benefit from wall shelves and stackable storage systems. Free standing shelving units give freedom to adapt as your needs change. Built in storage, such as shelving, locker systems, peg boards, or ceiling storage units are extremely functional in addition to making organizing easy.

What should not be in the garage?

Typically, the garage is not a good place for storing food items. Some garages may safely accommodate a second refrigerator or drop freezer. Avoid shelving dry goods or other food items in the garage as this entices insects and rodents. Also note, if you store birdseed or other types of animal feed in the garage, a metal bin away from moisture is best. Rodents can nibble through plastic containers to get to food or birdseed. Also use caution when storing fuels and flammable liquids in the garage. They should be kept separate in an area where they can’t be knocked or spilled easily.

How do you deal with bikes and sports equipment?

A simple solution for bike storage is an S hook and a stud. Using a stud finder, screw a large S hook into the ceiling stud and hang bicycles by the tire. This reduces floor clutter and several bikes can hang in a tight space. Wall rack bike storage systems are another great option. Storing sports equipment can be daunting, especially for multitalented people or families. Wall locker systems can be very helpful for organizing sports equipment. Another option for sports equipment can be found in a stackable bin system. Choose a combination of bin sizes that will hold your equipment and stack. Don’t forget lids for the top layer of bins. The dead space above your equipment storage system can function nicely as a place to store extra paper towels or water coolers in the off season. This system can grow and change with your needs and interests

What about equipment and tools?

Garden equipment can be used and stored easily in a high backed wheeled bucket. Keep the rake, hoe, trowel, gloves and more stored safely in one place in the garage. Keep equipment like snowblowers where it is easy to get them out and back in. Have shovels and snowbrushes for clearing cars off all in one bucket or bin. Keep salt for de-icing in a refillable and easy to carry container with a handle, and where you can easily access it and take it out for use. Another option for gardening items is a lean-to shed attached to the exterior wall of your garage. These small sheds can be built to suit your needs and can double as a gardening shed complete with potting table.

How do you keep it organized

Simple and perhaps cliché, but still useful: a place for everything and everything in it’s place. Assign a home for the items in the garage and be sure to put them there when you finish with them. If you have a family using the garage, you might need to get out the label maker to keep the family on board with the new organization. If you add to your garage collections, avoid reorganizing the whole garage by keeping some open shelf or wall space to assign to new items.

Are there are any rules you should follow?

Rule number 1: It has to work for you. All of the tips on the world won’t help if the job goes against your natural routine. Build and organizational system that accentuates your natural patterns. If you always kick off your shoes by the garage door, put the shoe basket there.

Anything I am missing?

Fall is a perfect time to do a maintenance check on all of the equipment before needing to use them when cold weather season hits. Get a tune up for the snow blower and make sure it's filled with gas.

Read more from the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

BEST MOBILE SLOT GAMES

Imagine yourself waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep so you just pace around the room because you can’t really find anything to do. Now, imagine a different scenario where you actually have the perfect thing to do; something that doesn’t take a lot of mental effort yet, keeps you entertained for hours. What I’m talking about here is slots. Who doesn’t like the mild feeling of anticipation you get when the reels are about to stop? 

What I’m talking about here is slots. Who doesn’t like the mild feeling of anticipation you get when the reels are about to stop? In the old days, you would have had to go to a casino to experience that feeling or just keep yourself busy during the late hours of the night; however, times have changed and now you can spin the wheels without even leaving the comfort of your blankets. Moreover, you can do it without paying a single dime.

All of this and more you can simply do by downloading one of the following mobile slots apps deemed to be the best in the business. 

Finn and the Swirly Spin 

Designed by NetEnt™, this slots game is wrapped whimsical interface that makes your experience much more fun. Once you open the game, you are welcomed into the emerald isle by Finn, a leprechaun who accompanies you on your way to riches. 

It is five reel, five row video slot with a lot of special features like Dragon Destroy and Starfall Wilds random features, in addition to free spins and a highly dynamic spin mechanic that keeps you engaged as the symbols float around the screen. 

Rapunzel’s Tower 

The Swedish game developer Quickspin brings to you a five-reel slot with twenty paylines based primarily on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Rapunzel. 

On the contrary to other thematic slot games, the graphics here are very compelling due to their high quality. Other than that, the game offers several features like the Bonus Wild, free spins and most importantly, a goal to work towards which is helping the prince reach the top of the tower. 

918kiss 

This game is on the other side of the spectrum; it focuses on bringing the real experience of a casino from its base in Malaysia right to where you are.

The game offers an easy-to-use interface that you can quickly get acquainted with; as well as live sessions where you can play and bet against other people in real time. 918kiss also offers free accounts for you to try the game before officially signing up.

Pyramid: Quest for immortality

Again, from NetEnt™, this game teleports you to the reign of the pharaohs and the ancient Egyptian Gods.

The game is a five-reel, 720-betway video slot with graphics of the same high quality as most NetEnt™ games and a lot of special features like the Avalanche™ to spice up the game.

Lights

An enticing three-row, five-reel, nine-line slot with a Zen motif.

It excels in providing soothing graphics like; natural scenery and fireflies which keeps you relaxed throughout the whole game. Although it doesn’t have as many special features as other games, it promises a unique, dynamic gameplay experience.

Now that you’ve seen our top picks, go ahead, give them a try and tell us your opinions. May the odds be in your favor.

 Read more from the latest issue of Athleisure Mag