ATHLEISURE LIST | BEATNIC @ MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE

We talked with Catey Mark Meyers, President of Beatnic to find out more about this vegan chain of restaurants. Beatnic first opened in the Village in 2015 and is known for its vegan menu of classic favorites. Starting July 15th through Labor Day Weekend, they have partnered with Montauk Beach House to bring their faves as well as specialty treats to the Hamptons Monday - Saturday. Guests of the MBH will be able to enjoy their meals at the restaurant, bar and poolside.

The menu includes their Quinoa Taco Salad that's topped with pea protein chorizo, a black bean and quinoa mix, fresh avocado and tomatoes, tortilla strips and a tofu cream which is a favorite from their restaurant. We enjoyed their Buffalo Cauli Poppers. Exclusive to MBH is the MBH Lobster Roll made from Hearts of Palm and served on a vegan Pretzel Bun.

We found that there are a number of items that are vegan and vegetarian that can definitely tempt your tastebuds when hanging out by the pool. From salads, burgers, sandwiches and sides.

The menu also includes desserts that are classics of the eatery. They have a fresh baked Chocolate Cookie and Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies. The Cookies N Dream bar is also is a rich chocolate option.

Throughout the summer, the menu will have items changed up as well. They collaborated with the MBH team to understand what their guests are looking for and to design a menu that suits their needs. In addition, having dishes like the MBH Lobster Roll allows

them to take a classic to the area and to add a twist that brings in Beatnic's concept.

For those who hangout at the MBH with friends with diverse dietary needs, it's good to know that there is an option that will satisfy vegans, vegetarians or those that like to introduce plant-based options into their meals.

MONTAUK BEACH HOUSE

BEATNIC

55 S Elmwood Ave

Montauk, NY 11954

thembh.com

eatbeatnic.com

IG @eatbeatnic

PHOTO CREDITS | Beatnic/Montauk Beach House

Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Beatnic @ Montauk Beach House in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | AZILO ULTRA POOL @ SAHARA LAS VEGAS

We all love an epic pool experience. Amber Jung, VP of Marketing at SAHARA Las Vegas talked with us about what we can expect about SAHARA Las Vegas and AZILO Ultra Pool.

SAHARA Las Vegas opened on Oct 7, 1952 and is the city's most historic hotel and casinos. This fall, it will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Guests who stay will enjoy a remodeled property as well as one that is reimagined. WIth 3 distinctive towers including the AAA Four Diamond Alexandra Tower, there are also five-star dining options, a casino, luxury spa, entertainment, bars, lounges and pools.

Guests can choose between Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres, Chickies & Pete's Crabhouse Sports Bar, The Noodle Den, Uno Mas Street Tacos + Spirits as well as Zeffer's Caffe. Balla, a new Italian concept by James Beard award-winning chef Shawn McClain will open later this year.

For entertainment, in addition to MAGIC MIKE LIVE, you can enjoy the alt-rock band Reckless which has its residency with shows on Thurday and Friday.

We're all about the ultimate in relaxation with friends and family and AZILO Ultra Pool is an immersive Ultra Pool. Visually, guests are offered an intimate, sexy Moroccan decor, lush greens and an alluring atmosphere where music engages with the senses. This summer and fall, there are live poolside performances. For an ultra-luxury experience, you can book a VIP bungalow package which includes premium food and a beverage selection.

When you opt to leave the pool but want to continue the good vibes, we also suggest the AZILO Ultra Lounge which is a seductive and spirited lounge that has music, entertainment and a personality that is all its own. Guests can expect a well-balanced and decadent libations along with an Instagrammable cocktail experience!

SAHARA Las Vegas

AZILO Ultra Pool

2535 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

saharalasvegas.com

IG @saharalasvegas

@azilolasvegas

PHOTO CREDITS | SAHARA Las Vegas

Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | AZILO Ultra Pool @ SAHARA Las Vegas in mag.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE

Mental Health Awareness takes place during May; however, the need to ensure that we are providing proper self-care, checking in with ourselves etc should happen daily. We’re all juggling lots of things in our lives, but we need to be there for ourselves too. We check in with obé Fitness’ Lulu S who leads classes and is known for her breathwork as well. She talks about how we can optimize ourselves, the importance of stretching, obé Fitness x Cupcake LightHearted series - Wine + Unwind, engaging in water rituals and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: With the month of May being Mental Health Awareness, we’re always interested in things that we can do year round to ensure that we are giving ourselves the time we need to reset. Why do you think it’s essential to give time to yourself?

LULU S: Taking care of ourselves is essential for us to take care of each other. We cannot give from an empty cup. A self-care practice doesn’t have to be an endless list of face masks, bubble baths, or anything fancy. It can be as simple as taking a deep breath and saying something kind to yourself. One of my favorite metaphors is you put on your oxygen mask before you help someone else put on theirs. When I’ve taken time to prioritize my well-being, I can show up with greater capacity in all areas of my life. 

AM: Many of us enjoy working out as we have our studio options of choice, but sometimes, we may forget about stretching out bodies. What are 3 moves that we should include to give our body the love it needs after or before starting a workout?

LS: Three easy ways to approach stretching is to move side to side, forward, and back. For a side body stretch (done seated or standing), interlace all ten fingers and flip your palms upwards to the sky. Tip right to left a few times to open up the side body. To open the back and front body, come to standing and interlace the hands behind the back into a fist. You can use the pull of your hands to lift the chest and take a hint of a back bend and then fold forward over your legs with bent knees. This is like a two for one because you’re opening the legs, shoulders, and low back. 

AM: Can you suggest 3 items we would need to have on hand in order to have an optimized stretch session?

LS: Number one most important tool is your breath! So don’t worry if you don’t have any equipment. Connect your breath to movement and take slow and steady inhales and exhales. My favorite prop for stretching is a strap, and if you don’t have a strap you can get creative and use a belt, scarf, or even a broom pole (believe it or not!). Take the strap or whatever you’re using and bring it in front of you in line with your shoulders with hands wider than shoulder width distance. You can practice moving the strap overhead and behind you to floss out and stretch the shoulders. An all-time classic and favorite in my book. Another thing that can be handy and easily accessible is an open wall space. Puppy stretch against a wall is another great chest opener. Raise your arms over head and walk your body as close to the wall as you can get. Keep your arms and chest against the wall and slowly back up your feet until you start to feel a point of resistance or sensation in the body. Take 5-8 breaths and then walk your feet back in and release the arms. 

AM: We have enjoyed obé classes and we do love a great glass of wine. Tell me about the Wine + Unwind series. 

The Wine + Unwind series is a biweekly series airing every other Tuesday night at 8:50 EST through the end of June. Following my Wind Down yoga class, I guide members through an express stretch over a glass of Cupcake LightHearted wine! Cupcake LightHearted is full of flavor, but lower in calories and sugar with only 8% ALC/VOL per 5 oz. serving. It’s the perfect way to end the weeknight without feeling like you are compromising your routine. Each week we explore a new varietal of Cupcake LightHearted wine (Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir), while giving our bodies time to relax and decompress. It’s like a wine tasting with a little extra love. 

AM: How did the collaboration with Cupcake LightHearted come about for this series?

LS: Cupcake LightHearted believes that happy is healthy, fitness should be fun, and balance and moderation should be defined by you. That’s exactly how we feel at obé, so this collaboration felt like the perfect fit. My mother is also a California wine maker, so the art of wine making is in my roots. I grew up on the Central Coast of California and spent my childhood running free on the vineyard. It felt like the perfect match because I get to guide people through two things I love deeply: stretching and wine. Both are an art that allows you to appreciate taking time for yourself. 

AM: In terms of breath work, how important is that to include within our day and how often should one do this?

LS: When you can align your conscious awareness with your breath, your capacity and appreciation for the present moment expands. It is easy and part of being human to let the mind wander into thoughts of the past or future, but when you focus on the breath it drops you into your center and sense of experiencing the now. 

AM: For those that are just starting out, what is an introductory breath work exercise that we can do?

LS: One of my favorite breath work practices is box breathing. It is an equal part breath work where you inhale, hold, exhale, hold. You can start simple and inhale for a count of 4, hold the breath at the top for 4, slowly exhale for 4, and then hold the bottom of the exhale out for 4. If holding the breath doesn’t feel grounding, you can skip it and just focus on the inhale and exhale. Counting the breath allows the mind to relax and signals your parasympathetic nervous system that you are in a state where you can rest and digest. It is the key to relaxation. 

AM: Over the pandemic, we really started looking at our homes in a different way especially because it served as a multi-use space from working, working out, sleeping, relaxing and watching tv. When it comes to setting your space, what can we do to create that retreat aspect in our own homes?

LS: As your most Taurus-y Taurus, I love creating a cozy zen den. A few easy ways to transform your space to make it feel more inviting, is a plant (or 10, can never have too many), a few candles, or lamp that has a soft glow. Something that is meaningful to you, I have a small altar of things I’ve collected from my travels. I love the ocean, so I like to place a sea shell or a crystal next to a candle when practicing or meditating. Last is something that smells good, whether it’s some palo santo, a scented candle, incense, or dabbing yourself with an essential oil to help you relax. 

AM: I know that you believe in engaging in a water ritual. Can you share more about how we can do this and 3 examples of each?

LS: The element of water is like the breath. It flows and washes the day away. My favorite water ritual is taking a bath. I love to set my bathtub with a few candles, seashells, crystals, and palo santo. Play my favorite tracks from the Wind Down, and relax. On days I don’t have as much time for a full set up, setting my intention while showering or washing my face feels like a true act of self-care. 

PHOTO COURTESY | Cupcake LightHearted

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | MR. C MIAMI COCONUT GROVE

Since 2019, guests have enjoyed staying at Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove as its amenities are worth taking in. We suggest BēAtala, a wellness suite (spa complete with their products), private sauna, treatment rooms, a rooftop pool and private cabanas. Guests can enjoy a fitness center featuring Technogym equipment, personal trainers, and yoga classes. They also have a ballroom for weddings and private events.

The award-winning architecture firm, Arquitectonica, conceived the exterior design modeled after the pier-like Stiltsville structures located off the Florida Cape. Mr. C overlooks Sailboat Bar (also known as Schooner Bay in the days of Miami's beginnings) the largest marina in the South.

Naval architecture is a large part of the Inspiration of this property. In addition, the Cipriani family hails from Venice, the city where one travels by boat, they have a love for those beautiful Riva Yachts of the post-war era. Then insert Coconut Grove, famous for its lush tropical setting, and its enormous Banyan trees engulfing the main highway to complete the ambiance.

AD100 interior designer, Martin Brudnizki created a nautical vibe and designed the 100-room, 6-story boutique property overlooking Biscayne Bay. The nautical look of the resort, as shown by its azure and white-colored terrazzo floors and glossy wood paneling, is influenced both by coastal Italian culture, and the sleek interior of a yacht or cruise ship.

The signature Bellini rooftop restaurant's vantage point has views of the bay, coastline and the horizon. You can enjoy the soft breezes of the southeast Trade Winds that provide a perfect temperature for outdoor dining.

At the base, Il Giardino is a secret tropical garden set in a courtyard for casual dining. Guests are surrounded by large blue umbrellas away from the energy of the streets of Coconut Grove.

A third venue is the street side cafe, a lively setting for people-watching under the monumental stilts that support the building 25 feet above.

This summer, check out upcoming events such as Cinema Nights, Concert Series and Art Exhibitions.

Mr. C has achieved a Silver Certification from the FGBC (Florida Green Building Coalition), the equivalent of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for an environmental sustainability as well as green energy -efficient lighting. They also received the Travel Sustainable Badge from Booking.com

MR. C MIAMI COCONUT GROVE

2988 McFarlane Rd

Miami, FL 33133

mrchotels.com

IG @mrchotels

PHOTOS COURTESY | Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove

Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove in mag.

NEW YEAR, N3W YOU

Read the JAN ISSUE #73 of Athleisure Mag and see NEW YEAR, N3W YOU in mag.

OUT AND ABOUT | ALI FEDOTOWSKY

We're kicking off the beginning of the year and as we navigate all of the things that we want to do, recover from the holidays, we also want to make sure that we're taking care of ourselves with a bit of self-care. Self-care can be a number of things from watching our favorite shows, taking a walk and doing things that just bring us joy!

We caught up with one of Bachelor Nation's faves who competed on Season 14 of The Bachelor and was the 6th Bachelorette. From there, she continued to stay on our screens as a host for NBC 1st Look, a correspondent on E! News and E! Live From the Red Carpet as well as being a co-host on Hallmark's Home and Family.

We caught up with her to talk about her time on The Bachelor/The Bachelorette and advice that she has for those that are thinking of being on the show, the importance of creativity and making sure that as we WFH that we remember to go outside whether it's for a walk or anything that breaks up our routine.

ATHLEISURE MAG: During the holiday season last year, we followed The Bachelorette’s Michelle Young in her season and currently, we’re watching Clayton Echard on The Bachelor which is always a great way to begin the new year with this franchise. As one of Bachelor Nations’ faves as someone who competed on The Bachelor as well as being The Bachelorette, we couldn’t chat with you without asking you what it was like to be on both sides and what your best takeaway from it was?

ALI FEDOTOWSKY-MANNO: For me, you would assume being the lead of the show as The Bachelorette was the best thing ever and that I absolutely loved it. But for me and I think that this is true for a lot of people, it was actually the opposite! I had so much fun as the contestant because you get to hang out with a bunch of girls, sit around the pool, drink margaritas, just talk, have fun and not have to work! It was like it was a long vacation. It was lovely and sure there was drama here and there, but it was fun! I made a bunch of friends whereas as The Bachelorette, you’re going out on these dates every single day that are like 13 hours long – you’re exhausted and you just want to be able to take a nap! A lot of the dates that you’re going on are with guys that you’re not totally all that interested in and you have to give them a chance so you’re doing it anyway and again, you just want to be able to take a nap! For me, I actually highly preferred being a contestant. Maybe I just like naps, who knows?

AM: A nap is always a good thing! So for those that may be thinking about wanting to sign up to have that experience, what is your best advice? When you just talked a moment ago, we never thought about how long the dates were and what those dynamics are.

AFM: Oh, they are so so long! What I always try to tell people who are thinking about what it would be like to be on the show, is that I ask them, if I put you in a room and you’re single with 25 men, how many of those guys do you think you would be interested in? I mean come on, if you had to guess how many would be interested in.

AM: Ok that’s a question, at most 2 or 3 people. It’s pretty tough to have an interest in all 25!

AFM: Exactly! So, put yourself in the shoes of being The Bachelorette – you’re in a room with 25 guys. Let’s be real, at least 10 – 12 are put there just for entertainment because the producers know that you wouldn’t be interested and it’s just about the drama or to be funny. So maybe you’re left with 12-15 that are actually casted for you. Chances are that at the end of the day, you’re only going to be interested in 1 or 2 of them. So knowing that and assuming that about yourself, most people would be this way as I know I was – you know who you like right away. But you’re forced to go out on all of these dates with these guys who are great guys and you want to give them a chance and to be fair because they are putting their life on hold, but you really wish you were back with the other guy who is back at the mansion. It’s really hard honestly and for me, it was a really hard experience. I’ve been told by producers that I am a little bit of an outlier because I knew the guys that I liked from day 1 and it never changed and I was never interested in anyone else after that. But for most Bachelor and Bachelorette leads that I have spoken to over the years, they have said that they only liked a handful maybe 3 or 4 if they were lucky. It doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the other people, the guys and girls were great – it’s just that there wasn’t any chemistry there from the get go!

AM: Transitioning from your time on these shows, it’s always great to see you in your role as a journalist and TV personality. Was that a natural progression for you to take these roles on?

AFM: It was for me. Just because, I have always been that person who enjoyed public speaking. Some people hate it and I love it. I loved giving speeches and little things prepared me for it. I got best speaker in my oral communications class in college. When I worked at Facebook, one of my jobs was to teach people how to use different programs and talking to groups. It’s always been something that I have enjoyed and I think it was a natural progression and at the end of the day, people who are The Bachelor or The Bachelorette lead, they are usually chosen because they are comfortable talking in front of a camera. So as you can imagine, that is a natural progression – the people who aren’t comfortable talking in front of a camera are usually the ones that don’t open up and then don’t get lead role on the show because they need someone who can be comfortable there. I will say, that I moved from LA a year ago, because I was ready to sort of step away from television and just leave that part of my life behind although now that I am here in Nashville and working from home everyday, I’m like maybe there is a TV gig that I can do locally ha! We’ll see, maybe I will be back on TV who knows?

AM: I hope so as I always enjoyed seeing you hosting and corresponding for a number of different shows! Well, as a busy mom with so much on your plate, how do you take time to ensure that you’re meeting your health and wellness goals and the time for yourself that you need?

AFM: For me, a really important thing and I think that this applies to a lot of different people, because so much of the world has changed over the last couple of years with so many people WFH now – a really important part of my health and wellness is getting out of the house. Because I don’t have a TV show that I go to work at during the week anymore, I find that I am working from home and doing a lot of different projects and I have a business that I am launching soon and all that. I find that weeks will go by and I’ll say to myself that I have not left the house in 2 weeks as my husband took the kids to school in the mornings – I need to get out of the house. Going for walks, a drive, whatever you need to do! If you’re WFH and feeling down, I really believe it will help so many people by just getting myself outside of the house every once in a while.

AM: Tell me more about teaming up with PEBBLES on their mission to spark kids’ creativity with the Never Stop Doo-ing Project and why you wanted to be involved in it?

AFM: Speaking of getting out of the house, that’s one of the things that my kids are doing today! We’re going to go see the PEBBLES mural in Nashville. It’s really cool! They have this initiative called the Never Stop Doo-ing Project and a few weeks ago, we encouraged parents and kids to submit artwork online. That artwork is now turned into murals that we can see in LA, NY, Nashville and Denver. You can take your kids and I’m really encouraging parents to do this and I'm doing it today with my daughter. I think that showing a child that this is a big mural in a major city and that kids their age are having their work displayed there – the sky is the limit. Never stop creating, never stop doing, never stop using your imagination to be whatever you want to be. I think it’s going to be a really good teaching moment for my daughter today. She’s going to be so excited to see that there is going to be a mural in Nashville – because in Nashville, murals are huge and they’re everywhere and people love them! That kids her age created them and it will be so inspiring for her and I hope that parents will be able to do and share that with their kids. They’re only up to the 13th of this month, so there are only a couple of days. Put on your coat, have an outing of it and maybe this will be people’s actual excuse to get out of the house when you’re WFH. Get out, take your kids out and it will be good for your mental health and it will hopefully be able to inspire kiddos.

AM: Love that we’re in NY so being able to check it out will be a nice break!

AFM: Um yeah but since you’re out there – make sure you bundle up!!

AM: For sure this time of year you have so many excuses to stay in – but this is a good one to venture out!

So you were talking about projects that you have coming up – what can you share with us?

AFM: Right now I have a hair accessories line that I am wearing in my hair right now Scunci X Ali Fedotowsky which is available at Walgreens nationwide. It’s such an awesome thing that I was able to be part of and I hope people check it out as it is super affordable.

I’m launching my first product for my first business shortly! A clean liquid hydration packet. A lot of them are filled with a lot of sugar and I feel like mine is cleaner and great. It’s taken a long time to develop with my partner and hopefully that will launch soon and I am so excited! I hope that people will love it.

IG @ali.manno

PHOTOS COURTESY | PEBBLES

Read the JAN ISSUE #73 of Athleisure Mag and see Out and About | Ali Fedotowsky in mag.

Hear TV Host Ali Fedotowsky-Manno on our show, Bungalow SK - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

ATHLEISURE LIST | JUICERY HARLEM

Juicery Harlem came about in the pandemic year of 2020 when everything got shut down and the world was struggling to reopen. Sasha Hart and her husband Jay Vallo saw that their neighborhood needed a healthy juice bar option that would offer lunch specials as well and a safe comfortable space for the locals to hang out. They brought in their friend and trained chef Jappy Afzelius—who was awarded a New York Times review for his work at TSISMIS (he worked and trained under Alain Ducasse at Chez Allard Bistro in Paris and Benoit Bistro in New York) as a partner to help with the menu and bring his expertise from years in the culinary industry. They soft-opened on November 1st and so far the response from the locals has been amazing! They are loving the fresh juices and smoothies, acai bowls and avocado toast.

The starter menu is 5 juices, 5 smoothies, 2 shots and 3 food items. They worked with a nutritionist to make sure the mixes are not only tasty but also give the best nutritional value! For example, when it comes to juices, Rise n Green (Green Apple, Cucumber, Pineapple, Mint) is delicious, refreshing, and energizing, a perfect way to start your day. Golden Goodness (Orange, Baby Carrots, Red Apple, Ginger) is not only very tasty, but it also brings up anti-inflammatory properties and helps stimulate a healthy immune response. Having one juice or smoothie a day can bring invaluable health benefits in the long run. As for additions to the menu, they will be add seasonal items, like apple cider for the cold season, and offering new exciting juice and smoothie recipes every few months to their customers. There are plans for juice cleanses in the future.

We suggest that you try their signature Harlem Shake, Mangonana and Power Berry. In terms of shots, you should try the very popular Ginger Jolt as some stop by daily to get it. Another great option is Sweet Revenge. In addition to ginger and lemon mix, it also has strawberries, which give it a hint of sweetness.

They serve acai bowls, avocado toast and a tuna melt. The latter 2 items come with a side salad with coconut cream dressing and have been very popular.

They have a buy 10, get a small item free promo. It could be a 8oz juice or a shot. When customers tap to pay, the system automatically checks them in. In addition, they offer a 10% discount to our seniors.

Juicery Harlem

370 Lenox Ave

New York, NY 10027

juiceryharlem.com

IG @JuiceryHarlem

PHOTO CREDITS | Juicery Harlem

Read the NOV ISSUE #71 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Juicery Harlem in mag.

DISCOVERY OF POWER WITH LO BOSWORTH

We first learned about Lo Bosworth as one of the cast members of MTV's Laguna Beach as we were introduced to a friendship group in Orange County of young people that navigated the transition between high school and college. We continued on with her and other members as they navigated adulting post college in The Hills. Lo was always a grounded member of this friend group who we would learn after these succeful reality shows that she had a passion for wellness and would become the founder and CEO of Love Wellness which focuses on self-care with a focus on body positivity and science. We catch up with Lo to talk about her brand, partnership with Baileys and how she takes time for herself.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When you were on The Hills, there wasn’t programming that focused on adulting in that way. The show also laid the foundation for a formula that we look for in these shows from friendship groups, getting to know main character’s facets of life, introducing audiences to popular boutiques/restaurants and designers that are being worn – which is standard now. What does it mean to you that you participated in a show that laid this groundwork and what did you learn by being involved in these shows?

LO BOSWORTH: I learned the power of my own voice and community. I'm so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to connect with an audience on a large scale and have always tried to do my best with the opportunities given to me.

AM: Back in 2019, we attended a fitness event that Love Wellness hosted. I was drawn to the packaging and your messaging. What led you to creating this self-care brand and what role does self-care play in your life?

LB: I became more interested in health and wellness when I dealt with a few health setbacks in both 2014 and 2019. Going through these challenging moments forced me to focus on my well-being, search for alternatives, and when I was able to heal, I was inspired to share my journey able to heal, I was inspired to share my journey through the founding of Love Wellness.

AM: What products can we find at Love Wellness?

LB: We make everything from vaginal suppositories to de-bloating supplements. Our total body care products for women are made with clean ingredients, are innovative and trendsetting, and give women the real results they're looking for from a wellness company.

AM: You guys just launched probiotics – tell us more about this.

LB: Our recent probiotics launch was actually an expansion of this product category at Love Wellness. One of our original products, Good Girl Probiotics, launched 5 years ago with a focus on improving vaginal and urinary tract health with the use of diverse live bacteria strains organic to the vagina. After closing in on selling one million units of Good Girl Probiotics, we made the decision to expand our probiotics category to focus on other microbiomes in and on the body. Our new best-sellers include Clear Skin Probiotics for reducing the number of acne pimples on the skin, and Gut Feelings Probiotics which is a pre-probiotic blend that helps support overall gut health and immunity.

AM: What are you currently working on whether it’s with Love Wellness or outside of it?

LB: I'm the founder and CEO of Love Wellness and operate my business full-time everyday alongside my excellent team in New York City. My primary focus is helping women discover our innovating products, education, and community.

AM: As we’re all continuing to venture out after the past 19 months that we have endured, it seems like every opportunity to celebrate whether solo or in small groups is a must! How can we host the appropriate end of summer party or kick off to the fall?

LB: Aside from putting together a fun group and great spread of food, Baileys Deliciously Light is one of my secrets to entertaining at home. Baileys Deliciously Light is a delicious and versatile treat that can be enjoyed so many ways including over ice, chilled, in a smoothie or with hot, iced or whipped coffee so there’s truly something for everyone!

AM: Why did you want to partner with Baileys Deliciously Light?

LB: I always make sure to partner with brands that represent my lifestyle. Baileys Deliciously Light gives me a chance to treat myself to a delicious cocktail or baked good, and it’s also made with 40% less sugar and 40% less calories than Baileys Original Irish Cream so it gives me the balance I always look for in my life!

AM: We’re all enjoying that transition into fall weather and in many cases, that also means our cocktails take this journey as well! What’s your go to fall cocktail that we should think about including into our rotation?

LB: I love experimenting in the kitchen and making new things for me and my friends to try. Baileys Deliciously Light is a delicious and versatile treat that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways – but my favorite is including it in hot and iced coffee drinks or even espresso martinis. One of my favorite cocktails to make this season is the Baileys Frothy Coffee – it’s made with Baileys Deliciously Light, espresso and frothy milk. It’s the perfect, simple fall drink that’s a major crowd pleaser.

BAILEYS FROTHY COFFEE

Ingredients

2.5 oz Baileys Deliciously Light

2 oz Espresso

2/3 Cup Frothy Milk

Preparation

1. Combine Baileys Deliciously Light and espresso into a coffee mug.

2. Heat up milk and blend/whip until frothy.

3. Top coffee and enjoy!

AM: When you’re not running your business or taking on a project, how do you take time for yourself?

LB: I take baths, eat amazing meals at my favorite restaurants in New York City, and spend quality time walking my neighborhood with friends.

IG @LoBosworth

PHOTOGRAPHY | Baileys Deliciously Light

Read the SEP ISSUE #70 of Athleisure Mag and see Discover of Power with Lo Bosworth in mag.

BRINGING THE SMOKE WITH B-REAL

For our cover story this month we caught up with B-Real, from the ground-breaking hip hop group, Cypress Hill. Legendary for his pioneering music and being an ambassador and activist for the use and legalization for cannabis, we delve into the iconic sound of Cypress Hill; his new solo album ‘Tell You Somethin,’ produced with Scott Storch; the magic behind his cult hit ‘Dr. Greenthumb;’ the history of Insane OG and creating and expanding his industry-leading Dr. Greenthumb's Cannabis Dispensaries; creating Phuncky Feel Tips; his G Pen and Stündenglass Gravity Hookah collabs; cannabis and culinary; working out on the road and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Looking back on all the times we listened to Cypress Hill, and it’s amazing to think, we’ve had all these different emotions – happy, sad, parties, chilling, raging it’s just crazy – how is it to produce music to hit all those different vibes?

B-REAL: I mean, it’s pretty natural cuz we were pretty much just going by what we were feeling and we were experiencing. So there were times we were joyful, happy, clowning around like young men and stuff like that. Other times we were frustrated, angry - so I think we captured all those type of emotions and being that we’re stoners we also caught that laid back stoner vibe, so I think it was really organic as we were being who we were and we just happened to capture the vibe of regular kids growing up in Los Angeles, and sort of being the bullhorn for these different vibes and situations and scenarios that we were living through that others were living the same thing and could relate to. So I think that’s why its had an impact the way that it did and everybody had some sort of feeling for we were doing and I think that was the connection that we touched on those connections that anyone has been through.

AM: So you’re going on tour with all of these festivals, how is it performing live in these post Covid times?

B: It’s interesting, different because of the protocols and stuff like that. You’ve got to be safe and responsible and also accountable. And at the same time, it’s great, you’re back in front of a crowd and you’re getting a connection, getting a reaction from the music and the energy and all of that stuff and people have so much of that energy built up from the last 2½ years and they try to find any way to letting it go and blowing off some of that steam, so I think that this was helpful toward people trying to get that. At the same being an honest person that gives a shit about people, it’s also kind of scary because we’re going to some of these places where we don’t know what the venue policy is and how protected are the people, that is the one thing that concerns me. But in terms of getting out there and playing in front of people, and seeing that happiness, that crazy unbridled energy – it’s definitely a great feeling.

AM: So you have this new solo album ‘Tell You Somethin,’ produced by Scott Storch, with great featured artists, like Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ross, Krayzie Bone, Berner and more, what went into the album and what made the sound and vibes about it?

B: Well you know originally I wasn’t planning to do a solo album. I had so much on my plate with my projects with Berner, because him and I are constantly putting out albums together; Cypress Hill obviously ‘cause we’re working on our next album - our last album in fact; and I also had Prophets of Rage going; as well as the group that I have with Xzibit and the other cat named Demrick named the Serial Killers. So I just had so much on my plate, I didn’t think that trying to fit in another project was going to be conducive to my schedule and what not. But we were doing one of my Smokebox interviews, it’s an interview in a CadIllac, in one of my low rider cars, and us smoking out and boxing out the car, just having the car, just having a conversation, not necessarily an interview. But Scott Storch was down at my studio for this - and as many artists do - we were like ‘oh we should do something.’ And we’ve known each other a long time, and our lineage dates back to Philly, way back when he was an intern at Ruffhouse Music which was the label which we were first signed to. So we go way back, and we talked about it. When artists do that sometimes you know they have full intention of working together, and other times they’re full of shit! And Scott was not full of shit, he hit me up and said ‘hey man why don’t you come down and lets vibe out,’ and all of the sessions that we had were vibe outs. He would never have one beat ready, like a folder, that’s how it is these days, producers will give you folders with beats and then you pick’em. With Scott and I, I went to his house, everyday we would have a session and we vibed out, smoked out, and thought OK if we were here what would the vibe be like and he would sort of tinker with stuff, and then we would get ideas from that and then we would just build each song based on the vibe and the idea and what not. So it was really organic the way it came out man - every song was written and produced from scratch. And I haven’t had a chance to work on an album exactly like that in a long time. You know the last Cypress Hill album ‘Elephants On Acid’ was sort of like that. We’ve always worked like that, like never really worked like take these beats and go from that, a couple times we might have done that, but primarily our vibe is let’s go to the studio and create from scratch and see what the vibe is and so it was refreshing to get back to that sort of thing in a world of folder transfers and file transfers, and shit like that. You know it just felt good to be in the studio and being produced by the producer. It's a very different sound for me in terms what people are used to hearing me on as it relates to hard core hip hop with Cypress Hill and Serial Killers and stuff like that. The stuff I do with Berner is close to what I’ve done with Scott, but this is a venture out of my own. So, we felt really good about it. It took a while to put this album out because I have so much shit going on, but I was very, very excited to put it out and glad when it finally came out, I thought it never would and shit it took so long.

AM: Yeah sometimes it feels like life goes so fast, and sometimes it’s like paint drying right?

B: Yeah, because when we were working on this album I had all this other stuff scheduled out, and it pretty much had to wait before I knocked all of that schedule down, before I could actually put it out there. I don’t like to shortchange or shortcut anything I’m working on so I didn’t want to bring something in the middle and cut that project in half. I’ve done that and it's sad when you’ve got a good project going on and you cut it cuz you’ve got to rush something else out because you have a fucking timeline. So I just threw that out the window, and I’m going to finsh all of my obligations, and then put this out so I can give the particular attention I can give it for this particular piece. So I did that and right now I’ve had these Cypress Hill shows, so I haven’t had time to do my own shows, but I know that will come over time, and as the album is building some momentum and the songs are building momentum, when it’s the right time, I’ll go out and do some shows and what not.

AM: So you had some great collabs with it and around 4/20 this year. You gave out a download to Mother Mary, and then did some NFTs around it. How is it to be in the intersection between music, cannabis and technology?

B: Well it’s cool. You know the position that we’re in, in terms of all 3 of those platforms. We're just trying to stay ahead and keep pace with what we want to do, in terms of our growth in the cannabis industry, and maintain our position in the music industry, and forge forward in technology cuz that’s where it’s all going. Technology has a lot to do with both worlds right now. And you know we've got a pretty fucking cool and efficient team so we’ve been managing to stay ahead.

AM: Back in ‘91 you dropped ‘Stoned Is The Way of the Walk,’ on your debut album Cypress Hill – had never heard something like that before – and then Black Sunday with ‘Hits From The Bong, ‘Legalize it,’ ‘I Want to Get High..’ what was the process in putting out those benefits to cannabis in the liner notes and starting to champion use and legalization of cannabis from all the way back then?

B: Well you know on our first album we were putting out our vibe: this is who we are, this is what we believe in, and we believed strongly in cannabis legalization and all that stuff so the first album was sort of the set up with ‘Stoned Is The Way of the Walk’ and ‘Light Another.’ And as we start gaining momentum groups like NORML started getting wind of who we are and offered us spokeswork and being ambassadors to the movement, and that led to meeting up with High Times and doing the High Times cover and creating a long lasting friendship with my man Steve Bloom, and getting information, and eventually we would meet Jack Herer, who opened our eyes to everything, and because of the things we learned from him, and him being our mentor in the cannabis world, we took information from his book ‘Emperor Wears No Clothes,’ and applied some of that information in our liner notes on that album. So he was a big influence on us and his knowledge was basically what carried us trough and took us to the next steps of being advocates and activists. So we were much more educated about what we were talking about and what we were trying to accomplish in terms of turning people on to it. So we owe a whole lot to Jack Herer, yeah, so it was basically his knowledge that inspired us to put that sort of information on the Black Sunday album.

AM: So on the 4th album you dropped ‘Dr. Greenthumb’ and it became a huge underground concert anthem with your community. What was it like to go in that morning to write the lyrics so quickly, and from an entrepreneurship lesson what it means to stay true to your vision when partners or labels might try to steer that off course?

B: Well that song was destiny when I look at it now. You know at the time I thought well this is a great beat and some things just.. so I had written a sketch for a radio show that we were doing previously to making that album. Bobo and myself were working at 92.3 The Beat, and we wrote this sketch, and it was basically an infomercial type sketch which obviously makes the album, we eventually make that the intro for the song. But when I got to the studio and I heard that beat. Boom the theme Dr. Greenthumb just hit me and I started writing right away, I think it was like 10 in the morning I got to the studio. and Muggs knew I that was going to the love that beat, so he left the reels up and gave the engineer instruction to play me that song immediately when I walked in. So I started working on it before anyone got there, I was probably done writing it in 45min and done dropping it in 1 hour 30 min, or something like 1 hour 15min. And I remember specifically Sony hearing that and thinking it was great, but they wanted me to change the lyrics and make it not about weed and make it more like ‘Insane in the Brain.’ And I said, no we already got an Insane In The Brain, this song is what it is and we’re not going to change it. And they were like ‘alright, well I don’t think we’re going to get much radio on it, it’s a great song, but radio still isn’t playing weed songs.’ And I said well, you know I guess that is just a chance we’ll have to take. And the record company didn’t know the song was going to be a cult anthem or one of those underground anthems, they had no clue and thought it would be just a waste of a song. And it became one of our biggest singles in Europe, and then it trickled down here to the States. It never really caught on the radio, but when we played this song live, it would give the same energy off as an Insane In The Brain. Like people would just go nuts for it. It became one of our main anthems. And fast forward to now, California is now a medical state, now I that thought would be a cool brand name for me to come into the cannabis market. Which was my intention all along. And I thought to myself if Cypress isn’t going to come into it right now, then I’ll come into it as Dr. Greenthumb, and because of the music and the familiarlity of our fans as cannabis users, it was sort of a no brainer. It sort of took us a while to get momentum, because we’ve always been in cultivation, and the cannabis stuff, and but now we had brand to put what we were producing behind and that’s where it all started from - that song, bringing it into the cannabis industry, and making it my brand.

AM: You’re dropping Dr. Greenthumb dispensaries all over California, tell us about the team behind it, the mouth watering flavors, and especially the journey behind the potent and tasty Insane OG?

B: I think our team’s been together since ‘94-95. My partner Kenji Fujishima and I, we sort of started off together in the cannabis lane, learning how to grow and stuff like that. Me being on the road all the time, I couldn’t put as much time into the grow out as he did. So he became our master cultivator. Now for a couple years we sort of separated, and I started doing Jet Fuel with another partner, but that eventually went away as we had creative differences of where I thought the brand needed to go and things like that. They went and did their own thing. And Kenji and I fortunately had been partners in BREAL TV forever, since we started the platform, with livestreaming and doing some of the first podcasts before they were called podcasts. Kenji and I have had a long history. So when we both were free from obligations we had had with other people, we decided let’s partner back up, make the Greenthumb brand bigger, and call our strain brand Insane as a tribute to Cypress Hill and what not. So we’ve been together cultivating probably 25 years or so and we were maybe one of the first 6-7 guys in Southern California that had the OG Kush cut, which was to become one of the biggest strains in Southern California, and maybe even the world for a time, because it was so sought out and highly touted as the best cannabis in the world, up until maybe 10 years ago where all the exotic flavor blasts started happening, OG was the premier flower, and we were one of the ones that had it, and Kenji being one of the best at it, he produced some of the best Kush in Southern California for a long time, so our reputations as cultivators and ambassadors were constantly on the rise. So we’ve just been putting it together, piecing our team together little by little, getting the right guys that can represent, our company, our brand, our strains. So far we’ve accomplished Phase 1, and we’re rolling up to Phase 2.

AM: It’s a Big Phase 1! Congrats on everything. How many dispensaries do you have now in Californina?

B: Right now we have 7, we just opened in San Diego and we’re looking at a few other spots now. But the main objective is that after we get the spots that we feel are most important here in California, the next step is getting into the other cannabis friendly states, like Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma - everywhere that we can possibly plant a flag, we feel we’re going to do great. So locking down California is Phase 1, Phase 2 is now going into the different states that we can plant that flag and give that California experience.

AM: New York is stubbornly turning around. East Coast definitely needs some West Coast Love. Eventually we’ll be there..

B: Yeah I mean frankly it surprises me, you know, being New York has been in the forefront of so many things, in terms of entertainment, fashion, culinary - mostly everything - and for it to be one of the last on the cannabis train, that’s just crazy, especially when you think about it that High Times was based out of NY, and they do a lot of cannabis events, Central Park even, I remember doing those small clubs at Wetlands and stuff like that, so it’s a trip that NY is so far behind, when you’d think they’re so progressive they’d be in front of it. Even in California, to have Colorado legalize before us, that was crazy. But it all eventually comes around, because I think you know, the powers that be that run the state see the revenue stream that cannabis creates, and they’re waiting to see how the other states do, and how they work it and if it’s successful, and how they can implement it without upsetting their conservative voters or religious voters.

AM: Tell us about the Phuncky Feel Tips, how long did it take from coming up with it to putting it out there.

B: Phuncky Feel Tips, I created maybe 3-4 years before they actually came out. I was doing a deal with Roor.de for a licensing deal to create two lines of glass with Cypress Hill, one being an expensive collection line and the other one being a more affordable line. And as we’re doing that, I happened to be in Amsterdam and we were on tour, and were rolling in front our hotel, or maybe Greenhouse, I can’t exactly remember that part.. but we were rolling up, and I love smoking joints with the tip, but those paper tips were killing me, for me I looked at them in frustration, and I said why the fuck hasn’t anyone ever made any glass tips for joints or blunts. And I thought OK when I get home I’m going to call my glassblower friends that I know and make prototypes and try to put these out. Being that I was already doing a deal with Roor, I presented to them as we’re already doing this bong deal. And at first - they were reluctant as never doing something like that or if people would buy them. I said I didn’t care if people would buy them, I want to do them, and I know that people will buy them, and I knew from my experience once we made my first prototype, because I made a prototype from a different glassblower, and then I presented it. So I had at least a few weeks of R&D with it, and I was like I need to make more prototypes, because I’m not smoking another joint without one of these, and I knew if that happened to me then it was going to happen to others. So I had the prototypes made and I sent them to him in Germany. They made their prototypes, which were better than the ones I had made, and we agreed those were going to be the ones that went to market. And we put them out and it was slow going at first. It was a new product, and people were like what the fuck were these. How do you use them, how do you roll with them, how do you stick your joint in them? And people didn’t get you put them in the joint, not in that you put the joint in the tips. But once they caught! And I mean they went – you know! And now there is a collector community that collects all our custom color coordinated tips like baseball cards - I never thought that would be happening. I thought we’d sell some tips and people would have a different smoking experience, but they went beyond that. And that was great. And now to see people that have knocked off the product, and see them everywhere now, even though it’s kind of shitty, that people knocked our idea off and put it in their products. It goes to show you we’re ahead of the game. And we still make these tips and we’re ahead of everyone at that. It shows you my theory that once people smoke with a smoking tip they weren’t going to go back. Now these days people are spoiled.. your average smoker that isn’t necessary educated about the tips, they’ll smoke those paper tips because that’s all they know - but once they get a hold of a Phuncky Feel Tip it’s over! I remember when it first started catching, there were certain glassblowers like ‘oh man, you didn’t create that, it’s been in the market forever.’ And I was like ‘OK find one, show me one, I issue a challenge to any of you motherfuckers, that is not wood, that’s not plastic that predates my tip..' And not one of them could do it, and they were just mad because someone that didn’t blow glass created something they could’ve easily done. And then after the fact that I’ve brought it out, you’d have all these guys went and made some tips because of me, because some were glassblowers and they could do that, but I've never gone after them, whatever they do, people are going to put it on my back anyway and will say that’s B-Real's idea, that’s the Phuncky Feel tip, and I never took too much offense to it, I just say I’ve had a great idea, here it is!

AM: Speaking of glass we saw the Dr. Greenthumb’s x Stündenglass Gravity Hookah on your IG because we check it out. It looks so elegant and smooth. Tell us about that partnership and what it’s like to use that.

B: Oh man, Seth Rogan was the first guy that they filmed with it and he blew it up and I think that they realized they had something there. And I think their idea was to get it in the hands of real celebrities that smoke weed and have influence. And I think they were working with G Pen, and I was working with G Pen on some of our Dr. Greenthumb's X G Pen collaborative products, like the Dash and the Connect and the Roam and while we were talking about that they were like what about doing a collaboration with Stünden. And I was ‘like yeah sure, send me over a sample of the product and let us fuck with it, and see.’ And if I like ‘I’m definitely down, but if I don’t like it I’m not gonna do it because I’m not going to put my name on shit that I would not use.’ So they send it over, and we immediately start fucking with it, but we’re not fucking it with flower, because you know I stopped hitting glass bongs a long time ago, just because I feel like at some point the hit gets stale, and I don’t want a stale hit ever, so I stick to smoking the joints. So what we did was we took one the connects that we have and we adapted it on to the Stünden because they had an adapter for that. We were using the Stünden for concentrate as opposed to flower, it was so awesome, that actually became part of our Dr. Greenthumb podcast where there’s a portion of the show, it was so awesome, and actually became part of our Dr. Greenthumb podcast where there’s a portion of the show where the last half hour where we take questions and comments and shoutouts from the fans, and a lot times they’ll be like we want 3 flips from B-Real, meaning they want me to hit that Stündenglass and take 3 hits of the glass and that became a thing, and when we started highlighting that type of shit on our podcast people started running to our dispensaries to buy those Stündenglass, we could not keep them in fucking stock. People use it with flower, I’ve seen Wiz Khalifa use it with the flower, but for us we use it for the concentrate, and it fucking works amazing. If anybody was going to do it, I would recommend to do it with the concentrate, do it with the connect, and it’s lovely. Bobo, he hit the first record with them, he hit 10 flips. One of our other guys did 15 flips and one of our other co-hosts did 20 flips and stuff like that. It’s devastating, but it’s a cool experience, people love that shit and they love seeing people testing their metal trying to do like 10-20 flips. I’m good at 3.

AM: Yeah 3 looks like a good start, definitely!

B: 3 is a good start..

AM: We cover a lot in food, from clean eating and meal prep, to fine dining and splurges. We loved the show Bong Appétit on Viceland that you hosted in ‘19, it was groundbreaking. What’s your take of cooking with cannabis, and edibles in general.

B: I think it's awesome. Because it gives people that may be a little intimidated by smoking it, a chance to have the experience through culinary. A lot of the people that aren’t educated in the cannabis world, that maybe are curious, it was the perfect show for them as they can find ways to infuse. You can infuse any meal, you can infuse any dessert, any app, and that show was sort of like a guideline to doing that. Since then there have been like 3 other shows that have knocked that show off that are doing relatively the same thing. But I think shows like that is important, whether it’s us doing it, whether its Kelis doing it, or whoever else - it’s educating people, and showing people a different way. Because not everybody wants to smoke, it's kind of loud when you're smoking joints or blunts or bongs, Its loud, bongs. Its loud, and some people are more lowkey than that and so you have a significant amount of people would rather do edibles and this is one way they can create their own edibles if they have any culinary skills, or at least to know they can find it somewhere, that there are meal prep places that can infuse food whether its CBD full spectrum or just THC. So I think shows like that are important, the lifetime that they last on the air that’s subjective. I think we got caught up with Vice while they were in a transitional period. I think that they needed more room for their news platform and what not. So Bong Appetit didn’t get brought back, but it was great while it lasted. I had fun with Vanessa and Miguel, they’re great people. Vanessa sometimes comes and co-hosts on Dr. Greenthumb podcasts and all that stuff, so we still stay in contact. And we’re constantly talking about maybe creating another show somewhere down the line, but more I think dinner party conversational style rather than competitive cooking and stuff like that. That was fun to see people doing that. but I think there is a bit of conversation to be had and a little bit more education to be spilled out there if you would do a dinner party style, but we’re working on it..

AM: In the age of Covid and smoking, and vaping, it’s more important than ever to elevate your workout and wellness game, what kinds of things are you doing to workout - are you hitting the gym, doing stuff at home, or doing more adventure fitness outside?

B: That’s a part of my culture, it’s a part of me. I’ve made that to be part of my daily ritual. Like I pray everyday, I work out. Like I smoke everyday, I workout. Because realistically doing what we do in terms of performances, it's always a high energy show and we’re always trying to give 110%. And so you got to stay in shape for that. And just trying to stay in shape for ourselves, for our families, trying to be as healthy as possible - maintaining a proper diet and workout schedule and stuff like that to keep healthy and fit, and to put the right fuel in our system - and the fact of smoking cannabis the way we do, is also therapeutic and healing benefit from that. So you know, I think that’s one of the reasons we’re still able to do it on the level we do, performing at a festival, a small club or an arena, of whatever - we're always ready for it. Because we always maintain to keep busy, to keep active. Now in our fucking 50s, we’re watching what we put in our bodies, sure we still have a good time and splurge now and then. But we’ve always been guys in terms of Cypress Hill that were into sports and competing, like we’d play a lot basketball and football back in the day. Sen Dog and Muggs played a lot of baseball; Muggs and I trained in martial arts and boxing, so we’re constantly finding ways to keep busy, training and keep ourself active – besides from performing on the stage because that’s a workout itself – but we workout to do that just like an athlete works out to play their perspective sport. So we feel like that is really important. And what I’m glad to see is a lot of golden era rappers, start to get in the gym, take care of themselves, investing the time and energy and putting it back in their bodies. I see Method Man’s fucking workout grind, crazy. Jim Jones always had a crazy workout grind. Action Bronson, I gotta tip my hat to my bro, because he’s working his ass off these days. It’s great to see guys like that taking care of themselves like that man. And us, at Cypress Hill, we’ve always maintained to do that, it’s part of our culture, it’s who we are. When we are on the road, we’ll all meet up at the gym and get our pre-show workout or day-off workout, and then back on the grind. We don’t stop, it’s important to us. We wanna be fit, we don’t want to be those dudes that are huffing and puffing and can’t complete the show, you know!

AM: It’s been real fun to catch up today! Is there any news or teasers on the upcoming Cypress Hill album?

B: Yeah, we’ll be popping that off in March of next year. We have one of the singles from that album coming out pretty soon. We released ‘Champion Sound’ early for the MLB video game, but there’s another one coming called ‘Open Your Mind,’ and we look forward to people hearing that, and I believe we are going to make the video to that pretty soon cause its going to be the lead single and what not. There's much more music ahead of me, I have so much more coming out in the next year and a half it’s crazy, but you know it’s all paced.

AM: Well that’s great – Congrats again on everything! The entrepreneurship lessons for people that you give - of just being yourself, doing something different, working in a big market, doing what you love - those are huge lessons for everybody!

B: Yeah I mean the one thing that anyone should take away from this is you get what you put into it. If you go halfway, all you’re going to do is go halfway. If you put it all in, and go all in, and dedicate yourself to it, you can get wherever you want to go! Obviously, you’ve got to have talent, and a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of faith, that you will do it - but you have to put the work behind it, and when it’s the time, you meet the right people, the doors open up, you go through that door, and it’s all about what you do from there. You know you can take yourself as far as you want to go. So I would just say to anyone, believe in yourself, believe in what you’re trying to do, and go at it 110%!”

IG @breal

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Front Cover, PG 18, 21, 30/Insane OG BTS | PG 16, 22, 33 + Back Cover Eitan Miskevich | PG 24 G Pen | PG 27 Pedro Garcia | PG 28 Kenji Fujishima | PG 30 Insane Cookies/Justin Mcivor |

---

Read the SEP ISSUE #69 of Athleisure Mag and see Bringing the Smoke with B-Real in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST: SPA RELAIS

Spa Relais is a world-class spa retreat at the Westlake Village Inn. Local residents and those that are health and wellness enthusiasts from far and wide can enjoy their services and treatments. Spa Relais is inspired by the spas of Europe. The property includes a 25,000-square-foot luxury spa, a fully equipped gym, a magnificent pool and two lounge areas, a health-conscious café, and a 14-suite boutique hotel.

For those who wish to experience the indulgent life for longer than one day, an on-site, 14-suite boutique hotel graces the property with views of the lake, the Santa Monica Mountains, the golf course, and a koi pond.

They believe in replenishing the body and mind. Their treatments benefit the whole body in different ways by relaxing and stimulating using healing techniques. Spa therapies are founded upon healing properties from the earth, sea, air, and vine.

For those wanting to turn back mother nature, Starr MedSpa provides all the top procedures. Services include all injectables, such as Botox, Dysport and Fillers. Anti-aging treatments such as micro needling, PRP, IV hydration and hair restoration are but a few of the rejuvenative services that they offer.

Personalized attention is the hallmark of the spa, upon arrival guests are greeted with a welcome mimosa to enjoy before their service commences and upon completion of their service they are offered a shot of their signature green juice that is power-packed with nutrients improving focus, and mental clarity. It also provides energy, reduces inflammation with added benefits of a stronger immune system and healthier skin and nails, refueling the body and mind. They also have relaxing lounge chairs poolside as well as a flower-filled courtyard with a fireplace where guests can order a meal before or after their service.

Guests can expect complimentary, refreshments, and use of the outdoor pool, cold-plunge pool, Jacuzzi, quiet rooms, saunas, and dressing rooms replete with high-end amenities. The men’s and women’s locker rooms have SnoBliss Showers, a therapeutic snowfall that will refresh and revitalize.

The spa itself offers separate men's and women's locker rooms that embody coastal-chic sophistication pristine whites, sky blue, and earth tones are set against flooring of custom-cut marble tile and wood inlays. An expansive sun-filled lounge is crowned by an imposing Murano chandelier and accented by objets d'art personally selected by their owner John Notter. Spa services are enjoyed in any of 13 custom treatment rooms, all with private patios and outdoor showers; corner rooms have copper soaking tubs, and couples' suites have fireplaces and soaking tubs.

SPA RELAIS

4700 Lakeview Canyon Road

Westlake Village, CA 91361

WestlakeVillageInn.com/spa

IG @SpaRelaisWestlakeVillageInn

PHOTOS COURTESY | Spa Relais

Read the AUG ISSUE #68 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List: Spa Relais in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | OPUS

If the past year plus has taught us anything, we have a lot going on and we've all found ways to take time for ourselves so that we can recharge. OPUS' ethos is that they exist to help empower people to heal themselves from the inside out and to create a more emotionally fit world through emotional sovereignty (becoming the master of our own emotions and feeling empowered and purposeful in our life), embodied service (showing up as an inspiring example for others and sharing our gifts with the world) and collective coherence (coming together as families, communities and a planet to create from a place of cooperation and compassion).

They're doing this through SoundBed, an at-home immersive SoundHealing platform that acts like a home gym for your heart, emotionally speaking. The SoundBed offers self-care, made effortless - all you do is lay down, relax and experience.

There are two elements that are utilized when using this: spatial vibration and spatial sound. Spatial vibration uses vibroacoustic technology to resonate your entire body with purposeful vibration and specific frequencies. This eases you out of your stress response, attunes your energy, and delivers you into a deeply relaxed, parasympathetic state. Spatial Sound can be experienced with headphones, envelopes you in a world of sounds that quickly captivates your attention, dissolves distracting thoughts and brings your attention back to your body.

Together, these targeted experiences create immersive SoundHealing, a unique and powerful method for relazing the body, opening the heart and expanding the mind.

While impactful on it’s own, SoundBed stacks the power of sound & vibration with guided support and proven self-care practices such as a meditation, breathwork and visualization, helping amplify the existing benefits of those practices to provide potent benefits to mental and emotional healing.

Through the OPUS app, users fill out a short emotional intelligence questionnaire that helps assess and personalize the experience. Based on your intention, OPUS recommends a particular journey to help you reach that desired state.

After selecting the desired experience, users lay down on SoundBed, put headphones on followed by the eye mask and weighted blanket. Next, the users settle in while the SoundBed begins the journey. Opus “Journeys” are crafted by a community of leading experts in meditation, peak performance, breathwork, relationships, emotional intelligence, and more. The exclusive content ranges from 7-60 minutes sessions; including shorter experiences designed for daily relaxation or mood enhancement, to longer format “Journeys” intended for deeper exploration and personal growth.

OPUS

feelopus.com

IG @feelopus

PHOTOS COURTESY | Opus

Read the May Issue #65 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Opus in mag.

COMMIT TO SELF-CARE WITH CATT SADLER

TV Personality and journalist Catt Sadler has been noted by the LA Times as one of the Top 10 Next Broadcasters of Our Generation. Her work in front of the camera has included talking with a wide range of celebs, personalities and athletes to give us the inside scoop. She launched and hosted E!'s The Daily 10 as well as appearing in a number of the networks' shows from E! News, Daily Pop, E! News Weekend to E! Live from the Red Carpet for a number of years.

Since her days at E!, Catt has also focused on the importance of empowering women and encouraging them. She navigates these areas via her site, The CattWalk. She dug deeper through her successful podcast NAKED with Catt Sadler. We caught up with Catt to talk about her career, the importance of wellness and self-care in her life, why she encourages others to embrace this as well. and her latest podcast show, It Sure is a Beautiful Day.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have always been a fan of yours. When did you know that you wanted to work in the entertainment industry as you have worn so many hats from being on TV, being a podcast host and producer!?

CATT SADDLER: My fascination with the entertainment industry was two-fold. I grew up in the Midwest watching a lot of tv and going to the movies dreaming of La La Land. I almost studied theatre in college, but was also always driven by people’s stories. I ended up studying broadcast journalism and then realized, with the help of my first agent, that I could engineer a life in entertainment television. It would be very competitive and was certainly a longshot (back then no one had iPhones), but as fate would have it I landed my first fulltime tv reporting job in San Francisco at the WB network when I was 22 years old. With more than two decades of hosting and reporting under my belt, producing was a very natural extension of that. The podcast space is a very freeing medium with less structure and rules – not to time, anything goes – I love the rawness of it. I have complete creative control of the content, my guests, the format. I’ve never had more fun.

AM: What does self-care mean to you?

CS: Self-care means so many things to me. Of course, it’s about treating myself to fresh flowers and a massage every now and then. But it’s really about the balance of mind, body, and spirit. It’s doing my best to not neglect any of these areas in my life. Understanding that, and tending to each of them is crucial to my overall wellness!

AM: How important is it to commit to self-care?

CS: The actual commitment to self-care is the most important piece. It’s a discipline that creates the best balance and peace for me. Consistently incorporating movement or exercise into my days, making time to write in my gratitude journal, and continuing my ongoing therapy. Fueling my body with food that makes me feel better, not worse, is also super important. Too much of a good thing is never actually good. Even spicy margaritas.

AM: What are your wellness goals for 2021?

CS: I’ve returned to hot yoga which is so good for us! Sweating is such a necessary release of toxins and stress. This practice has really become my church in many ways. I want to continue to get stronger and more flexible, while also increasing my supplements and vitamins. As we age we need all of the help we can get! I load up on superfoods and elixirs, collagen powders, probiotics, and more most days!

AM: By engaging in self-care, what have you learned about yourself?

CS: When we are kinder and more compassionate towards ourselves, we are better able to contribute more fully and generously to others. I’m a better mother and friend when I’m taking good care of myself.

AM: Many people try to peg their self-care moments to a particular day like on Sunday. How do you make sure that you do this more often than one day a week?

CS: I love a ritual and while I understand it might be good to put self-care on the calendar, I actually think it’s the little choices each day that matter the most. Even if it’s waking up and drinking a full glass of water or committing to five minutes of meditation. The small acts of self-care accumulate and have lasting effects.

AM: You have partnered with Hims and Hers. How did this partnership come about and what is the synergy between you?

CS: Well firstly, who doesn’t love JLo? I saw she was an ambassador for the brand and it wasn’t long after I started teaming up with them. I was using an assortment of their products. I appreciate that they cover the scope of beauty and wellness with effective products all in one easy to use and understand online destination!

AM: What are your quick tips to having glowing skin?

CS: It all starts with fresh clean skin. I like using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer to keep my skin balanced. Hers Deep Sea Cleanser and Tidal Wave Moisturizer have been working wonders. Especially hydrated skin is critical so beyond drinking a ton of water every day I also use Hyaluronic Serum from Dr. Barbara Sturm. Another serum that makes my skin feel radiant is 111Skin’s Rose Gold Radiance Booster. As I get older, it’s also important to make sure my foundation isn’t too matte or drying. I sprinkle in MARA Universal Face Oil into my foundation to make sure I create a dewy youthful look.

IG @IAmCattSadler

PHOTOS COURTESY | Catt Sadler

Read the Apr Issue #64 of Athleisure Mag and see Commit to Self-Care with Catt Sadler in mag.

LEADERS SUMMIT ON CLIMATE

Earth Day is April 22nd and today, President Joe Biden has 40 world leaders coming together for the Leaders Summit on Climate which takes place today and tomorrow and is available via livestream. With a focus to galvanize efforts by major economies to tackle the climate crisis, you can watch the panels and discussions that will take place.

The Leaders Summit on Climate will underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action.  It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow.

In recent years, scientists have underscored the need to limit planetary warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.  A key goal of both the Leaders Summit and COP26 will be to catalyze efforts that keep that 1.5-degree goal within reach.  The Summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts.

Key themes of the Summit will include:

• Galvanizing efforts by the world’s major economies to reduce emissions during this critical decade to keep a limit to warming of 1.5 degree Celsius within reach.

• Mobilizing public and private sector finance to drive the net-zero transition and to help vulnerable countries cope with climate impacts.

• The economic benefits of climate action, with a strong emphasis on job creation, and the importance of ensuring all communities and workers benefit from the transition to a new clean energy economy.

• Spurring transformational technologies that can help reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, while also creating enormous new economic opportunities and building the industries of the future.

• Showcasing subnational and non-state actors that are committed to green recovery and an equitable vision for limiting warming to 1.5 degree Celsius, and are working closely with national governments to advance ambition and resilience.

• Discussing opportunities to strengthen capacity to protect lives and livelihoods from the impacts of climate change, address the global security challenges posed by climate change and the impact on readiness, and address the role of nature-based solutions in achieving net zero by 2050 goals.

Further details on the Summit agenda, additional participants, media access, and public viewing will be provided in the coming weeks.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

ESSENTIAL HEALING WITH NICO MARLEY

As we all embrace a number of our work-outs, we find that recovery is an essential for our bodies to be the most effective. We're fans of stretching, foam rollers, restorative yoga and including CBD within our routines. This area of recovery continues to expand with no signs of stopping. This month, we caught up with Nico Marley, grandson of Bob Marley - who recently launched his CBD line, Lion X Wellness. He believes in the importance of CBD for athletes and fitness enthusiasts and as a former Washington Football player, we wanted to know more about the company, why he created it and what we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we get into LionX Wellness, I’d like to talk about your background. Your father Rohan Marley was a linebacker at the University of Miami where he played with Dwyane Johnson, Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis. He played professionally in the Canadian Football League. He went on to co-found Marley Coffee and is involved in the House of Marley, helps run your family’s charitable organization 1Love and Tuff Gong Clothing Company. It seems like you have also walked within your father’s footsteps. Can you tell us about your athletic career and why you also wanted to embrace your entrepreneurial interests?

NICO MARLEY: My athletic career began at an early age. I started playing football in middle school and noticed I had a certain passion and love for the sport, and that became my life for the next 10 years. My passion for football grew throughout my high school years, and I ended up attending Tulane University, where I played football for four years and studied Business Management and Marketing. As a freshman, I was named Conference USA Co-Freshman of the Year and a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team. I received other accolades, such as All-AmericanAthletic Conference Honorable Mention and All-American Athletic ConferenceFirst Team. Upon graduation, I signed with Washington Football and played for the preseason.

After I was cut from playing for the Washington Football, I wanted to find my new purpose in life. I worked with my father, Rohan Marley, shortly on Marley Coffee, and I quickly realized that I wanted to create my own legend. I'm proud of everything my family has done, and I want to continue to add value to our name. SoI started to think about my passions, and what came to mind is my love for performance, the collective impact we have on one another, and my family history.

AM: What is an average day/week like for you in terms of your fitness routine?

NM: I try my best to stay in shape and stay active throughout the week. Typically I try and run a few miles, include an ab work-out a few times a week, play soccer, and incorporate push ups every day.

AM: Tell me about Lion X Wellness. What led you to creating this company, why have you focused on CBD and what is in the cur-rent product range?

NM: I started taking CBD during my junior year of college when football season was beginning. This sport takes a lot out of you, and I wanted something natural that was going to help me focus before and game and help me recover after one. When I found CBD, it was perfect! My family had always spoken about natural healing for years, and this is something that could help me manage my pain as well as boost overall wellness naturally. As I searched for my new purpose, I thought about all the things I was passionate about; natural healing, my family history, and helping others. Lion X is all of those things for me. It incorporates a modern evolution of my family's philosophies and my passions for the game, performance, and overall wellness.

Lion X Wellness’s current product line features Vegan CBD Gummies, Full Spectrum CBD Oils (ranging from 500mgs to2,000mgs), a Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm, and Full Spectrum CBD Gel Capsules. In the future, I hope to expand the brand. Lion X Wellness isn’t just a CBD line; we’re a wellness company.

I hope to introduce other wellness products in the near future, along with comfortable apparel people can wear in their homes and on the go.

AM: What are the ingredients in your Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm?

NM: Lion X’s Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm is 500mgs of CBD. It contains Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Beeswax, a blend of mint and eucalyptus, CBD Rich Hemp Ex-tract, Lemongrass, and Aloe Vera.

AM: How important is CBD to recovery products for athletes and fitness enthusiasts that want to include this within your routine?

NM: Sports take a lot out of you, and many athletes tend to get hurt while playing. I found that for me personally, I preferred to take all-natural products and not prescription painkillers while playing sports. Soothing and cooling balms are extremely helpful for athletes that are seeking something to manage their pain. Topical salves are intended to increase circulation, ease aches and pains, as well as provide the athlete with some relief.

AM: What is Lion X Wellness focusing on as we begin to navigate 2021?

NM: We’re targeting people who want to make more conscious decisions about themselves and what they put in their bodies. We’re focusing on becoming a household name in the CBD industry. We hope that in the next year, we can touch as many people as we can while growing our company organically. We're also focused on expanding through more partnerships with leaders in this community, allowing us to educate new regions on CBD, social justice issues, and Lion X.

AM: Are there brand ambassadors/spokespeople for the brand?

NM: At the moment, we don’t have any official brand ambassadors. People like my father, Rohan Marley, former professional football player Ray Lewis, and my other close friends and family have promoted the brand on social media.

AM: Are there any collaborations that Lion X Wellness will be doing this year or in 2022?

NM: On February 6th we’ll be taking part in the 5th Annual Canna Business & Wellness Expo in Miami. The 5th Annual CannaBusiness & Wellness Expo is an outdoor event where you can learn more about the cannabis industry, growing business-es, opportunities, careers, and more. LionX along with Cannabis LAB will be taking every precaution to ensure the safety of the visitors. At the event, we’ll educate visitors more on Lion X, how we’re making a difference, and how they can enter to win up to $100 worth of Lion X CBD products.

AM: Beyond being used for recovery purposes, how else does Lion X Wellness assist the body?

NM: In addition to healing the body, LionX products are great for boosting your overall well being. Our CBD tinctures, Full Spectrum or Isolate, are amazing for promoting focus and relaxation. Our Veg-an CBD gummies are also a great way to maintain energy and to keep yourself focused throughout the day. Our gummies feature whole, organic hemp extract and have a mix of four delicious flavors in the same jar: strawberry, orange, green apple, and grape.

AM: In addition to Lion X Wellness, are you involved in other ventures, philanthropic efforts and/or are you involved in any of the family businesses?

NM: At the moment, Lion X donates a portion of its sales to Garden of Eden, a non-profit organization with the mission to empower women and youth by cultivating self-esteem and self-worth through mentorship programs in arts, education, and the development of sustainable community projects in underserved areas.

AM: What impact has Bob Marley had on you?

NM: Bob Marley said years ago, "Herb is the healing of the nation," and my family has lived by that saying ever since. My father would always say if you're going to use the plant, make sure you use it for the right reasons. Not just to smoke to get high but to connect to your mind, body, and soul. Although I have never met him, his words and his music have spoken volumes to me. I listen to his music when I need words of wisdom and it has helped me many times over the years right before a game or just getting up in the morning. Because of him I have been able to connect with myself on a spiritual level.

IG @Nico2Marley

@LionXWellness

PHOTOS COURTESY | Nico Marley

Read the Jan Issue #61 of Athleisure Mag and see Essential Healing with Nico Marley in mag.

BETTER TO GIVE THEN RECEIVE WITH MADISON PREWETT

We first got to know about Madison Prewett on The Bachelor Season 24 as she got to know Peter Weber. Although they ultimately didn’t find love together, we loved how she was passionate about basketball and specifically Auburn Basketball (we enjoyed seeing her dad who is the Director of Operations for the men’s basketball team), her commitment to her faith, her focus on giving back and even voluntarily leaving after being a runner up on the show! So when we found out that this holiday season that she is lending her voice to World Vision! We wanted to find out more about their gift catalog, how it assists those in need and how we can come together to help others whether they are here in the US or elsewhere around the globe.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is that you love most about the holiday season and how will you be celebrating this year?

MADISON PREWETT: Obviously my favorite part about this season is that it’s a season full of - well at least how I was raised and how I have been so fortunate - is that it is a season of being able to give back and to be able to celebrate it with the people that are closest to me. That’s why I think that it’s so cool to be able to partner with World Vision. This is something that is so dear to my heart and something that I am so passionate about. My family is also passionate about this and every single year, we’re asking ourselves, what can we do to help those that aren’t able to do that same experience of being able to celebrate with those that they love or really just to celebrate in general. So I think that it’s so perfect that I was able to really connect with World Vision at this time especially with everything going on at this time with the pandemic. There are more kids living now in poverty and you can give - we all can give gifts that can change lives. So I think that that is really what I love and what I am excited about this holiday season.

AM: You have partnered with World Vision. Can you tell our readers about this organization?

MP: Yeah! World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization and they work all over in nearly 100 countries - including the United States. That’s something that is so amazing to me as it’s just not something that is overseas, but is also something that is right here! They provide people the tools so that they can overcome poverty and that is something that I really love about World Vision. They aren’t just handing over whatever, they are actually walking through it with these people, they’re training these people, they are empowering these people to really create change for their lives. It’s not just handing them something, but it’s actually creating that change for them right here and for the legacy of that family that they are going to be able to create.

AM: Tell us about the World Vision Gift Catalog and their focus on giving a gift to change a life. Can you tell us about the gifts that they are offering to change lives?

MP: You can buy gifts like goats, alpacas, emergency food kits and there are a bunch of gifts that you can give beyond symbolic gifts. You can also do tangible gifts that you can give as well. There are handcrafted gifts like jewelry, candle holders, ornaments. I’m wearing one of their rings now which is known as their Circle of Hope Ring by Sadie Robertson Huff. I love jewelry so this is just something that is so easy for me to wear and to want to give people. The most popular gift at World Vision is the gifting of animals! You can buy a goat for $85 and I think that it is one of those things that here, you’d say, “why would you want to buy a goat?” But it’s actually so beautiful because you can really transform not only a home and a family’s life, but an entire community. Because those goats multiply and it’s more than just them cooking a goat and eating it right? But the goats can provide up to 16 cups of milk a day and they also not only provide milk for their families, but they can also sell that milk and also help those that are around them. So for $85 you can provide a goat and it’s just something that can really change these people’s lives and their futures forever.

AM: These gifts, in terms of the catalog, do they exist only during the holiday season or can people contribute year around?

MP: You can definitely contribute year around. Right now the way it works is that you can go to WorldVision.org and can choose a gift and then you can just browse the catalog, order the gift and then you just purchased something that is making a difference. You can also honor a loved one by giving a gift that is in their honor and in their name which makes it more personalized. You can definitely do this year round but right now is just such a great time in that you are already buying gifts and are already getting presents under the tree and spending money during this time. So why not give a gift that is purposeful and is making a difference?

AM: We're currently watching Tayshia Adams on The Bachelorette and we're pretty excited about The Bachelor with Matt James. I enjoyed you on your season of The Bachelor what was that like for you and what have you been up to since we saw you on Season 24?

MP: The experience was full of a lot of highs and lows. I think that I really learned a lot about myself and just coming off the show, I was able to have a new perspective on a lot of things. Now I have this new platform and I want to be able to do what I can especially in this time where there is a lot of loneliness, poverty and division and be able to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. So that’s why really since then, I have been focusing on what I can do to find out my purpose, how I can help and doing a lot of speaking, writing and partnering with amazing organizations like World Vision. I just want to be involved with the ways that I can help in the midst of everything that is going on and that’s why I love World Vision for everything that they are doing to help people in this time during the pandemic in the US with family emergency kits that are filled with essentials that people can purchase for $75. It can feed a family of 5 for up to a week which is really amazing. All these families are desperately in need and it provides essentials like masks, hand sanitizers and things like that. To be able to be a part and to help with things that are going on all over the world but also right here in the United States.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

6 STEPS - THE DAY YOU VOTE

Although a number of people have voted by mail or dropped off their ballots at designated areas, there are a number of people who are standing in long lines to make sure that their vote counts at polling stations. The CDC has been our go to place when it comes to how we can go about a number of our activities that are recommended to be the safest way to do them. Here is what you need to know

The more prepared you are, the more you reduce your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

1. People who are sick can follow CDC advice for when to be around others.

2. Bring your own supplies

• Use this checklist to remember things to bring with you when you go to vote:

  • Necessary documentation such as your identification (check with your voting site)

  • A mask

  • An extra mask

  • Tissues

  • Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

  • Water

  • Black ink pen

  • Bring prepared items with you (e.g., registration forms, sample ballots)

3. Wear a mask

You should wear a mask consistently and correctly in public and around people who don’t live with you.

• If you must take your mask off, use hand sanitizer before and after

• Have an extra mask in case yours gets wet or dirty

A few people might not be able to wear a mask because of a disability or condition.

4. Protect yourself when using transport

• Open windows if you can

• Wear a mask

• Avoid touching things if you can and use hand sanitizer if you do

• Stay 6 feet (about two arm lengths) apart from others if you can

5. Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol before entering and after leaving your place of voting

• Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol before and after touching items that many others may have touched, such as door handles

• Do not wipe down voting equipment unless you are told to do so

6. Keep your distance from others

• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ lengths) from other people as much as you can

• Stay apart even if you are wearing masks

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY

Like you, we know how crucial washing your hands are to maintain healthy hand hygiene and we love the message that Dial is sending today! Although Dial has been known to focus on the initiative with their partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America which has always focused on littles getting in on the action, we now know during these times that this is something that we ALL need to do!

Today the brand debuted on TikTok and launched its #DIalItForward challenge which is live from today 10/15 through 10/17. TV Host and mom Tia Mowry showed us how it’s done. She kicked off the challenge and was joined by a number of influencers like Nick + SIenna and Gabby Douglas to show how fun washing your hands can be. TikTokers can interact with one another by using the app’s “duet” function. Join in on the fun by adding #DialItForward on TikTok and tagging them on Instagram with @Dial #GlobalHandwashingDay #DialItForward.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

CREATE THE RITUAL WITH STEVE SCHWARTZ

Tea has always been a beverage that we have enjoyed hot, iced, alone, with an array of sweeteners and even mixed with the spirit of our choice. We wanted to delve more into tea culture to find out the origin of tea, how it should be consumed, stored and what the benefits are when drinking it. We talked with Steve Schwartz, the founder of Art of Tea which is known for their 100s of options that they have available on their site, their hospitality partnerships with Wolfgang Puck, Aria, Caesars Palace and more. He talks with us about his background in Ayurveda, how he got into the industry, how he grew his company and the importance of our individual tea rituals wherever we are in the world.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is a master tea blender and what does that position entail?

STEVE SCHWARTZ: Great well let me first share a little bit on my background. My background entails Ayurveda. It’s a form of preventative medicine based in India. I got into that because my mom was actually diagnosed with brain cancer when I was just out of high school. I got a full paid scholarship to go to college and I ended up dropping out so I could go and move back in to take care of her. So, I took care of her for about 10 months until she passed. The whole time, we were just on Western medicine and there is nothing wrong with Western medicine, it just didn’t work for us. So we went from one doctor to another and one external treatment to another. Before she passed, it got me to thinking, “gosh, cancer must have been around for thousands of years, we have only just recently labeled it as cancer. What are the other healing modalities that are out there?” I didn’t want to stick needles in people, I didn’t want to be a massage therapist or an herbologist – there is nothing wrong with any of those, it just wasn’t my path.

So, I found this school in New Mexico called the Ayurvedic Institute and really fell in love with the alchemy of blending herbs, teas and botanicals and how those herbs and botanicals link together to create unique flavor profiles and how those flavors, their profiles, herbs and healing properties affect the body in very different ways. In both a metabolic way, but also in terms of helping with hormones, digestive fire, immunity, longevity and all these things that really rally behind how these botanicals are blended together. So it’s not 1 herb plus another herb or botanical equals 2, but rather 1 + 1 could equal 4 or 6. It could multiply and increase in terms of its strength.

So I was looking into old texts and Sanskrit while I was at school and really trying to get an understanding of the alchemy of teas and herbs and it was funny that one of the patients that was there was a gentleman by the name, Yogi Bhajan (Editors Note: he is cited as bringing his version of Kundalini Yoga to the US in the late 60’s/early 70’s) and he would come to the facility and see the doctor. I would make the blends for him. Another thing that was requested was that their family would ask for other ingredients and ask us to blend in different ratios these different botanicals. So we would source and then send them the first samples and I would find 6 months or 9 months down the road that these blends were on supermarket shelves known as Yogi Teas. I was like, ok I know what I’m doing and at this point, there wasn’t a lot of real internet connectivity.

There was this company Amazon that was starting out. But most of what I was doing was making phone calls to origin all throughout Asia and India. I remember that I needed to source ginkgo. So I called and it was like $4 a minute, so I wanted to be respectful of budget and time and I said, “I need to order some ginkgo.” They said, “do you want a Western slope or an Eastern slope next to a river?” I told them that it didn’t really matter, I just wanted to order ginkgo. He said, “no sir, it does matter. I need you to come here yourself so you can experience it.” I was intrigued, I appreciated the invitation and I saved up my money and worked 4 different jobs, got a backpack and started traveling the world to find the best teas and the botanicals possible.

I had no idea that I was going to start a tea company. I just knew that I was a huge tea nerd and was into it. I saw the impact that it had on people’s lives – those that drink tea and those that don’t. What it means to them, whether it’s sitting down with a loved one at the end of the day, engaging in a meditation practice or needing to work out a research paper. Whatever it might be, I just saw the level of the impact that tea could have and so I started sourcing the different botanicals in my living room, started blending and started peddling my teas around town. I caught the attention of Wolfgang Puck and a hotel, a restaurant, a spa! Then I caught the attention of Caesar’s Palace and I ended up training the first Tea Sommelier in the United States. It sort of just grew from there and I ended up teaching classes at these world tea conventions and they were sold out. So I taught them 5 years in a row beginning with advance blending classes. There was no one teaching blending. In fact, when I realized they were asking me to teach it, I knew I had to look up old books and I ended up finding one from 1896 on blending!

AM: Wait what?

SS: Yeah! There was nothing at the time. So I said, “ok, if I’m asked to create a format, then I’m just going to share my failures and my wins. What’s working and what’s not and hopefully leave an impression and an impact. For people that took the classes, they’re now publicly traded companies or sold to Procter & Gamble. So, it’s awesome to see the impact on what’s happening in the tea industry.

AM: Wow, just thinking of you talking about this, are there new blends or nutrients that grow that they didn’t exist in the 18 or 1900’s? We enjoy a number of the items that we consume and feel that those have always been around, but are there new hybrids?

SS: Great question! First, let’s dive into what is tea and what was that book from 1896 all about back then? True tea comes from one evergreen shrub called Camellia Sinensis. All true tea comes from that evergreen shrub. If it’s not from this evergreen shrub, then it’s not tea. So for example White Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, Pu-erh – all of these come from Camellia Sinensis. Then there are differences in terms of how they are produced, but it is very similar to wine – it all comes from grapes. Now depending on the grape that’s used, how it’s grown and processed – is it stored in an oak barrel or a stainless steel container, is the skin left on? All these play into crafting a really delicious glass of wine. The same way that tea is separated, picked at different harvest times depending on what they are looking for, put into these silos of White, Green, Oolong, Black and Pu-erh. There are some subcategories between there, different varietals of tea, those that are grown specifically for those types of teas as well.

But if it is Chamomile or Rooibos then it’s not actually a tea. It’s a totally different category known as a Tisane. It is a fancy French word that basically means botanical. You can have Mint, Chamomile and Rooibos blended together and you have a Tisane or what is called a fusion or you can blend it with tea and then you have a Tea Fusion. But Chamomile tea is actually an oxymoron as it’s not really a tea.

AM: Wow!

SS: And you now know more than 99% of the US population!

AM: Our minds are now kind of blown as we’re processing this information!

So, what do you define a Master Tea Blender as?

SS: I guess the 10,000 hour rule plays deeply into this. Having a strong sense of origin, where and how the teas are grown and when you’re tasting tea about 98% of what you are drinking is water. So what you’re looking for is the nuance within that 2% and so your tongue ends up becoming like an instrument. You’re learning how to play with the high notes and the low notes, the terroir of the different ingredients and how they will play well together. So, like an artist that is using color and a color palette to define what a painting will look like, they know where and when to add specific colors. The same thing with a blend. You want the blend to be even in terms of ingredient size so that smaller bits don’t fall into the bottom, you want that flavor profile to have a nice mouth feel in terms of what you are looking for in terms of beginning, middle and finish. But it’s knowing your ingredients well enough to see how that symphony of ingredients will come together for that final composition.

AM: What is that process like when you’re blending the teas? As you were talking, I was thinking back to last month’s issue when we talked with a Master Winemaker and she was talking about how it’s the harvest season and what takes place during this time. You were talking about that there is that kind of season in tea as well. So what’s the blending and the harvest season like for you?

SS: Great question. So the blending process in terms of the creations, when I was first starting out, I became obsessed with new blends that were coming out and I had a journal next to my bed where I would wake up in the middle of the night and I’d go, “oh, I have this great inspiration.” Sometimes, a great inspiration comes from odd things. My wife is an aesthetician and she got tons of samples of different skincare products from vendors that were sending them to her to try. Our shower is populated with tons of different scrubs and conditioners and all sorts of stuff. Being curious, I opened one up called Mandarin Cashmere and it was wow – you could almost bite into it. It was smooth, sweet, citrusy and creamy! I thought it would be an amazing tea and obviously I didn’t want to eat a scrub and no one is going to want to eat cashmere, but I thought, “ok, maybe I can take this and make it. Call it Mandarin Silk.” I ended up really honing in on where those flavor notes were hitting my nose. Over 80% of what we taste, is through our sense of smell. So where are those flavor notes hitting my nose and how can I duplicate that within a product that someone is going to want to drink? It ended up doing really well and the tea won Best Oolong in the World. So, it was really really fun and really cool!

So, there’s that part and then there’s Vera Wang who is coming up with a new line and she was like, can you make a tea that matches this perfume. In some cases, it’s really complex and in some cases, it’s really trial and error. One blend I made, I made on accident. What happened was, I was first starting out and I was on the phone with a customer and I was blending one ingredient in a batch of other ingredients that were resting. Meaning, as you blend, you want certain aromatics and compounds to be able to mesh together before you begin to introduce other ingredients to it. Just like you’re going out with friends and say you’re inviting other friends over, you may ask, “should we invite that other person?” Because that person could add a lot of value or that person could just take the air out of the room. So in the same way, you’ll introduce ingredients at staged times. So I was on the phone with the customer and I accidentally dumped one ingredient into a batch with another. While I was on the phone with them, I was like “oh shit” and this was with a 5-Star restaurant and I was like, “oh no, I’m sorry, how can I help you?” This was when I was customer service, sales, accounts receivable, accounts payable and marketing. Everything was tied into my cell phone when I was in my living room. I actually blended this, realized that I made the mistake and put it in this cello bag and put it in the corner. My wife walks in and she immediately notices where I messed up right? It’s part of her super power and she asked me what was that and I told her that I had messed up and she asked how I knew that I had? I told her that I was a Tea Expert, a Tea Master and that I knew. She said, “well you might want to try it.” I told her that I didn’t need to try it and that I knew it would be bad. She was right, it was burning in my head and I knew that I should at least try it. The next morning I woke up, I tried it and it was really good. I ended up sending samples out to different customers and they loved it. This is a tea called French Lemon Ginger and it’s still one of our most popular herbal botanical tisanes that we have to offer.

AM: What lessons have you learned through creating your teas?

SS: Allow yourself permission to fuck up!

AM: Yup!

SS: Giving yourself that permissions, messing up along the way, learning and customer feedback! That’s also been really powerful. When we launch something, what we do is first go through rounds internally and then we’ll go through rounds externally for our customers and then we’ll do a launch. So right now, we’re experimenting with a bottle beverage and we’re testing it out and we created it during this time of COVID-19. It’s called Open Sunshine and the whole idea is that there is so much power and energy by just going outside. People have this mixed relationship with what it means now to go outside and be in open sunshine. There are so many health factors about going outside. We took a look at getting Green Tea, Black Tea, Passion Fruit, Jasmine, Lemon and Ginger. We created an effervescent sparkling tea out of all of these different kinds of ingredients. So it’s a little spicy and a little sweet and slightly floral. We’re launching it in about 2 weeks and we’re pretty excited about it!

AM: That is so exciting! What is that process like when you’re thinking about your assortment? Do you have a brainstorm where x amount of products have to come to market and x amount have to go into the vault to then come back again? You have an extensive amount of teas that are on your website – so it’s interesting to hear about the rotational aspect to it.

SS: That’s a great question. So in some cases, it’s through that trial and error and we’ll walk before we run. So we’ll do soft launches, we gain feedback, learn from what people are experiencing and our tribe is very vocal. They will share direct feedback on what they love and what they don’t love. It could be through Facebook or wherever that opportunity is for them to share with us. It’s having that dynamic trust relationship with our customers to be able to learn and to hopefully get better.

We’ve tried shaving back some of our offerings as well. I think that because we have such a vocal community, they will tell us that we can’t take that tea down. So we decided that at particular times, you may or may not like this analogy – the McRib.

AM: Haha that’s smart!

SS: Yeah, we’ll say, “we’ll McRib that.” We won’t get rid of it, but we will offer it at this particular time. For example, we have a tea called Pumpkin Spiced Chai that does so well in the fall and in the winter time. But for us to sell it in the heat of the summer, just doesn’t make sense. So we’ll breathe life back into certain teas at particular times of the year.

AM: What destinations have inspired you in terms of creating different kinds of teas?

SS: Great question! We actually created and found that there are 4 reasons that people like to drink tea. We did this whole brand exercise a couple of years ago really trying to identify what it was that people are gravitating towards for their cups of tea. We found that they drink tea because it tastes good, they drink tea because of a period of time (they have to drink it in the morning to get them going, at night to help them wind down) a location (I remember going to London and sitting outside and enjoying a beautiful cup of tea or sitting on your grandmother’s porch and enjoying a delicious tea) and the last piece is the wellness piece. People drink tea because they think of the medicinal value whether it’s something that their grandmother gave them when they were a kid or they read on a supermarket label that this does a particular kind of function.

We created a Location Collection that included London, Big Sur, Tuscany – that’s a few. We also created specific teas that are only sold at specific hotels. Like at the Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo, we created a Cherry Blossom Tea in honor of the cherry blossom season. I’ve been very inspired by these different areas. In terms of the seasonal blend, there is one called Summer Rain. My family and I were driving from LA to Palm Springs and we got stuck in a monsoon. We couldn’t leave the car because it was pouring rain. By the time it stopped raining, we opened the door and you have this dry desert that is now hit with fresh rain and the smell that comes up from that floor is incredible. So I thought, how can I capture this in a tea and we created a blend called Summer Rain. It’s always a different inspiration and it’s not always so far out there in the world. It could very much be in our backyard, a memory or something that is close to us.

AM: We believe in drinking tea for its medicinal properties and we have members of our team that do so as they opt out from taking traditional medicine. Can you share what the benefits are in consuming tea in general and are there specific teas that are good for targeting immunity, relaxation and gut health?

SS: All great questions. The most powerful benefit of tea is really the ritual. I was just learning with someone about how SnapChat had this new thing called Spectacles it’s Augmented Reality and you can dive in and it transforms your physical reality with these goggles and puts you into this internal/external world combined in one. Sounds interesting right? I was curious, So I wondered, what is “augment” mean? To me, it means to change or to alter. But augment actually means, to improve. So this whole world is going to continue to evolve as we’re dealing with what COVID-19 could mean, what connecting with people remotely could mean and this whole AR world is going to continue to transform. If the biggest benefit of tea to answer your question, is that ritual, then how can we create a modern day ritual without feeling foreign or without feeling like you need all these right tools or worry that we might mess it up.

So this morning, I also looked up the word, “analog.” Analog means relating to physical space. So you have augment which means to improve and analog which means to relate to your physical space. So, I’m sort of playing with the idea of AAR. Instead of Augmented Reality, there is an Analog Augmented Reality. So what does that mean? Basically, how can we dive into that ritual of getting your water ready, selecting your tea pod, getting your cup together, selecting the right tea leaves and tapping out of technology. I am a huge fan of technology, but for just about 8-10 minutes, turn that stuff off and really dive in and hone in on that process and really be mindful and intentional. If you allow yourself that permission, that space – imagine what it could do throughout the rest of your day, the rest of your life, the people that you love and the people that you are surrounded with. Giving yourself that permission to dive in completely with all of your senses and go all in on that Analog Augmented Reality of brewing that process and sipping that process. Your mind will get totally distracted and say, “oh I need to do this and I need to tackle that email.” But just keep honing in on those few minutes and that intention is a whole paradox. You might now have 8-10 minutes to do this, but if you allow yourself that time, the impact will be so great, but it’s really allowing yourself that permission.

AM: It’s a great way of putting it. In Tokyo, we went to a tea house and had the ability to see them make our tea. To think about all the steps that we do to create tea on a daily basis as a ritual is an interesting concept – from the use of our Breville, designated cups and you do take at least half a beat to do that.

SS: And it’s a modern day ritual right? You don’t have to travel to Tokyo to have this experience. It’s a corner in your garage, it’s a small section in your patio, it’s a place in your room – wherever it might be where I am designating this space as a sacred space. That intention, you are breathing life into that intention. It will spill over into everything else that you are doing.

AM: Do you have teas that you would suggest that people can use to target issues that they are focused on?

SS: Great questions and I will answer it twofold. The first is yes, we have a wellness section on ArtofTea.com. It’s Flow Blend and Glow Blend. We have a Happy Tea, a Chill Out, Feel Better Blends, Throat Therapy, Breathe – all of these things that target very specific things. They’re all blended with Ayurveda and wellness in mind and at the same time, there is a story out about the student and the master. The master says, “You’re ready for the final exam. I want you to go in a 1 mile radius and I want you to find a specific botanical that doesn’t have medicinal value.” The student is excited and says, “ok, great”. The student has 24 hours, goes and comes back 24 hours later sobbing and says, “master, I failed. I couldn’t find a single botanical that didn’t have medicinal value.” And the master looks up and says, “no you’ve passed. Every root, every leaf, every berry, every botanical, bark has medicinal value.” But on the same tree or plant, the root may be medicine for one person and the leaves could be poison for someone else. The berry could affect one part of the body, meanwhile, the stem or the roots could affect a different part of the body. How they are blended together might also have very powerful affects. Whether you’re living reading or listening to this in the East Coast, West Coast, Mexico or Canada wherever you might be – within a 1 mile radius there are many different botanicals that are worth learning about. So I encourage local sourcing as much as possible, but also if you don’t have time, we have definitely taken a lot of the guess work out and crafted really delicious teas through what we are doing in our wellness line.

AM: You have such an interesting distribution in the sense of the website and your hospitality partners. How is that for you, is it different when you’re doing something for a hotel group versus those who are coming directly to the website to purchase?

SS: It’s a great question. We will do signature blends for our hospitality partners that are just for them like Google for example for their offices. The Aria Hotel, there are very specific teas for very specific properties, but the large majority of teas that we have to offer can be found at our website. We found that with a lot of our hotels closing and people had summer plans, a lot of the places where people would meet to work over tea – they still needed to connect over the tea experience. The ritual of what they built, still needed to happen even if it was virtual. So we decided to create a Rework kit and we crafted it with Google. Google said that they had budget and that they wanted to connect with their team and would we could do. So we created this kit with a little message inside that said, “Loving you remotely, from Google.” It was sent out to a variety of different staff members there at Google. A certain amount of boxes that were sold were sent out to First Responders. It’s been great and we’re trying to tie into this element of still connect ing with our tribe or community and really looking to make an impact through tea.

AM: We find ourselves asking this to everyone because of the impact of COVID-19 across industries has been beyond what anyone could have even imagined. Have there been effects in terms of production of tea? Has it hindered it in any way?

SS: Good and bad. So, from our side, we have the freshest and best Chamomile that we have ever had and we have a very abundant amount of this Chamomile. We bought based on what we thought the demand would be. We’re sitting on a lot of amazing Chamomile – we’ve always sourced it great, but this is really good! On the other side, Darjeeling, which is a region in India – think about a large hippie commune that has a very specific region where they have low valleys and high hills. It’s the champagne of teas and a really crisp tasting tea. They have 3 harvest seasons. Their most profitable and most important season for that region happens in a very short window. It starts, regardless of climate change and on a very particular day of the year. All the workers come together and they wait year around for this day when they can harvest. This happened at the end of March, I believe it was March 29th and the government said the day before when everyone was gearing up to harvest, that we couldn’t harvest and they were preventing it from happening. All these estates, estate owners, garden workers and harvesters – their livelihood was about to be shifted dramatically. There is already a shortage and a high demand for this high quality product so those stories, we have seen an impact. They were still able to harvest, they got creative through means of social distancing, but they were unable to do it on the exact day that it has been happening for many many years.

AM: From a customer perspective when they go to your website, are they able to request custom blends for themselves if someone is having a wedding or if they have a small business? Is there an ability to do that on a smaller level vs your larger accounts?

SS: What we have done is to create blog articles where people can take specific teas that we have and create their own fun blends with them with specific recommendations around that. We’re doing a project now with these guys called Try Guys that have a YouTube channel. We’re working on a custom tea blend with them. So we will work on specific projects, but in terms of custom blending based on individual customers or a smaller business, we will typically have them start with our 100+ teas that we have to offer on our site and helping them navigate through that process through that channel.

AM: What is the Art of Tea Academy and can you tell us more about what happens there?

SS: So glad you mentioned it. This COVID-19 period has given us the time to be super creative. So we created a 25 video series all on becoming a Tea Expert. It’s in depth training on how to taste tea, how to understand origin, flavor profiles and indepth learning on the different styles of tea. Lots of people that are foodies know where their wine comes from, their coffees their chocolate, but there is still a lot of mystique around tea. There is this idea that people will mess it up somehow. So we wanted to demystify the leaf and get people more closely connected with learning about tea. So in a very short period of time, we have had a few thousand people sign up and the response has been super positive so far. People have the time to learn and they want to up their game. Whether they’re in the hospitality space or are passionate about the love of learning, we wanted to put this out there in the world.

AM: You recently launched your tea app as well, which looks really beautiful. What are the types of things that people can do through that app?

SS: I’m so grateful for the talent of our team. Specifically, Hanna who helps leads up our marketing and is so instrumental in getting both of these sections live on our site. With the app, the app is a really fun and dynamic way to understand to best brew tea? There is a steep time section on there that you can take a really quick glance on. I found that one of the most popular pages on our site was how to brew tea. So it’s a quick and easy way that you can know how not to mess up your tea and how much to put in there.

The others connect to our tea quiz. So a lot of people will say, “I know that we need to get into tea because it’s good for me, but I don’t know where to start.” Or they have a loved one who loves tea, but they don’t know what to get them. The Tea Quiz is a bit of the ShoeDazzle and helps you navigate what is out there like a personal shopper. In just a few minutes, how can you best identify what tea will best match what you are looking for. Those are some of the fun connections that are happening on the app as well as discounts, checking out and notifications.

AM: What are your 3 go to teas that you enjoy?

SS: Wow man – it’s like what’s your favorite kid? We have a tea called Earl Grey Crème which I know we sent you guys.

AM: Yes – so good and we like the idea of adding a little gin to it at night!

SS: That’s awesome! We found that with Earl Grey, there’s lots of ways to make it. We found, that we like to make it the authentic way with Bergamot oil and we use an Italian Bergamot Oil. We put that in our Earl Grey and we also found out that some may find that it is slightly astringent for some people so some add cream, milk or sugar to it which kind of neutralizes that. What we did is to add a touch of French Vanilla which is sort of this eggy, creamy flavor profile. So the combination of that Bergamot Oil which is a bright citrus note that is slightly floral and that black tea with its brightness and astringency blended with the French, lemon, ginger – you get this full mouth feel really rounded out and smooth. I could drink that all day and we grow mint in our backyard which is easy to grow and we’ll throw that in there as well. We have a blend that has it already called Big Sur which is awesome. I could drink Earl Grey Crème all day.

I also love Japanese tea – we have one called Matcha+ which is Sencha, Green Tea and blended with ceremonial grade matcha. So you get more of a bioavailability from the matcha and it impacts the thyroid which governs immunity and metabolism and gets everything active. It is the same style tea that they use in Zen monasteries throughout Japan before they go into meditation so they can focus. You get this clear rush, but you don’t feel that jolty jitteriness that you feel with coffee.

The third that I can drink on an ongoing basis is our Silver Needle. It’s harvested about 7-10 days out of the year. It’s handpicked from Fujian Provence. We bring it in and it’s like drinking from a fresh spring. It’s slightly sweet and has slight notes of melon to it and it’s really great.

AM: Do you envision with the trend to have tea and alcohol together as a hard tea, do you envision a collaboration of something like that?

SS: It would be fun. We do work with several Kombucha companies that have both hard as well as non-alcoholic. There is a cider company that is in the works to launch something sometime next year with our tea. Just in general, I think that tea and alcohol especially now, right? I need to do something good for me and I need to be able to put something in my body and at the same time, they’re like fuck it – I need alcohol and I need something that’s going to make me chill out a bit. When you blend the two together, it’s not so bad!

AM: Does tea have a shelf life in general and what is the best way to put it in containers to keep it fresh?

SS: Great question! Tea is sensitive to light, heat and humidity. As long as you keep it from those, you can have tea last for a long time and have a really great experience. If it is subject to any of those or is near your spice drawer or anything that is fragrant, it acts as a natural odor absorber and it will take up the smells of other things. You just want to make sure that it is in an airtight container.

In terms of the shelf life for tea, tea if produced well and is high quality, it shouldn’t go bad. What we end up finding is that we have Best by Dates as we believe that there is a peak flavor profile that you’re going to get out of a tea in terms of being a live product. Over time, that flavor will drop which means you will lose some natural oil content, the vibrancy of the leaves will start to diminish.

We moved warehouses a few years ago from one location to the next. We found, tucked away in one drawer, tea that was over 5 years old. It was packed well, kept cool in a dark place and we decided to try it and it was fresh, dynamic and really really good. As long as it is stored right, you can have tea last a long time.

AM: I know earlier we were talking about the Pumpkin Chai Tea, but are there things coming out in the fall or holiday that we should keep an eye out for whether it’s new to market or being placed back into rotation?

SS: So a few things. Today we just launched in celebration of our SoCal roots, a beverage that is really popular here is Agua Frescas – just imagine melon water, hibiscus water or cantaloupe water. We did a few events, one was called Summit and a big coffee and tea tea trade show where we soft launched this product called Matcha Fresca!

AM: Oooo that sounds refreshing and amazing!

SS: Haha yes we will send you some! It’s a premium grade matcha with cantaloupe essence and it’s so good! You get this fresh taste like you’re biting into this juicy cantaloupe and the matcha is a really bright green color to stay consistent. This is out now and we’re super excited about that!

IG @ArtofTeaLA

PHOTOGRAPHY | Audrey Ma

Read the Aug Issue of Athleisure Mag #56 and see Create the Ritual with Steve Schwartz in mag.

Hear the founder of Art of Tea, Steve Schwartz on our show, Athleisure Kitchen - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on iHeart Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

SIGN THE PETITION FOR A NATIONAL MASK MANDATE

A National Mask Mandate is needed for the United States in 2020. 

If we all MaskUp when out in public, we can reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Masks are our Key Tool - Masks are our Key Tool to Reduce the Spread of the Virus when out in public or when social distancing otherwise cannot occur or meet circumstances. This is backed by Science and Data.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance states Americans should wear masks in all “public settings when around people outside of their household."

Using Masks SAVE LIVES!! - Wearing Masks Properly Saves Lives! Protect and Respect Others as well as Yourself.

We need to quickly get to CRITICAL MASS now - If most people properly used masks, we  could significantly reduce the community spread of Covid-19. Masks work when most people use them. 

“So just as we’ve seen cases skyrocket, we can turn this thing around in two to three weeks if we can get a critical mass of people wearing face coverings, practicing at least six feet of social distancing, doing the things that we know are effective,” - U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams.

States next to hot spot states are more vulnerable in these challenging times.

The countries that have been successful in reducing the spread of the virus wore masks, socially distanced and washed/sanitized their hands. 

There should be a National Mask Mandate until the hazards and dangers faced by Covid-19 are reduced.

#NMM #NationalMaskMandate #MandateMasks #MaskUp #MaskUpAmerica #FederalMaskMandate #WearAMask #WearADamnMask

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

S1. E13. | BUNGALOW SK WITH MISS NEW JERSEY USA GINA MELLISH

On today's episode of Bungalow SK, we catch up with Miss NJ USA 2020, Gina Mellish as we all continue to navigate quarantine and social distancing due to COVID-19. Gina shares her history in the pageant world, being crowned and how she continues to fulfill her duties even during these past few months. In addition, she talks about how she uses her personal journey and her platform to assist those who are dealing with domestic violence and its effects regardless of the kinds of interpersonal relationships that you're involved in. She even talks about her work with One Love Foundation. We chat about how you can identify if you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence and how you can help. She also talks about how these situations take on a bigger need to assist those that need help during times of COVID-19. We also talk about the road ahead from preparing to compete for Miss USA as well as her love for the fashion industry.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.