THE ART OF THE SNACK | TSUBAME

As we end the year, we find that we tend to enjoy going out just a bit more! It's the perfect way to eat at places that we enjoy coming back to again and again as well as to try something entirely new that we feel will be in our rotation for years to come!

Located in Tribeca, Tsubame is a Kaiseki Inspired Omakase. We sat down with Chef/Owner Jay Zheng who talks about the recently launched restaurant that will allow our tastebuds to be truly transported with each bite that we enjoy of their menu.

He shares his culinary background, why he opened this restaurant, the menu's focus as well as walking us through what we can expect when we make our next reservation for one of the two seatings that they have available for dinner.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Tsubame launch?

CHEF JAY ZHENG: Tsubame opened its doors on August 29, 2023

AM: Can you tell me about your culinary background? Where did you train and what kitchens you worked in prior to opening Tsubame?

CHEF JZ: Born in rural China, my family grew up under very humble beginnings. In search of a more prosperous future, my father emigrated our family to the United States Midwest when I was 7, where I was first introduced to a kitchen in my family’s new restaurant at the time. Humbly, the restaurant took off, and around my early teenage years, my father took our family on frequent visits to Japan where I gained extensive knowledge of culinary tradition and culture. I quickly fell in love. Since, I had a stint at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago.

AM: What was the reason and vision behind Tsubame?

CHEF JZ: Initially, I opened my first restaurant in Indiana in 2012, but authentic Japanese cuisine was less appreciated in the area than I had hoped. After 4 years, in 2016, I was fortunate enough to move to New York City, where I opened Gaijin, an upscale sushi restaurant in Astoria, Queens, which I relaunched as Kōyō after the pandemic. While this restaurant was a success, I always had my heart set on opening a location in Manhattan, so when I found the location in Tribeca for Tsubame, I jumped on the opportunity. The name, Tsubame, comes from a barn swallow that nested in my childhood village during the spring.

AM: Tsubame is a kaiseki-inspired omakase restaurant. Many of our readers are familiar with omakase, but can you tell us about what kaiseki is and how that connects with an omakase experience?

CHEF JZ: In Japan, Kaiseki refers to a traditional multi-course meal, crafted from the finest seasonal ingredients. It is characterized by extreme sophistication of taste and appearance, carefully selected ingredients, and meticulous attention to the arrangement of the vessels and space. The world of kaiseki is a very deep world involving the concept of wabi-sabi and the five yin-yang elements. At Tsubame, we employ the Japanese culinary concept of Shun for our kaiseki-inspired progression, using ingredients at their prime seasonal freshness, making each offering both the best-tasting and most visually appealing. This is central to my omakase preparation because I believe omakase is more than just a dining experience, but also a sensory one as well.

AM: How does one become a kaiseki master?

CHEF JZ: You must be trained in true Kaiseki restaurants for years to become a master, which not many exist outside of Japan. There are no shortcuts to becoming a master.

AM: For those that are coming to Tsubame, can you tell us about the ambiance and the space?

CHEF JZ: The interior was designed by AESAM based in Hong Kong in a minimalist fashion with blonde wood and a white textured wall that is inset and backlit to set a very relaxed mood. The tasting counter is lined with very comfortable high, black velvet barstools trimmed in gold. At the entrance are handblown white glass birds to evoke the restaurant’s namesake. While the interior is clean and comfortable, we wanted to avoid the over-the-top flashiness so we could let the ingredients and dishes shine instead.

AM: With only 10 seats for diners, how many sittings are available each night?

CHEF JZ: 2 seatings, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.

AM: Can you walk us through each portion of the seasonal menu which is 8 courses?

CHEF JZ: Our menu rotates quite often as our menu is based on seasonal freshness, but recently, here are some of the dishes we’ve had.

Sakizuke – the amuse bouche – launches the meal. My Shiroebi Uni Shokupan is a big opener, housemade milk bread layered raw baby shrimp from Toyama and vivid uni from Hokkaido, garnished with shiso flowers. Luxuriously creative, it sets a tone for the meal that follows.

Hassun, meaning “eight inches” is a collection of small bites served on miniature dining pedestals and marks the menu as an evocation of the season establishing my range as a chef. Eaten from right to left, the dishes are: Tako, Hokkaido octopus tentacle slow braised for four hours with daikon and served with wasabi, is pure Japanese country; Caviar Shiso Potato Pave heaps rich, briny Ossetra caviar atop a crispy scalloped potato and garnished with citrusy sansho pepper that gives the dish a Tokyo-meets-Paris sophistication; Toro Gobo Tart combines raw bluefin tuna, crisped gobo (burdock root) and torched rakkyo (pickled onion) in a rice paper wafer.

Yakimono, in more traditional fashion, is a grilled fish course. Japanese Amadai (tilefish) is crisped yubiki style with hot oil before it is finished on a binchotan grill, served with house made negi shoyu (green onion and soy sauce) over baby corn.

The Mushimono that follows features Dungeness crab, and nagaimo (mountain yam), layered in an egg custard that is finished a slurry of kudzu and shaved black truffles. It’s a worldly New Yorker’s take on Chawanmushi.

Futamono (lidded dish) is A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Shabu Shabu with udon made of pressed sawara (Spanish mackerel), in awase dashi, is a tribute to Chef’s family fish noodle. It is accompanied by a jidori egg in sweet shoyu (soy sauce) for dipping.

The entrée is Gohan, a rice course served in two different sets beginning with a nigiri progression and ending with a small rice bowl. For his nigiri, chef favors a fluffy, lightly seasoned blend of two grains of koshihikari rice, Tsubame will serve seven to eight piece of nigiri for each seating, which may include: ten day aged Shima aji (striped jack); Kinmedai (golden eye snapper) from Chiba; Barracuda from Kamasu; lightly cured Iwashi (sardine); Aji (horse mackerel) from Oita; Toro (tuna) from Spain; and Muki Hotate (scallop) from Miyagi. The proceeding rice bowl is composed of Uni from Hokkaido and Ossetra caviar over koshihikari rice.

The experience concludes with Mizumono, two light seasonal desserts. The first is a light serving of Hojicha Custard topped with bruléed seasonal fruits. As it is customary to end a kaiseki meal with tea, Tsubame serves ceremonial Uji Matcha Green tea from Kyoto with seasonal fruit.

AM: Tell me about your beverage program and pairings that you suggest with this meal?

CHEF JZ: We offer a sake program, sourced from World Sake Imports, including rarities, as well as a selection of Japanese beers and teas. I would suggest Sake to be paired with the experience, as it’s most traditional and pairs excellently with the flavors of the fish.

AM: As we're in the holiday season, can you tell us about what Tsubame's NYE and NYD plans are?

CHEF JZ: We will be open for New Year’s Eve under normal operating hours, one seating at 5:30 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. It’s a perfect destination to ring in the New Year with a luxurious date night, or simply for a great meal.

IG @tsubameny

PHOTOS COURTESY | Tsubame

Read the DEC ISSUE #96 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Tsubame in mag.

PSYCHOLOGIST OFFERS YOUR RESOLUTION FREE GUIDE TO A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU IN 2020

With the start of a new year it is important to reflect back on the prior year, assess what went well, what didn’t and decide where you want to go next. It takes a lot of mental toughness, self-love, and discipline to create the life you want. Simply coasting along on cruise control reacting to life can lead to victim mentality and stagnation. Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist. She shares key ways to get mentally fit for the new year so you can move forward successfully. In doing so, you don’t have to swear yourself to resolutions and feel like a failure if you don’t achieve them.  Just think about the life you want to create and take small steps.

Clear clutter.

Look at your surroundings. If you have junk drawers galore, a messy car, countertops and cabinets that are full of stuff you don’t even use, it is time to clear the clutter. According to Dr. Hafeez, “cluttered spaces reflect a cluttered mind. If you want to wipe the slate clean to allow room for new people and circumstances that serve you, you must get your mind clear. Many of my patients who describe themselves as anxious, stressed or even depressed say they feel better when they start clearing up their physical space.” 

Eat mind-boosting foods.

Mental fitness also has to do with how well our minds work. A loss of memory or the ability to concentrate or focus can easily shift with an improved diet. “Research finds that along with other benefits, foods rich in Omega-3, such as some fish and nuts, as well as those full of antioxidants can help protect the brain from memory decline. “Eating more fish such as salmon and add fruits such as blackberries and blueberries to your diet can help. The good news is that brain-boosting foods include delicious options such as chocolate, guacamole (avocados) and sunflower seeds.

Color!

The adult coloring book bandwagon is a good one to jump on. According to Dr. Hafeez coloring requires total focus on the present. The repetitive motion of coloring provides relief from stress and anxiety by entering a meditative state. “Not everyone can sit still and breathe for 15 minutes per day, but they certainly can color. It’s absolutely a fun way to achieve mindfulness and shake off the day,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

Apologize and forgive.

A fast way to mental fitness is forgiveness! “Carrying around resentments and guilt wears us down and can lead to serious illness such as cancer or stroke. If you experienced a tough break up, divorce or perhaps the 2016 political climate led to arguments and lost friends, reach out apologize and seek forgiveness and move on. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone hurtful behavior. Forgiveness frees you and the other person making it easier to move forward. 

Learn something new. 

Challenge your brain by learning a new language, how to cook, paint, do Tai Chi. Pick something you think would be interesting or useful to learn and learn it. If you avoided cooking your whole life, learning the basics will serve your brain very well. According to Dr. Hafeez, “the more we can activate the cognitive functions of our brains the better our short and long-term memory and hand eye coordination will be.”

Plan and prepare more meals at home

Instead of committing to a strict diet, incorporate more home-cooked meals into your repertoire. Research shows that food made at home has less fat, calories, and sugar than meals eaten out, even if you’re not specifically trying to prepare and eat healthier meals.

Set a goal to make one new friend a month

As we get older we tend to get stagnant with our friendships and not reach beyond our formed circles anymore. Make an effort to engage the person you always see at your spin class or pass everyday in the hallway at your co-working space. Bringing new people into the fold can add spice and variety to your life.

Do something that scares you

Dr. Hafeez does not mean putting your life at risk. If public speaking has been a thorn in your side, take a class in it, and them put your lessons to use. If you would love to try snow skiing but have been too timid- take a lesson.  Has the travel bug bit you but you don’t have a companion? Throw a dart at a map and travel (safety first) wherever the dart lands. It does not matter what you do, however big or small as long as you try something previously out of your comfort zone. One completed victory will give rise to another.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW | NEW YEAR, NEW SLEEP, NEW YOU

We've been working within 2019 for a few weeks now, and whatever our goals are, it's still early enough to make a few tweaks on a number of our activities. We got the chance to catch up with Terry Cralle, RN, Clinical Sleep Educator to talk about sleep. We all know that this is an important activity, but we really wanted to find out what we could do to get more sleep as well as additional elements of this important health cycle!

She broke down the importance of our initial steps in getting great sleep, how we can optimize our bedroom for better sleep, whether we should go comando or not (and the benefits either way), how we should take eight and the ease of great sleep.

A New Year is upon us and for many of us, when it comes to our New Year’s resolutions, it’s “here we go again.” Will the gym membership go unused by mid-January or will the dieting trail off, as it usually does, as the days tick by? Whether it’s weight loss, new fitness goals, completing that degree, a new job or better financial decisions, there’s a lot that can and should be accomplished in the new year – but the question is: How do you get motivated and see resolutions through to completion? What would help ensure success with these goals – no matter the time of year? Is there a “secret sauce” that can help people achieve their new year goals – not to mention career and life goals?

The First Step is Sleep

The answer is a resounding “yes!” There definitely is something that can help us see our resolutions through, achieve successes and realize our full potential. It’s called sufficient sleep. Yes, it’s often disregarded or overlooked – but it shouldn’t be – as it is an incredible performance enhancer and game changer, especially for those who have not used it to their full advantage.

Sufficient sleep, often overlooked as an indulgence, rather than a biological necessity, can easily become the catalyst for seeing any goals through to success. Adequate sleep can provide what our bodies need, directly affecting our ability to succeed at what we set out to do.

There are many ways to optimize sleep. Here are easy things you can do now that can impact the way you view sleep and the way you get sleep.

Start by Optimizing Your Bedroom for Better Sleep

The bedroom is for sleep. Period. It is no secret that the bedroom environment can have an enormous impact on sleep quality and quantity. Are stacks of bills piling up on the dresser or is there unfolded laundry waiting to be put away? Has your bedroom become a storage room for unused exercise equipment or stacks of magazines? Has your mattress seen better days? How about the clutter spilling out from under your bed?

You may be pleasantly surprised by how a few tweaks will help transform your bedroom into a relaxing, serene, inviting and sleep conducive sleep sanctuary. See for yourself whether transforming your bedroom leads to better sleep quality. Consider the following for better sleep and better wake quality:

• Do your bright red or purple bedroom walls make a statement? Bold colors may be affecting your sense of serenity and relaxation at bedtime. Consider borrowing a color palette from nature (think soft sky blues, pale forest greens and even the silver from moonlight) or light neutrals to soften things up a bit.

• How does your bedding look and feel? White bedding is often associated with luxury and cleanliness. If the thought of crisp, clean white sheets makes you want to crawl into bed an hour earlier, even better.

• A plant or two will not only look pretty, but can help improve bedroom air quality. According to NASA research, some plants act as natural indoor air purifiers, including the snake, English ivy, and spider plants. (Note that some plants can be toxic to children and pets.)

• Clutter, junk, and piles of stuff create visual chaos — which is distracting and stressful, not to mention dust-collecting – all of which can negatively impact your ability to relax and fall asleep. Go minimalist by taking out extra stuff – even furniture. An organized, neat and sparse bedroom is more relaxing and conducive to sleep than one that is cluttered, disorganized and overwhelming.

• Bright overhead lights should be avoided in the evenings and before bedtime. Have soft lighting options available in your bedroom and consider motion-detecting night lights to help safely navigate 3 a.m. trips to the bathroom.

• Let’s face it: getting into a well-made bed feels wonderful at the end of a long day, and for many, an unmade bed is an eyesore. A survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) found that respondents who made their beds daily were 19 percent more likely to report quality sleep. However, there is some controversy about a made bed trapping in moisture and thereby worsening dust mites. If you like the look and feel of a made bed, consider pulling back the bedcovers as soon as you get out of bed in the morning to let your bed air out and then making it up at least an hour later. This may also be a good idea if you have pets who like to sleep on the bed during the day. If you opt not to make the bed, at least straightening the bedding can help give the bedroom a neater appearance.

PHOTO CREDIT | UnSplash

Give Some Thought to PJs – or Not

While this aspect of sleep is rarely given a second thought, let’s take a moment and consider how we feel during the day when we rock an outfit that looks great, feels comfortable and fits well – it really contributes to us having a good day as opposed to a not so good one. It goes the same with sleep. For optimal sleep performance, real pajamas that you only wear to bed are ideal. Don’t wear the same clothes that you work out in or go shopping in. Avoid tight or constrictive clothing that have uncomfortable straps, tags or anything that will bunch up or twist when changing position during sleep.

Changing into comfortable and designated sleepwear is a critical component of an effective sleep strategy. In fact, the term enclothed cognition is a term used to describe “the system atic influence that clothes have on the wearer's psychological processes.” Changing into designated jammies can give your brain the cue for “it’s time to go to sleep,” rather than “it must be time to hit the gym.”

There are many types of pajama fabrics available — silk, flannel, linen, cotton, even cashmere — so choose what feels best for you and your sleep style. (Do you sleep hot, cold, with lots of covers, without?) Surprisingly, wool can be ideal for a variety of sleepers. Published in 2016, research in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep found that wool did a good job at regulating body temperature — keeping the sleeper in what is known as “the thermal comfort zone.”

Sleeping in your birthday suit is another option. It is said that sleeping naked can help prevent overheating – result ting in deeper sleep. Buff sleeping is also reported to increase the storage of brown fat, the type of fat that burns calories. It is thought that increasing brown fat may help with weight loss, while improving insulin function and glucose levels. An added bonus is the fact that the skin-to-skin contact that naked sleep lends itself to creates a boost in the feel-good hormone oxytocin (often referred to as the love hormone), which contributes to increased feelings of intimacy and bonding. In fact, a British survey of over 1000 couples found those who slept in the buff reported happier relationships than those who slept in PJs. Alternatively, sleeping in as little as possible may be a happy and healthy compromise for those who don’t want to go totally commando.

PHOTO CREDIT | UnSplash

Take Eight

Statistically speaking, far too many of us fall into the category of not sleeping enough. According to the CDC, one third of the adults in the U.S. report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep (7-9 hours a night). Insufficient sleep is a serious and costly problem associated with many health conditions — including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression. Insufficient sleep is also linked to motor vehicle crashes and workplace accidents.

Sleep fuels the body and brain in many ways – helping with learning, memory, problem solving and judgment. Sufficient sleep is particularly helpful for the developing brain. In fact, recently at Baylor University, students were given extra points if they met “The 8-hour Challenge.” The challenge entailed averaging eight hours of sleep for five nights during final exams week. The results from the challenge were published in an article in the journal Teaching of Psychology and demonstrated that the students who got the extra sleep performed better than those who did not participate. Researcher Michael Scullin noted that one of the students who got the extra sleep re marked that it was the “first time my brain worked while taking an exam.” Another student stated that "there’s plenty of time to set aside for sleep and still get everything done and you feel so much better doing it.”

The Baylor challenge reminded me of a group I worked with several years ago. They were Wall Street executives who prided themselves on sleeping as little as possible. (“I’ll sleep when I’m dead” was their favorite saying.) They laughed about all of the 3 a.m. emails they sent to each other and how often their work kept them up late, woke them up in the middle of the night or sometimes kept them up all night. Yet this group was convinced that they could not be successful if they took the time to get adequate sleep. In fact, they were under the erroneous impression that they had successfully acclimated to running on empty, and not only that, they were doing just fine. However, this attitude reflects the lack of insight that typically accompanies sleep deprivation – people think they are performing well, when in reality they are not. They don’t realize, see or feel the degradation in their performance and/or have lost their point of reference to feeling rested and restored upon awakening or even hitting the ground running.

I challenged this group to rethink sleep – to throw out all of their preconceived notions (sleep is a time-waster, sleep is for the lazy, I can’t take time for sleep if I want to climb the corporate ladder, etc.) and view sleep more as a performance enhancer than as a sign of weakness. I urged them to view sleep as a biological requirement – not an indulgence for those without a work ethic. I emphatically stressed to them that sleep and success were not mutually exclusive.

The only way to demonstrate this was to challenge them to extend their sleep time – shooting for eight – for a week at least, but ideally for two weeks - and see if they saw a difference in how they performed and how they felt, both physically and mentally.

I was not surprised to find them more than pleasantly surprised at the improvements in energy, productivity, general well-being, efficiency, accuracy, outlook, and communication when they were well-rested. As I had explained, we perform much like an intoxicated person when we are not getting the recommended amount of sleep on a consistent basis – not to mention, it’s terrible for our physical health. Unhealthy weight and a lack of exercise (no energy, no motivation) go hand in hand with insufficient sleep.

Sleep: Easy as One, Two, Three

Make 2019 a year to remember by ringing in the New Year with resolutions you can keep. Three easy steps are all you need to start the year off on the right foot – and keep it there. Three easy steps will help you see all of your resolutions through while keeping you healthy, energized, motivated, focused and happy. So go clean your bedroom, slip into (or out of) something cozy, and hit the hay at a decent hour for a change to grab eight hours of restorative sleep. That’s it. See for yourself the difference these few changes make. Then go tackle those resolutions. You may have the most productive year ever!

IG @CralleRN

Read more from the Feb Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know | New Year, New Sleep, New You in mag.

NEW YEAR, N3W YOU 2018

Our second annual NEW YEAR N3W YOU is back as the next year is around the corner. It's time for some of our favorite friends to share THE GOOD, THE ADD and THE BUZZ that they're looking forward to for 2018!

PHOTO COURTESY | Marco David

GIA MANTEGNA
ACTRESS
+
SINGER

PHOTO COURTESY | James Clark

THE GOOD

I’m really excited about Life After First Failure. We filmed it in the spring and it came out a few weeks later. It was a really positive experience – great cast and crew. It was great to be a lead on the show in a new platform. I was really proud of it.

Another positive thing which is also a negative but they go together – it’s women speaking out, coming together and talking about the sexual allegations. Regardless of what happened, it’s an amazing movement that is happening in our industry and it’s kind of giving a lot of power and confidence
to women who didn’t have it before. I think it’s making parents aware that they have to teach their children to speak up, be bold, be independent and don’t let a man push you around. It’s great for all women. I mean, I go into these auditions all the time and it’s
usually men. Male directors, casting directors
and it’s this weird pseudo safety bubble that we have now where you can’t get away with it anymore. It’s a terrible time for men to be in the industry but a great one for us.

My sister is really good, she’s an artist and has had a lot of shows – her works have been showing in a number of art galleries across the Northwest in Seattle, Sacramento and I’m proud she’s pursuing it.

THE ADD

I think my singing is something that I want to get back in focus on. I want to perform, work with a band and be creative. As an artist I want to continue to create content.

I want to learn how to embrace social media. I have rejected it for so long as I didn’t want to do it and I wanted to be mysterious but I have learned, it’s part of the job! How many followers do you have, what’s your aesthetic – so many things around it and I always felt that it had nothing to do with me but now
I know that that’s not true. I have to embrace it and figure out what my voice is. I worked with 16 year old on Life After Failure and she had a million followers on Instagram and she was an influencer and it was interesting to be introduced to that world that I knew nothing about. Now I know how important is to use that platform to get the word out about the show and to use it in a responsible and positive way. So in the New Year I want to use it without focusing on vapid selfies and to keep it creative, inspiring and to learn about me in a connected way.

THE BUZZ

There’s nothing coming out just now as Life After Failure is out so it’s a little slow with the holidays and all the things that are going on so it won’t happen until after the new year when everyone is back in the office. But I will be sharing socially when everything is
able to be shared. But LAF is available now and we're the newest show, it's free, funny an a quick/easy watch - it's cute and you can throw it on.

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See our celebs weigh in on their N3W YOU I as they prepared to ring in 2017!

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CAT CORA
CHEF
IRON CHEF
PERSONALITY
+
RESTAURATEUR

THE GOOD

I got engaged to my fiancé Nicole and gained two sons, two more wonderful parents, a brother, sister-in-law and 3 nephews. Now, Nicole and I have 6 boys between us. This year my mom went into remission for cancer after a long 4 1/2 year battle. My family is healthy and I am personally happier than I have ever been.

Professionally, Nicole became CEO of our company. I was on Fox’s “My Kitchen Rules”, was on 4 magazine covers, created two new shows for 2018, opened my 10th restaurant, “Wicked Eats” in Brooklyn and began working with Team USA. I also did a lot of philanthropic work around hurricane relief,
fire crisis and other needs around the world. We have so much coming out in 2018 so stay tuned.

THE ADD

Our culinary/lifestyle line and running the New York Marathon.

THE BUZZ

In 2018 we have new shows that we are launching including, an animated show. We are also launching a culinary line and a new cookbook. But most importantly and the most exciting, I’m getting married to Nicole in April 2018, with our 6 boys by our side.

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PHOTO COURTESY | Sophy Holland

HOLLY RILINGER
CELEB FITNESS TRAINER
+
NIKE MASTER TRAINER

PHOTO COURTESY | Matt Doyle

THE GOOD

I released my first book and I’m pretty darn excited and proud of it! LIFTED is a 28 day program designed to strengthen your body, focus your mind and elevate your spirit. Whether you are a trained athlete or simply trying to take your first steps, this book is
important. Meditation, exercise, goal setting, nutrition and visualization are just a few topics I’m excited to share with my readers.

Another amazing thing that happened to me in 2017 is love. I met my girlfriend and am madly in love. I think it’s important to mention that this happened on the tail end of a professional disaster. I took a position that wasn’t for me and at the time it felt like a huge failure. In hindsight, that “mishap”
allowed me to find balance in my life. It was the first time in 8 years that I wasn’t married to my work. I learned more about myself last year than I did in the last eight years.

THE ADD

I believed 2017 would be the year I started something new; a new chapter in my life. I’ve found great success as a trainer and coach, released my first book and was featured on a network television show; all great accomplishments, but to me, all catalysts for
something bigger. I’ve hired a personal coach named Sonni Talant who will mentor me and help me navigate this amazing new year. Big things are coming!

THE BUZZ

Expect to see me training and speaking in cities all over the country. Also, get ready to work with me wherever you are. I will be more accessible to more people all over the world. Streaming content, workshops, online coaching watch for it all. I’m also a big fan of the body positive movement after working
with Aerie and The All Woman Project. It’s time we all exercise more self love and acceptance. This will be a big part of everything I do in the new year.

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See our celebs weigh in on their N3W YOU I as they prepared to ring in 2017!

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PHOTOS COURTESY | NBC Universal

TELLI SWIFT
E! WAGS ATLANTA

THE GOOD

2017 has been an amazing year for me! I’ve launched my website – complete with an online store and blog, and I’m currently working on an app that teaches you how to get the life you want, including your dream man! The app features daily empowerment quotes, my favorite recipes, fitness tips, live chats and videos, and so much more. I’m also expecting a child with my significant
other so I really couldn’t ask for anything more!

THE ADD

I’m still working on my app content which won’t be available until 2018. It’s a lot of work being pregnant, managing a household, taking care of your family, and being a business woman – but at the end of the day everything must be accomplished and will get done!

THE BUZZ

I have a number of significant events to come in 2018! My baby shower will be in January, my baby is due in early February, and my man (WBC Heavyweight title holder since 2015 - Deontay Wilder) fights at Barclays Center in NYC on March 3rd! We will also be building and buying a home by the lake for our growing family, so there is much more to come! Plus I can't wait to check out the first season of our show, E!'s WAGS Atlanta, when it premieres in January. 2018 is a year I’m definitely looking forward to!

Tune-In to the season premiere of WAGS Atlanta on Wednesday, January 3rd at 10p ET/PT on E!

Read more from the Dec Issue and see N3W YOU in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | KETANGA FITNESS RETREATS

Ketanga Fitness Retreats launched in 2014 and is founded by Stacy Schwartz, a born-and-raised Manhattanite. The dream of creating a career out of her love for seeing the world and keeping active was one that she could not have imagined. She began thinking about it when she tried to book a vacation a few years ago that also incorporated fitness (particularly boxing and high-intensity interval training); however, she was unable to find anything.

A few years later in 2014, she quit her job in Corporate America to travel the world for 100 days by herself. Was it scary? Yes - but it was her best decision as she was able to travel the way she wanted and to see the sights while being active through bike tours, horseback riding, jogging through neighborhoods, dropping into local gym classes, and even flying a 2-person glider plane.

Upon returning home, it clicked. There was something special about crafting a vacation that combined the perfect amount of fitness, adventure, and relaxation into one trip. It was at this point that Ketanga Fitness Retreats was born.

Ketanga Fitness Retreats organizes fitness retreats around the world! They work with top trainers, studios, and gyms to plan custom experiences that combine fitness, adventure, and relaxation.

With a mission to make wellness travel accessible, varied, and fun, they curate small group fitness adventures that feature the best-of-the-best vetted instructors, unique activities, and a relaxed yet motivating atmosphere.

This company, has many partners from around the US (and other countries) who are gym owners and independent trainers who have a vision of hosting a retreat for their clients, but don’t know where to start. Ketanga Fitness Retreats specialize in helping to bring their vision to life by handling the planning, organizing, and logistics behind a producing a fitness retreat.

They also produce local fitness events and wellness workshops in NYC, builds corporate wellness programs, and organizes private group retreats.

They offer custom retreat planning experiences, and work with private groups to create something special. Whether it is a birthday celebration, a bachelorette trip, a corporate retreat, or a girls getaway, they create experiences for clients that combine fitness, adventure, and relaxation in unique ways!

For guests who join existing retreats (vs planning a custom retreat), there are itineraries that are expertly curated and customized for each program. Guests are always welcome to opt out of a workout or activity, and there is ample free time for guests to take part in different experiences and activities, or just relax and reflect on the beach!

Ketanga organizes local events in NYC to bring the wellness community together! They host many special events including their famous Fitness Krawls (think of a pub crawl but with visiting fitness studios instead of bars!), Sunday Funday workouts, Muscles & Margaritas events, outdoor workouts, and more. These events are fun as they combine wellness and something social like a workout plus drinks or a wellness talk and brunch. It’s all about balance!

Retreats for this year includes a Colorado Adventure Retreat coming up October 20-23 which I am very excited about! We will be exploring the mountains with rock climbing and hiking, plus an amazing coach with us to lead HIIT, yoga, and mobility sessions. And, of course, we will be trying some local craft beer! We have a few spots left.

In 2018 Ketanga Fitness Retreat will announce a HUGE event to kick off the New Year in Costa Rica! Without giving away too much, it is going to have 6 different retreats over a span of 5 weeks ranging in themes from yoga and adventure to boxing to cooking and more, and people can sign up for any (or all) retreats to kick off the New Year healthfully, with amazing instruction, and like-minded people.

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KETANGA FITNESS RETREAT
See upcoming retreats and follow @Ketanga_Fitness to be in the loop on upcoming announcements

Read more from the Sep Issue and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Ketanga Fitness Retreats in mag.

Balance Next Cover Story

We live in a world where the clock moves faster and faster but the demands on our time seem to only increase. At one time, people could point to one of a couple of spheres - the workplace and home as the sources of where hours escaped them. But today we are split between numerous zones, from spending time with friends and family, to meeting the needs of our jobs, club activities and more. With the added ability to be connected 24/7 across a number of apps, platforms and networks, we’re perpetually “on” and the need to prioritize, filter, and cut through the noise (whether positive or negative) has never been greater. It’s not such a simple thing regardless of our age group.

There is a need to be able to escape momentarily, to be present and check in with ourselves. We should appreciate, be thankful and grow. Whether it’s going for a jog, going on a solo date (literally you at a table treating yourself to a glass of wine) or sitting and people watching – we need that time to think and reflect. In those moments, whether it’s five minutes or a few hours, you can begin to think about where you are and how
you see yourself. Are you where you want to be, what can you do to put yourself in a better situation and what do you need are great starter questions.

Beyond thinking about advancement in your career, it’s a good time to ask if you are being physically and mentally nourished as the vessel that is going from one activity to the next. Are you feeding your creative side, did you get to tick anything off of your bucket list last year – do you want to do something that is so uncharacteristic of yourself but it nags you that you haven’t tried?

With so many questions, personal needs, as well as wanting to be involved within the community around you, we at Athleisure Mag began putting together the genesis of what this lifestyle meant and those that embrace it, Athleisurists. Beyond the fashion statement of Athleisure which allows you to wear looks that are appropriate for the gym, but then work with you through your day whether you’re in a meeting, going out for drinks etc – it’s a state of mind. It includes working out to whatever level you wish to do, enjoying great super foods pre-workout, farm to table options or splurge meals. It’s being able to balance working hard in your career, having great experiences, taking care of yourself mind – body and soul and being present in your personal, family and friend’s lives. It’s a juggling act and you need to feel that they are choices that you actively made on your own terms.

We sum this notion up with “Balance Next”, meaning so much to so many people. For us it’s about enjoying what life has to offer, not taking things too seriously and looking at the horizon ahead. We’re at peace with where we are living in a place of yes, seeing if situations present as a good fit. But like you, we know that this is not always an easy task and sometimes we need a refresher. This time of year lends itself to the mass need to create resolutions. Many end up falling in a gray area because few attribute benchmarks to fulfill their commitments. While the New Year is a great
place to start, everyday is a potential opportunity to begin reinventing yourself. We believe (as you will see in this issue), this takes extended effort and our thought leader interviews, tips, editorials will be along with you for your journey to enjoy and optimize.

To facilitate the process for your growth towards the new you, we reached out to Joyce Marter, psychotherapist and CEO of Urban Balance. She shared tips that we can kick off the New Year or any point in time when you need to look within to see where you want to go next.

JAN 2016 COVER

| PHOTOGRAPHY Carlos David | STYLIST Kimmie Smith/Accessory2 | HAIR/MAKEUP ARTIST David Stella Taylor | MODEL Maria Shapley |

Photographed at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir @ Central Park

Athleisure Mag: What does the New Year mean to you in terms of starting off on the right foot?

Joyce Marter: The New Year is a time of renewal---shedding old patterns and behaviors that no longer work for you and allowing new, positive energy into your life.

AM: What does the New Year mean when it comes to having that mindset throughout the entire year?
 

JM: The New Year is a great time to revisit your intentions---the ways you live your life that are congruent with your authentic self. Write your intentions in your journal and review them before you daily meditation to stay the course towards self-actualization.

AM: What does Balance Next, a mantra of ours, which can have many meanings, mean to you?
JM: In a world that is ever-changing, we experience stressors continually which cause of to need to recalibrate or rebalance. A daily practice of meditation or reflection helps us to become bendable and flexible and become aligned with the natural flow of life.
AM: What is the best way that one can prepare as they’re in their first week of the New Year?
JM: Creating a vision board is a powerful exercise to increase clarity on that which you want to welcome into your life, whether that be love, health, prosperity, serenity, etc.

AM: How can we prepare from a mind/body/soul perspective?

JM: Mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga can reboot the mind/ body/spirit.

AM: What roles can positive productivity, music therapy, meditation etc play within proper balance?

JM: These self-care practices can be enormously effective in creating a life of balance and wellness.

AM: How can we set realistic goals and benchmarks that are healthy while challenging ourselves in a positive way?

JM: Be your own good parent. Love and care for yourself as you would for somebody that you love more than anybody in the whole world. Choose to be your own cheerleader or positive coach. Keep your self-talk positive and compassionate. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and celebrate your successes. Your personal board of advisors can support you in becoming your best self.

AM: How can we create boundaries when we live in a world of wanting to help others, excel in work, having fun with friends, establishing personal time etc?

JM: We simply must prioritize our own self care. If we do not properly care for ourselves, we will become exhausted, depleted and resentful. When we take the time and energy to put ourselves first, we have more to give others both personally and professionally. You must develop rituals and routines, such as daily meditation, proper rest and nutrition and exercise.

AM: How can we treat ourselves mentally whether we have 5 mins or a weekend for just ourselves?

JM: In a moment of quiet reflection, breathe deeply and check in with your solar plexus (your gut) and ask yourself what you really need. It might be a good laugh with a friend, a hot bath, a silly movie and go ahead and treat yourself to those things that fill your cup.