ATHLEISURE LIST | THE WALL

If you don't follow their Instagram, we want to put THE WALL on your radar. THE WALL was created by celebrity trainer and group fitness guru Jason Wimberly. After more than a decade
in the fitness industry, and having taught at some of the top studios in the country like SoulCycle, Revolution Studio, and Equinox, the former professional ballet dancer decided it was time to create his own concept. Combining his experience of having taught over 6000 classes throughout his career, he created the 123STACK, which is THE WALL’s signature workout.

The vision began in 2016, but in early 2017, THE WALL launched its first pop up location on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. Designed as a space to introduce the curriculum and the brand,
the pop up (take advantage of the $18 introductory class prices) has been a great introduction, but will shut down end of February to focus on opening the new 5000 sq ft flagship studio located on Wilshire and Labrea. Opening date for the flagship studio is projected to be April 2018.

The new flagship studio goes beyond what you would expect from most fitness studios. Designed by De Spec Architecture out of NYC with a focus on communal space outside of the designated workout areas, the studio will be a mecca for all things health and fitness, with two separate studios, one for weight training and one for cycling. A large lobby and retail area
designed for connecting and unwinding - will feature athleisure brands Sukishufu, Vimmia, Year of Ours, Michi and men’s label EYSOM, as well as THE WALL’s own signature collection. Finished off by full service luxury locker rooms featuring a private label of bath products from Gazelli UK. Clients will be invited to refuel and rehydrate at THE BAR, the studio's own juice bar and café. THE WALL will be partnering with brands like Café Gratitude and Clover Juice to create original menu items exclusively for the in house café. Add on free spin shoe rental, free filtered water stations, and free 90 minute parking, and it’s safe to say every detail has been planned meticulously by Wimberly and team.

Wimberly combined his experience of having taught over 6000 classes in his career, and dreamt up the 123STACK, which is THE WALL’s signature workout. Comprised of 10 minutes of core activation, 20 minutes of high intensity circuit training, and 30 minutes of indoor cycling, the entire concept of THE WALL is to push you beyond whatever is holding you back, by physically and mentally pushing you to break through. All with a team of seasoned instructors that have expanded the offerings to include STACKED; a 45 minute rhythmic weight training class, full spin classes, and are in the process of launching a restorative recovery class to the schedule.

One of the things that sets THE WALL apart from other fitness studios, is that all classes are done in rhythm and in unison. While most studios utilize stations or circuits in programming,
clients often cycle through stations without any real sense of togetherness. Focusing on the power of the group, and building community, regardless of what weight you decide to lift or where you start, at THE WALL, everyone finishes together.

THE WALL POP UP
7503 W Sunset Blvd @ Gardner
LA, CA 90046

THE WALL FLAGSHIP
730 La Brea @ Wilshire Blvd
LA, CA 90038
 

www.thewallfitness.com

Read more from the Jan Issue and see Athleisure List | THE WALL in mag.

SUMMER BODIES ARE MADE IN THE WINTER

Last month we introduced our readers to Dr. Greuner, a cardiovascular surgeon who has a passion for fitness. The response was so great, we thought that he should have a column to share various elements of fitness to get to where we want to be. This month we're focused on
kickstarting our workouts and are taking our lead from Dr. G!

ATHLEISURE MAG: With the notion of summer bodies being made in the winter, what should a work out week look like for men vs women to get great arms, legs, abs and butts?

DR.GREUNER: I’ve always stressed that there are two separate components to the look most of us want to achieve, and they should be targeted in two different ways. For toning and shaping, strength exercises are crucial. To put that hard earned, toned, and shapely muscle front and center for the summer's revealing ensembles, diet is absolutely crucial to lose any fat that might overshadow what lies beneath. To lose the weight, simple arithmetic is all it takes. You must eat less calories than you burn. A simple BMR calculator, or devices such as a FitBit are crucial to estimating what you burn daily, and I use these routinely. The mistake we see sabotaging diets most often, however, is an underestimation of the caloric count of foods. Things like sauces, dressings, and alcohol can foil an otherwise valiant effort at weight loss, and that is why I recommend on diet days, that you prep your own meals, so you have a firm grip on it.

When it comes to shaping, compound movements are not just the most efficacious in building muscle, but also in terms of improving function. For arms, dumbbell or barbell bicep curls are one of my favorites. Simple to perform, and work very well. I typically do 6 sets of 10, or to failure with strict form. For triceps, my faithful move is the French press, 6 sets of 10. It’s an easy exercise to do well, and form fails minimally with fatiguing muscles.

For legs, NOTHING beats the old-fashioned squat. 4 sets of 10. I typically follow that with 4 sets of weighted lunges 10 reps, each side. Trust me, simple but effective. This works well for your butt, as It is a direct extension functionally of your legs.

For abs, I work this muscle group 2-3 times a week, as opposed to most others once weekly. This is because your abs have a higher percentage of fast twitch, or endurance fibers, and recover quickly, but typically don’t require as much training as the other muscle groups at each
session. They are constantly under tension stabilizing your body. For advanced athletes, I recommend 6 sets of hanging leg raises, 10 reps, but this is a very difficult move to do correctly. For those of you that are newer to this, I typically recommend 4 sets of incline leg raises, followed by 4 sets of crunches, each for 10 reps. Simple and strict is the key to isolating these muscle groups.

Remember, If it isn’t uncomfortable, you aren’t stimulating the muscle to change. Get out of your comfort zone, you will thank me for it later.

AM: For those that may have slipped into not working out during the holiday season, how can they get back into putting this into their routine?

DR G: The easiest solution is to grab a partner. That is a quick way to ensure that you have an obligation to meet your schedule, or hear about it later. Other incentives include signing up for
work incentives, or competing with fellow employees if your job has a plan. In my company, we use Fitness Amigo, and award rewards to those that “win” their fitness goals.

Lastly, make a mental, or physical picture of what you want to obtain, and make sure you see it constantly to drive you. Other options include, entering a competition that mandates you get in
shape, or a self-awarded reward once you hit your goal.

My workouts change from mostly outdoor in the summer to mostly indoor in the winter. I take part in activities such as martial arts and group classes. I'll present some of my favorites in a future article, but some classes that provide a competitive environment, such as Flywheel that allows you to compete with you classmates, is always an impetus for me to push harder.

AM: For those who like working out outdoors who don't enjoy doing it in the cold, what would you suggest for workouts?

DR. G: Winter is the time I pick to explore new classes, and activities, and even pick up a new sport. I'll go into detail about these in a later story, including my pros and cons about each, but briefly some of my choices this year included:

1. Boxing and martial arts, including classes such as Rumble, Work Train Fight, Dogpound, and others, as well as true sparring one on one with some of the most talented coaches in NYC. Be
careful, it’s addictive!

2. I’m an avid cyclist in the summer months, so spinning classes are a mandatory part of my arsenal. In general, I prefer Flywheel given the objective power data they provide and the ability to compete with classmates.

3. Circuit training with weights, which is a constant part of my regimen.

4. Boot Camps such as Barry’s Bootcamp, one of my favorites.

5. Flexibility work such as Pilates, yoga, and capoeira.

6. Climbing walls are a great way to simulate the outdoors.

7. Other typically outdoor sports such as parkour are now omnipresent in NYC.

AM: How beneficial is a couple or buddy workout and how do you stay on track with this as it can also have distracting effects?

DR. G: Its crucial for me that my partner is as fitness inclined as I am, or its unlikely to work. Sports occupy so many categories of benefit in my life, from psychological, to meditative, to performance, that it’s absolutely mandatory for my overall well-being, and having a partner that is so inclined can be one of your best motivators to staying healthy. Everything is easier when your best friend is there beside you! At the same time, distraction can be an issue if one of you is self-conscious or less motivated. You can see this two ways…a chance to coach each other to be better, or as a roadblock. Decide early, and act accordingly.

AM: How long do you feel it should take to start seeing results and how do you think you should go about tracking these areas for proper motivation?

DR G: Although it may sound terrible, often the heavier you are, the longer it takes to see visible results as the layer of fat on top of muscle is thicker. Talk about an incentive to stay lean! Although you won’t see the results immediately, you will lose weight and increase function quickly, typically within a month if you put a significant effort in. The leaner you are able to stay, the less time it takes to see distinct results as the layer of fat covering your muscle is much thinner and disappears with less effort. The take home message? Keep lean, allow some discrepancies here and there, but make your hard work last with lifestyle changes that make the task less and less daunting with each coming year. It’s absolutely possible to enjoy your life, and still look great. Moderation is the key. I look forward to giving more guidance about doing just that in future articles!

We're excited for upcoming articles that Dr. Greuner will share with our readers at Athleisure Mag, and are looking forward to his future contributions! Make sure to follow him on IG @Doctor.DavidGreuner to see what he's up to and where he's working out.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Dr. Greuner

Read more from the Jan Issue and see Summer Bodies Are Made in the Winter in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | JAN ISSUE

This month's celeb cover is WOH wrestler and cast member of E! WAGS Atlanta (which premiered earlier this month and our celeb cover's first episode is tonight!) Brandi Rhodes.This cover shoot includes a fun Q&A with Brandi talking about her journey from WWE to WOH and being able to wrestle with her hubby Cody Rhodes! Of course, we have a fashion editorial where she's rocking a number of items from fitness, athleisure, swim and glam. Our Jan issue, with a focus on kicking off the year has a mix of Awards Season content which includes interviews with Bill and Giuliana Rancic talking about family resolutions, their portfolio of businesses and of course Giuliana's red carpet thoughts of what we can expect this season. Celebrity Hair Stylist to the Kardashians, Joan Smalls, Heather Graham and beyond - Andrew Fitzsimons tells us about how he preps for the red carpet for his stars and what's in his kit! Last month, we had an interview with Dr. Greuner and are excited to have him as a contributor and he tells us about how Summer Bodies are Made in the Winter and he shares with us how he stays fit with some of his favorite gyms. We love how inclusivity is becoming more of the norm and talked with the founder of Nubian Skin, Ade Hassan about her line, getting a prestigious award from Prince William himself as well as some of her favorite finds. We could all use some direction so we have two great interviews one with life coach, Heather Monahan and Susan Trombetti, Matchmaker and CEO of ExclusiveMatchmaking.net. When you think about agenda setting, these ladies have us covered from our careers to finding love.

We have a number of features that are in each month's issues including The Art of the Snack, Bingely Books, Bingely Streaming, Something You Should Know - we love sake and are so excited to have Timothy Sullivan of Urban Sake and Brand Ambassador of Hakkaisan to educate us on this rice wine, Athleisure List, Athleisure Beauty and more. Our second installment of N3W YOU (this recap of 2017 and introduction in 2018 feature includes actress - AnnaLynne McCord, Celeb Fitness Trainer and currently a Celeb Trainer on E! Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian - Latreal Mitchell, Co-Host of E! "Daily Pop" - Justin Sylvester and Celebrity Hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons weighs in on this year.

Read the Jan Issue here!

REEBOK | WOVEN INTO THE FUTURE

Earlier this fall, Reebok announced a new footwear technology called Flexweave - revolutionary shoe upper material that is incredibly versatile, providing a balance of lightness, durability, fit and stability. Reebok partnered with three designers across the world to create bespoke fitness prototypes to showcase this one-of-a-kind material.

The design partnerships within this collective are known as "Woven into the Future" and includes an altitude-training mask from the UK design collective Modla (ENG) that showcases the material’s softness and durability, an “active seat” from Dutch collective Odd Matter (AN) that highlights its flexibility and strength, and GPS-enabled gloves by Joe Doucet x Partners (USA) to display the material’s customization and versatility.

The Flexweave material will first be seen in the FAST Flexweave running shoe, available in February on Reebok.com, and the material was developed through the Reebok Innovation Collective (a division championing the open-sourced pursuit of progression via innovation and partnerships that aims to push the boundaries of invention). These partnerships with the global fitness brand explored the potential of Flexweave and explored its limitless potential to create a unique product that links form and function to create an aesthetic product that utilizes the benefits of the technology while serving a fitness purpose. Flexweave boasts an open figure-8 construction that interlocks unlimited strands of fibers to create a single surface construction that is as strong as it is light. All designers worked with the version of the textile that will appear in the first-generation of Reebok Flexweave footwear, launching in 2018, made from chenille yarn.

JOE DOUCET X PARTNERS -  New York City, United States

As a designer, entrepreneur, inventor and creative director, Joe Doucet is one of the most sought-after creative talents in America. Doucet designed a pair of Reebok Flexweave running gloves, form-fitting to the wearers hand, absorbing sweat as they run and lightweight for maximum comfort. The prototype was designed with the vision of being GPS-enabled, guiding the wearer through their run with flashing LED lights to indicate when to turn left or right.

“My inspiration was to capture the unique qualities of the Flexweave technology through something advantageous to an active lifestyle. The strength, flexibility and multi surface durability of Flexweave led me to the idea of a ‘smart’ running glove with a sleek, stylish silhouette. With the form crafted by Flexweave, the next stage of development would be GPS integration paving the way to a new frontier in wearable technology,” said Doucet.

ODD MATTER -  Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Odd Matter is a design studio driven by curiosity; researching, creating and exploring the world through its materials, processes and concept. The duo created a furniture series of ‘active sitting’ chairs; made through a combination of Reebok Flexweave and malleable EVA foam.

“The Inspiration for the chair came from the Flexweave material itself. Whilst experimenting and playing with the fabric we were very intrigued by its behavior, structure and strength under tension. From there we wanted to create an object that played with that tension, a bit like the string of a bow, something in which the tension and strength is palpable,” said Els Woldhek, Odd Matter.

“Working with the Flexweave was very interesting, for instance when cutting it in different directions you straight away notice the differences between the fibers and the technical properties of the Flexweave. This in turn has made us really curious about everything else that is possible with the technology.”

MODLA – London, England

Co-founded by Jon Fidler and Richard Goddard, Modla is an artistic design house specializing in technological innovation, pushing the creative boundaries of 3D printing and digital 3D design. The pair created an entirely new Reebok Flexweave altitude training mask; 3D printing the valve technology across the nose and mouth, coupled with a Flexweave facial strap to comfortably wrap around the wearer’s face during intense training.

"I do a lot of high intensity training so I’m interested in how such equipment works, functions and can help improve performance. But we also saw the potential in the aesthetic of the Flexweave material, to create something which would blend with the mask and align with the contours of the wearer’s face.

As it happens, the Flexweave material provided even more benefit than just the aesthetic and was amazing to work with. It’s strong and durable, so perfect for a product that will get a lot of wear and tear; while also incredibly lightweight, making it breathable on the face for athletes when training." said Fidler.

“Flexweave is going to a major part of the Reebok DNA moving forward. With this creative and imaginative project, we’ve achieved exactly what we set out to do; demonstrate through collaborations in other fields what Flexweave can truly achieve when put to the ultimate test,” said James Woolard, Global Marketing Director, Reebok Running.

“The Reebok Innovation Collection champions the pursuit of partnerships and innovations that will continue propelling the brand forward in spaces like fitness, fashion and footwear. Flexweave represents a huge step forward in footwear upper technology and brings with it a wave of anticipation and excitement for what the future holds for this brand”.

Reebok has extended the creative experience around Flexweave to its community, setting up an interactive digital experience on the Reebok Innovation Collective website called ‘Create Your Weave’; inviting you to construct your own virtual weave design and share it with friends.

The brand is also working with one of Savile Row’s finest tailors, Huntsman & Sons, to create a bespoke men’s suit made from Flexweave. Designed for Reebok Running ambassador and superstar WR Brandin Cooks, the experimental pursuit will be complete in Spring 2018.

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Missed the Dec Issue of Athleisure Mag? Check out our cover girls EDM DJ duo NERVO.

#TRIBEGOALS | RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR TRIBE TO EAT, WORK & PLAY

After the ball drops and you had the most epic night at the Marquee Las Vegas at The Cosmopolitan Hotel, to begin a prosperous New Year, you'll want to give your body extra love. We have our three must haves for proper TLC.

| VASELINE® INTENSIVE CARE Cocoa Radiant Smoothing Body Butter | CO2LIFT Single Pack Anti Aging Treatment | ICONIC PROTEIN Grass Fed Protein Drink |

Read more from the Dec Issue and see #TribeGoals in mag.

THE GEM OF MIAMI

With the holiday season upon us, we wanted to share one of our favorite luxury jewelry designers with our readers. Our Style Director has included pieces in shoots in this publication and we sat down and talked with Miami based, Buddha Mama which is created by Nancy and is also designed by her daughter Dakota. The brand is the perfect mixture of fine jewelry, dramatic pieces and wellness. We found out about how they are inspired to create luxe pieces, what they do during Art Basel that took place earlier this month and how they give back.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We've been fans of the brand for years, but tell us how Buddha Mama was created and what are the inspirations behind the pieces?

BUDDHA MAMA: My mother Nancy started stringing Mala’s for her local Buddhist center to help raise funds and it sort of took off from there. To this day we still donate a portion of monthly proceeds. The inspiration comes from everywhere, travel definitely has a strong influence on our collections. Different architecture and symbols appreciated in other cultures, these are things that inspire us to keep creating and share what we love.

AM: Who is the Buddha Mama girl or boy?

BM: We never really know how to answer that question. It seems like it can be just about anyone, whether you are drawn to the beauty of a mandala pendant because you know of the
meaning or you just appreciate the piece. I wouldn't say we have one specific client, there's certainly a range of people we've come across.

AM: How do you decide what pieces are a part of each of the collections that are in the line?

BM: Depends on the collection. Some pieces are placed in certain collections due to gemstone colors, others are specifically created - such as our Lantern pieces for the lantern collection. Our auspicious collection is by far our largest, with everything from mandalas to flowers, skulls and cross pendants.

AM: What charity/philanthropy are you involved in?

BM: We donate a portion of proceeds to Kristi House in Miami, which is a center for sexually abused and trafficked women and children. As well as Tibet House in New York.

AM: During Art Basel, do you do anything in conjunction with this event?

BM: Usually Nan and I are pretty busy creating new collections for the COUTURE Show in Vegas but we always attend at least a few Basel events. Miami is always a blast in December and we try to enjoy as much of it as we can!

AM: How important is Art Basel to the Miami scene?

BM: It’s incredible. One of the main areas for Basel is called Wynwood and it’s literally unrecognizable from just a few years ago. I feel that Art Basel is important because Miami has always had an art and graffiti scene- maybe not like New York but it was always present. To
now watch it expand and get its recognition, it’s great.

AM: With the holidays coming up, what can we look forward to in terms of great gifting options from the brand?

BM: We have a daintier collection that is great for gifting! Also of course our special one of a kind pieces are always a hit.

AM: Where are your favorite places to eat, grab a cocktail and to do yoga/meditation in Miami to keep on our radar?

BM: Macchialina’s on the beach for great Italian. River Oyster Bar in Brickell for amazing food and drinks. For yoga we’d have to say Dharma Yoga Studio in Coconut Grove.

Read more from the Dec Issue and see The Gem of Miami in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | TROOPER FITNESS

The holiday season is a great time to meet with friends and family and the ability to eat and drink is never ending! The good times don't mean that you have to abandon the gym. When
it's time to get right back at it (or to keep it up), it's time to make your way to Trooper Fitness which opened November 2015 on the UES (there are plans to expand beyond this location).

There are a number of options that are available in terms of class offerings. Their Trooper Camps are high-energy, motivational workouts guided by certified coaches. These camps are
geared towards fitting personalized programs for each individual’s goals - while being done in a group training format. The classes come in an array of offerings: Trooper Met Con Camp,
Trooper Power Strength Camp, Lower Body Trooper Strength Camp, Upper Body Trooper Strength Camp, Trooper Boot Camp, Trooper Core Strength Camp, Trooper TKB (TRX & Kettlebells) Camp, Trooper Sports Con Camp, Trooper Calisthenics Camp, Trooper Fight Camp, OCR (Obstacle Course Training), Trooper Boot Camp and Trooper Run Con Camp.

Beyond group classes or Trooper Camps which focus on strength and high intensity classes, you can also have private classes whether you do this solo or you opt to get your friends
and co-workers together to get in a much needed sweat session.

When you're looking to reach a specific goal, you can purchase a Trooper Road Map which is a personalized 6-week group fitness program which will assist you in getting to where you want to be.

The Trooper Road Map includes 2 goal based consultations and individual guidance from their certified coaches in a safe and responsible environment. It's also a great way to hone your skills
on workouts that you want to perfect.

In addition, you can always book a one-on-one trainer which is another way to guide and optimize your workout. When working out at Trooper Fitness, amenities that are offered include: showers, free towel service, toiletries (deodorant, body soap, shampoo and
conditioner).

The ethos of this fitness method is that it's a team oriented atmosphere that prides itself in overcoming obstacles, not only in the gym, but in life. They live by the motto - "All We Know
is Go".

Like a number of studios and gyms, you can rock an array of branded shorts, tees, shirts tanks, hoodies, joggers, sports bras and hats.

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TROOPER FITNESS
226 E 54th St. Ste. 600
NY, NY 10022
www.trooperfitness.com

Read more from the Dec Issue and read Athleisure List | Trooper FItness in mag.

FRESH START | GET RAPID RESULTS

Throughout this month, we will share a number of ways for you to get a fresh start. A new year means focusing on what matters to you in order to have an effective change. Earlier this week, Jenny Craig launched their new program, Rapid Results - an innovative science-based program that leveraged the body clock's natural circadian rhythm to help optimize metabolism and accelerate weight loss.

We know that when we work out, our trainers or books we have on hand tell us that studies show that the body's cells contain biological clocks that allow a unique pattern on a daily 24-hour cycle - a natural circadian rhythm of light and dark that is matched with the body's natural awake and sleep patterns. When your body works in tandem with this circadian rhythm, optimal weight management and metabolism are more likely to take place.

Most importantly, this program divides the day into two segments, a nourishment period and a rejuvenation period. During the nourishment period, members eat six times and choose from chef-crafted and nutritionist-designed meals. There is no counting, cooking, or meal prep and the daily menu is based upon appropriate nutrition for healthy weight loss. Throughout the nourishment period, Rapid Results provides more calories when your metabolism is burning the most calories.

The rejuvenation break plays a critical role in the weight-loss plan as a reset time. Research demonstrates that the rejuvenation period, which includes sleep time, allows the body's cells to rejuvenate and regenerate, boosts the immune system, manages appetite and hunger, helps preserve muscle mass, decreases the risk for dementia, as well as enhances mental alertness and mood. A key benefit of the rejuvenation period is that body fat, especially belly fat, decreases while muscle mass is maintained. This reduction in belly fat decreases obesity as well as the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Check out our Dec Issue

ATHLEISURE LIST | YOGA UNWINED

When you're selecting a workout studio or method, it's about finding a class that fits what you're interested in targeting as well as what fits your mood at the moment. A few weeks ago, we took our first Yoga Unwined class, which is founded by Morgan Perry and yes this combines yoga and wine together in a responsible and fit way!

Yoga Unwined is a yoga and wine education company. The classes weave together vinyasa-based yoga and fun wine facts through creative yoga poses. Each hour long educational class
ends with a meditative wine tasting, inviting you to mindfully taste what's in your glass while applying what you learned through the poses.

Morgan worked in wine marketing for a decade and fell in love with wine when she had the chance to visit wineries and vineyards in Chile on a press trip. She came back to New York and
started taking wine classes to learn more, and has been hooked ever since. She had practiced yoga for the past seven years. When she left her job in 2016, she immediately enrolled in an immersive yoga teacher training program. It was during this time that she created a yoga class that included wine education.

Each class focuses on one grape varietal (like Pinot Noir or Chardonnay) or category (like rosé or sparkling wine), so you will get a chance to learn about 20 facts about that particular wine. Instructors discuss some basic, but fun facts, which can include winemaking information, tasting notes, food pairings and more. These facts are woven seamlessly into the yoga flow, which is about 45 minutes long. After a five minute savasana or breathing meditation, you have the chance to comparatively taste two different expressions of the wine you just learned about and are able to see, smell and taste firsthand what is learned on the mat.

In New York City, they have partnered with The Arlo Hotel for their series - Bubbles & Brunch (look for these monthly classes in 2018). Students can book a package that includes a Yoga
Unwined class (focusing on sparkling wine), followed by bottomless brunch at Arlo Nomad's restaurant, Massoni. Recently, they concluded a series with Outdoor Voices and have partnerships with several yoga studios, such as Yoga Vida, with bi-monthly workshops. In January, classes will be held at Lululemon and SOLACE.

Expansion for Yoga Unwined will take place in Austin, TX due to the founder being from Texas. After the success of an event held in Austin this past summer, she will be offering a course this
Feb at Austin Winery. YOGA UNWINED Visit the website to find out more about Yoga Unwined series in NYC and additional cities. For those that are members of private clubs or luxury
buildings, you can find out when they are coming to these locations as well.

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YOGA UNWINED

www.yogaunwined.com

Read more from the Dec Issue and see Yoga Unwined in mag.

FROM LA WITH LOVE, GIA MANTEGNA

When you grow up in a creative family, you get to try your hand at a number of things to find out what works for you. Gia Mantegna grew up in the industry and has been acting since she was a kid, is a singer and in addition to her roles, can say that she has been able to spend quality time on set as a fellow actor with her dad, Joe Mantegna in the nail-biting series, Criminal Minds.

We sat down with Gia to talk about how she got into acting, what it's like to be on Criminal Minds, playing dramatic characters with a twist, her new show that is available now on CW Seed, what's going on with her music and some of her go to places in LA as well as when she's here in NYC.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did the acting bug hit you?

GIA MANTEGNA: I started acting at a really young age in school. I think I was about 11 when I started theater and that’s kind of where I got the bug. I had obviously grown up in the business
because my dad is an actor.

AM: We’re huge fans of him!

GM: Yeah, yeah me too! Growing up around that environment and being in that industry it was just something that was second nature to me. And I was like, "when is it my turn?" Being the second born child and always wanting attention, I was known for having this personality and having a need to be heard. The only outlet for that was to sing and to perform - so that’s how it started. Then after doing theater, I started working in film and going to TV and auditioning. It hasn’t stopped yet – knock on wood.

AM: What are some of the roles that you have been in?

GM: My first big gig was a Christmas film called Unaccompanied Minors which was a film directed by Paul Feig. He did Bridesmaids, The Heat, Ghostbusters (Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy) etc. That was my introduction into really working in Hollywood. It was such a great experience working with Paul and the cast. That was a fun role for me and I have done a lot of
spots on TV.

I’m really drawn to the darker roles naturally. I am a positive person, but I love those really weird roles. I did a role on Perception where I played this girl who swallowed knives and it was a strange one, but I loved it. Now comedy is where things are going for me which I also love because it’s harder and comedic timing is hard to do. The dramatic roles come easier to me but
comedy is where I am falling into and where the world is going, it’s nice to laugh a little bit.

AM: How much has your father been an influence on your roles and how has it been also appearing on Criminal Minds with him?

GM: YES oh my gosh. I can’t watch Criminal Minds – I live alone with a cat!

AM: When we travel, it’s always on as a marathon and we get sucked in, but we have to have a buddy and the lights on to watch it!

GM: Oddly enough, I never worked with him on the show. When I first auditioned for the show, I was 17 there was a different actor playing my father and I never had any scenes with him. Then one day, the writers came to me with an idea where my character came back with Aubrey Plaza’s character as they wanted two strong female characters to come back to shake up the
team. Aubrey and I came out to do it and I didn’t have any good dialogue with my dad, but there was this scene where he pointed a gun at me which was really exciting as that is always fun to work with a family member holding a gun in your face. I mean when is that going to happen? Hopefully not. But it was great because I have worked on a number of shows, but Criminal Minds – that cast is such a tight-knit group, they’re a family. They get along and it’s
been running for so long which is a testament to how great it is to be able to step into that show for a few weeks. It was the greatest gig in the world and to be able to hang out with my dad for a bit. The character was fun too as she was psychotic!

AM: Tell us about CW Seed and how we can watch it?

GM: A lot of networks have digital platforms as I think that they are trying to compete with Netflix and things like that. CW Seed (shows you can catch: Riverdale, Original Dynasty) is CW’s answer to that. It’s their digital platform where they create new media and they also run shows that have already been out on the website. You can watch on their website or their app.

Our show, Life After First Failure has myself and Breanne (who plays my best friend on the show), we received the script and we loved that there were two strong female characters
shaking things up – we fell in love with it. We did 3 episodes in Portland and CW Seed ended up breaking it up into 6 episodes - to make it more palatable for the audience.

The way it seems to be going is that it’s all about quick easy content for quick gratification. At first, I was a little disappointed, but it’s the way that things are going now. I like longer episodes, but the younger generation is easily bored and when they’re bored, you lose your audience. But the character was so much fun to play and it was different and new. Honestly, it was one of my favorite people to play.

AM: Is there a second season coming out?

GM: In a perfect world, yes – the hope was that the network would see that there was a strong response to it – but they’re kind of new. So a lot of it has been left to us and social media has really helped in terms of campaigning for the show. We definitely want to come back to do more episodes – right now we’re not sure so we want people to watch and tweet to request more episodes.

AM: We know that you are also a singer can you tell us about how you started that and what your plans are?

GM: I was always singing at a young age. My parents threw me into everything soccer, piano, saxophone etc. Singing stuck with me – my sister and I took lessons at a very young age. Both of my parents have a musical background and it was just one of those things that I always kept in my back pocket, but I was too scared to use and then it got to a point that I really wanted to do a show so I got a producer and a band and we put it together with a show at The Whiskey in LA. It was so great, but there aren’t really any plans as I was starting to work on an album and then acting picked up, but it's always something I go back to. Right now, I record things and sell them to shows and just kind of do it as a hobby.

PHOTO COURTESY | Scott Bonnie

AM: What is the genre?

GM: It ended up being a rock show when I was at The Whiskey. But the song I’m most proud of, ‘I Won’t Wait’ it’s alternative/electronic. It has a cool vibe to it as I’m inspired by Banks and Tove Lo - just I love that electronic ease and fun. But when I get back into singing, I want to do a lot of oldies covers as I listen to a lot of 70s music. I love Top 40, but I’m inspired by that era. I have been listening to a lot of THEM (Van Morrison’s old band) lately and I thought it would be really fun to do a lot of covers of music that my parents grew up with as that's what I listened to growing up.

AM: What is your personal style when you're going out for brunch versus when you're having a night out?

GM: It doesn’t change – it’s always the same – I’m all black everything – it makes doing laundry very easy. I always dress for winter or fall – I wear Doc Martins all the time, I live in them. I love skinny jeans and a baggy sweatshirt on top. I love jewelry which allows me to go a little crazy and I love makeup! My sister and I went to makeup school just for fun and my sister was really into it – she has autism and is really high functioning, but my parents didn’t want her to go alone so I went as her pal and I ended up loving it. I love playing with makeup looks and it taught me what I could do with makeup – so it’s all about the accessories.

AM: How do you take time for yourself in the midst of your busy schedule?

GM: It’s interesting as an actor, you’re your own boss and there is going to be downtime so you’re always trying to stay proactive. I do piano as much as I can to stay with my music.

I do meditate - big meditator. I tried running for 5 mins. - it was horrible, but I really love yoga. There is a huge yoga culture in LA - which I know is everywhere as well. But I have been doing
yoga for so long that I just do it on my own and I just do it in my trailer. Now that I have this amazing cat in my life, I love meditating and doing yoga at home. I don’t do any high impact – I
don’t. I can’t do it because I have this really weird jaw issue which is a severe form of TMJ where I have to get injections in my masseter muscles. So when I do anything high impact the stress goes to my neck and my face and then I have to go to the Chiropractor and it becomes this whole thing. Everything is low impact and easy – I walk a lot and although LA is not a walking town, I live in West Hollywood so I can do that.

AM: What charity/philanthropy do you do?

GM: Because my sister has autism, I have always been involved in that as it has been a big part of my life and to give back to the community. My family and I do not support Autism Speaks as they have paid celebrities to do endorsements which makes sense, but many don't know what they're talking about and funds have gone to the CEOs and very little of the money is going to autism research. More grassroots organizations is where we go and my dad does a lot of work with veterans so anything that involves them and the military, I am all about it. Autism is big for me and there isn’t one that I champion specifically.

PHOTO COURTESY | Marco David

AM: What's on your playlist?

GM: I’ve been listening to a lot of THEM, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan – I went to a concert of his last year and it was so great. I just really love him. Let me grab my phone out. I love Tove Lo and Banks of course. A lot of oldies - OH - Roy Orbison - he's the best for the holidays - I really love his stuff and I have been getting obsessed with Chris Isaak again. OH Tom Jones is my
go to when I'm getting ready, I go to Spotify, put in Tom Jones and listen to everything. It gets crazy and my dad makes fun of me and asks, “why do you listen to my music?” I love it and everything coming out lately now – it’s cool to vibe out to in the background, but I don’t connect with it and it’s not inspirational to me.

AM: When you're in LA, what's 1 place you work out, 1 place you eat at 1 place you shop? What version do you have for that here in NYC?

GM: The answer to most of those questions is home, home, home haha. In NY, I go to McSorley’s Old Ale House - I was just there last night with my mom and my sister. So only in NY
would this take place, we met these two guys where one had just broken up with his wife and one with his girlfriend and they wanted to recreate this picture that they had taken when they were with them at the same bar a few years prior! One ex was blonde and one was brunette and we re-created the picture.

In LA, people are very "don’t talk to me," but in NY it’s so different and they were from Orange County. It was hysterical and the picture was identical and I even arranged everything on the table the same way. McSorley's is my go to.

In LA, I go anywhere although there is this cool Australian bar called The Eveleigh. Serafina just opened in LA so I love that – they’re on Sunset. I work out at home in LA so I just go outside as there is so much hiking you can do and I want to try boxing. For shopping, I am all about ASOS – they have great stuff, affordable and they always have black options. In NY it’s anywhere.
I’m obsessed with shoes, so any shoe store. I love Opening Ceremony and I love Soho in general. Evolution is here and I love them, we have something similar in LA called Necromance, but I haven’t bought anything. Where am I going to put taxidermy squirrels?

My God mom has a store in Toluca Lake near my parents house called Pergolina and she has these beautiful taxidermy animals which she gets from Necromance. Her store is where I get my jewelry and I wear these bracelets all the time. But I’m not a big shopper – I’m an eater – I love to eat. My mom has a restaurant in Burbank called Taste Chicago.

AM: Wait we have heard of Taste Chicago!

GM: I know a lot of people think that it’s my dad’s, but it’s my moms!

AM: Which one is from Chicago?

GM: Both – my whole family is from Chicago and here. We’re here because one of my family members just bought a house in New Jersey. We’re the only ones in LA. We needed to bring Chicago to LA.

AM: So what are we ordering at Taste Chicago?

GM: Chicago dogs, Sicilian Pan Pizza, Deep Dish, Italian Beef, everything – it’s hard core. You don’t go there to get a salad, you go there to work! But I actually prefer NY style pizza haha but I go there for the Italian Beef.

PHOTO COURTESY | Marco David

Read more from the Dec Issue and see From LA with Love, Gia Mantegna in mag.

FORM AND FUNCTION WITH DR GREUNER

2018 will be many things, but we hope in addition to your other plans and goals, that focusing on your health will be at the top of the list! We took some time to talk to NYC Surgical Associate's head doctor and Co-Founder, Dr Greuner. He is an extremely exclusive and prestigious award-winning cardiovascular surgeon who is one of the most talented in his field. He is also a social media influencer for health and fitness. We wanted to find out about how he
found his calling to be a doctor, his passion for fitness (if you haven't checked his Instagram, check it out) and how we can have positive heart health.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you come to be a cardiovascular surgeon?

DR. GREUNER: Believe it or not, by accident. I was a NCAA athlete in college, and an economics and human performance major. My plan was to open a chain of objectively measured analytics for top tier athletes upon graduation, and this was a childhood dream of mine. I took medical classes to develop my knowledge of human anatomy and physiology for this reason in school, and became so enamored discovering how the human body functions. It’s beautiful, and completely logical. I could speak for hours on this, and I read about it more to this day for personal enjoyment, much the same way an art aficionado looks at beautiful pieces.

As my understanding grew, so did my desire to learn more, and soon, I had basically filled my requirements for medical school, solely via personal interest. My father and mother were in the middle of a divorce at the time I finished college, and I moved closer to my father to help him through this difficult time, as we had always been very close. I applied to medical school at
that time where he was living, and was accepted. I finished, but never planned on practicing, until my surgery rotation, which fascinated me. I applied to surgical residency and I was accepted.

During my surgery residency, I rotated through cardiac surgery, and it was love at first sight. The rhythm, the physiology, the technical prowess, and the nerves of steel required hypnotized
me, and I knew there was nothing else I would rather do.

To this day, everyone asks me why I am so happy heading to work in the morning. The truth is, I theoretically found the love of my life by accident…..

AM: How can we maintain positive heart health?

DR. G: There are so many answers to this question, but in short, regular cardio and a diet rich in essential fatty acids and low in foods that promote oxidative stress are the two main keys.

For the function of your heart, or “cardiovascular fitness,” you should maintain at least 3 sessions of active cardio where your heart rate is above 120 bpm, for at least 20 minutes per week to maintain your level of cardiovascular fitness. Less than that, and you will consistently deteriorate with time in terms of your cardiac function. More than that, and you will consistently improve.

The next category is maintaining pristine condition of your heart, to allow it to function effectively. Anything that causes tissue damage is called “oxidative stress”. I’m sure you have all heard of anti oxidants. These are the chemicals that act to buffer these oxidative stress. Think of it as a balance, like a mathematical equation. If you go into a negative number, because of oxidative stress, you must take in antioxidants to get back to a neutral state, and “balance it out” so to speak.

Oxidative stress can come from any source, such as chemicals in processed food, chemical injury such as smoking or pollution, and even extra strenuous workouts. It’s all about consistency, and awareness to keep you in the positive direction to avoid tissue damage.

AM: It's clear that you are also into health and fitness, why is this important and what are the benefits?

DR. G: Yes, fitness is a huge part of my life, and for a variety of reasons

1. its one of my main coping mechanisms.

I definitely have a very stressful job surgically speaking, and I also have a significant administrative role in a very large private practice, which let me tell you, comes with some unwanted stress. Given that role, I need some release mechanisms that don’t involve unhealthy habits, and working out is one of my go to methods, particularly cycling, running, and martial arts, all of which require an intense amount of focus and “zoning out” so to speak. I reach a sort of meditative state for lack of a better word, that allows me a tranquil period and a mental cleansing for other things that may be weighing on my mind at the time. Well, at least until the next hurdle…..

2. It preserves my form and function.

Lets face it. Whether we are 18 or 60, we are all aging daily, and aging takes its toll on the body. And none of that is making us more fit. In fact, it gets harder to maintain levels of fitness as we age for a variety of reasons. You can either accept that, or fight the trend by working harder to be better. I choose the latter. In fact, my lap times running, and some of my muscle functionality is better than where it was in my twenties as a result of me training so intensely these days, a fact that I’m extremely proud of. Now if only my back injuries would respond the same way…..

AM: Nutrition is key. How can we stay healthy during the holiday while splurging during this time of year?

DR. G: I’m a HUGE fan of cheat days. Both because I love to eat probably more than anyone I know, and also because there are definite benefits to them, if your diet is on track the rest of the time. In general, I’m sure you have heard of muscle confusion workouts. The basic premise behind this, is that if you do the same workout for a prolonged period of time, eventually,
your muscles become accustomed to it, and you will no longer push them to the point where they need to become stronger, as they simply become more efficient. How do you avoid this and enjoy improved function with every workout? By switching it up and keeping your muscles and body “confused” and not knowing what to expect.

It’s the same with your diet. If you keep to a strict, low calorie diet for a prolonged period of time, your body is programmed to preserve the status quo by nature, and it will simply become
more efficient and lower your metabolism in order to burn calories in an efficient way. In short, you will basically become a human Pruis metabolically speaking, which trust me, is NOT what you want. You want to be that big V8 that burns calories at a rapid rate. How do you do this? By implementing a cheat day once a week, where you consume a tremendous amount of calories, and make your body feel like endless calories will be available much like the credit market was in the 1990s. Then, just when your body is adapting, which takes a few days, you pull the carpet from underneath it, and drop it back into a low calorie state while it still thinks that endless energy is available. Just when it’s starting to sense that it needs to be more “financially responsible” from a calories standpoint, your throw a curveball again and bring in fat, carbs, and everything that it wants. Keep doing this, and your body will have to keep guessing, and you will always burn fat at a faster rate and keep it lean. Plus, you get to eat cake
and fries….

AM: What are 3 workouts that guys should do to get great abs and calves?

DR. G: You should always think of gaining muscle mass as a separate category than acquiring muscle definition. A muscular, ripped physique is the Holy Grail for most men, and there are
many reasons most of us are not walking around looking like Greek gods. It’s very difficult to achieve both. To gain muscle mass, we have to stress our muscles, beyond what they are used
to stimulate them to grow. Most of the gym theories on heavy weights with low weight vs light weights and high reps are false. The endpoint needs to be complete and total muscle fatigue so that your body is uncomfortable and is stimulated to adapt to be able to deal with the new level of performance you demand from it. It doesn’t really matter how you achieve that level of stimulation, as long as you achieve it. If you are trying to attain a different level of functionality, meaning strength vs endurance, the type of training you do definitely matters.

This being the case, I always pick the easiest way to look the best. And for me, that is doing heavy weights with low reps, as it’s the quickest, most efficient way to stimulate growth. My ab
routine typically consists of hanging leg raises with leg weights, ab pulldowns with heavy weight (150+lbs) and weighted, slant bench sit ups with a 40-50lb medicine ball. When it comes time to train for an event, I switch to more reps to improve my function. For calves I use weighted donkey presses, and weighted calf raises.

In order to allow your muscles to grow, you must also give them the fuel and rest they need, much like a growing child, which is why it’s difficult to stay ripped and build muscle. Girls have it so easy…..

To show off that hard-earned muscle, you must be in a calorie deficit, to make your body lose the fat and expose that hard-earned mass. Without a low body fat, you will never look good, regardless of the amount of muscle you build.

You may ask, “When I drop my calories, won't I lose muscle?” which is a legitimate concern. The short answer is, yes you will. But you can minimize muscle loss by manipulating your diet, as well as supplements promoting testosterone, and supplying branched chain amino acids, which are key to my routine. BCAAs basically fool your body into believing it has broken down muscle already, so it shifts to breaking down fat instead when you are in a caloric deficit, and are one of the keys to preserving muscle mass when dieting hard for fat loss.

AM: What are your energy foods that you enjoy eating that you can take with you when you have a hectic day and can't get out like you would like?

DR. G: I typically bring some lean, but very satisfying meat cuts to work with me, which promote satiety, but at the same time, allow me to not over indulge in calories. Turkey, lean beef, and chicken are my go to choices.

The key to any diet that promotes a lean, muscular physique is to avoid high blood sugar levels, which stimulate insulin release. Insulin is the main hormone involved in fat gain, so you want to minimize its presence in your blood.

The best way to do this is to avoid high sugar foods. So if you’re going to snack, use high protein snacks like beef jerky, or complex carbs, like high fiber or oat bars with low sugar content. As soon as you cause a sugar spike, you basically put yourself behind the 8 ball in terms of your physique. Yes, it's THAT important.

AM: As a stylist, I'm prepping a number of my clients for their red carpet moments during Awards Season what are food must-haves and workouts that you would suggest they incorporate into their routine?

DR. G: In general, I look at workouts and diet as trying to achieve two different goals. How you look is 80 percent a function of your diet, and how you perform is mostly dependent on your workouts. The only exception to this, is trying to attain a very high level of muscle in which case you absolutely must work out consistently to stimulate muscle growth.

That being the case, diet is the key to looking great. You could work out all day long, but if you eat badly, you will look terrible. If you barely workout, but your diet is clean, you will look much better than you think, which is often overlooked. Often I hear “I work out, I can eat whatever I want today.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you think about it, in a hugely strenuous workout for an hour, the average person would burn maybe 1000 calories, or one larger slice of cheesecake. Do the math on that. Fat loss is a simple mathematical equation. Eat
fewer calories than you burn, and you will lose weight. The easiest way to do that, unless you want to work out 6 hours a day, is to keep your diet clean.

Read more from the Dec Issue and see Form and Function with Dr. Greuner 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.

NIKE NBA CITY EDITION UNIFORM

If you didn't see it over your social feeds, Nike collaborated with the NBA to create a series of jerseys that will bring changes to game day. The Uniform Editions are not about home, away and alternative options - they focus on celebrating the 30 franchises by the city that they were born in. Previously game day uniforms included the Association, Icon and Statement Editions. With this fourth group created by Nike is known as the City Edition - this highlights the roots of the city from within the game and beyond as well as the locale's history. It also leads a map to the future as well. We have included some of the uniforms and you can see all the uniforms as well as their backstory at Nike. Follow them and your favorite team online to see when the uniforms will be worn.

ATHLEISURE MAG | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2017

We're in the thick of the holiday gifting season which starts pretty much after Thanksgiving and continues well into the first few days of January. In Athleisure Mag's Holiday Gift Guide 2017, we are focusing on a number of gifting lifestyles to consider from Cocktails, Food, Fitness, Sexy Little Things, Traveling, Wellness and Beauty - just a number of the topics that you'll find in our monthly issues! In addition, we have added some of our favorite editorial photoshoots that have taken place this year and that you've seen in our issues.

THE COCKTAIL LOVER | ATH MAG HGG 2017

Every home should have a bar cart and options that include great ready made cocktails as well
as an interesting spirit that is a great conversation starter. We have some tasty items to gift
friends and family.

| JONATHAN ADLER Ultra Bar Cart | OL' MAJOR Bacon Flavoured Bourbon | WEST ELM Marble Bar Tools | ANTHROPOLOGIE Gilded Rim Stemless Glass | HALF-SEAS Paloma Sparkling Cocktails | VAMPIRE GOURMET Bloody Mary Cocktail with Vodka in a Can | BUSHIDO Way of the Warrior Sake in Can |

THE BEAUTY STOCKING | ATH MAG HGG 2017

Beauty products and stocking stuffers are the perfect pairing and we have a few that we wouldn't mind finding in our this holiday season.

| JURLIQUE Rosewater Balancing Mist | SOL DE JANEIRO Catch the Bum Bum Wave | ARTIS
BRUSH Fluenta Oval 7 | MAN RAY FOR NARS NARS Love Triangle - Impassioned | SMITH &
CULT Kings and Thieves | BIOLAGE 3Butter Contol System Day Cream |

THE FOODIE ON THE GO | ATH MAG HGG 2017

Whether you're snacking at home, at the office or on the go - we love culinary gifts that allow
us to try something new. We suggest some of these tasty finds.

| HIC OLIVE OIL Hic Collection - Aegean Olives | BETTER THAN COFFEE French Roast | PARMCRISPS Oven Baked Snacks | MANUKA HONEY CHOCOLATES Mint Dark Chocolate | SANAIA APPLE SAUCE Lychee | BLOUNT BOWLS Coconut Chicken and Noodle Bowl |

THE TRAVELER | ATH MAG HGG 2017

Travel takes on a number of forms from trains, planes and automobiles. Whether you're keeping
it local or going beyond your geographical borders - here's what you can gift your traveling
friends and family on your list.

| MAVEN Car Sharing Service | MEAT CRAFTERS Skinny Salamis | LIBERO FERRERO GI Dopp Kit | MONDAINE Helvetica No1 Light Fall 2017 | VICTORINOX VX Touring Expandable 2-in-1 Carry-On Duffle | LIFEWTR Bottled Water | CANON PowerShot G9 X Mark II |

FITNESS GOODIES | ATH MAG HGG 2017

We're constantly adding to our fitness kit. This is the bag of items that we always have on hand that work with whatever studio fitness we feel like doing as the mood strikes. Here's what we're gifting this holiday season!

| DRISOUND Premium Headphone Covers | STELLA MCCARTNEY Red Hot Yoga Shorts | OUTDOOR VOICES Athena Crop | TOE TALK Mind Body Sock | DOPE Melonaid | REEBOK
Combat Glory Hoodie |

WELLNESS GIFTS | ATH MAG HGG 2017

Sometimes you just want to kick back and relax. We have the perfect wellness items that are on our list when adding to must have self-care options that will get you though cabin fever and "me time".

| ANYA LUST Champagne Bath Gift Set (Candle, Bath Bomb and Whipped Body Butter) | VIM
+ VIGR Compression Socks | BERNARDO Miami Shearling | WE ARE KNITTERS Downtown
Snood | TIVOLI AUDIO Model One Digital Bluetooth Speaker Radio | FLEUR'T WITH ME Athletic Mesh Inset Hoodie |

SEXY LITTLE THINGS | ATH MAG HGG 2017

When it comes to all facets of your life getting gifted, you can't forget a few sexy little things to add to your closet. We have some great options to add to your boudoir (oh and others who are on your list).

| KARL K/ikonik Tie Gloves | BUDDHA MAMA 20K Mandala Necklace | CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Rouge Louboutin Velvet Matte | BIJOUX INDISCRETS Maze Collection - Head Piece | JIMMY CHOO Viola 110 | PARFAIT LINGERIE Marion Non-Padded Underwire Bra and Hipster in Lapis
Blue |

HOSTESS GIFTS | ATH MAG HGG 2017

You can't forget your host/hostess whether you're coming over for a fabulous dinner, they plan events that you enjoy attending or they're gracious to have you at their summer or winter homes. Don't come empty handed!

| IITTALA Kastehelmi Tealight Candleholders | CHILEWICH Dahlia Coasters Set of 6 | ROYAL
COPENHAGEN Fluted Contrast Mug | IRONWOOD Baguette Miter | ALESSI Pill Box Chestnut
| NEUHAUS When Neuhaus Meets Single Malt Whisky Luxury Gift Box |

Read more from the Dec Issue and see Athleisure Mag | Holiday Gift Guide 2017

ON THE FIELD WITH ASHLEY BUSCH

When you think about elite sports that involve grace and agility, polo comes to mind. We had the opportunity to chat with Ashley Busch, who not only plays polo for the US team, but she is also the global brand ambassador of the United States Polo Association as well as a model for Wilhelmina. We chat about her career, how she balances her life with her husband and NASCAR driver, Kurt Busch, as well as her new swim line that will make its debut in 2018. 

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you get into Polo and how did this culminate in you becoming the face of the United States Polo Association (USPA) as their global brand ambassador?

ASHLEY BUSCH: I started riding at age 5 where I showed Hunters. When I was 11, I went to a polo school that was in Middleburg, VA. After my first lesson, I fell in love with Polo and have been playing for the past 16 years. As far as the brand ambassadorship with USPA, I previously have done several campaigns for them, in the past, as the brand likes to use actual polo players because it represents authenticity. After building my relationship with USPA and gaining notoriety as a female player, they decided to choose me as their first ambassador.

AM: What are takeaways that you have from Polo that can become keys to living a quality life day to day?

AB: The commitment it takes to be a competitive polo player can be parlayed into several aspects of daily life. Such as physical fitness, motivation, consistency, nutrition and learning that you "win some and you lose some." 

AM: Tell us about the US Eastern Circuit Polo Team.

AB: The US Eastern Polo Team was a team that myself and a few other American players brought to England to play against the British Armed Forces where it was a series of 3 tournaments played at Sandhurst Military Academy, Coworth and Guards Polo Clubs. The US Team was able to defeat the British. 

AM: We love swimwear and want to know more about how this became your passion and how you came to collaborate with La Isla's Founder and CEO Enrique Sanchez-Rivera.

AB: Another passion of mine has been fashion design and I used to collect swimwear. Enrique is a fellow polo player and has his own swimwear line called La Isla. He also does private label manufacturing, so after speaking with him about the highlights of being involved in design and swimwear, we decided to work together.
 

AM: What can you tell us about this upcoming line and will you be showing at Miami Fashion Week this year?

AB: I decided to create my own brand and hired his company to do the private label for me. I don't want to give away too many details about my upcoming line, but it will be similar to the Aqua Bendita swimwear line. My line will have a variety of price points and will be made for all shapes and sizes. My goal is to be showing at Miami Fashion Week. 

AM: A portion of the proceeds will go to which causes?

AB: I haven't selected which causes, as it may be a different one each season or may choose several causes to divide among. Hospice, Children’s Hospital, Cancer Research, Humane Society, Horse Welfare, our Military, etc. are all causes I am passionate about!
 

AM: How is it juggling your busy schedule as a model, USPA Ambassador, designer and the wife of NASCAR champion, Kurt Busch?

AB: It is definitely a lot to juggle, but Kurt and I have a commitment to make time for one another, family and friends. My tip to all trying to juggle a busy schedule is to try to take each day with a positive mindset and fresh start.

AM: Clearly, health and fitness are important to you, what are your go-to foods that you enjoy eating for energy?

AB: Depending on what the day may entail my foods may change. I try to look at food as fuel and how my body responds to it. I enjoy high protein meals that include veggies and quinoa or other high protein grains. Snacks include protein balls & protein shakes, apples with natural peanut butter & yogurts for when I need a fast option. I also avoid alcohol for optimal energy before games and trainings. 

AM: With the holidays coming up, many people want great arms and legs which look great in cocktail dresses - what would you suggest adding into your routine in terms of working out?

AB: My trainer, Molly Deaton, is doing lots of bodyweight exercises with low weight. We always start with variations of plank to warm up along with pull-ups & pushups. She has me do something different things each training session, but we use the TRX a lot along with isolated holds for abs and legs. If you are looking for some great toning workouts check out some local classes that are offered in your community. It is a great way to work with a professional who can help you achieve those goals and have fun while getting in shape!

AM: Are there any other fitness methods that you do? 

AB: I've recently gotten into Air Silks. It is probably the hardest workout I've ever done but is so much fun. Kurt and I also enjoy working out together. 
 

Read more from the Nov Issue and see On the Field with Ashley Busch in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | CYC FITNESS

There are a number of cycling studios that are known for bumping beats, great camaraderie and feeling like you're on another level. On your list of places to frequent whether you're in Boston, Madison and NYC - CYC Fitness is one to add to your list.

WIth a number of rides that activate your whole body, each class focuses on calorie burning endurance intervals in tandem with weighted sectors that are fueled by high energy playlists.
Classes are divided into 3 types:

Cyc45
Clip into our signature 45-minute beat based ride. Calorie burning endurance intervals are combined with weighted sectors for a unique, and transformational workout.

CycLift

Turn up the resistance, fire up your core, and grab your weights. This is our signature Cyc45 ride with additional weighted sectors that will sculpt your upper body, build your strength,
and take you to the next level.

CycLean

Take the “weight” off your shoulders and transform your stress into sweat. Raise your stamina in this 45-minute, weight-free ride. Hills, jogs, jumps and the perfect balance of resistance will
free your mind and keep your body lean.

Cycologists lead the class and ensure that you're guided through the choreography under a night club like environment where lights change from purple, red and blue. Weights are also
incorporated into the 45 minute sessions.

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CYC FITNESS
 

Boston
699 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02116

Madison, WI
773 University Ave #205
Madison, WI 53715

NYC
CYC Astor | 4 Astor Place
NY, NY 10003

NYC
CYC Chelsea | 555 Sixth Ave
NY, NY 10011

NYC
CYC Hell's Kitchen | 700 Eighth Ave
NY, NY 10036

NYC
CYC UES | 1231 3rd Ave
NY, NY 10021

www.CycFitness.com

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Athleisure List | Cyc Fitness in mag.

RAF'S GAMBIT

Thanksgiving is this month and while many of us are looking forward to family, friends, food etc. This year, an extra amount of anticipation for the national holiday means the debut of NETFLIX/Spike Lee's 'She's Gotta Have It' which begins streaming on the network for this movie turned series. Rafael V DeLeon plays Manny Garciela and we caught up with him in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

ATHLEISURE MAG: We've seen you in print campaigns and we know that you have acted in a number of shows/films, tell us about your journey in both areas.
 
RAFAEL V DELEON: Yes, I have! Well, the journey is still ongoing, but I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given so far. When I first moved to NYC, I worked the graveyard shift at a hotel. That was the bottom...I mean, “beginning” of the journey. lol
 
AM: Tell us about your role in Netflix/Spike Lee's 'She's Gotta Have It', how long were you filming and what was the auditioning process like? 
 
RVD: I filmed scenes over the course of several months. The audition process was like any other; you go in, do your best work, and leave the room knowing you gave it your best. 

AM: In your opinion, how has 'She's Gotta Have It' been tweaked from the world it existed in 1986 to now?
 
RVD: Well for starters, in 1986, social media didn’t exist. The integration of social media and cell phones are the two biggest tweaks. Other themes like: racial inequality, gentrification, feminine empowerment, and social justice were already top-of-mind issues for Spike...back in 1986. “Been Woke” as Spike would say.    

AM: What did you know about this movie prior to auditioning and what are your thoughts on this now that you have played the part of Manny Garciela that plays the best friend of Mars Blackmon played by Hamilton's Anthony Ramos?
 
RVD: I was familiar with the project but had not seen the film prior to auditioning. I had done my research on the film and prepared accordingly though.  My thoughts now are “Whoa. What an experience!” To work with creatives at the top of their game both in-front of and behind the camera is a milestone moment for me. You find yourself surrounded by so much talent it’s awe-inspiring sometimes. 

AM: With 'She's Gotta Have It' streaming on Thanksgiving, how excited are you to be a part of this iconic series?
 
RVD: As excited as Spike was when the Yankees won the World Series in 2009. 
 
 

AM: We know that you live in Brooklyn, where are your 3 favorite places to eat, workout and to grab a beer?

RVD: 1.) Eat- I really enjoy Archie’s Pizza in Bushwick (I hope they read this). 

2.) Workout- Any playground basketball court. Always good competition there. 

3.) Grab a beer - The Rookery Bar (I REALLY hope they read this). 

AM: Do you still play basketball as we know that you played Division I at Temple?

RVD: Temple is not only Division I, but is the 5th winningest Men’s Basketball program in NCAA history behind Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, and Duke; but I digress. ;) 

I do still play! A colleague of mine has pick-up every week (shout out to DG) and gets a bunch of ex-division 1 guys together for weekly runs. 

AM: What's your personal style when you're going out to grab a drink versus when you're running errands?
 
RVD: Oh man, when I’m going out I try to dress in something that is comfortable, individualist, and on-trend. When I am running errands? Whatever is clean.  
 
AM: What roles can we see you in next?
 
RVD:I have a few opportunities in the pipeline, but nothing I can announce currently. I will just say that I am excited for what 2018 has in store.
 
AM: With Christmas around the corner, what are you doing this season and where will you spend NYE?
 
RVD: I am spending the week leading up to Christmas with my family in Prince Georges County, MD and will be traveling to Costa Rica on the 26th through the new year! 
 
AM: Tell us about charities that you are a part of? 
 
RVD: I work closely with the Make-A-Play organization, Camp Ryan, and volunteer at a middle school in my neighborhood. Lending a hand in my community is something that is very important to me.
 
AM: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that we have not covered?

RVD: I love playing Chess, day-trading stocks, reading The Atlantic, and watching critically-acclaimed films with my Somali princess. Oh, and I still haven’t beaten a local chess-master in Union Square.

Our shoot took place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the McCarren Hotel and Pool as well as the famed The Meatball Shop. You can watch Rafael V Deleon on NETFLIX in Spike Lee's, 'She's Gotta Have It' streaming now. You can also connect with him socially. 
 
Twitter | @RafaelVDeLeon
Instagram | @RafaelVDeLeon
Facebook | /RafaelVDeLeon

We're big fans of The Meatball Shop at Athleisure Mag and it was fun to chat with their Marketing Director Natasha Miller about their history, menu, neighborhood locations and spirit.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about The Meatball Shop - what the concept behind the restaurant is, who are the co-founders, when it was created, and current as well as upcoming locations of this eatery. 

NATASHA MILLER: The co-founders are Daniel Holzman (Chef) and Michael Chernow, a pair of childhood friends who opened the first The Meatball Shop location on the Lower East Side in 2010. Since then, they’ve expanded to open locations in the Upper East Side, West Village, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, and Williamsburg. The Meatball Shop is all about eating responsibly sourced, delicious food in a fun, hip location. 

AM: What are some of the signature dishes and cocktails that are available at The Meatball Shop? 

NM: The beauty of The Meatball Shop is that you can put together any dish you'd like! But, some of our guest's favorites combos are definitely our Classic Ball (a mix of beef and pork meat) with our Classic Tomato over Spaghetti. Our Kitchen Sink Salad is also a big hit with our guests. Our cocktail menu changes seasonally, but I’d say our Moscow Mule is pretty classic (and delicious).

AM: For those who are vegetarian, can they also enjoy the experience at The Meatball Shop? 

NM: Totally! We have vegan veggie balls that are out of this world, I like them best with our pesto, but they can be served however you’d like! We're all about cooking seasonally and are always changing up our awesome roster of veggies sides. Currently were serving sides like Roast Brussels Sprouts and Apples, Braised Kale and Tomato Soffrito, and Butternut Squash Sage Rissoto. 

AM: If you haven't done so already, can you tell us about Sidepiece? 

NM: Sidepiece is the bar connected to our Hell’s Kitchen location – you walk to the back of the restaurant, past the restrooms, through a little hallway, and you’re there! Sidepiece has a totally different cocktail menu and acts as our meatball test kitchen where we serve some super fun dishes like Pretzels Balls and Meatball Nachos, in a speakeasy-esque space. It can also be rented out for private parties too!

AM: With a number of locations in NYC, what is the thought of the aesthetic of the restaurant in relation to the location of the neighborhood that it resides in? 

NM: The aesthetic of each individual restaurant definitely changes based on the neighborhood that surrounds it. We want each location to feel like its own restaurant - the Williamsburg location, for example, is more subdued and looks lovingly worn in, while the Lower East Side shop has a poppy-feel, with a deep navy wall coated in bright white metal meat grinders. 

AM: We shot a portion of our shoot in the Williamsburg location of The Meatball Shop. What can you tell us about this particular location (when it opened, those who tend to stop in)? 

NM: We opened up our Williamsburg Shop in 2011 and it's become a stable of Bedford Ave. We get a lot of neighborhood locals for sure but as the neighborhood has changed we're also seeing a ton of tourists stop in which has been really fun. We recently started serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm – this was the first location we started doing so, and it’s been a nice change of pace.

AM: What can we expect with the upcoming holiday season in terms of events or promotions taking place at The Meatball Shops? 

NM: We’re just about to launch our latest SHUT skateboard deck design, which will be available on our website. We encourage fans of the brand to check out our other gear as well, like our Ballers sweatshirt, Ballerina Tee, and our jarred Classic Tomato Sauce- which can all be found at www.themeatballshop.com.
 

AM: What are the Co-Founders' favorite dishes at The Meatball Shop? 

NM: Michael Chernow loves a Kitchen Sink with Veggie Balls and Pesto and Daniel Holzman loves a heartier dish of Pork Meatballs with Spicy Meat Sauce over Polenta with a Family Jewel on top!

AM: Are there new dishes (whether ongoing or seasonal) that will be coming to The Meatball Shop? 

NM: We just started serving our Grilled Cheese balls in all of our locations this week – they sit like dumplings atop a layer of cream of tomato soup and are dangerously good. Right before Christmas, we will be bringing back our Jingle Jingle Balls made with venison and paired with a traditional Cumberland Sauce. We also have a killer Bread Pudding special for dessert this month!

AM: We know that you can buy The Meatball Shops' sauce and cookbook, are there other items that are available that people can purchase when they can't get to the physical locations? 

NM: We love designing merch! In addition to our sauce and cookbook, you can find our "Balls" shirts, Grinder Snapbacks, and Grinder Carhartt Beanies at all of our shops. We also carry limited quality items such as our Hedley & Bennet Aprons, "Mini Meatball" Onesizie, and (Baller)INA Pink T-Shirts that you can find in our different shops!

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Raf's Gambit in mag.

FOOTWEAR.FASHION.LIFESTYLE | SOUL DXB

There are a number of events that are taking place in the first few days of December as we begin to close out your year. From music festivals Art Basel Miami and more. Sole DXB takes place in Dubai Dec 7th - 9th and focuses on Fashion, Footwear and Lifestyle by merging a number of brands and musicians together for a fun experience. Sole DXB is helmed by Hussain Moloobhoy (began his career at Saatchi London and moves to the Middle East and joined Saatchi and Saatchi Dubai where her served as its Creative Director - he took a sabbatical to explore global designs and fashion industries which led him to create a creative agency), Joshua Cox (serves as Co-Founder of Sole DXB to create a platform to help revive culture and inspire the urban fashion industry of the region), Kris Balarite (with a focus on creative design and advertising as well as freelancing with sports brand consulting, he serves as a Co-Founder of Sole DXB and is the brand creative director for the first ever basketball concept store in the Middle East known as Conquer) and Rajat Malhotra (in addition to being a partner in the Sole DXB, Rajat established a media and telecom business where he served as a CEO as well as partnering with Sunny Rahbar as a Co-Founder of the Third Line Gallery which has allowed curated exhibitions in NYC's gallery Stellar Rays).

With their creative backgrounds, we wanted to know more about what Sole DXB is as it has taken place for a number of years and is constantly focused on specific cultures that are being presented. With its mixture of art, sports, music and footwear, we took some time to find out more about this event.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Summarize in your own words what Sole DXB is?

SOLE DXB: VERY. DOPE. A celebration of hip-hop culture that has been so integral to our lives. We're simply creating an event that we, as people, wold want to go to. Just so seems there's a lot of others like us too...

AM: What is the decision behind celebrating various cultures at various points of your event from Amercan Hip Hop one year, British Hip Hop and this year, Japanese contemporary design?

SD: Culture is global, its nuance local, our individual upbringings widespread. As partners, we all grew up across different cities all around the world, but moved to Dubai eventually. During that process, Dubai had so much to offer, but there were parts of our past lives that we missed and we didn't feel that we should have to get on a place everytime we wanted to experience it. Last year, we looked at how the scene goes down in London. For many it was the year of grime, so we brought out champions of UK sounds like Skept, Stormzy, Little Simz, and Chipmunk. The year before it was very much a look at how the orginators of hip-hop, the US, did things. So we brought in legends like Mobb Deep and DMC (of Run DMC). We consider ever event an education through experience for our consumers. This year. we've looked East, especially at the real design finesse from Japan. So we're bringing out (Fragment founder and) icon Hiroshi Fujiwara to give a talk. Then we have brands like Visvim, Wacko Maria, Neihgborhood and Undercover showcasing their wares. Beyond that, there's some real godfathers of the industry coming down - we have Mass Appeal offering an exclusive international screening of (yet to be shown) Word is Bond. And that's before we even talk music (read: Kano, Pusha T, Goldlink, IAMDDB and more ...).

AM: What are the pillars of DXB offerings that attendees come to expect regradless of the theme running within the year?

SD: The best in beats, kicks, design, food and vibes, all under a big blue sky in the sun. As Bobbito Garcia, our longterm guest and friend said, "there really is nothing else like it in the world." We pride ourselves on a humble and open atmosphere. The days are smooth, the parties are bumping.

AM: What is the Dubai Design District (d3) and why has this partnership been integral to your event?

SD: Dubai Design District is our home, and moreover, the city's destination singularly dedicated to to design. It's the chosen home for the region's growing collective of creatives, artists and designers - and an institution we are very proud to work with. We have been partnered with Dubai Design District for three years now, and recently signed a further three-year contract to mark our mutual respect, and furthermore, agreement to nurture the Middle East's creative culture together. If the last 3 years have been about building our brand and establishing a global presence, the next 3 years will be about nurturing and fostering regional talent We will serve as a platform to showcase our stories to the rest of the world and to connect our international visitors to the community here d3 are central to all of this.

AM: You have a number of amazing entertainers and brands that are participating this year, who are you excited about?

SD: NxWorries (presented by PUMA), King Push, Kano, Teyana Taylor (presented by Reebok), Goldlink, IAMDDB... We have such a variety of great performers it's difficult to pinpoint just one. But there's also the talks, the brand showcases, the art. Hiroshi Fujiwara (Fragment), Jeff Staple (Staple Design), Melody Ehsani, and Peter Bittenbender (Mass Appeal Records) are all speaking amongst others. Then we have the Nike basketball tournament in conjunction with Ball Above All. And Cadillac is hosting the regional debut of Cadillac X Warhol: Letters to Warhol. FRAME is a concept store bringing down some of Japan's leading brands. Then there's' a wealth of really exciting local brands, like amongst few and ANTHLGY doing their thing. And really, that's just the start of it There is a lot to see and do.

AM: Are you already planning next year's event and will there be future cities that you will bring this to?

SD: We are always cooking up plans. 2018 will be a madness - trust us on that!

AM: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about DXB and how those of us who may not be attending can still be a part of this event?

SD: Follow us on Instagram @SoleDXB - you might not be there but it will definitely make you want to visit.

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Footwear.Fashion.Lifestyle Soul DXB in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | SOULANNEX

We've been fans of SoulCycle for years and were excited when we heard about SoulAnnex, the next evolution in fitness and wellness. The Flatiron location is where top instructors are piloting the latest and most effective off-the-bike classes. The focus of this platform is about elevating the way you move off the bike by strengthening, dancing, stretching and moving the body in a whole new way.

Classes are offered 4-5 days and provide a full 360 approach to training that compliments their on-the-bike programming at SoulCycle. The classes focus on three key training areas.

MOVE: Feel the beat, embrace the rhythm, and experience how energy and momentum can take your workout to the next level. Every move you make is done with and for a purpose:
Choreography, set to epic playlists, revs your heart rate and tones muscles from head to toe. The result is an incredibly fun workout that leaves you breathless and happy.

DEFINE: These total-body sessions utilize body weight, free weights, resistance bands and more to sculpt strong muscles. Drawing on varying modalities like high-intensity interval training and plyometrics, instructors will coach you through each rep to help you unlock
your inner athlete and achieve your highest level of physical fitness.

ALIGN: The perfect balancing supplement to your cardio and strength sessions, our restorative classes stretch, lengthen and rehab overworked muscles. Drawing on disciplines like yoga and Pilates, you’ll release tight hips, glutes, and more while improving core strength. Each session integrates mindfulness and body awareness for a 360-degree experience that replenishes you mentally as well as physically.

During the first week of SoulAnnex's opening, we took Fundamental Flows with Eve which was a vinyasa workout that is a balanced mind-body experience where your breath, mantras and
movement come together on the mat and beyond. As you transition from Inner Warrior to Warrior II, each person finds the shapes that awaken your muscles to find clarity, strength and
flow.

Prior to and after class, guests can enjoy complimentary studio amenities that include hair care products by Ouai and 100% organic tampons by LOLA. SoulAnnex features a lifestyle boutique
with SoulCycle's original performance and athleisure collections, as well as a capsule collection that features the signature triangle logo of SoulAnnex.

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SOULANNEX
32 W 18th St NY, NY 10011

Read more from the Nov Issue and read ATHLEISURE LIST | SOULANNEX in mag.

#TRIBEGOALS

As the fall continues here in the states, we can chase the sun for warmer weather and there's no better place than to head out to Bondi Beach in Australia. Here's three things you should pack when you head out for your fall travels for warmer weather.

| QUAY AUSTRALIA Camden Heights | BODY GLOVE 80's Throwback Time After Time One Piece | ADIDAS ORIGINALS Superstar | 
 

Read more from the Oct Issue and see #TribeGoals in mag.