THE ICE PRINCE | JACK HUGHES

We’re in the New Year, and whether it’s wrapping up things from 2025 or beginning the marathon of the months ahead, we have all got into the flow. With the holiday season behind us, we tend to countdown to the Spring. Part of that process is navigating Cold & Flu season. We took some time to sit down with NHL New Jersey Devils Center, Jack Hughes to talk about his love for the game of hockey, playing on this team, his Olympic debut, and his partnership with Mucinex Kickstart!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you fell in love with hockey?

JACK HUGHES: Like honestly, super young I would say! Like, my older brother played (Editor’s Note: Quinn plays for the Minnesota Wild and his younger brother Luke plays for the Devils - they are the first trio of brothers to all be top-7 NHL draft picks and are cover athletes for EA Sports’ NHL 25), both of my parents played, and growing up, hockey was always around! I always had a stick in my hand. It was probably when I was extremely young and we were on the ice skating. My brother did it so I would say that I would have been 2 or 3.

AM: That is pretty crazy and amazing!

At what point did you realize that you wanted to go pro?

JH: I mean, I don’t think that you really realize that, I think that when you’re 8 years old, you’re playing to have fun and then it’s the same when you’re 12 and then 14. But maybe, when I was 16, that’s when I started to realize that maybe that would be realistic, you know? That’s when hockey gets more serious and the pyramid starts to shrink a little bit! Just growing up, that was always a dream of mine! I just wanted to play – to play in the NHL, but it just seemed so far fetched at the time.

AM: You got drafted in 2019 and you play for the New Jersey Devils, what does it mean to you to be on this team?

JH: Yeah, it’s good! I enjoy playing on the team and also living there. It’s the only team that I have played for in my career and I really enjoy it. It’s a place that I call home now and I love it, and I have really loved my time here.

AM: Clearly playing this sport is a total body workout! What are 3 workouts that you do to get ready for GAM3DAY?

JH: Well, workouts that I do, it’s kind of hard because you’re playing every night! You’re kind of just warming up and activating and you’re trying to keep your body feeling good and staying loose. But you also want to be kept strong and to keep it that way throughout the year. It’s important to get your rest obviously and your cardio is at such a high level because of all of the games and all of the skating, so there is so much that goes into it. But you’re just trying to keep your body feeling good for when you do play.

AM: What are your foods that are you’re go-to’s that you enjoy eating?

JH: I obviously love desserts, but I can’t have those all of the time! But things that keep me going for Game Day are things like sweet potatoes, a lot of high protein things like steak and chicken – you have to do all of that! Eggs, a ton of eggs in the morning is another one. I don’t know, it’s kind of like, you don’t really eat for food or enjoyment, it’s for fuel so that you can fuel yourself, feel good, and you can feel energized.

AM: With the Olympics coming up, you’re going to be competing on that global stage, what does it mean to you to be able to do this?

JH: It’s just a huge dream of mine. You know, I grew up as a proud American so it’s a big dream to be able to play for your country in the Olympics and it’s the biggest stage in hockey. So to be able to be a part of it is something that I have dreamed of for my entire life and I’m excited to be able to go through that process.

AM: You’ve partnered with Mucinex and Athleisure Mag is based in NYC and we’ve had a mix of some mild days and some cold days, but you know this is the time of year where we are navigating Cold + Flu season. Why did you want to partner with Mucinex and what are you doing to make sure that you are staying cold and flu free?

JH: Honestly, you have a ton of late nights traveling and you’re always moving around going from city to city. You try to stay at your best, but obviously, you get sick sometimes! I feel like Mucinex is at every locker room. Players are taking Mucinex for multi-symptom relief so that they can feel better and feel ready to try to be able to perform at their best. You have to do that and you have to get your rest as well. You just try to feel as good as you can!

AM: Can you tell us about the Kickstart to Greatness Campaign that you launched as you have partnered with Mucinex Kickstart, which honors the real key heroes of youth hockey - the mentors and programs that have helped shape young hockey players?

JH: Yeah! They have partnered with USA Hockey Foundation and have donated $20,000 to help fund the young American kids that are playing hockey. It’s something that I am super passionate about because I was super young too and obviously, youth hockey is something that is close to my heart. I was grateful to help Mucinex host a youth clinic with USA Hockey and Hockey in New Jersey to help kickstart the next generation of hockey stars. It’s an easy thing for me to be involved in this, as they donated to something that I care about, and it is an easy merger with something that I really care about and it is an easy thing to support.

IG @jackhughes

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 52 - 59 + PG 62 NJ Devils | PG 60 Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for Mucinex Kickstart |

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ICE PRINCE | Jack Hughes in mag.

HOT VIBE CHECK | KAAZE

We sat down this month with Mick Kastenho aka KAAZE who is a DJ/Producer who has created music that keeps the good vibes going, as well as working with a lot of our favorites from Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Britney Spears, to name a few! We wanted to know more about his upcoming exciting projects; where we will see him play his next sets; how he approaches creating his music; and how he stays fit!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

KAAZE: With music in general? Oh wow, my father is a musician actually. So, it came I think if I remember when I was around between 1 and 2, I grabbed a CD which was a Queen record when I was very young and it was my favorite record. Since then, I was obsessed with music! My mom was also very into disco and groovy music so they fed me a lot of music in the home. So it definitely comes from my parents.

AM: It’s a cool idea to think of you as a 1 year old grabbing that record as we love that band as well.

K: Oh yeah and Queen is still my favorite! Freddie Mercury is still my hero to this day. It’s kind of an odd role model to have in terms of my music choice. But I don’t know, he inspires me so much.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ/Producer?

K: I think I was 15/16, I discovered David Guetta on MTV, and it was definitely when I heard the first records from David Guetta. I was like what is this? I dived right into it and was just like, I think a week later I bought this little CD mixing thing and then it started. So definitely, the answer is David Guetta.

AM: How would you define your sound? You have done the Groovy Electro House, you’ve also done Underground Techno, and you have now pioneered the concept of Hot Teknō. Can you tell us more about what this is and to describe the genre?

K: I mean, Hot Teknō is something that I give credit to my fans. I used that term in a funny way and they caught up on it on my social media. They kind of named it. I would describe Hot Teknō as a more groovier and a little bit more of a touch of mainstream techno, than a traditional techno that we have. It leans more towards the harder side of the techno as opposed to the melodic techno based on higher tempo.

Whatever style I have been doing whether it is Progressive House or Pop, I have always been driven by energy so I love energetic music – something that keeps you going. It was just me a couple of years ago, trying to find something new and at the same time, I was going back to my roots, because I started 18 years ago with a lot of techno. So in finding that balance, between something melodic and fun that’s still way more harder than what I have been doing the last 10 years.

AM: When we think of EDM and what we enjoy listening to regardless of the subgenre, Sweden has had just a number of our favorites in general – Swedish House Mafia, Alesso, Avici, and Galantis! What is the music scene like in Sweden and how do these artists influence your work?

K: I would say that the Swedish artists very much influenced me in the beginning of my career.

I would say that the music scene in Sweden in general – I have not technically performed in Sweden yet.

AM: Oh wow!

K: I’ve had opportunities, but I’m waiting for that perfect moment where I feel that that would suit me.

The export from Sweden is just unbelievable. Everything from obviously, the DJs to even songwriter/producers like Max Martin (Shake it Off/Taylor Swift, Dark Horse/Katy Perry, Problem/Ariana Grande), who is responsible for 90% of the American market. I don’t know what it is but, Swedes are really, really talented at making music, but of course, that inspired me a lot. I’m pretty proud to be Swede because of it without sounding patriotic.

AM: It’s pretty cool. Because in thinking about going to Sweden as we have never been, we have always wondered what it would be like from a music perspective due to how much music comes from there.

K: Especially since it is so small!

AM: Right!

K: It’s such a small country. It’s the size of California, minus all of the people!

AM: What is your creative process like when it comes to working on your music and where do you like to start?

K: Oh, it’s always different. I’m that type of artist that it kind of comes to me. Not all the time, but it comes to me. I hear something on the radio. I love to go over really, really old music on my playlist. I don’t listen to electronic music privately, I only listen to everything else. That’s a lot of times where I find inspiration, whether it is a sample or a melody. It could be a vibe, it doesn’t matter, but I find everything outside of the electronic world. A few times, I do sit down with a clear mind and I don’t know where to start and I will just play around with sounds and sometimes, nothing happens.

The only cool thing I do is sometimes when I start my productions, I have always done this and it works really well for me, I know some other DJs do – such as Fred again.. I put a timer on myself for 35 mins and within those 35 mins, I need to come up with something solid. It can be super rough but as long as it has something to work on, and if after 35 mins I’m still like waa – I delete it and I restart. I reset the alarm and I do it until I find something. It puts a little pressure on really activating every single cell in your brain. I think at least for me. So that’s kind of how I do it, but a lot of times I do have a little idea from some old playlist or some old song and I try to take that idea and put it into 35 mins and see what happens.

AM: In hearing you say that that is your process, you would have so many snippets that if those didn’t go forward, you would have to delete them, but it’s interesting because if you did keep some of them – maybe there would be things that would bud back together again!

K: Yeah you know, obviously, there could be something that is tiny tiny tiny that I’m not sure about so some of them I do save. But if it is too nonsense, then I just let it go. Because if the idea is good and I delete an idea, that idea is most likely going to come back at some point. And that has happened a couple of times where I had an idea, I scratched it and I am sitting down 2 months later, and I was like wait – I have done this melody before and that was a sign that it was better then what I thought.

AM: That’s really cool.

Well you have collaborated with a lot of phenomenal artists from David Guetta to Britney Spears to Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris and more – what do you look for when it comes to doing a collaboration?

K: Not much really! It’s just a song pretty much. The song is the most important. I don’t really mind if it’s David Guetta or a very young up and coming artist. It comes down to the material and the potential of that song. Of course, I am extremely grateful and blessed to have worked, and to have songs coming up, with names like David Guetta and stuff! I would never believe it if I told myself that 18 years ago. So that is really really cool, but in the end, the song is what is most important and it always will be. I just try to always focus on the song and whoever is a part of it, great. It’s about making the best result of the song.

AM: You ended 2025 last year with dropping Head Rush with Steve. Tell us about the project and what was it like working together again with him?

K: We have been working on the project for about a year. We had already planned a year back that we were going to drop an EP together. We were going back and forth between a ton of demos and which ones should we include. Overall, I just love to release music with Steve. Mainly because he is a great, great friend of mine and is the closest friend that I have in the industry in terms of DJs. He is what I call, a proper G. He is such a sweetheart and he cares so much for me and everyone else and it’s very, very rare that someone on his level acts the way that he does. I have never heard anything bad about him. Everyone just loves him and I understand why. So that’s why I love to work with him so much because of the friendship and we have so much fun. He invites me to shows and he really believes in my sound and he believes in my vision with myself. That’s really cool. He’s not trying to take shine, he’s like, I want to KAAZE in this direction and he feels that’s cool and he wants to be part of it. That’s what makes making music with Steve so fun. This is why we have such a great friendship.

AM: This month, you’re dropping Antidote which is also exciting! Tell us about this song!

K: I really, really love Antidote, especially the vocal! The vocal is absolutely phenomenal. It’s 2 guys Mentum. I worked with them before on an album called Mick, so this is our second song together. Amazing songwriters. The cool thing about this song is, I had a demo of a song that I have been playing since 2023 and I have just been playing it on my sets, as a mashup with Travis Scott on a vocal on it or something and then Mentum reached out to me with a ton of new ideas including Antidote. They had the vocal and everything with a rough idea of the track and I heard – this just happens, a few times, but sometimes it happens that I hear that this song could really fit this song and it was very similar in the arrangement, the key, and the overall vibe. So, I literally took parts of that song and I put it on top of my 2023 demo and it was just done so it was like 45 mins and the track was just complete. So that vocal was really just meant for that demo. It was pretty cool that I have just been having it for 3 years laying around and playing it here and there and now we have a full track! So that was really dope and I am looking forward to that track. I think that the coolest thing with that song is that it has that Hot Teknō kind of energy. It’s a techno track and it also has that vocal and melody which is very poppy in a way as well as commercial so it is very hard to pinpoint exactly what type it is if you want to put a genre on it. It’s really really hard. I think that it is really to experiment and you don’t really know what kind of a song that it is. It’s a party and still vocal.

AM: You’re constantly traveling for shows and festivals. Do you have anything scheduled that we should keep an eye out for?

K: Schedule wise, yes a couple of shows. I can’t say just right now. I have some shows that I have dreamed of doing – some festivals which is a dream come true that I am going to do and it will be announced soon. So you should look out for that! I think that people can read between the lines on which ones they are. That’s going to be super dope and I have been waiting for that moment.

I have a lot of cool projects that I have got going on as well. I’m working on my record label SE7EN Records. I have some other really cool side projects as well. I’m working on a big project for KAAZE that’s a bit outside the music world, but still a very strong passion for me which I’m excited to share more info about very soon.1 It’s been a hobby from the beginning.

AM: You just mentioned your record label SE7EN. Tell my why you wanted to do this and what has that process been like?

K: For SE7EN it has been a dream of mine since the beginning to have a record label. Ever since I understood that other DJs had record labels and why, it was always a dream come true. I could have done it earlier, but I wanted to do it the right way at the right time. It takes a lot of effort and things to make it happen. It feels like now is the right time and I have a vision for how I want to go about SE7EN Records. It’s dedicated to my daughter because that is her name. I think it is a really good time to do it. I do it to be free and have fun, to build a community, and to find new talents, especially finding new talents. I would like to finally be that person who helps others because I have been in that position with Tiësto and Hardwell, who have helped me throughout my career. Then I have experience from that and a vision for how I would do it. I really want to give other kids that opportunity as well.

AM: How important is fitness to you? Clearly when we look at your IG, you work out.

K: I’m a gym rat!

AM: It’s quite clear! How important is it to you to incorporate that into your routine?

K: I mean, it’s really important. Of course I love like everyone that you love to look good and you go to the gym. The key reason why I go to the gym is that since I really took it seriously, it really improved my workflow and traveling and DJing in general, it really puts – if I have a hectic work schedule, I go to the gym every day it doesn’t matter if I am in Australia, Tokyo or home in Sweden I go to the gym. I do not drink alcohol. I eat very good and by doing those little things, it really made me look at my career as more of a sport than a party! It’s very easy to fall into the party life of a DJ. Of course, I have responsibilities and I’m a father. I want to be my best for my daughter. So that is kind of the 2 reasons that I work out for my daughter and a stable sporty kind of look at my career.

AM: It’s about longevity!

K: Oh yeah!

AM: Are there 3 workouts that you enjoy doing that you can share with us that our readers and community can consider putting into their routines?

K: Maybe not a workout per se, but what I love to do which I found really, really effective for me is something called a Push-Pull system. This is where on Mon I do all things push. So they are all push movements and then on the next day, I do all pull movements and then on the Wed, I do all legs for example. Then I go back to the days of Push and Pull. So that includes everything that is Push which is chest, shoulders, triceps and so forth. The Pull is back and biceps you know? Then, you split it with a proper leg session and it is up to each individual to think about the break that they want to take. But I love to go jump because I keep the muscles activated and you still let them rest enough where it works. As long as you eat enough, the Push-Pull method has been the best set up for me when working out. I feel like sometimes you have a schedule where you do chest on a Mon but then the next chest is on Fri – for me that is way too long for a rest period between that group!

AM: This is interesting and it makes sense.

K: For me, the Push-Pull Method is a highly recommended for you to try out at least.

AM: When you’re saying it, it totally makes sense, because we’ll do a series of movements that focus on a group on one day, then there are 2 to 3 days before we go back to that group. But in hearing you talk about your workout, the body has just enough time to come up and then goes right back into it which is really smart!

K: It’s also about that the muscles are eventually going to adapt. If people are hearing this and thinking that it is so intense, it’s all about making the body used to a certain weight, a certain time frame, and eventually, your body will adapt to that as well.

AM: Right.

K: Then you can push the envelope even more. The gym is about pushing the envelope. I really recommend this and you should at least try.

AM: Just hearing it makes sense so we’re going to try it. It sounds like a much better flow.

Obviously, you love fragrances and collecting them. What do you love about collecting scents and how did you get into this?

K: It’s actually a very funny story. The reason why I am obsessed and have perfumes and different kinds of them as a little hobby is when I was 16 and I just started making music, my dad helped me get this little studio. I decorated it and I put some IKEA scented candles in there. I was just a guy and I didn’t know a lot about scented candles, but I found a vibe with it. I remember I was smelling cinnamon or something like that, and I was smelling it and it was giving off a great vibe. I was making music and that led me to realize that I loved scents, and then I had a perfume once that I was spraying it on in the studio and I got inspired by it! I was like, “oh shit!”

So I realized that it made total sense because your ear and your nose are connected right? That’s why you can hear something and bring a memory. You can smell something and get a memory. I started an experiment with different scents in terms of what idea or vision that I had. So, if I woke up one day and I wanted to make something super Summery or something that was like Ibiza with all of these ideas in my head like palm trees, I would spray something very citrusy or Summery on my skin or on my hand. I would sit and breathe this in and I would produce and find it. That became really a thing for me and I started to find things to add to my collection, which has everything from citrus to woody. I have the whole shebang just for the sake of finding the right inspiration. So that technically is why I love it, because it really helps me with my music, and then of course, it became an obsession! But in the end, it was for music. I think that it’s pretty cool because some people use pictures or travel, but you can do that with smells as well!

AM: You also enjoy fashion and once again, in looking at your IG, we see that you’re a well put together individual.

K: Thank you!

AM: What is your approach to your style whether you are doing a set or you’re out and about?

K: I don’t think too much about the clothes, I have just loved fashion and clothes since I was a kid. My mom was so good with fashion and she taught me a lot as a kid. So I have always liked to experiment through clothes. If you look at me throughout my career, I have had rock inspired to more sway oversized Balenciaga style to now that I am a little bit older, I’m a father now, I dress a bit more mature which I really love. I just love to experiment with it and I don’t think too much about it. I love that it comes with me along with my personality. I really love it and I always think a little extra about!

For example, my New Years show in Warsaw, I wanted to wear a tuxedo but I wanted it to look a little bit different. So, I customized a tuxedo that was cropped to my belly button and then I had really high waisted pants with a bow tie to make it a bit different, but classy still. Those are the things that I think about. But I really enjoy that, I guess I would say that KAAZE is dressing more like Mick now. It has a little bit more of a touch of being a father and a little bit older as I said. Then I try to bring in some kind of a formal artist touch into it when I’m KAAZE, compared to when I’m out and about. But it’s fun and I hope that one of my goals in the future is to do my own clothing line or work really seriously with a brand to make my own collection of stuff. I hope that is going to happen one day.

IG @iamkaaze

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | KAAZE

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see HOT VIBE | KAAZE in mag.

JAMIE ANDERSON | DEFYING GRAVITY

One of the most decorated women’s snowboarders is none other than 3X Team USA Snowboarding Olympic Medalist and 21X X Games Medalist, Jamie Anderson. With a number of accolades under her board, she owns the most X Games hardware of any female athlete and the second most Winter medals of any athlete! She’s a 5X ESPY Female Action Sports Award Winner, is an 11 career World Cup winner, has 8 career U.S. Open wins, and wins across every other major action sports series in the last 2 decades! She has even joined X Games League Winter Founder Athletes ahead of the Winter League debut in 2027.

We wanted to know more about this phenomenal athlete, her passion for the sport, how she approaches snowboarding, and competing at Rockstar Energy Open last year, as well as the X Games which took place this month.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Do you remember your first moment on a snowboard and when did you fall in love with it?

JAMIE ANDERSON: I fell in love with snowboarding when I was 9 years old. My two sisters had started the season or two before, and as soon as I fit into their hand me downs, my mom took me to Sierra Tahoe and I had a ski school lesson. I remember it being super difficult at first, but later that day or the following day, I remember it clicking and being able to kind of ride and do my turns and that’s the moment I really fell in love with snowboarding and just having that freedom being on the mountain, exploring, riding trails through the woods. It brought me so much joy and presentess - just being in the moment. And literally almost 30 years later, I still just absolutely love snowboarding.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to go pro?

JA: I would say relatively early, I think by 12 years old, I had a few years under my belt and I was starting to compete in amateur events right away. I really loved it and loved the whole industry. When I was 13, is when I qualified for my first X Games and I was definitely still an amateur at that point, and competing at Boardercross at the X Games, but I knew I really wanted to go Pro, travel, and have sponsorships. It was about two years later when I was 15, when I got to compete in freestyle and slopestyle, and I won my first medal. That really was the start of my professional snowboarding career.

AM: You are focused on Slopestyle and Big Air. What is it that you enjoy about competing in these 2 areas?

JA: I love Freestyle because it’s creative, it’s fun, it’s ever changing. I like going to different parks around the world and riding and figuring out my flow. It’s just fun. It’s playful. I kind of imagine it like a playground on the mountain for adults. 


AM: In order to perform at the most optimized level, what does an average week of training in terms of fitness routines/methods?

JA: Well, I’m a lot different than most athletes. I now am a busy mother of two, so my training program is a little bit all over the place. I like to do yoga. I try to snowboard as much as I can, but sometimes that is two or three days a week. And yeah, when I can, I like to do some weight training -- but I haven’t, to be honest in quite some time. For me, my kind of overall fitness and health routine is trying to get good sleep eating, nourishing, whole foods, exercising and staying as active and fit as I can without a gym -- the walking, the yoga, the carrying little babies around.

AM: How does nutrition play into that and what are 3 foods that you eat to assist you in your training goals?

JA: Nutrition is everything. I really believe we are what we eat and I love whole foods. I don’t have any necessary diets, but I try to eat as much grass-fed or wild meat.
My fiancée hunts, so we eat a lot of venison. I do a lot of pasture eggs, I like milk and apples and I also love my carbs. I eat a lot of pasta. I like making lasagna. I like Mexican food. I like anything as long as it’s fresh and good ingredients. 


AM: How important is recovery in this sport?

JA: For instance, at the Rockstar Energy Open event, we had a nanny come in and help me with the kids during practice. But when I got home, I would hang with the girls, maybe take them for a walk or go swimming, do a little stretching and a recovery, and then try to look at footage and make a game plan for my run. Then have dinner, maybe take a bath and go to bed. It’s very busy with the two kids because I really love momming and it’s my number one priority. We’re trying to kind of balance a lot, but it’s fun.

Recovering in this sport is huge. I think you have to feel good to perform good, so I think being strong and flexible is really key, and nutrition plays such a huge role in recovery as far as breaking up lactic acid, having your body and muscles hydrated. I often travel with a Bemer mat, which is like a PEMF, that really helps flush lactic acid and helps me recover. I’ve been using the Bemer mat for many years and I think it really, really helps me. It’s key. Taking care of my skin and letting it recover is also super important while spending so much time in the mountains. I love using First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.


AM: You recently competed in the Rockstar Energy Open in Breckenridge and it seems different than other competitions, why did you want to participate in this event?

JA: Now we’re a little bit past the Rockstar event, I chose to support and compete in this event because it felt like a real core snowboard event. I like that it had a different format with the final round being head to head. I loved that the course was unique and creative and it had rails. It had a butter pad type of jump. It had a hip, a quarterpipe, which really showcased all over skill and talent, and I just thought it was so fun. I’m really stoked I landed a good run. I ended up in the finals. I ended up in the last final round and took second place, and I am so grateful and proud of that.

AM: This month, we have the X Games and you are one of the most decorated snowboarders to have competed! Why do you love being at this event and what’s that like?

JA: Oh, I love the X Games because honestly, it’s like the mecca of action sports. I feel the X Games has done so much for snowboarding and all action sports, and it’s just fun. They have a sick course and take good care of the riders. My sponsor Monster is a huge part of it. It’s just a really fun event that I look forward to every year. My career started there when I was just 13 years old. Here I am, 35, still doing it and still loving it more than ever.

AM: Of course, all eyes will be on Italy for the Olympics. As a hopeful, what is it like for you to compete on this global stage and are you excited to be going back?

JA: I am so excited to be hopefully going back to the Olympics. I’ve yet to lock in my spot, but I am doing my best to ensure I make the US Team. I feel nervous about the big world stage, but I feel honored and that it’s truly such a privilege to compete at an Olympic level event. And not even an Olympic level, just at the Olympics itself is really an honor and a privilege. I feel so stoked to represent the U.S and ride with our team. I think it’s going to be a really beautiful experience. And I’m so excited to soak up the Italian culture. Eat a lot of pasta and just embrace the whole experience.

AM: You also love pushing boundaries in the Backcountry - why is this part of snowboarding so important to you?

JA: Backcountry snowboarding is kind of like it’s riding for your soul, you know? Backcountry snowboarding is just so fun. I feel like it really fills my spirit with joy and there’s nothing like riding the powder, riding Alaska, riding big lines or even just writing the resort with all your friends after it’s blanketed with beautiful, fresh snow. Yeah, backcountry snowboarding is a gift from God.

AM: As someone who has been in this career for awhile, who has had many success and is a mom of 2, how do you feel you’re approaching the sport now?

JA: Now I feel I have a way different approach to the sport. I’m kind of doing it for fun. I know the younger generation has progressed the sport so much, and I know I’m not going out there trying to do the most technical runs, but I just feel stoked to be getting out there at all and linking fun runs and just doing my best. My approach is way more relaxed in shell and I feel at peace with it.

AM: Tell us about the Jamie Anderson Foundation and what it does?

JA: So I started my foundation in 2013 to essentially give back to kids in the community. Growing up in a big family, I’m aware of how expensive it can be getting into snow sports ao I wanted to give back to kids in our community. We sponsor young athletes, peers and snowboarders, and give grants to help them with their careers, with travel expenses, accommodation, even snowboards and outerwear and things like that. It’s still pretty grassroots, but I want to see it grow more as time goes on, and hopefully help as many kids as possible.

AM: You have amassed a number of accolades and have competed at the highest levels! What do you want your legacy to be known as when people think about Jamie Anderson?

JA: I mean, I hope when people think back of me, I would like my legacy to be like spreading the love, having fun, embracing the journey, having a lot of gratitude and a full heart, and giving back to those around me.

IG @jamieanderson

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | X Games

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see Jamie Anderson | DEFYING GRAVITY in mag.

GO GET'EM MODE | MICHELLE BUTEAU

We’re days into the New Year and we’re making sure that we are setting ourselves up for the best success! Although we know that the 1st is the beginning of the year, it’s that first Monday that really lets us know what we’re in for. Jan 5th is really the beginning of a series of days and weeks where we really have to get in gear!

We sat down with actor, standup comedian, producer, Co-Creator and star of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest Michelle Buteau to talk about her career, her creative process, her projects and why she partnered with Premier Protein! She talks about the importance of showing up for herself and being good to herself.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Hello! We met briefly at Chuks Collins dinner this Fall when he shared his collection at Bryant Park Grill. I was waiting to be seated, turned around and then there you were looking stunning walking by and all I could get out was, I love you in Survival of the Thickest!

MICHELLE BUTEAU: Oh yes, that was a great dinner and Chuks is so special!

AM: Yes it was such a good dinner and it’s great talking with you now.

MB: I love to hear that people love the show because it makes me feel like I am doing my job, so thank you for that! I will never get tired of that.

AM: I am a fan of your energy, your humor, your authenticity and all the things! Honestly, I don’t know where I was in life, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I was like wait who is this – I loved you on Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown, you were the host of a social reality show that I loved watching, being on BET’s First Wives Club – I was like this woman is working! You literally got me through the pandemic which then brought me to watching the other things that you do as well!

You’re an actress, a comedian, a producer, a host, you can do drama – when did you realize that you wanted to be an entertainer?

MB: Oh my goodness! I feel that every kid thinks that they can be an entertainer. I think that it was when I was around 12 or 13 that I was like, “I think that I want to do this” to my parents and they were like, no you don’t. I don’t think that I really told myself or gave myself permission or license to really go far with this until my 20’s which is so crazy, but you know, whatever makes you happy!

AM: Well, whether you’re preparing for a character or an upcoming film, or series, what is your creative process or what do you pull from when you’re trying to get ready for things that you’re working on?

MB: You know, that’s such a great question! I don’t really have a process, the main thing that I have to do, because I have a husband, 2 dogs, 2 kids, are responsibilities at home and in life. The main thing for me to do is that I am happy and healthy, that I have all of my vitamins, and I am taking care of myself because my brain is working! When I have a good amount of rest because I like to be busy – the main thing is that I am taking care of me throughout the day!

AM: In Survival of the Thickest, I love it with the energy of that show! You are showing the industry and what goes on in it. I am the Co-Founder/Creative + Style Dir of Athleisure Mag but I am also a Fashion Stylist. So when I am watching the show and your character, I’m like oh yeah – that is what it is!

MB: Yeah, you get it!

AM: Yup, I’m like, that’s pretty much it! It’s glam when it’s glam and then it’s just not.

MB: Yeah and I love that about it. It’s a parallel to comedy which is why I chose that job for my character. That job will humble you real quick and the next day you could be flying first class or private in this whole different realm, so I think it is important to know that there are a whole of different places that you can live especially with the job that you love.

AM: What made you want to be a Co-Creator of this show and also star in it as well? I know that you’re back in production on S3 and I am so bummed that this will be the final season – but the series has everything!

MB: I mean, it was just really natural right? I have been doing standup for 24 years and it has helped me figure out my voice, my platform – and when I wrote this book when I brought my kids home from the hospital. I was like, “oh, I have twin babies now and I guess I will be at home so I need to write a book – I mean what? What?” But I will say, hot tip, I do put some Premier Protein Shake in my coffee because that’s how I get my protein! I get my coffee kick, my caffeine kick, my protein kick! So that was very helpful! Obviously lots of hugs and fresh hugs too – but anyways!

AM: What is life without fresh veggies and hugs?

MB: Ok now! Downward dogs and everything – cat/cow!

I mean, I wrote the book and then when Netflix optioned the book, they said, “do you want to build this world yourself or would you like to work with someone?” There’s nothing better than collaborating. When you find the right person it just sings and so I am so happy that Netflix introduced me to my Co-Creator Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (My Name is Earl, New Girl, The Carmichael Show) because we had a time! We had a whole kiki! It’s been so fun! It is 3rd and final, but that’s ok because I think that it is a gift knowing that you are not coming back so that you can do what you want to do. Also, no one is a 1 trick pony! We can go out there and do other things – I mean look at you!

AM: Tell me about The Surviving and Thriving Tour!

MB: Oh my goodness! Well, you know, everybody has got – the whole point is that we can live in 2 places at once. While we feel like this is really hard, there also some really good things too. You have to wake up really early, but isn’t it really good that you get to wake up really early and get to do all the things that you want to do? I feel like being busy or stressed is a privilege – I get to have the responsibility to do these things which is really fun. So Surviving and Thriving is named kind of after that. I love standup and I can’t wait to go back out on tour. I love performing and just writing hard jokes, hard jokes. I want people bending over with laughter! I want people to just be cackling because laughter is medicine and I’m a doctor!

AM: I mean, I will take in all the prescriptions that you’re providing!

MB: Yeah! There’s no Co-Pay, come get you some laughs!

AM: Spa Weekend looks amazing! It’s a great cast! Why did you want to be part of that project?

MB: I mean, there is just this beautiful, wild and comedic powerhouses coming together! I love Isla Fisher (Now You See Me franchise, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Nocturnal Animals), Leslie Mann (The Other Woman, Blockers, Motherless Brooklyn), Anna Faris (Scary Movie franchise, Mom, The House Bunny) and how could I not want to be part of that team? I also love the idea of strong female bonds and relationships when we are from different walks of life. The one thing that we have in common is that the women of Spa Weekend, go on a spa weekend because they need it. They are really busy with the responsibilities and the mundane things that are done in life and they have to go away. They just go away for a wild weekend and they just have a lot of fun stuff going on and a lot of hijinks!

AM: I cannot wait to see it!

You recently partnered with Premier Protein as a part of their New Year campaign and Go Get ‘Em Mode. Tell me about this mode and what it is and why did you want to partner with this brand?

MB: Oh my goodness because I like to Go Get’ Em so let’s Go Get ‘Em, come on sis – let’s roll! Are you for real? So I remember and this was a full circle moment. My dad, he was like the busiest man alive. He would lift weights in between meetings, take me to the mall and he was so busy. He would always have a Premier Protein Shake! So I grew up watching the busiest man I know always being in Go Mode and getting it done and always taking care of his body. So when Premier Protein Shake approached me, I said yes! Everyone knows about that hard start of the year at the top of January 1st and it isn’t always that and then people beat themselves up – it’s the Monday – it’s the January 5th of it all. It’s really exciting because Premier Protein wants to set people up for success by going to goget2026.com and you can go on there and try them out for free! They will send it to you in your house in select cities (Atlanta, NY, Chicago, LA, Philadelphia and Miami). We all know what that is! We know what the pre-party is before you have to go to work so it’s that 5-9 where you’re like, uh-oh how am I going to do this, who am I going to be, what am I going to wear? You know, can I touch my toes, will I have enough energy – yes you can! It’s Premier Protein and they want to help you get that energy sis so let’s go!

AM: I love that and a shake is a great way to do all of that!

What do you love about drinking these shakes? Do you have a special flavor?

MB: I’m a Chocolate or Caramel girlie! What I love about it is that I am doing something for myself. I feel like because women – I mean, I’m no doctor – I only play one on TV – actually I did!

AM: I was going to say you did!

MB: You got me!

AM: You did!

MB: We need between 40 and 65 grams of protein a day. So you get 30 in one shot with the bottle, it’s like pretty great! When I have more energy, I’m nicer to people! There’s no road rage you know what I mean? I hope you heal! Oh my God there’s a spot! I found a parking spot? Yes you can cut me in line! You go –

AM: That’s right!

MB: I’m just a nicer person when I have more energy. So yes, I do that for myself - treat yo’self all year long!

IG @michellebuteau

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Netflix/Vanessa Clifton

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see GO GET’EM MODEL | Michelle Buteau in mag.

HYPATON | MASTERING THE REMIX

Even though we’re in the thick of the Winter season complete with a snowstorm to close out the end of January, we all dream of warmer days ahead which includes lighter layers, eating outside, long nights, and enjoying our favorite music festivals! We caught up with Giorgio Ortenzi aka HYPATON, an EDM DJ/Producer who has been making music that includes some of our favorite classic songs remixed and giving it club life vibes!

We wanted to find out more about his passion for music, his approach to creating his style of music, working with mentor David Guetta, and upcoming dates as well as music that we should have an eye out for!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’re a little jelly as we’re connecting with you here in NY and you are in Dubai right now! It’s really cold here in NY and we wish that we were in Dubai right now!

HYPATON: The weather is so nice right now! It feels like Summer! It’s going to be a trauma tomorrow when I am back in Italy!

AM: Haha yeah, here in NY it’s 18 degrees at the moment.

H: That is very cold!

AM: When did you first fall in love with music?

H: It was easy because I grew up in a family where music was a little bit of the center of everything! Even my parents, who are not musicians, music was really important to them. At the age of 4, I started taking lessons for the electric guitar.

AM: With music being such a big deal in your family, you were also in the family business of dentistry as well! So how did you transition from that to being an EDM DJ/Producer?

H: It was fun because I was always in the mindset that I would be a musician in my life – an artist, a DJ, and a producer. I literally started making music everyday right after school and then I went to University, and the activity was the same there as well. After I finished the University, I went back on to the music. I always tried to do 50 and 50 – music wasn’t taking over, University was not taking over.

AM: You had a nice balance!

H: Exactly! I’m here thanks to social media of course – Tiktok and IG. Everything started with social media and everything went so fast. I’m lucky because I had the chance to go from 0 to 100% right after University.

AM: That is insane and we know that your cousin, Giuseppe Ottaviani is a renowned trance DJ and producer as well. How did that influence you?

H: It was and it still is really important. He’s part of the family and I always listen to him a lot. As I say, I started with the electric guitar, and then the more that you see your friends going to the club, you see the cool pictures and you say to yourself, “woah, I have Giuseppe in my family let me talk with him about the electronic music scene!” He started giving me a master class, helping me to choose the right plug-ins, the right sound, and then we go!

AM: What can you tell us about what Future Rave Rework means?

H: Future Rave Rework is, of course, at the core of the rework is taking a big track – it doesn’t matter if it is from the past –

AM: Like the really past!

H: Yes, the really, really past. But the core is having one of those really big hits where people can sing the hook, lyrics and then turning them into a club work with all of the big energy without losing the soul of the original track – this is really important!

AM: When you’re doing these, because you’re known for working on 90’s classics, where do you start when it comes to doing these kinds of projects.

H: First of all, I always start by looking really precisely at the vocals. I like big tracks that have meaning – always filled with happiness and love – this is the secret sauce. So vocals comes first and then around vocals, most of the time, I start pitching them up and down and kind of exploring. Sometimes I start chopping the track and I reverse it and make a bit of a mess with it, and then I develop the full picture with a lot of energy and club elements.

AM: With all of this, you caught the attention of David Guetta which is amazing! How did that happen and what do you enjoy about having him as a mentor?

H: That was probably one of the best days of my life! The amount of happiness I had on that, I can’t even scale it! I wish that everyone could experience that happiness once in their life because it’s really amazing and it happened on IG actually.

AM: Of course!

H: I woke up one day and I saw that he sent me a DM and at that point –

AM: It was off to the races!

H: Oh yeah!

AM: What was it like for you to make your DJ debut with him at Hï Ibiza? Once again that is such a phenomenal moment!

H: Yeah it was really amazing and it was kind of a test for me, because I had never DJ’d before, and it was my first show ever to play in front of a crowd. So he was telling me that I could do that. I was like, “I know David, but you know –“ He kept saying that I could do this and that he trusted me. If you trust me, then you’re my mentor and I’m going to make you proud of my work, and I trained so hard every day, I don’t know how many hours, but I did it every day, every week. Then we smashed the night!

AM: You did the remix of the iconic, Be My Lover, which we are fans of this song and we love your version. What was it like working on such a major song, having it blow up in so many ways, including Juventus playing it on their social platforms which is crazy!

H: Yeah! It’s an amazing feeling even the chance to work on those big records – big hits from the past! You get really nerdy about it. Having the chance to listen to the original master and the original stamp of the track is just so special. Juventus of course is my humble team so it was a mix of wow and crazy stuff!

AM: When we saw it, we knew it was a big deal! We had the pleasure of having Paul Pogba (il Polpo Paul - PogBoom) as a cover for our AUG ISSUE #80 in 2022 when he was with Juventus – so we know how massive this soccer club is.

What lessons have you learned from working with David Guetta, as it’s such an experience and relationship to have with him.

H: This is really good and I always love this question, because he’s teaching me the way of the hard work. It’s all about working, working, and working. Once you get your dream, you’re on a mission. The mission is to keep working on the dream, you can’t disappoint the dream, so you’re always working on the dream. It’s all about perseverance and discipline.

AM: All of those which David Guetta has in spades and he is always working!

So your remix of RAYE’s Where is My Husband with David Guetta, which is yet another one that we loved – it was added to our playlist the minute that we heard it. It’s so great to listen to when you’re out and about, working out or just hanging at home. What did you love about working on this track? It’s such a crazy song and you hear it everywhere!

H: First of all, thank you for listening, loving, and adding it to your playlist. It was fun because I was actually scrolling through my good friend’s IG and the track was everywhere – everywhere! It came up to my mind where I said, let’s try to do something with it. I did a short snippet of it like just 30 seconds and it went crazy on social, and then I sent it to David because I was feeling that it was really powerful and really cool. When he heard it, he was like, wow! So RAYE is his friend and so thanks to David, we have the remix accepted due to his friendship with her and we were able to release it super fast! I was really happy about that because normally when it is a remix or a rework, or a cover –

AM: It takes time!

H: Exactly and this one was like woop.

AM: It was fast! We downloaded the original and yours came pretty quickly after it! Although both are so good, yours is the one that is on constant rotation.

When you’re not DJ/producing, we hear that you’re an avid gamer which is amazing. Where did this passion come from, what are you playing, and how does gaming influence when you are DJing?

H: This is really fun because I’m not the guy that was going out every night. I was more the chill guy at home and of course, after doing my music, the way of relaxing was gaming with my own friends. That’s how it started actually and it has kept going for life and I’m not sure if I am going to stop gaming.

AM: Of course.

H: I can say that gaming when I am speaking about music, it is inspiring, but most of the time it helps me to disconnect from the world because I am so focused on what I am doing because I am not focused on music or anything. In this way, my brain and my ears can relax and can reset.

AM: In talking about gaming and music, we’re reminded of Father Guilherme Peixoto who is a priest and is known as DJ Padre. We first found out about him when he did the techno remix of the Super Mario Bros. theme song which was phenomenal! As someone who is a gamer, would you ever do a remix to a game?

H: I would love it!

AM: Right?

We can’t say how many times we have replayed it or looked at other places that he has played it as it’s crazy good!

So what is going on with you in terms of your schedule for upcoming dates? Will you be coming here to NY, in the States, etc?

H: We are working a lot on that and we’re still in the planning stages to make sure that everything is happening. This year, we are doing more than last year!

AM: Are there any festivals globally?

H: Yes, I can announce that my debut at Tomorrowland is happening!

AM: That’s amazing and of course, we can continue to watch your IG to see other places you’ll be at as well!

Obviously, you’re on the road quite a bit. What are 3 items that you like to bring with you in order to feel like you’re at home?

H: My sweatpants that is my pajama! My gaming controller so I can play from my laptop and my flip flops!

AM: You have to be comfortable.

H: Exactly, I feel like I’m in my home outfit and I’m more relaxed.

IG @hypaton

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | HYPATON

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see HYPATON | Mastering the Remix in mag.

FINDING YOUR BALANCE

Avid readers of Athleisure Mag know that a few months back we had an article that was focused on fitness and menopause where we talked with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Board-Certified OB/GYN, Chief Medical Officer at Hers, and Pvolve Advisory Board Member for Women’s Health & Longevity. It was the first time that we covered this topic.

She shared how menopause is comprised of perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. She also talked about symptoms that many of us may be familiar with from hot flashes, irregular periods, brain fog and more. We know that this tends to happen to women between 40 and 50. Although a number of elements of menopause seemed to be new to what we knew about, we were not prepared to learn so much more in Balance: A Perimenopause Journey which is a docuseries created by 2 monastic filmmakers, Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti, who not only started their menopausal jounrey, but wanted to share their experiences and how they are approaching it as they found that there was quite a bit of misinformation, lack of research/education, and stigme around this portion of a woman’s lifecycle. This docuseries premieres on Jan 30th on Apple+ and Prime Video.

We do not only hear from them and the doctors that are treating them as one focuses on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and the other opts to do so utilize natural remedies. They also have medical professionals who have varying opinions, regular women along with their partners who weigh in, and even Executive Producers Alyssa Milano (Who’s the Boss, Charmed, Spin City) and Jeannie Mai (The Real, Raid the Cage, America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation) share their accounts as well. In watching this 4-part docuseries, we were constantly reminded of so many aspects that people don’t talk about and why we need to do the research necessary to assist us as we navigate this time as for many, this journey start 10 years prior to the target age of menopause which is in the 30s for many of us!

ATHLEISURE MAG: First off, we have to say that we’re positively frustrated in watching this docuseries. That is to say that this is an incredibly informative docuseries where we learned a number of things that we didn’t know about the menopausal journey and that it makes us want to do more research and yet to see the gaps that exist that shouldn’t be. We could go on and on but I am excited to sit with you to hear from you as filmmakers and women navigating the menopausal journey.

Why did you want to make this docuseries?

SADHVI SIDDHALI SHREE: We wanted to make this docuseries Balance, because we wanted to educate women. We are not prepared and because we’re not prepared, we don’t know what we’re going through. We often criticize ourselves, we blame ourselves and we feel all kinds of frustrations because we are going through this transition but no one told us how to navigate. So, to reduce that suffering is important to us as monks and filmmakers.

AM: What’s really impressive in this docuseries are the different voices that you have coming together to talk about this topic. You have different kinds of medical professionals, those who are pro HRT, as well as those that aren’t, I was so excited to see Dr. Jessica Shepherd who I met a few months ago and I had interviewed her about menopause as the event was on the topic, having regular women, Alyssa Milano, and a former cover of ours – Jeannie Mai – both who serve as Executive Producers of this docuseries. So why did you want to approach it in this way by having those on various sides of the issue for, against, and those in the grey area?

SADHVI ANUBHUTI: You said it right! We wanted to make sure that we covered everything. When you are treating perimenopause and menopause, you want to treat it holistically. So we wanted to make sure that we had nutrition, activity, and a full understanding of what is happening to us from the OB/GYNs and a full scope of everything. So it was very important that we included trusted voices.

AM: Why do you think that there is such a stigma around the transition of menopause from the awareness, the marketing aspect, the fact that there is this timeline of life prior to menopause, 1 day which is the actual menopause, and then after. I’m 46 and I will be 47 in Sept. When I went to my first menopause event last Fall I remember thinking well that is for people in their 50s and 60s – is this even a fit? Then learning about the menopausal journey, it was like, “oh no you are in that mode and you need to learn about this!”

SA: You are right! It’s that misunderstanding of what is happening in this space. It’s the fact that women have not been included in that research and we have been underfunded, under researched, and misunderstood. That needs to change. So information needs to be out there and that is why this series needs to be there.

AM: It covers so many things from the social, emotional, and physical aspects of this journey. How long did it take you to think about creating this, doing this, traveling all over the world, and the research? What was the process in creating this?

SSS: I would say, that we were going through the early perimenopause symptoms for a few months and as filming was going on, we realized that no one knew about this. We were researching for ourselves and so we knew we had to do a docuseries in 4 parts so that it would cover everything. So the whole process took about 2.5 years. So as soon as we knew that we could film our appointments because we wanted to show this raw and honest from the very get go.

AM: It took 2.5 years and it’s now coming out Jan 30th, the same day that our JAN ISSUE #121 drops, what Jan 30th, what has been the response that you have received from those with early previews/screenings? Even for those that have participated in it as we get to see other people’s journeys along with their spouses as well and how they are doing. You also have your journeys as well.

SA: I think that for the first time, many women are starting to feel seen, validated, believed, they’re not crazy – this is something that all women go through. I think that we are building our own community of women who are saying that they are not going to suffer anymore, they’re not going to go through it like their mom did, and so it is very empowering to see that response.

AM: Where should people go to find out more information about the movie as well as this journey of menopause? In watching this and hearing certain responses in the docuseries, I think about things I have noticed and just attributed it to other things. I’m someone who eats healthy, works out etc, but maybe something I felt that I just assumed I was tired could be a symptom so I know I will be rewatching and taking personal notes to get to the bottom of things that I didn’t know could be more aligned to this and not just something that is about age or being tired. So where can people go to find out more about this?

SSS: Our viewers can go to the Balancedocuseries.com website where there we will have resources and viewers can follow all the doctors that they resonate with featured in our series because they have education on this, they are posting all of the time on social media and you can always go to the Menopause Society as well. It’s one of those things that you need to go to a trusted resource so that you have the right guidance as that is critical in this time and that’s why Balance is such a trusted resource because it is raw and it is real and we’re not holding anything back.

AM: You guys are filmmakers and I have enjoyed seeing other documentaries that you have done. What do you enjoy about storytelling, and how was it to do this particular story because it is personal? You’re telling this story and you have also injected yourself in this as well as we’re following your journey, as well as others in this docuseries as being objective must have been something that was always in mind in navigating telling this story.

SSS: I think that it comes from our experience of being monks and filmmakers on 3 other films – 2 on human trafficking and another one on animal cruelty. So, these are very dark and human subjects and we are passionate people. What we practice in our system is that there are so many sides and you have to see them and there are various truths to those sides and how do you do it – no pun intended, in a balanced way? That is really important because you have to honor all voices and as you have seen in this series, I have taken the hormone therapy path and she (name) has taken the natural approach which will resonate with audiences and we have our own questions so it kind of covers the whole spectrum of the topic.

IG @siddhalishree

@sadhvianubhuti

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Balance: A Perimenopausal Journey

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see Finding Your Balance in mag.

ORIGINS AN NFL COLLECTION

It’s been another great NFL season and it all culminates with Super Bowl LX which takes place on Feb 8th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, the home of the San Francisco 49ers! This year, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will battle it out to see who will be the champions! During this time of year, there are a number of events and activations taking place. One of them is Origins: An NFL Collection which in addition to be a collaborative line of apparel that is created with designers who are in the community that the Super Bowl is being held, but it is a time where those who are in the area can enjoy the pop-up! We wanted to find out more about this collection, the pop-up event, the NFL’s committment to highlighting artists and bringing them in to the experience of Game Day! We took some time to catch up with the Director of Marketing and E-Commerce at the NFL, Ashley Daniel to find out about this and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell me a bit about your background prior to coming to the NFL.

ASHLEY DANIEL: I’ve spent most of my career since coming out of college working for the NFL. During undergrad, I volunteered with the Super Bowl Host Committee and later interned with the NFL in the Media Strategy & Business Development department. After graduating, I was selected for the NFL’s Rotational Program and have continued to grow my career within the Consumer Products department ever since.

AM: As the Director of Marketing and E-Commerce at the NFL, what does your role entail?

AD: The role is dynamic, which is one of its most rewarding aspects. My work ranges from leading our Local Club Collaboration Program and developing capsule collections with small, local brands to collaborating with our advertising team on national NFL Shop TV campaigns. At its core, the position is about tying inspiration to conversion and strengthening fans’ connections to their cities and teams through product.

AM: Tell us about Origins: An NFL Collection in terms of why this program was created and what it serves to do.

AD: The Origins program was first developed for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Although we produce incredible Super Bowl merchandise, there was an opportunity to showcase products from local brands that authentically represent the host city and its communities. The program emerged from that insight, grounded in the belief that every host city is home to artists and designers who reveal dimensions of the city often overlooked.

AM: How do you go about finding designers to partner with, and what are you looking for?

AD: Each year, the approach evolves. In previous years, my colleague, Xaimara Coss, who is also a Director on the Consumer Products team at the NFL, and I relied heavily on web research and social media, tracking who was showing up at local markets, consistently launching collections, actively engaging with their communities, and creating truly distinctive work. This year, we partnered with our licensing partner, NoCallerID, to support the search. Together, we spent several weeks reviewing candidates and hosting introductory conversations before ultimately selecting the final group of brands.

AM: Tell me about the designers who will be participating in this year’s Origins: An NFL Collection.

AD: Each designer brings a distinctly different point of view, which is what makes this group so compelling. Aaron De La Cruz is an artist by trade, and his work immediately stood out to us, particularly his use of shape and movement, which introduced an aesthetic we hadn’t previously explored within the Origins program. We knew he would bring a bold, unexpected reinterpretation of the Super Bowl. Nostalgia approaches design through incredibly unique silhouettes; when we saw a previous collection featuring intricate woven paisleys, it was clear they would offer a fresh perspective on what fan apparel can be. Lastly, there’s Blvck Scvle, an iconic Bay Area streetwear brand that has been shaping the culture since 2007. Their product is elevated and refined, with exceptionally strong design execution. Together, the three brands form a powerful cohort that authentically represents the spirit and creativity of the Bay.

AM: This year, there will be a one-day pop-up event ahead of the Super Bowl in the Bay Area. Tell us more about this.

AD: Each year, we host a launch pop-up retail event that serves as the first opportunity for fans and the community to shop the new collection. The event brings together shopping, music, and a strong community presence in support of the participating brands, attracting both locals and visitors in search of authentic Super Bowl products and experiences. This year’s launch will take place on Thursday, February 5, at the Pearl from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

AM: For those who are unable to attend the event, how can they be part of this experience?

AD: On Friday, February 6, at 9 AM ET, the product goes live on NFLShop.com/origins. They can also follow the brand stories as they launch on @NFL on IG and on NFL.com/origins.

AM: In terms of the Super Bowl, will this collection of Origins: An NFL Collection be at the stadium?

AD: No. Any product that does not sell out at the launch event will be sold at the NFL Shop Presented by Visa at Super Bowl Experience Presented by Jersey Mike’s.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us that we should know about at the NFL that you are involved in?

AD: There are a lot of great drops coming out around the Super Bowl. We can’t say much right now, but stay tuned.

IG @nfl

After speaking with Ashley about Origins: NFL Collection, we wanted to talk with one of the designer collaborators, Aaron De La Cruz, to find out more about his work, participating in this assortment, and more!

AM: Before we delve into this collaboration that you did with Origins: An NFL Collection, can you tell me about your background and what led you to design?

AARON DE LA CRUZ: From as far back as I can remember, I have loved to draw. As a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I spent a majority of my time outside surrounded by skate and graffiti culture. The graphics I would see on clothing, skateboards and art in the streets influenced me to create my own at home, school and, eventually, on the streets too. I was fortunate enough to have the support of my parents and teachers who recognized my talent, which helped me get into programs and eventually art school. I graduated from college with a BFA and went into teaching art for ten years until I became a parent and I decided to pursue being a full-time artist. That was exactly 13 years ago this month – wow, time flies! I’m the first full-time artist in my family, so my main focus is to show my kids that being a creative for a living is possible. This occupation is hard and definitely has its challenges. They are old enough now to see what it’s really like, but projects like this are moments to celebrate and make it feel like a dream come true.

AM: You have done a number of collaborations with Maison Margiela, Diesel, ESPN, etc. What is the creative process that you go into when you are creating something for or with another brand?

ADLC: When taking on collaborative projects, I prefer to have a personal connection with the client or find a way to connect the project to my family. Because many of my works are considered abstract at times, they can appear as decorative considering the context in which they are displayed. I always try to find a way to integrate my family into these types of projects because, for me, these are the people in my life I’m surrounded by the most. When given the opportunity, I make it a point to provide a story that will connect with the audience, especially for those who are interested in what’s beyond the surface.

AM: How much does the Bay Area influence your work?

ADLC: The Bay is a special place. We have a rich history of movements that were born here that have spread throughout the world. That, plus our unique landscape, draws people to visit and live here, including myself. I don’t know if the Bay is something visually noticeable in my work, but I can say the culture here has definitely influenced what I do with my artwork. Social justice is something very important to me, and I use my art as a vehicle to express my opinions. I try my best to donate works to nonprofits that are doing amazing work. I also give away my work from time to time for those who might not be able to afford it and promote social interaction.

AM: As one of the collaborators in the Origins: An NFL Collection, what does it mean to you to be part of this project?

ADLC: This project is HUGE! As a kid, I was a big NFL fan, and now as a parent, football plays a big part in my life 24/7. I have twin sons (and a wife) who are borderline obsessed with the sport, so for me to be involved at this level is definitely a project I am happy about, and so are they. Being Mexican and a fan of the sport, you don’t see much representation on the field, so for me, this project was an opportunity for us to be seen at this level. I really wanted to show any kids who are artists or have a desire to play the sport that we can find ways to be seen on and off the field in the NFL.

AM: What were you inspired by in terms of the items that you designed in this collaboration?

ADLC: Many of the works I create involve the idea of deconstruction and breaking something down to its simplest form. For the collection, I wanted to create something that my fan base – who might not be football fans – would appreciate, and for football fans who aren’t familiar with my work would recognize.

First, the use of black and white was inspired by the referee uniform. The referee is someone who plays a big part in the game and, at times, can control the game. The artwork on the garments is scaled at 2” wide, which is the width of the black and white stripes found on the official NFL referee uniform.

Second was the location of the artwork. This was inspired by the player, their passion and what they put their body through playing the sport. I created an all-over design because they take hits all over the body and sometimes walk away with wounds and scars that they have for life, all for the love of the sport.

Third was the design, I created unique marks using my signature style that reference routes found in a playbook. I wanted to capture the simplest thing that was recognizable and had that feel of hand-drawn.

I wanted to capture the simplest thing that was recognizable and had that feel of hand-drawn.

The colors of the garments are white on black (chalk on board), black on white (marker on dry erase board) and the grey colorway is a nod to San Francisco and our reputation for being covered in fog.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us that we should know about?

ADLC: Please be on the lookout for the online release of the collection at AARONDELACRUZ.COM on Feb 7th. If you happen to be in San Francisco for the Super Bowl, be on the lookout for a city-wide project I’m doing on Feb 6th. This project will involve me creating 11 original works of art and dropping them off at 11 different locations throughout the city. I’m using this as an opportunity for people to discover and support independently owned businesses within the 11 districts (11 players on the field!) of San Francisco. All of this will take place on my Instagram (@aarondelacruz) so you will need to follow and see what happens!

Aside from that, I’m working on multiple projects and continuing to play this game of life while supporting my team (family). Trying my best to win the MVP for being the best Dad in the league and not end up on the injured reserve list haha.

IG @aarondelacruz

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Origins: An NFL Collection

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see ORIGINS an NFL Collection in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | DARU

We’ve hit those really cold temperatures so comfort food that is vibrant to your taste buds and the eye are an essential! In this month’s issue, The Art of the Snack taks us to DC to Daru where we enjoy cuisine from India and Nepal. Chef/Owner Suresh Sundas talks about this restaurant which has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the 4th year in a row as well as a James Beard Semifinalist nomination. We wanted to know more about the restaurant and what we should enjoy when we come in for our next visit!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into Daru, tell us about your culinary background, kitchens you trained in and why you wanted to create Daru?

CHEF SURESH SUNDAS: I am originally from Morang in Eastern Nepal. After moving to the U.S., I worked throughout the DC dining scene, including roles at Rasika West End and Maydan. I met Dante Datta at Rasika in 2012, and we spent years dreaming of a neighborhood restaurant where I could honor my Nepalese and Indian roots through a playful, unexpected lens.

AM: What does Daru mean?

CHEF SS: Daru is Hindi for moonshine—specifically “desi daru,” a traditional beverage made from molasses. While we originally envisioned Daru as a cocktail bar, we kept the name when it evolved into a restaurant because it captures our spirited, creative nature.

AM: What cuisine can guests enjoy here and what are the ingredients and spices that are indicative of this?

CHEF SS: We describe our cuisine as “Indian-ish”—traditional Indian and Nepalese techniques inspired by global influences. We use foundational spices like garam masala, turmeric, cardamom, and fenugreek alongside timur (Sichuan peppercorn sourced directly from Nepal). We use high-quality, often unexpected ingredients like Thai green chiles, fermented black garlic, blue cheese, and burrata.

AM: What is the ambiance of Daru?

CHEF SS: Located in the historic Star Grocery building, Daru features 40 seats centered around a vibrant bar. The atmosphere is intimate, warm, and energetic—offering the polish of fine dining with the comfort of a favorite neighborhood spot.

AM: In looking at the menu, you have it broken out into various categories including Snacks! What are 3 that you suggest?

CHEF SS: I suggest, Bison Momo: Nepalese-style bison dumplings with timur peppercorn and Szechuan tomato chutney, Dahi Puri: A refreshing, classic bite, and Reshmi Kebab with Blue Cheese: Tender chicken with cashew paste and sour cherry chutney.

AM: What are 3 Mains that you suggest that we should enjoy?

CHEF SS: You should try, Nariyal Lamb Shank: A robust dish in Kashmiri chili-coconut curry with saffron, Chicken Tikka Masala: Made with fermented black garlic paste and Thai green chiles for depth, and Striped Bass Paturi: Bengali-style fish wrapped in banana leaf with makrut lime, and coconut.

AM: In terms of Sides, what are 3 that we should consider?

CHEF SS: To accompany your meal the Black Daal Burrata: Our signature dish featuring burrata melting into spicy black dal, Eggplant Bharta: Smoky, fire-roasted eggplant mashed with aromatic spices, onions, tomato, and coconut milk, and Wok-Fried Cabbage: Crispy, charred cabbage tossed with bold Indian spices, and timur pepper in a hot wok.

AM: For Breads/Extras, what are 3 we should try?

CHEF SS: Herb Laccha Paratha: Ideal for pairing with our curries, Zaatar Olive Naan: A blend of traditional naan and Middle Eastern flavors, and Chutney Platter: an assortment for chutneys, Tomato- Sichuan, Tamarind, Mint, Achar (Mango Pickle), and a Habanero Kashmiri Chili Hot Sauce.

AM: What are 3 Winter cocktails we should try?

CHEF SS: Our Winter cocktails you should try are our Chai-tini: A dessert-like rum cocktail with warm chai spices, Bandit Queen: A Boulevardier with garam masala-infused rum and Sichuan peppercorn amaro, and Divine Contraband: an old fashioned riff using bourbon fat washed with cashew butter, golden raisins, and a touch of palo cortado sherry.

AM: What are 3 mocktails we should try?

CHEF SS: Acid-Adjust Carrot, Garam Masala, Soda (Carrot infused n/a margarita), Love and Demons: Zero-Rum, Hibiscus, Lemon,Tulsi Tea, Ginger Beer, Mint ( Collins style drink with indian herbal tulsi tea), Seasonal Lassis: Fresh fruit and spice combinations that change throughout the year. (pear/mango and peach/ Blueberry Cardamom).

AM: Are there any upcoming events we should know about?

CHEF SS: Our Cielo Rojo Dinner!

AM: Daru has received for a 4th year in a row, the Michelin Bib Gourmand (2022 - 2025) what does it mean to you?

CHEF SS: This recognition validates our goal of providing high-quality, high-value cooking in a neighborhood setting. Retaining this distinction since our opening year proves we are successfully honoring tradition while pushing creative boundaries.

AM: You personally just received a nomination for 2026 James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic - what does this distinction mean to you?

CHEF SS: This honor recognizes our entire team’s dedication. It motivates me to stay connected to my roots while continuing to evolve and create dishes that surprise our guests.

IG @daru.dc

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Calvin Kim

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Daru in mag.

BINGELY TV/STREAMING

THE BEAUTY

FX Original

Hulu

What is the price of being undeniably beautiful, hot, and desirable? If you could take a supplement or dose, would you? If it meant that that beauty may ultimately bring you closer to death, is it worth it? The Beauty looks at a string of supermodel deaths that take place in fashion’s global destinations. They seem to be connected, but how is difficult to say and as the investigation continues, they realize that there are a number of powers that be that are involved! You should also watch their companion podcast, The Beauty Official Podcast to get more details on each episode of this series.

THE NIGHT MANAGER

Prime Original

Prime

If you’re looking at a gripping thriller that checks off all the boxes, a phenomenal cast, stunning locations, well dressed people, and constantly questioning who is involved in the various acts of espionage, then The Night Manager is a must watch. If you have yet to check it out, you need to binge S1 where we first meet Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) in his hotel where he is a night manager. It’s a fateful encounter that ultimately changes his life’s path and brings him to being the ultimate spy!

S2 catches up with him 10 years later and interestingly enough, S1 launched in 2016 and now the current season which is streaming now kicked off a few days after the New Year. We catch up with him firmly in his role as a spy working with agencies on new and old missions! We see how the past is still unresolved and continues to be a threat. We also move to a new location to see him bring justice for those that he has lost as well as those that are in the cross hairs of a villain that he knows all too well!

A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN

KINGDOMS

HBO Original Podcast

HBO

Fans of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have a new series that brings us to Westeros for us to enjoy, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which just launched earlier this month. We follow a hedge knight who is finding his way in the world along with his young squire in this prequel to the flagship show. In many ways, this series lets us see elements of the families that we will come to know while also looking at what is taking place in other areas of Westeros, and how these communities grew into what we know today.

There is more humor in these episodes as they are more light hearted as we see how knights train, the countryside and so much more. After each show, you can watch and/or listen to the companion podcast which provides more insights into each episode along with interviews from an array of those who are in front of, as well as behind the camera.

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY TV/STREAMING in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

THE NEW CAFE BEAUJOLAIS COOKBOOK

The Collective Book Studio

Julian Lopez

In The New Cafe Beaujolais Cookbook: Recipes From the Iconic Mendocino Restaurant, you will see 85+ recipes that celebrate California coastal cuisine from Cafe Beaujolais by Chef Julian Lopez. They are perfect for eating solo or entertaining friends and family.

We’re looking forward to trying Pine-Lemon Cheesecake, and more! You’ll also learn more about this restaurant.

MY HUSBAND’S WIFE

Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar

Alice Fenney

If you enjoyed watching His & Hers on Netflix, then you are familiar with Alice Feeney who wrote this bestselling book which was turned into a very successful series!

My Husband’s Wife is another novel that she created which has already been optioned into a movie as well by Carnival Films (they were behind Peacock’s All Her Fault, The Day of the Jackal, and Downton Abbey films)!

In this novel, she has created another psychological filled with twists and turns that focuses on love, identity and revenge. We meet Eden Fox who is an artist, who is about to make her big break at her first exhibition.

To clear her head, she goes on a run and finds that her home (known as Spyglass) and everything in it is not as she left it, from her key not working, a woman who looks like her living in the house and her husband saying that the strange woman is his wife!

We learn more about the mystery woman and the twists and turns in her own life. We see how deception, obsession, and mystery come together.

ALL THE LITTLE HOUSES

Sourcebooks Landmark

Mary Cobb

The author of The Hunting Wives (who also can be seen on Netflix as a series), is back with All the Little Houses. We head to Longview, Texas in the mid-80s to the Anderson family dynasty and we meet Nellie Anderson. Nellie is beautiful and is known for getting what she wants which she gets from her mom Charleigh who is a selfmade woman who grew up on the wrong side of town and had to navigate the world to get to where she got to!

We get a front row seat to find out about the secrets of this town, mean girls, mean moms, and how everyone comes together to see who is left when all the chaos settles down!

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY BOOKS in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | FOUR SEASONS RESORT BALI: JIMBARAN BAY

Many of us have been navigating very cold temperatures and snow, so of course you start thinking about your next vacation that is warm! We suggest a luxurious stay at the Four Seasons Resort Bali: Jimbaran Bay which lets you feel like you’re enjoying a slice of the White Lotus (sans drama)! You’ll enjoy 3 miles of sandy beach on the bay and an array of villas, which will allow you to connect to the calm and unique experiences available to you at the resort. You can enjoy the beach or have access to your private pool. You can also gaze at private gardens and take it all in from your sun terrace.

Whether you’re in the ultimate relaxation mode or simply want to immerse yourself into the culture, the options are endless.

There are a number of restaurants on property that will satisfy your tastebuds, whether you’re looking for classic Jimbaran cuisine, Asian, or Western. If you have dined in their restaurants or simply want to change it up, you can have a unique experience such as a Floating Breakfast, a Gazebo Dinner, a Beach BBQ Dinner, or a private meal on the beach.

For those wanting a bit of an adventure, you can book culinary experiences, such learning how to make cocktails, a cooking class with a traditional market tour, and an ocean to table experience where you can learn how to fish and enjoy having it for a meal for a fun day out.

Of course, the Four Seasons is known for their spa treatments and there are a number of transformative offerings for you to indulge in throughout your stay.

If you are looking to take in the bay, we suggest that you consider snorkeling, a sunset cruise, or taking out a boat for a period of time. There are also tours around the area, an Ocean Blessing (an ancient Balinese tradition), and a Goa Cong Cave Blessing. With so many things to do and see, it’s best to plan ahead and to reach out to their concierge in order to plan the perfect getaway whether you decide to keep all of your activities on property or you want to spend time away from the resort.

FOUR SEASONS RESORT BALI:

JIMBARAN BAY

Jimbaran, Kuta Selatan, Bali 80361 Indonesia

fourseasons.com

IG @fsbali

PHOTOS COURTESY | Four Seasons Resort Bali: Jimbaran Bay

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Four Seasons Resort Bali: Jimbaran Bay in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | PRIVÉ PADEL

Former professional tennis player and Wall Street banker, Nicholas Solarewicz and entrepreneur, Chris Moore joined forces to launch Privé Padel. Their vision is to push the sport of padel forward, which is one of the fastest growing sports and their first phase is opening up this club.

Padel’s roots can be traced to Latin America in the 70’s. It gained momentum in Argentina and Spain where padel is the second most popular sport by participation behind football, and is now all across Europe. Padel is more similar to tennis and squash as it mixes elements of both. It is a doubles game sharing the same scoring as tennis with the addition of glass walls surrounding the court. Padel shares much of the culture of tennis, but is quicker to learn, softer on the body, and more of a social experience.

With an initial target of players in NYC and Miami - as well as to bring padel to the most beautiful travel destinations and hospitality, the Hamptons was the ideal setting for their first concept at a luxury resort. Privé was the first padel club to build and independently operate as an amenity of a luxury resort in the U.S. Guests can expect a stunning backdrop and high-touch experience.

They offer 2 tiers. Gold is perfect for the player who hits the court a few times a week, offering 50% off court bookings and a set of guest passes each month. Platinum is designed for the true padel enthusiast. While it comes at a premium, it includes unlimited complimentary play, so if you’re serious about your game, there’s real value there.

This year marks the 3rd season and in addition to their Montauk location, you’ll see Privé Padel at some exceptional resorts around the globe. Pop-ups, tournaments, brand collaborations, and members-only events are in the works for this year.

It’s worth noting that if you are a beginner, padel is about having fun, not perfection, especially if you are playing with those that are at your level.

If you are someone who has played a racquet sport consistently, it’s a seamless transition into padel in terms of getting on the court and having a great experience! Be mindful that having that know how is great especially if you are playing someone who may be a non-racquet sport player; however, padel is much less about physical power and proweress and more about finesse and touch.

PRIVÉ PADEL ARMEL RETREATS

58 Star Island Rd

Montauk, NY 11954

prive-padel.com

IG @privepadel

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Privé Padel

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Prive Padel in mag.

9LIST ROUTIN3S | JACK HUGHES

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST ROUTIN3S | Jack Hughes in mag.

#TRIBEGOALS

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.

9PLAYLIST MULTI | DUSTIN JOHNSON

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI | Dustin Johnson in mag.

9PLAYLIST | AARON DE LA CRUZ

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Aaron De La Cruz in mag.

NEW YEAR, N3W YOU

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see NEW YEAR, N3W YOU in mag.

THE 9LIST

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see THE 9LIST in mag.

9LOOKS | BALENCIAGA

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LOOKS | Balenciaga in mag.

ROCK THIS WHEN HEADING TO TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE PUB

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see ROCK THIS WHEN HEADING TO TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE PUB in mag.