TAKING A BREAK IS HEALTHY

We're fans of Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD who always gives it to us straight when it comes to being our best selves! With the razy winter freeze coming back and getting into our routine post holiday, it's essential to take a break so that we stay charged for whatever comes at us! Dr Hafeez left us with some tips that we wanted to share with you.

Overloaded on bad news? You're not alone. When we tune in to see what's going on all we see is suffering from natural disasters, shootings, terror attacks, reports about economic uncertainty and a divided political climate, plus celebrity deaths and just mean people being mean. We hear about a tragedy or disaster and we become glued to our TV’s and news feeds growing more and more anxious as rapid updates flow in.

While it is important to be informed being a “news junkie” can be very damaging. It can cause insomnia, stomach and headaches due to anxiety. It can also lead to mindless eating, alcohol consumption and other coping behaviors that are unhealthy. What’s worse, is constant attention on negativity creates neuropathways in the brain that tell us we are unsafe activating a constant state of fight or flight. This fight or flight conditioning damages our cells depletes our immune systems allowing disease and chronic conditions to fester.

The opposite is taking a self-imposed weekly break from the news, TV and social media. What follows is a list of some benefits of unplugging or “going off the grid” and what we can do to shift our mood from doom and pessimism to hope and optimism.

1.     You reconnect with yourself. When you unplug from the outside, you plug into the inside of who you are. You’re able to think of the kind of world you want to live in and assess what you can do within your own life to live well. People make the mistake in feeling guilty, selfish or uncaring if they aren’t commiserating with others on some negative news event. What you are doing is self-preserving and protecting how you feel.

2.     You’re attentive to those who matter most. When you watch the news, you get absorbed and tune out everyone around you. Your kids may try to get your attention or worse, may hear the news on in the background while they are around making them anxious and concerned for their safety. 

3.     You have time to take action! We have to remind ourselves watching the news helps no one. Some people find it helpful to volunteer in some way. Donating blood, collecting clothing or other supplies from neighbors and organizing a donation gets you away from the TV and into positive action.

4.     You become mindful of your mood and make how you feel top priority. When you’re filling your mind with negativity, you attract more of it into your own life. This impacts your work, family, friends, even your pet! When you don’t feel happy and optimistic you can’t possibly be there for the people and things you care about. Substituting negative news for an audio book, a new course or workshop, even a more entertaining uplifting TV show will lift your spirits.

5.     You’re less distracted and more focused. When you’re not preoccupied with the constant barrage of negative news, you’re able to be more present and focused. This impacts everything from driving your car to meetings at work. When you’re clearer, tasks are done right the first time with attention to detail.

6.     You laugh more and worry less. Taking a break from the news frees you up from worry. You immediately open yourself to more fun topics of conversation and aren’t taking life so seriously anymore.

7.     Your energy rises! When people are pessimistic their facial features and posture sags. Their eyes lose their sparkle. No one wants to be around sluggish energy zappers. When you consciously decide to take a break from the news, you aren’t starting your day with negativity but instead perhaps a nice morning walk or some other form of exercise.

Try a no-news is good news approach every weekend and pay attention to how you feel. Create your own good news!

About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Read more from the Dec Issue

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY | NEW YEAR'S EVE PREP

It's all about prepping for NYE. We believe in having great foundation with coverage for diverse skin tones, essential brushes, an array of lip shades and to add volume for sexy hair.

| IT COSMETICS Heavenly Luxe™ You Sculpted!™ Contour & Highlighted Brush #18 | BED HEAD Wave Artist Tourmaline Ceramic Deep Waver | STILA COSMETICS Sheer Delight Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick | INGLOT COSMETICS YSM Cream Foundation |

Read more from the Dec Issue and see Athleisure Beauty | New Year's Eve Prep in mag.

5 WAYS WE'RE STAYING WARM DURING THE BOMB CYCLONE

The weather is seriously making the simple task of going outside a major task and now there's this whole topic about Bomb Cyclones (winter hurricanes)! We're sharing 5 Ways that we're staying warm this week from the desk of our Style Director, Kimmie!

PARAJUMPERS

Long Bear in Elmwood - our Style Director has worn this in some REALLY cold temperatures and hasn't felt the chill!

LOVE KNITZ

Adding a pop of fur is cute but this ribbed hat is an essential to keep in the warmth in a chic way.

SOREL

The winter and Sorel boots go hand in hand - keeping your feet warm, dry and traction against slipping.

LEMON COLLECTIONS

Over the knee socks are perfect to way to create layers for yor legs.

ANTHROPOLOGIE

A travel mug is a must to stay warm and to fill it at your favorite spot - we suggest Starbuck's "Medicine Ball" Tea!

Stay in and check out the Dec issue.

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.

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

ATHLEISURE MAG | DEC ISSUE

This month's celeb cover is International EDM DJ duo NERVO which we shot at Grammy winner, Desmond Child's apartment here in NYC. This cover shoot includes a fun Q&A with NERVO, Desmond as well as one of our favorite broker's, Louise Philips Forbes. We also have an interview with Gia Mantegna who talks about a number of her acting roles, what it was like to be in Criminal Minds with her father Joe Mantegna, her singing career and where we'll find her in LA versus in NYC.We talked with one of my favorite jewelry designers, Buddha Mama about the inspiration behind their statement driven fine jewelry as well as what they love doing in Miami. We talked with Dr Greuner about his practice, maintaining great heart health and of course - staying in shape! We also have a lifestyle oriented Holiday Gift Guide in this month's issue.

We have a number of features that are in each month's issues including The Art of the Snack (NYE themed), Athleisure List, Athleisure Beauty and more. Our bucket lists have a few more items on the list with this month's feature Something You Should Know about great destinations that are within National Geographic's new coffee table book. Last Dec and Jan we launched 2 features that were in both of those months and we have brought them back in this issue (as well as the one coming up) - Wellness Trends 2018 (this feature covers a number of trends that we see for the upcoming year - we tackled 2 this month and the remainder will be next month) and N3W YOU (this feature includes actress - Gia Mantegna, Celeb Fitness Trainer, author, TV star - Holly Rilinger, Iron Chef - Cat Cora and E! WAGS Atlanta's - Telli Swift).

Read the Dec Issue of Athleisure Mag Issue

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

There is nothing better than being able to hop a flight and head to a tropical destination such as Oasis Spa in Phuket, Thailand Known as an experience for the mind, body and soul - it's worth placing this on the bucket list. If you can't travel just yet, an at home spa isn't complete without an all purpose balm and beverages that replenish as well as energize you.

| THE BODY SHOP Amazonian Saviour Multi-Purpose Balm | APRES Mint Cacao | MATI ENERGY Citrus |

Read more from the Nov Issue and see #TribeGoals 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.

---

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.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW | GET TRAVEL READY

We're always traveling but the holidays mean that you're logging more flights than usual. Traveling also means you encounter a few unwanted travelers - germs! We took some time to chat with Celine Thum, Medical Director of Paradocs Worldwide, Inc to identify germy areas, how to stay safe when we are under the weather and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What are 5 "germy" areas on a plane even for those that are flying first class and what/how can we combat this?

CELINE THUM: A message to all travelers, the actual risk of catching a serious communicable disease during air travel is no different from if on a bus or train, however, those that are on larger flights have a higher risk of catching a disease. Even boarding processes have an impact on transmission — if front boards first, there is more clustering of people while passengers find a spot for their overhead baggage. Most importantly, you should notify an airline employee if don’t feel well as you are putting your own and others’ health at risk.

Tray tables: People place all kinds of objects such as money on tray tables and use it for personal things, from filing nails to changing a diaper. It catches respiratory droplets and is a big source of germs, as it is frequently touched (and eaten off of!). In addition, they are not cleaned during turnaround. Pack disinfecting wipes for this area right in front of you.

Carpet and bathroom floor: Don’t go barefoot! The carpets are filthy, and the bathroom floors covered in urine.

Blankets and pillows: they are thrown around overhead and sometimes cases never changed! Bring an extra fleece sweater and your own pillow when traveling.

AM: Sometimes we fly when we have a cold, what can we do to nurse ourselves back to health in flight?

CT: Because the high altitude can increase sinus pressures, cold symptoms can be aggravated by flying. Steam from hot beverages can open up nasal passages, and chewing gum can encourage equilibrium for difficult to pop ears. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids and keep tissues around to keep your nose decongested and clean

AM: What should we pack in our carry-on in case we get the sniffles or need to stay refreshed while traveling?

CT: You should definitely pack eyedrops and lotion, as the recirculated air is very drying. If you wear contacts daily, consider glasses for the flight. I always keep a face wipe, Vitamin C with Zinc, Benadryl, and Ibuprofen in case I get allergies or a cold!

AM: How can we prepare our bodies for flight prior to boarding and post boarding?

CT: Make sure to practice good sleep and hygiene, as frequent changes in time zones and poor sleep can weaken your immune system. Drink plenty of water before the flight, and make sure
to walk around or keep legs moving to prevent blood clots from forming. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for during the flight to kill bacteria.

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Something You Should KNow | Get Travel Ready in mag.

GET THE FACTS | LOW BEAUTY

The world of makeup artistry is ever changing from following trends, making new ones and seeing what exists within the cosmetic and skincare industries. We had a chance to chat with Karim Orange on celebs that she has worked on, her about new line that she has collaborated with via Vapour Organic Beauty, being a Low Beauty Makeup Artist and what that means in a world where we are navigating green, non-animal tested products, sustainable as well as other products.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how you became a Makeup Artist.

KARIM ORANGE:I have been a professional make up artist for over 25 years. When I was younger I always loved the beautiful girls in the magazines with makeup on. They always looked so happy. I started as an assistant to another celebrity makeup artist. We worked on over 100 videos a year in the early 90s. My big break was touring with Mary J Blige. After that I beat out 23 other make up artists for my spot at The View. This is where I received my two Emmy nominations.

AM: Who are celebrities or projects that you have worked on that we would know?

KO:  I worked on The View and with artists like Jay Z, Nas, Sean Puffy Combs,  Lauren Hill, Rosario Dawson, Goldie Hawn, Mary J. Blige, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, The Dixie chicks, Deepak Chopra, I've even done Donald Trump's makeup. 

AM: How did Inner Orange come about (from it's name, your partnership with Vapour etc)? 

KO: Vapor Organic Beauty and I have been working together in different capacities for over five years. I have always respected them as a brand because they have always been inclusive of all shades. The name Inner Orange is of course a play on my last name. I find that orange, the color, usually makes people feel excited. The sun has hues of orange, changing leaves have beautiful tones of orange. Some amazing foods are orange. Orange makes you glow. Inner Orange is about glowing strong in whatever-you do, and the colors in the collection reflect a 'glow strong' attitude.

AM: What products are currently in Inner Orange and what are your plans for this portion of the line in terms of extending the product range? 

KO: Inner Orange currently consists of two collections. The first collection is called Spark and it's for light to medium skin-tones. It consists of peachy and soft gold neutral tones. The Crave collection consists of warm burnt orange shades and rich chocolate browns. It is more for medium to darker shades. Inner Orange will continue to develop with Vapor Organic Beauty. You will see the addition of seasonal colors and products to support the crave and spark collection, giving you more possibilities. 

You will also see additional products under the Inner Orange umbrella. The next product is a synergistic essential oil blend called Inner Orange, which will be available in January on the Inner Orange website. 
 

AM: When we talked with you at the event, you explained that you're a Low Beauty makeup artist - can you explain more about what this and misconceptions that people may have on this title/category?

KO: Over the years I have seen the words clean, green, organic, sustainable, natural all used to describe more conscious personal care products. These are the words that I have used to describe personal care products. Recently, I have thought about what it is that I do. What it is that I would like to teach women. It became a concept that I have personally coined to describe my practice which I call 'Low' Beauty. It's very easy for the average person to understand. Everyone likes things in life that are low! Low mortgage rates, low-risk activities, low pesticides in food.

Low beauty is three basic steps and rules, that I try to follow.

*As a makeup artist, I try to use the minimum amount of products to get maximum results. When I teach a woman how to do their make up I try and make it as simple as possible. If she is currently using 10 products I try to get it down to five or six. 

*I also try to introduce products with low undesirable ingredients. 

*Lastly I try to pick products with low carbon footprints. Sometimes the low carbon footprint part can have shades of grey. 

AM: How did your journey to being a Low Beauty artist come about? 

KO: My journey as a low beauty make up artist came about by trial and error. Using minimal products came about on a tour with Mary J Blige. At the time, Mary had her own makeup kit that I was using. Somehow her make up kit got left behind at the last venue. That night I had to do Mary's make up with a few products. It taught me how to be a minimalist. Also working on The View (live television), where you have no extra time for extra products, confirmed my minimalistic approach. 

The need to use products with low undesirable ingredients came about through my personal nightmare. A lipstick that I had been using every day for years sent me to the emergency room because of a sudden allergic reaction. I didn't wear lipstick for almost 10 years after this. I also started making the connection between women and autoimmune disease and what we put in our bodies. There are so many women that have reactions to something they have been using every day. The body one day says that's enough, and makes the immune system go haywire. I was lucky that my reaction happened on the outside of my body immediately. I was able to stop using the product, a lot of women are not so lucky when symptoms happen internally. 

The low carbon footprint aspect can be a bit overwhelming. While I understand that sometimes companies can't do everything right, they should still make an effort not to intentionally incorporate practices that are wrong and harm the earth or animals. They should support sustainable practices and know every element of their manufacturing. 

AM: There is a growing conversation among many about the need to transition a number of beauty products from those that are chemically based to those that have less as well as those that have not been tested on animals.

What products swaps do you suggest for mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, foundation, eyeshadow, cleansers, toners, moisturizer etc. Are there any products that you suggest that people continue to use that may not be Low Beauty oriented but are safe to use?

KO: You're trying to get me in trouble with this question (lol). I believe in education not scare tactics because I'm a magician, not a preacher. I encourage women to switch three products first - their lipstick because they eat it. Their body lotion because your skin is the biggest elimination organ in the body, and your nail polish because the nail beds are so porous and traditional nail products are so toxic.

Let's also remember that I am a makeup artist and I love makeup. I still follow the trends and products in traditional makeup. I have to relate to any woman that comes to me for a consultation. I have to understand what she is using and why.

So, if you come to me as a virgin when it comes to owning cleaner versions of beauty products, I'm going to be very gentle with my recommendations. My first step is to educate you and get you out of any lipstick that has toxic ingredients. With that being said if you're addicted to your Dior Show mascara (which I know is fabulous) I'm going to say enjoy it and tackle other things (first things first). 

Here are some of my favorite products (yes they all fall under Low Beauty lol)

Mascara: Mineral Fusion and Gabriel Cosmetics 

Eyeliner: Zuzu Luxe (they have a ton of fabulous colors and shades, for both eyeliners and lip liners). 

Lipstick: Any color you love that's nontoxic. 

Foundation: I love Vapour and Mineral Fusion in liquid formulas. (they offer so many varieties and formulations). I also like Au Naturale sticks and ZuZu Luxe for powder. 

Eyeshadow: Most mineral shadows are ok. Just make sure they are not made in a country that tests on animals. Also, try and find some that contain no FD & C Dyes. 

Cleansers, Moisturizers, Toners: Try brands like Indie Lee, Kimberly Sayer, Dr. Hascka and Even Healy. All of these brands are amazing.

Read more from the Nov issue and see Get The Facts | Low Beauty 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.

---

SOULANNEX
32 W 18th St NY, NY 10011

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

LET'S TALK ADULT INCONTINENCE

It's important for us to share issues with our readers about a number of health issues or situations that can take place in our bodies. A few weeks ago, we attended an event presented by Always Discreet Boutique where they shared innovations that they created with a new underwear that assists those that battle Adult Incontinence. To find out more about what it is, to clear up misconceptions about it and to more we chatted with Selin Waltz, Always Discreet NA Franchise R&D to find out more about this.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is Adult Incontinence and why does it happen?

SELIN WALTZ: On the most basic level, incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine; however, there are several different kinds of incontinence that can be caused by anything from pregnancy to menopause and even strenuous physical activity. The three types are urge, stress and mixed incontinence. 

Urge incontinence occurs when you have a strong need to urinate but cannot reach the toilet in time, while stress incontinence is when you experience a leak while coughing, sneezing or laughing; this is very common in younger women that have children and among athletes and active women. Mixed incontinence is a combination of both symptoms. Bladder leaks are very common, in fact 1 in 3 women experience them. That is why it is so important to get the word out and let women know they are not alone and there are solutions out there for them!

AM: What are the innovations that are involved in Always Discreet Boutique that are different than what was currently in the marketplace for those who have need for this product?

SW: Always Discreet Boutique is bladder leak underwear that looks flirty and fashionable, with stylist attention paid to every detail, including its beautiful and sleek packaging. Made with silky-soft fabric and curve-hugging contours that come in a rosé color with a variety of delicate lace prints, the design is inspired by fashion industry and pantone trends. The 3 designs in each pack are a simple bow for everyday elegance and 2 different flowery patterns that go from the front to the back on one side. Worked on by lingerie experts and fashion designers, Always Discreet Boutique is panty drawer-worthy underwear that can be paired with a favorite bra with pride. The Always Discreet brand has been making strides in the adult incontinence category since its launch in 2014. The Always Discreet Boutique product has a superabsorbent core with unique RapidDry™ liquid-to-gel technology that absorbs leaks and odors in seconds and Double LeakGuard™ Barriers to help keep you protected all day long.

AM: What are the similarities that can be found in Always Discreet Boutique versus menstrual products that are available in the brand?

SW: The entire line of Always Discreet is specifically designed to handle urine, a thinner fluid than menstrual fluid. While we understand some women have used Always Discreet products for their menstrual needs and it is perfectly safe to do so, we recommend using a menstrual product for your period as it is designed specifically to handle the thicker fluid.

AM:  AI may seem like a condition that older women experience; however, what are common groups that also have an issue with this?

SW: While adult incontinence is generally perceived as something that only effects older women, 1 in 3 women over the age of 18 experience bladder leaks. There are a number of reasons women experience leaks including pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, excessive exercise (i.e. long-distance running), obesity and/or diabetes.

AM:  How important was pushing forward on the stylish aspects of this product?

SW: For decades, women have had to make a choice between protection from bladder leaks or pretty underwear that makes them feel confident and sexy. Over the years, we spoke to thousands of women while developing and enhancing Always Discreet, and they told us that bulky bladder leak products can erode their confidence and femininity. Always Discreet Boutique was designed to give women a unique choice that gives her amazing protection, but still looks, feels and fits more like feminine panties. We feel that women shouldn’t have to choose between an underwear that makes them feel both protected and comfortable in their own skin. Now, women won't have to make that compromise with Always Discreet Boutique.

AM: What are the current offerings of this product and will there be more added to the line?

SW: Always Discreet Boutique underwear is available in Small/Medium and Large with Maximum absorbency. The sizes available are based on category sales demand. If there’s demand for additional sizes, those sizes will certainly be considered.  As for the color, currently the rosé-colored underwear is available with a variety of 3 different delicate lace prints. The 3 designs in each pack are a simple bow for everyday elegance and 2 different flowery patterns that go from the front to the back on one side. We shared many design patterns and color options with women, and Always Discreet Boutique was ultimately approved by women like you! We’re excited to share this new style and designs, and we will continue to talk to women for their feedback. While we can’t share future innovations for competitive reasons, we’re committed to researching and developing products that will serve as advanced solutions for our consumers.

AM: When we attended the launch event, we found that women who are marathon runners and those that are pregnant - have an issue with AI - why does this take place?

SW: There are many things that can cause women to experience bladder leaks. During pregnancy and after childbirth specifically because your birth canal stretches to let your newborn through. As it stretches, your pelvic floor muscles stretch out too and a weakened pelvic floor can weaken your bladder control. Similarly, in the vein of exercise, certain exercises such as long distance running can make your pelvic area feel strained and increase your chance of experiencing leaks. 

PHOTOS COURTESY | Always

Read the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and read Let's Talk Adult Incontinence in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | HYGGE STYLE

The weather continues to get colder and that means your at home spa embraces a number of cozy or hygge influence to get you through the season. Here's what we think is essential to include in your bathroom right now.

| MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator | HERBIVORE BOTANICALS Calm Bath Salts | POTTERY BARN Faux Fur Robe Without Hood | IN ESSENCE Australian Natives Aroma Diffuser |

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Athleisure Beauty Hygge Style in mag.

CRANBERRIES BEAUTY

Cranberry is a healing ingredient that is perfect when you're exfoliating your skin and also to leave a protective layer on your skin to ensure its optimal health. 

| BURT'S BEES Cranberry + Pomegranate Sugar Scrub | ARCONA Cranberry Grommage Exfoliator | ST. IVES Intensive Healing Lotion Cranberry + Grapeseed Oil |

Read more from the Oct Issue and see Cranberries Beauty in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

AND BREATHE
Hachette
Rebecca Dennis

Can you breathe your way to health and happiness? In And Breathe, Rebecca 

Dennis, a London based breath coach and workshop leader who was trained by Judith Kravitz (Transformational Breath) has written a guide on deep breathing for health and happiness.

The average person inhales and exhales about 20,000 times a day; however, most of those breaths are short and shallow and are known as "stress breaths" because they just reach the chest. This kind of breath creates a constant "fight or flight" response in the body and according to the World Health Organization, they believe that by 2020 depression and anxiety will be the number one disability worldwide.

Throughout the book, there are exercises that are described to guide you through deep diaphragmatic, conscious breathing. These are tools you can use throughout your day and can be done anywhere whenever you need. In addition Rebecca reminds us that breathing is natural and we must retrain our mind to this way of being.
 

THE COMPLETE SLOW COOKER
America's Test Kitchen

Crisp temperatures mean that it's time to start preparing your favorite meals via the Slow Cooker. With over 400 recipes, you'll find that there is something for everyone that can be cooked from appetizers to desserts!

You'll find a number of recipes that take 8 hours to cook via the Slow Cooker as well as those that only take 15 minutes to prepare. We have a feeling that you'll tag a number of finds that you'll make this fall and winter season.
 

LEO FENDER: THE QUIET GIANT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD
Leadership Institute Press
Phyllis Fender + Randall Bell

In the midst of some of the greatest inventions that the world has also enjoyed, Leo Fender created the electric guitar. His interest in electronics lead him to open a radio repair shop in his hometown of Fullerton, California. Band leaders and musicians knew that if their equipment needed to be repaired, then they should go to him.

Leo invented the Fender Stratocaster 

which has been embraced and was/is preferred by world-renowned musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Jeff Beck — to name a few.

Although his work was enjoyed by vibrant luminaries, Leo was a shy inventor who was nearly deaf and had one glass eye.

Beyond designing his notable quitars, in 1946 he founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company — the launch pad for his most iconic designs — and later on, G&L Musical Instruments. 

Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard Around the World shares his story.
 

Read more from the Oct Issue and see Bingely Books in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | BLOODY MARYS

The perfect brunch beverage for a great weekend is the classic Bloody Mary, and of course the only way to improve on this tomato, vodka and seasoned drink is to kick it up with garnishes and seasonings that you may not have thought of to add more zip! If you're in NYC, the 21 Club is a must to enjoy this cocktail. In this month's The Art of the Snack we share a few variations to keep on your drink list.

COURTESY | 21 Club

The British Bloody Mary is a classic with the addition of English Mustard, your hot sauce of choice and of course garnished with a cucumber to add a bit of a refreshing element to this cocktail.

COURTESY | Tesco Real Food

Spicy Sriracha Bloody Mary's is the perfect way to cap off your weekend as this classic not only has sriracha but pineapple juice as well!  

COURTESY | Oh Little Foxes
 

The Chipotle Bloody Mary from The Pioneer Woman has a warm smoky taste that includes fun garnishes.

COURTESY | Chipotle Bloody Mary

Read more from the Oct Issue and see The Art of the Snack | Bloody Mary's in mag.

THE TEXAS STAR SHINES ON CARY DEUBER

There are bonafide BRAVO Real Housewives fans at Athleisure Mag. We love the franchise as a whole and of course, we have certain cities that are favorites, but within each one there is always a few characters that we love! When Real Housewives of Dallas joined the franchise, Cary Deuber was an instant favorite and we took some time to find out more about this mom who works with her husband, enjoys her friends and gives back to others.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have enjoyed seeing you on Real Housewives of Dallas, how did you get on the show and which of the girls from the first season were you already friends with?

CARY DEUBER: I am thrilled to be an official cast member of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Dallas, which premiered on Monday, April 11th, 2016. I can’t believe we’ve come so far! I was found for the show through a friend online through social media. 

I knew Stephanie Hollman before the show, but I’m so glad to have become closer to her and the other ladies. Season 2 also brought some familiar faces with both Kameron Westcott and D’Andra Simmons who I had known for several years before Housewives.

AM: Prior to joining the show, what did you think it would be like?

CD: I had no idea what to expect! :) Honestly, I think that one really can’t KNOW what to expect until they end up in this situation, but it’s certainly been UNIQUE. I thought that it would be a great way to share my story and what I do in business with my husband as a partner. Being in the public eye as a cast member brings a lot of pressure and scrutiny, but we’ve had to learn to keep a thick skin and stay positive. I think that’s what this is all about!

AM: What is it like filming the confessionals and the Reunions?

CD: The confessionals are actually pretty bittersweet for me because on one hand, you get to crack jokes and revisit funny moments throughout the season and really narrate what was going on in your head at the time. On the other hand, you occasionally have to re-live some not so pleasant moments and talk about them all over again whether you’ve gotten past it or not. This is especially challenging when you have a disagreement with a friend or loved one, but in the same way- it is also a bit therapeutic! 

You also have to look at the Reunions as a “glass half full” situation as well. It’s great to set the story straight for things that may have been misconstrued, but it can also open wounds if you let it. With both confessionals and Reunions, the most exciting part is dressing up and speaking your truth! I will always be excited to do that. Unfortunately, at Reunions, however, you cannot wear your sweatpants underneath your ballgown like we do in confessionals! Haha!

AM: Was it a no-brainer for you to return for the second season and what do you like about being in the cast?

CD: I think that coming back for a season 2 was a great opportunity: Another chance to grow our business and also relate to others with our personal lives. What I love about being involved with Housewives is how it allows each of us to connect with other people out in the world that we would have never known otherwise. You just never know who you will cross paths with! It’s like having another job - you make connections and friends and stories that will last a lifetime.

AM: You're a working mom with a number of responsibilities in the home and you work with your husband. How are you navigating these realities?

CD: I think that it’s safe to say that I’ll be navigating these different realities for years! It’s honestly different everyday, but I love being able to wear all the different hats. I’m a wife, mom to a 5 year old, stepmom to a teenager and a 20 year old, nurse, and now, I guess a TV personality! 

There are so many other multi-tasking moms out there that can relate, and I’ve had some great mom advice and work tips from fellow nurses and health professionals that have really helped! Everyone has a special story, but we can also find ways to relate. This is why I think it’s so key to have such different personalities within the group - to reach the masses and help others feel less alone in their issues (whether they be very serious problems or 1st world problems!).

AM: How long have you been a yogi and is there a specific type of yoga you do?

CD: I have been practicing yoga for over 15 years, and I truly love it. I personally like to think of yoga as "my church" because it represents a safe place that I often retreat to for true self-reflection and soul balance. For me - yoga is just a way of life, release, and a great type of exercise! It is all about moving your body, finding a way to connect, identifying peace, and taking a little time for yourself to refresh your mind & body at the same time.

I typically gravitate towards vinyasa flow power yoga.

AM: You're very stylish - what's  your personal style at the office, when you're out and about and for charity events?

CD: What style at the office?? Haha! For work, I generally wear black scrubs, which totally save me during the day because they look neat and feel like pajamas! They also work for running quick errands during the day, as I don't  really make time to change before going out.

When I’m not at the office, though, you can typically find me in some sort of yoga gear or workout athleisure look that can transition well from the grocery store or carpool lane to the yoga studio. Lines like F.WORDS, K-DEER, Alo Yoga, and Spiritual Gangster are some of my top favorites.

Now, when it comes to charity, my husband and I typically prefer to support anonymously, but on the occasion that we attend an event, I defer to my personal stylist (my husband!) to help me out! I’m more of an everyday shopper, and he is great with special occasions. I usually gravitate toward something from Cavalli, Marc Bouwer, Herve Leger, or even a local designer here in Dallas that I love, Mackenzie Brittingham.

AM: What is your style secret weapon?

CD: My plastic surgeon and husband Dr. Mark Deuber is totally my style secret weapon! As an expert in the aesthetic field with European taste, Mark’s eye for detail and style has totally gotten me through several events when I had no clue what to wear. He will sometimes surprise me with a new dress or pair of boots without me even trying anything on! 

AM: What charities are you involved in?

CD: ConnectMed International is a group that I travel with and assist with cleft lips and palate surgeries as well as other congenital deformities or injuries. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization near and dear to our hearts. I personally have a "little sister", named Leslie. She is in third grade and has a younger brother who is 4. I have a school placement which means I go to her school to meet with her. Generally, I go every other week. We play games, draw, make each other cards or just chat. My dream for her is that she is able to achieve her goal of becoming a dentist.

After serving as a Big for 2 years, I can wholeheartedly say that my Little Sister has changed my life just as much as I have changed hers. Supporting this BBBS in makes matches like ours possible.

AM: In Dallas where should we eat, shop and get a cocktail?

CD: I love Nonna for great food and cocktails. It’s one of our family go-tos and not too far from home! Stanley Korshak, Neiman’s, and Lululemon are probably my most visited shopping spots in town. As a mom on the go, I’m usually on a tight schedule and need a place with a good variety to pick up everything I need! 

Bistro 31 always has a great cocktail menu upstairs, but I have to be completely honest… I’m really partial to Mark’s world-famous Deuber-Ritas! He should bottle that recipe and sell it!

AM:  For the holidays, what are you looking forward to and how does the Deuber family celebrate?

CD: We are all looking forward to things slowing down a bit. Our family just likes to get together and really spend time with those that matter the most. I miss my stepson so much during the year, as he’s away at college, so we all look forward to having him home with the rest of the Deuber bunch. I can’t wait for cold weather, tree decorating, and holiday SALES! 

A typical Deuber family holiday includes Mark and I actually cooking together for once, everyone around the table, and lots of thankful hearts. It’s a great opportunity to teach our little one about sharing and helping others, so we always find a special way to involve the family in giving back to those in need.
 

Read more from the Oct Issue and see The Texas Star Shines on Cary Deuber in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | Y7 STUDIO

When it comes to working out, there are as many methods as personality types which is a great way to target what makes you feel your best you. Hot yoga has been around a number of studios but time and again, we always hear about the cool vibes of Y7 Studio and with their recent launch of their newest location in Williamsburg, BK we knew we were going to get a significant workout here.

Y7 Studio combines a vinyasa yoga (which is all about flowing and repeating movements in a fluid movement) with hip hop and beats that keep you focused while sweating your butt off in a candlelit studio. It's during each movement, that you realize that your body can seriously push past its limits to stay in sync and that the moves become central to your core. 

Y7 has a number of locations that you can get your sweat on and those who attend the classes swear by their mantra of "A Tribe Called Sweat" and "We Flow Hard". 

Co-Founded by Sara Levey, Y7 has two kinds of classes which include WeFlowHard™ which is a fast paced vinyasa class while Slowburn goes deeper into your tissue and allows you to hold the poses for a longer period of time. Both allow you to have a very successful sweat as you work out in their specially infrared rooms which make you feel like you have walked into a sauna but also ensures that you will be dripping.  Music for WeFlowHard™ focuses on hip-hop and driving beats while Slowburn is more typical of yoga music and is condusive to the movements and vibe.

Although you can rent mats and towels, we suggest bringing your own as it's a good idea to have the mat that works best for you when you're doing the workouts. We definitely suggest laying a towel down on top of your mat as it definitely gets slippery.

Check your location for full amenities as all Y7 Studios have refresh spaces, but Soho has a shower while the Williamsburg location does not.

We also love that Y7 carries its own line of apparel which is great to wear when working out or after the gym. Their line includes their key phrases and definitely makes you feel like you're part of the cool set when you're entering/leaving the studio or wherever you're going next.

Most importantly, it's worth noting that the instructors really do operate on a "do what you can" mentality so as you're taken through each movement, if your body is not comfortable doing something - there are no judgments whether you pause or sit in the other pose. 

You'll find that as you move and see those around you doing so that as a beginner, you pick up what is going and and begin to get into sync with the group.

Although it's suggested that beginners should do Slowburn first, you can also go right to WeFlowHard™.
 

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Y7 STUDIO

NY

Willamsburg - 170 S 1st St
Flatiron - 25 W 23rd St, 4th Fl
Soho - 430 Broome St, 2nd Fl
Union Square - 58 E 11th St
UES - 1459 3rd Ave, 4th Fl
Lab - 262 Bowery, 4th Fl

CA
West Hollywood - 8270 Melrose Ave

Read more from the Oct Issue and see Athleisure List | Y7 Studio in mag.
 

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY | FALL BEAUTY

When you travel overseas, the first night is the perfect way to relax in your suite. This month's Athleisure Beauty, focuses on making your own in-room entertainment in the stunning bathroom at The Ritz Carlton Suite in Victoria Harbour on Hong Kong Island.

| MATRIX Miracle Creator Multi-Tasking Hair Mask | JURLIQUE Calendula Redness Rescue Soothing Moisturizing Cream | LANEIGE Waterclay Mask | LAURA MERCIER Almond Coconut Milk Scrub |