HOW TO DRESS FOR STREAMING AT HOME IN STYLE

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see How to Dress For Streaming at Home in Style in mag.

ROCK THIS LOOK WHEN IT'S TIME TO CHANGE UP YOUR STYLE

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Rock This Look When It’s Time to Change Up Your Style in mag.

EGGPLANT BEAUTY

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ATHLEISURE MAG | #55 JUL 2020

This month’s cover and back cover is 3 X Team USA Swimming Gold Medalist, Ryan Murphy. Our cover shoot editorial – Always Topping with Ryan Murphy, talks about Ryan’s career, how he got into swimming and his love of the backstroke, his success in the Summer Games in Rio in 2016, his approach to the upcoming games, how he is furthering the sport of swimming as well as encouraging others to embrace water sports. This interview will also be in an upcoming #TRIBEGOALS podcast episode. We also have an interview with Celebrity Fitness Trainer Harley Pasternak as we talk about working out from home, how he advises his clients in terms of what they needed on hand, his thoughts on gym and studio openings, a correlation between sugar and COVID-19 and how he has been passing his time for the past few months. We check in with Team Canada Pole Vaulter Ashlyn Newman who recently participated in The World’s Greatest in Greenville, South Carolina, this year’s first USA sanctioned Track & Field event. She talks about how she got into the sport, her training focus and what she looks forward to for the upcoming Olympic Games. Her interview will also be on an upcoming podcast of Bungalow SK. We check in with one of the Co-Founders of Huda Beauty, Mona Kattan. She talks about her role with the brand, their product assortment, KAYALI fragrance which is a part of this beauty empire, the power of fragrance and how she is spending her time in Dubai. We also talk to Head Winemaker of Cupcake Vineyard, Jessica Tomei. She talks about how she got into her career, harvest season, their newest line Cupcake Light Hearted and the importance of keeping it delicious. This episode will also be an upcoming podcast episode of Bungalow SK. In this month’s The Art of the Snack, we talk with James Beard Award winner, Food & Wine winner and runner up on BRAVO’s Top Chef Season 11 and Fan Favorite, Nina Compton. She talks about her culinary journey, her two restaurants, how she has navigated COVID-19 and signature dishes and cocktails that can be enjoyed there.

Read the July Issue #55 of Athleisure Mag here.

INSECURITIES IN A NEW RELATIONSHIP

Experiencing insecurity when beginning a new relationship is entirely normal, yet these minor issues can evolve into major obstacles unless they are acknowledged and dealt with early on.

To help you pinpoint and remedy any doubts you or your partner might have, here is a look at some of the most common sticking points and how to overcome them.

Insecurity over sexual performance

This is arguably the biggest hurdle that new relationships have to leap over if they are to survive in the long term, as even if both parties are well matched in every other way, complications in the bedroom can create a terminal rift between you.

Men are particularly susceptible to feeling inadequate and insecure when it comes to their sexual performance, and there are actually some common myths about erectile dysfunction in particular that are worth dispelling. Today there are affordable, effective medical solutions to performance woes that are worth investigating, especially since this is something that can afflict younger men as well as older men. It can also be treated with the right fitness regime, amongst other lifestyle changes.

Insecurity over fidelity

New relationships are fraught with peril when it comes to exclusivity; knowing when to make it clear that you want to be together as a couple without any third parties lingering on the peripheries can seem like a daunting task, while also leading to questions over fidelity if you do not make this point clearly to your fledgling partner.

Of course as you get to know someone, you should have a good measure of what they are like as a person, what their conception of the relationship between you might be and whether you need to set out your desire for exclusivity in stone. As always, it makes sense to lay your cards on the table as soon as possible and be honest about what you are looking for from the relationship, so that there is no ambiguity.

Insecurity over compatibility

In the first flush of a new relationship, the animal magnetism between two people can be overwhelming, to the point that it consumes your every waking thought and even monopolises your dreams.

However, when a new couple is enjoying that initial period of immense passion for one another, it is also easy to start worrying about whether this is actually sustainable. In short, will you still be right for each other once you have got over the honeymoon period and spend more time together out of the bedroom than in it?

Again, whether or not you choose to confront these questions head-on will depend on what you are looking for in the relationship. Most importantly, do not over-think the issue of compatibility early on, as this will certainly sour whatever spark of a good thing might have been there in the first place.

Insecurity over earnings

One additional wedge that can be driven between couples in a new relationship if they let it is that of income. If one part of the partnership has more disposable income to splash than the other, this can create some uncomfortable scenarios.

Openness is always the best policy and if you are worried that a wealthier partner is going to push your spending beyond comfortable limits, or that your own solid financial standing might intimidate the other person, talking about this sooner rather than later makes a lot of sense.

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU BUY CBD

CBD is legal almost everywhere, and THC is rapidly experiencing decriminalization and legalization in many places around the U.S. With greater availability of legal weed, researchers are uncovering all sorts of benefits to using the drug, such as healthier BMI, better lung capacity, lower stress, reduced pain, increased libido and more. As a result, athletes have taken to using CBD products — and to a lesser extent, THC — to aid in training and recovery.

However, before you rush out to get your hands on any CBD you can find, you should know that not all CBD is created equal. CBD is utterly unregulated; while the FDA struggles to get a handle on this booming market, many unscrupulous CBD sellers are presenting products that aren’t as they advertise. Plenty of CBD products don’t contain the amount of CBD on the label, and some lack any CBD whatsoever. Worse, CBD products can contain all manner of toxic ingredients, from formaldehyde to propane to heavy metals like lead and arsenic.

You can use CBD safely, but only if you know more about the individual product you hope to buy. Here are a few key questions to guide your buying practices, whether you are getting medical marijuana in Oklahoma, California or New York.

Where Was the Hemp Grown?

The cultivation of hemp for CBD is a relatively new phenomenon in the United States, and for many years, CBD was sourced from hemp farms outside the country in places like Spain, Portugal, Ukraine and Korea. Even today, many CBD products continue to utilize international suppliers, which helps keep costs low.

Unfortunately, the problem with buying CBD products that derive from crop grown overseas is you can’t be certain what else those products contain. Both the U.S. and Canada have strict regulations for hemp farmers, in terms of what kind of seed they can grow, how they can tend their fields, how they can harvest their crop and more. The result is a much higher-quality CBD product that you can trust.

If a CBD product isn’t explicit with regard to where its hemp is grown — either on the product itself or on the producer’s website — you should seek a more transparent CBD product.

How Was the CBD Extracted?

Getting CBD out of hemp isn’t easy. The extraction process requires complex machinery, and many of the cheapest extraction methods rely heavily on liquid solvents, like butane, propane, isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, all of which can be toxic if not properly removed from the final CBD product. Though many manufacturers do take pains to thoroughly clean their extracted CBD, there is always a chance that some amount of solvent will remain, tainting the product in some way.

There are cleaner extraction processes which you should prefer, if you can manage a slightly higher CBD budget. CO2 extraction and vapor distillation rely more on temperature and pressure to strip plant material, which means the final product ends up being pure and rich in both cannabinoids and terpenes.

What Spectrum Is the CBD Product?

Aside from extraction processes, there are three types of CBD product:

Full-spectrum CBD. Full-spectrum CBD products contain every cannabinoid, terpene and essential oil present in the hemp used to produce them. As a result, full-spectrum CBD does contain THC — but usually only trace amounts, which are unlikely to get you high. On the one hand, this allows CBD to benefit from the entourage effect; on the other hand, it could cause you to fail drug tests that look for THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD. Broad-spectrum products are a bit more refined than full-spectrum options, usually filtering out THC and other cannabinoids while maintaining CBD and some terpenes. While broad-spectrum products might be a bit safer with regards to THC content, they also tend to have lower CBD potency, as some CBD does get washed away in the refinement process.

CBD isolate. As the name suggests, isolate is only CBD, pure and simple. Because isolate contains no terpenes or essential oils, it doesn’t carry any of the aromas or flavors of marijuana, and its extremely high potency provides intense effects to those requiring CBD for medical treatment. However, isolate is incredibly expensive and sometimes difficult to find, so it isn’t worthwhile for most CBD users.

In addition to paying attention to the spectrum, you should look into how much CBD is present in each serving of the product. This will help you better manage dosing, keeping the good effects flowing.

Are There Other Ingredients?

Rarely do CBD products only contain cannabinoids. Even CBD oils often contain extra ingredients like stabilizers and preservatives to keep the product useful for longer. You might notice that in CBD edibles, like gummies, manufacturers add artificial colors and flavors to make the snack more palatable. Typically, it is wise to choose the most natural CBD products available to you, but if you don’t have bad reactions to certain artificial ingredients, they aren’t inherently injurious to your health.

Just as you might not enjoy every type of soda or brand of clothing, you shouldn’t expect every CBD product on the shelves to be the exact same. By asking the right questions and doing the right research, you can find CBD products that are good for your mind, body, soul and pocketbook.

THINNING HAIR: TIPS TO TREAT HAIR LOSS

As you grow older, you may notice that your hairline begins to recede, and you may naturally lose your hair volume and strength. It happens when your follicles start to shrink, halting the hair growth cycle. Your hair then starts to thin from the top, pushing the hairline back. Men tend to lose their hair faster than women due to a hereditary condition commonly known as male pattern baldness.

Low nutrition levels in your diet and a stressful lifestyle also contribute to hair loss. It may seem natural for men's hair to thin out with time, but there are numerous remedies to handle it. Check out the following easy tips to prevent hair loss and retain that youthful appearance.

Wash your hair often

Keeping your hair and scalp clean is the initial step in managing hair loss. It helps avoid infections that can lead to damage. Note that sweat accumulation can weaken your roots leading to hair loss. Use mild shampoos, for instance, those containing neem or Aloe vera to keep dandruff at bay. They help nourish your hair follicles with amino acids and vitamins that promote hair growth.

Massage your scalp with essential oils

Massage is an effective treatment for scalp infections and dandruff. It also helps improve blood circulation to boost follicle health. Lavender and peppermint oils work well in treating thinning hair. You can also use pumpkin seed or rosemary oils to keep your follicles active. Adding a little bit of coconut oil maximizes the effects.

Avoid brushing your hair while wet

Note that wet hair tends to be very weak, and it would be best if you use fingers to untangle it rather than a comb or brush. Brushing it in this state increases breakage. Also, regular brushing can injure your hair leading to further hair loss. If you must comb it, use a wide-toothed comb.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle

After a significant period of stress, you may begin to notice hair thinning. When distressed, your body produces stress hormones that may affect your natural hair growth pattern. Eliminate stress and anxiety from your life by leading a healthy life. Take up therapies like meditation and yoga to relax and calm your mind. Create time for exercise, take a walk, ride a bike, or swim daily to balance your hormonal levels, reduce stress, and promote healthy hair.

Dry your hair naturally

Avoid subjecting your hair to extreme temperatures while drying. Constant heating weakens your hair proteins, making them fragile, which leads to hair loss. Also, avoid rubbing your hair with a towel; it may result in breakage. Dry your hair naturally in the open air, or gently with a towel, to promote better growth.

Eat healthy food

A balanced diet is crucial for your overall health. Consume fresh vegetables and fruits to promote hair growth. Include food rich in iron, proteins, zinc, and omega-three fatty acids for healthier hair. Make sure you get enough vitamin D from food and exposure to sunlight to prevent hair thinning. You can also use some multivitamin supplements for hair regrowth, but you may want to consult with your doctor.

Avoid Alcoholic Beverages and Smoking

Excessive consumption of alcohol may also affect your hair growth. So if you are experiencing hair loss, it would be wise to lower your intake for a healthier look. Also, smoking affects blood circulation around the scalp, which may lead to air reduction inhibiting growth. Therefore, eliminate cigarettes and alcohol from your lifestyle if you wish to prevent hair loss.

Stay Hydrated

Your hair requires water to grow, and dehydration can affect your hair health. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to keep your hair moisturized and healthy. It helps energize your hair and support healthy growth from the tips. Efficiently hydrated hair roots also help to reduce dandruff and itchiness problems.

Conclusion

Although hair thinning is a natural phenomenon, it's a bit distressing. If you are losing hair strands constantly, try out the above remedies to achieve that thick and healthy hair. If all else fails, there are medications available to deal with hair loss, speak to a doctor for more information.

WASH YOUR HANDS

As we continue to navigate COVID-19, we’re all looking for easy ways to ensure the health of ourselves as well as others. We have learned that social distancing safely is important as well as wearing a mask. Another tool that we can use which takes it back to basics is washing our hands. This activity should be done before, during and after prepping pood. Before you eat, before and after you are caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea. Before and after treating a cut wound - wash your hands. After you go to the bathroom, after changing diapers or cleaning up a child that has used the toilet. After you blow your nose, cough or sneeze - each time! After touching an animal, animal feed and/or animal waste. When you have handed your pet a treat, head to the sink and wash your hands. This should also be done after touching the garbage.

FOLLOW FIVE STEPS TO WASH YOUR HANDS THE RIGHT WAY

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), clean hands protect from infection and is an effective means to ensure that you are preventing yourself from spreading germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals. In an effort to pass on the proper procedure, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has created five steps that you should do each time that you’re washing your hands.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

TOP REASONS TO VISIT SEOUL AT LEAST ONCE

Seoul is one of the most visited cities in Asia. There are many reasons why tourists flock to Korea’s capital. From food to fashion, art to architecture, this city has so much to offer to its visitors. Here are the top reasons why you should book your flight now and head to Seoul.

1. Mouthwatering dishes

This city has almost any food. From soups to spicy sauces, and vegetables, you will definitely get any dish you want. The most popular cuisine is Korean BBQ, which involves grilling fresh cuts of pork or beef tableside.

Ingredients are locally grown, so the food is always fresh when served. Butternut and creamy cottage cheese are also readily available. You can also try some live octopus if you like trying new things. Seoul is a perfect destination for foodies.

2. It is rich in history

One of the most fascinating things about Seoul is that it is home to a large number of historic sites and attractions. For example, Gyeongbokgung Palace is a must-visit when visiting this city. The Palace was built in 1395, and it served as the home to kings of the Joseon Dynasty as well as the King’s households.

Seoul has various museums, which cover both antiquity and modernity. Such an example includes the 1946-built National Folk Museum of Korea, which highlights the culture of the Korean people. There’s also the National Museum of Korea which was built in 2005, and it displays recent military artworks. You can also visit the Korean War Memorial.

3. Seoul city has an amazing culture

One of the things that you will find fascinating in this city is their culture. Respect is deeply rooted in society, especially when one is interacting with an elder or someone they don’t know. Every year, many people come to Seoul city for different cultural events, festivals, and religious ceremonies. There are many exhibits and exciting things you can learn about Seoul city and the country as a whole.

4. Exciting nightlife

Seoul has a vibrant nightlife, and drinking alcohol in the company of friends is a common social event. The locals truly know how to have fun because of several restaurants, bars, pubs, karaoke rooms, etc. Seoul city has many fun nightlife areas, including Gangnam, Itaewon, Hongdae, etc. So whether you want to dance at a nightclub or just relax and enjoy a beer with a few friends, Seoul has something for you.

5. Get ahead in technology

Seoul is known to be home to technological innovation, and it is also the city with the most advanced technology in South Korea. Many international companies and large Korean companies have their headquarters located in Seoul, especially in the technology industries. Nearly every room in every building in Seoul has a huge LG TV screen mounted on the wall.  There’s also the Lotte World Tower which was built in 2016 and is the country’s tallest building. The building’s elevator is the fastest in the world, moving at ten meters per second.  Lotte World Tower hosts the world’s largest indoor theme park, shopping facilities, and movie theatres.

6. Hike incredible mountains near the city

Seoul offers many hiking attractions to locals and tourists. There are mountain ranges spreading throughout the land. Bukhansan is the tallest mountain near Seoul.  It’s around 2744 feet in height, and is part of the wider Bukhansan National Park.  Another great spot to hike through is the Namsan and Inwangsan. One thing about these mountains is that you will always get a splendid view of the city when you reach the top. So when visiting this Seoul city, make sure to carry your hiking boots; you may need them.

7. You will enjoy many things at affordable prices

Seoul is one of the cheapest destinations in Asia. This is particularly the reason why many tourists on a budget make a stop here. The food is very cheap in this city. The street vendors which are situated everywhere in the city are the cheapest option. Accommodations are also affordable. Some hotels offer rooms at $10 or less. Affordable hotels can be found throughout the city. You can also get a massage or haircut at an affordable price at various spas in the city. Of course, there’s always going to be a range of prices depending on the quality of service you want. But Seoul has something exciting and affordable to offer you.

8. Admire Buddhist temples

Although the number of Buddhist believers in South Korea has declined, making up less than 20% today, Seoul’s temples are still looking great as ever. The locals appreciate the traditional customs regarding Buddhism and they visit the temples regularly, especially the elders. Tourists can visit the temples and even interact with the local staff and monks living and working in the temples.

9. There are always fun festivals to enjoy

Seoul usually has many festivals running throughout the year. So you will get the chance to take part in any festival regardless of the time of the year you choose to visit this city. During early summer, Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated throughout the country with large parades in Seoul city. One of the most popular events that happen during spring is the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival.  In winter, Changgyeonggung Stream is usually adorned with seasonal light ornaments, making it a perfect destination during the Christmas holiday.

10. Shop and shop

Every year, many tourists from neighboring Asian countries come to Korea for one sole reason: to shop. They want to select the latest trends in Korean fashion, pick high-quality Korean skincare products, and visit the many shopping stores for an incredible shopping experience. If you know where to shop, then you can find massive discounts.

Conclusion

If you have been planning to visit Seoul city, but you keep postponing for reasons best known to you or you have never thought of visiting this vibrant city, now you have every reason to pack your bag and head to Seoul city. 

PLAY'N GO EXPANDS TO LATIN AMERICA

Play’n Go ended the 2010s decade among the top dogs in the gaming industry. The software provider continues to rise to even bigger heights in 2020, one of them being catapulting into new gaming jurisdictions. In December of 2019, Play’n Go entered a deal with BetWarrior that now makes it live in the Latin American market.

BetWarrior is famous for being a leading name in the mobile gaming industry. The deal between the gaming operator and Play’n Go is a significant step in the right direction for both parties involved. Jose Del Pino and Morten Tonneson, who previously worked with PokerStars as marketing directors, launched BetWarrior aiming to reshape mobile gambling. With this deal, the company gains vast content wealth that maximizes its entry into big gambling markets. Play’n Go’s team speaks highly of the firm, stating that it carries a wealth of knowledge about the Latin American market. Collaborating with them in this project is a recipe for success that will see gamblers gain access to quality gaming.

This deal also yields benefits for the Book of Dead free play game developer as well. The online gaming software developer has been looking to dominate the Latin American market even before cooperating with BetWarrior. The game provider first signed a deal with the LatAm operator Codere in September of 2019. The agreement with BetWarrior is the icing on the cake that will see Play’n Go penetrate even deeper in the new Mexican and Columbian audience. This partnership is predicted to be a soaring success, especially since Play’n Go recently snubbed the Malta Gaming Award for the Mobile Gaming Provider of the Year.

About BetWarrior

BetWarrior was launched in 2019, making it one of the latest startups invested in online sports betting. The company is the brainchild of Jose Del Pino and Morten Tonneson, who formerly worked as marketing directors for PokerStars. The company challenges other stalwarts in the sports betting business by using a mobile-first strategy to deliver gambling services. This means that it mainly targets gamblers using smartphones and tablets running on popular operating systems like iOS and Android. The company is built with the mobile user from scratch using artificial and machine learning intelligence to deliver personal experiences to players. Such innovative technology has seen it rise the ranks and become the centre of attention for most gaming firms. The mobile operator is especially praised for being highly customizable and featuring innovations that meet current betting demands.

BetWarrior has yet to conquer the global market, but it is thriving in the Latin American market. The sports betting company currently operates with a license from Curacao eGaming, but it also has its eyes set on European permits, such as those from the UKGC and MGA. Plans are also underway to see it penetrate other regulated markets beyond its current operation points which are Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Chile. Having launched a partnership with Play’n Go is sure to get the firm a lot more attention and most likely further its course.

What to Expect

With more and more people using mobile gadgets to access gambling services in Latin America and beyond, Play’n Go’s deal with BetWarrior is more than likely to yield tremendous benefits. Players in the target regions are also in for a treat, considering the high quality of the software provider’s services. Play’n Go has one of the most praised reputations in the world of online gambling, and some of the upsides that LatAm players can look forward to enjoying include:

●       Payout potential: Play’n Go is famous for capping the winnings in its games at 5000 times the line bet. This amount is a substantial number, especially for games that accept high line stakes. Recently, the software developer has begun churning out titles that offer higher maximum payouts of up to two or three times this amount. However, the games only feature fixed jackpots rather than pooled prizes.

●       Flexible RTP rates: Most online gaming software developers use exact payout percentages in their games, but Play’n Go takes a different route. The software provider opts for flexible Return to Player rates, which gives gambling destinations the option of choosing the desired percentage. These rates are usually between 92% and 97%, with most games sitting on the average mark of 96%. Gamblers should check the paytable of each game they play to see the RTP they are likely to exploit.

●       Variance: Play’n Go experiments with the math models used to generate winnings in games, which allows the inclusion of different volatility in released titles. Most of the recent games by the developer feature high variance, which faces high demand in the market. As an average gambler, volatility may not mean too much, especially if the primary goal is entertainment. However, as a hardcore gamer, high volatile slots are likely to be your preference, and Play’n Go offers a wide selection of slots that exploit this math model.

Available Games

Play’n Go has an extensive portfolio of more than 2000 slots games with new ones being released at a rate of about three to four every month. The games are built with compatibility to mobile devices thanks to HTML5 technology. This means that the partnership with BetWarrior gives Latin American players access to all of them. Some popular titles that punters can look forward to exploring include:

Book of Dead

Out of the many slots Play’n Go has released in its existence, Book of Dead slot game stands out as a flagship pokie. The title is a copy of Novomatic’s Book of Ra, which is an iconic title, to say the least. The Book of Dead was made publicly available in 2016, and it has gone on to build a title for itself as one of the most played games in online casino history. The slot offers payouts as high as 5000 times the wager used per line. It also includes a free spin feature triggered by three book scatters, and the rounds are played with an expanding symbol chosen out of the regular icons.

Doom of Dead

Rich Wilde has had an impressive run as Play’n Go’s debonair scholar explorer in numerous games. This time, his daughter Cat Wilde takes the spotlight in the Doom of Dead slot. Even with the change in the lead character, players still get to explore the best of Egyptian culture. The five-reel slot is set in a traditional burial chamber full of snakes, pillars, and hieroglyphics. The slot accepts stakes as low as ten pennies and as high as 100 euros or pounds per round. The free spins available in every BOOK OF slot are available in Doom of Dead, as well as the accompanying expanding symbol bonus.

Banana Rock

Banana Rock online slot is Play’n Go’s attempt at making a fresh theme that can hardly be found elsewhere, which it nails. The slot machine features a retro appearance that looks like it was pulled from the eighties with bright colours and sharp graphics. The anthropoid rock band includes five members, with the drummer paying the top prize of 40x the line stake. The game’s bonuses include:

⮚     Wild – denoted by a golden disc and grants the same winning value as the jackpot icon.

⮚     Respin – activated by two Rock ‘N’ Rollin’ characters.

⮚     Free spins – triggered by scatters on the first and fifth reels, and awards ten bonus rounds.

⮚     Multiplier meter – only activates in the free spin bonus and starts to grow as band members are collected. The highest multiplier value that can be awarded is five times.

Banana Rock online slot wins are capped at 2500 times the total stake in a single round, which can be as high as 250,000 euros or pounds.

Battle Royal

Battle Royal slot captures the piece of history when the Tudor monarchs were the rulers of England. The historical tale told in the theme centres on not only King Henry VIII but also his six wives. The five reels feature twenty play lines that hold different icons to tell the story, including the classic card suits and the six wives as high-value characters. The coat of arms serves as the scatter symbol, and landing them on the first and fifth reels triggers the free spins or Long Live the King bonus.

Ankh of Anubis

Ankh of Anubis online slot features a different twist from the many Play’n Go slots themed around ancient Egypt. This time, gamers are introduced to the god Anubis on a 3-4-4-4-3 grid format with 576 ways to win. The unique game is built with a futuristic feel to it with the horizon in full view. The set included Anubis as the wild symbol, but it is the free spin bonus that stands as the highlight. This feature is awarded by three scatters and awards as many as 20 rounds that can be retriggered.

Final Comments

So far, the joining of hands by Play’n Go and BetWarrior is going successfully. With the firms exploiting the mobile front of the gambling market, the Latin American gaming market can have high hopes for what this partnership has to offer.

HEALTHY WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT FOR SPORTS TRAINING

Individuals who lose one to two pounds of weight per week are more likely to keep off weight successfully, according to the CDC. Sometimes athletes need to shed off a few pounds to get ready for sports competitions like wrestling and rowing.  While there are plenty of weight loss plans that promise positive results within a short duration, many of them are unhealthy, costly, and lack scientific evidence. For example, fad diets work to shed off extra pounds quickly but leave you unsatisfied and hungry.

Also, shedding weight too fast increases the risk of losing muscle, water, and bone, instead of excess fat. If you are a professional or recreational athlete looking to manage weight healthily, you only need to make subtle lifestyle changes. Check out these practical ways to help you lose weight safely.

Consume More Vegetables and Fruits

Adding low-calorie vegetables and fruits to your diet is essential for losing weight safely. Your food will be full of the required minerals, phytonutrient, fiber, and vitamins. Taking nutritious meals also helps you to curb cravings for unhealthy snacks.  

Consuming fruits and vegetables is a sure way of increasing nutrients in your diet. However, you may want to take supplements to increase the levels of vitamins, fiber, or minerals in the body. Aside from increasing nutrient levels, diet pills can help you achieve your weight-loss goals. But before you can take nutritional pills, find out how dietary supplements for work for weight loss and the potential side effects. Also, seek professional guidance from your doctor to ensure you purchase and consume the right supplements.  

Prioritize Lean Proteins  

Protein helps aid in weight loss by regulating appetite hormones to make you feel full for longer. Great sources of low-protein include lean meat, skinless fish and chicken, low-fat yogurt, eggs, nuts, and beans. Protein also increases the number of calories burned during digestion and prevents muscle loss. If you are an athlete or active individual,  eating lean protein foods two to three times a day helps retain muscles while reducing fat. 

Focus on Losing Fat During Off-Season

Whether you are a recreational athlete or a pro involved in running, swimming, or bodybuilding, losing fat and reaching peak fitness at the same time can be a challenge. This is because you need to cut back on calories in your diet to lose fat. Eating fewer calories makes your training feel more difficult and prevents endurance performance. 

Attempting weight loss during the off-season is beneficial in several ways. You'll have more time to accomplish your weight management goals. Also, losing fat at a slower rate will improve sports performance and eliminate the risk of muscle loss. 

Another healthy way of managing your weight is by cutting back on refined carbs and added sugar. Instead of opting for processed foods that lack fiber and other nutrients, opt for whole-grains. Also, swap high-sugar snacks with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Choose fruit-infused water, herb teas, and smoothies with water and milk in place of fruit juice and soda. Most importantly, practice mindful eating, as it helps you focus on maintaining a healthy diet. 

SIGN THE PETITION FOR A NATIONAL MASK MANDATE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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WE'RE HEADING TO MANI BOOTCAMP AND YOU CAN TOO!

Pre COVID-19, our team always enjoyed having our mani dates at Paintbox where we would catch up with our industry and agency friends as well as to enjoy a bit of bubbly. We have always been big believers in having a kit at home for travel etc as you always need a backup plan! For avid readers of Athleisure Mag, we have included Olive & June’s The Studio Box as it’s definitely a great one to have on hand!

When COVID-19 meant that we would not only remain indoors but no longer have access to our nail salon for our gel manicures, we headed to Amazon and a number of our favorite brands to get LED driers, gel polishes and more. We were pleased that we had salon level gear but then we realized that our skills in terms of creating the perfect mani have a lot to be desired! Thankfully, Olive & June’s got our back! Back by popular demand, they are offering their Mani Bootcamp where you will be able to learn in a week all the techniques that are necessary to have an IG worthy manicure! Starting today (July 26th), make sure to head to Olive and June’s IG Live at 3pm PST/6pm EST in order to get all the tips! We’re penciling this in for every day over the next week as we have quite a bit to learn!

If you happen to miss it live, you can go to Olive & June’s site and catch up on their link, Olive University.

DAY 1 | SUNDAY 7/26

Mani 101: Let's start with the manicure.
Watch the full tutorial here.

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: How to shape, prep, cuticle work, and intro to the Poppy and painting. You'll practice with Top Coat first.

DAY 2 | MONDAY 7/27

Painting with your beginner shade (BEB)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Getting the hang of it! Today we'll introduce a beginner sheer shade and build on the shaping, prep, and painting concepts from Day 1.

DAY 3 | TUESDAY 7/28

Painting with your beginner intermediate shade (Honest & True)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: It's time for opaques! Now that you've got the hang of the manicure portion, it's time to get into painting with solid shades.

DAY 4 | WEDNESDAY 7/29

Painting with your intermediate shade (Grateful & Kind)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Hey, painting pro. Today we're continuing to move up the skill list. Don't worry—you got this.

DAY 5 | THURSDAY 7/30

Painting with your advanced intermediate shade (CS)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Moving on up! Now that you've mastered intermediate opaques, it's time to introduce more challenging shades.

DAY 6 | FRIDAY 7/31

Painting with your advanced shade (BI)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Pastel party of 2 - you and BI. Today you'll begin painting with our trickier pastel polishes. You'll learn how to master thin coats for nailfie-ready results.

DAY 7 | SATURDAY 8/01

Painting with your advanced shade (GH)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: You did it! Welcome to the final day of Mani Bootcamp. Today you'll learn how to paint with GH, our most popular and most challenging shade.

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LET'S PLAY BALL

2020 has been a strange year so far. It has definitely altered our day to day while also making us grateful for the little things that have taken place. COVID-19 arrived right before the Spring. As the weeks went by in the month of March, a number of sport leagues began to announce the cancellation of their season or an indefinite postponement. As the weeks continued into months, we realized that in addition to sports, the complete seasons of our favorite shows were effected (as well as the upcoming fall season), we got used to seeing a number of shows that have included a number of elements of Zoom integration and more.

As we navigated these months, we hard rumblings of leagues talking about finishing or even starting their seasons in a truncated format. While we waited for the official answer on that, we were glad to enjoy programs such as ESPN’s The Last Dance, 30 For 30 and more. As Nascar began its season, golf began heading to the links and decisions were made about the NBA - baseball began its discussions. After a period of “will they or won’t they”, July 24th marked Opening Day with the New York Yankees playing World Series 2019 Champions, Washington Nationals. The Yankees traveled to Washington, DC. Dr. Anthony Fauci threw out the first pitch and in a stadium that had no attendees and sounds pumped in during the game, fans across the US settled in to watch the game.

Both teams paid respect to the Black Lives Matter movement as well as having a MLB x BLM logo on the pitchers mound that was seen throughout the game. Throughout the game, viewers saw players wearing masks at various times and getting into their groove as we were treated to one of our favorite pastimes. The commentators talked about the game as well as sharing anecdotes. With so many months of live games being a distant memory, even an altered version of the game is better than not having it!

Due to inclement weather, the game was delayed and ultimately the Yankees were declared the winner. The two teams will play again on July 26th at Yankee Stadium as well as on July 27th. Fans of the game were treated to a doubleheader with the LA Dodgers versus the San Francisco Giants.

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HEARTWARMING GIFT IDEAS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Gift giving is a very thoughtful way of showing affection and care. When presenting gifts randomly, it may be easy to gather different items into beautiful gift hampers for your loved ones, but it’s a bit different when there’s an occasion.

Special occasions require gifts that are thoughtful but significant. For instance, some gifts may be too personal for an event while some may be too random for the same occasion. To achieve the proper balance, here are some gift ideas for special occasions.

Anniversaries

Whether it’s a relationship or wedding anniversary, giving gifts that remind a couple of beautiful memories is thoughtful - It could be a trip to where the couple met or a collage frame with different memorable pictures. If it’s a milestone anniversary like the 10th, 25th, etc., the gift can get more personal and unique such as jewelry and customized gifts.

Birthdays

Birthdays are one of the best times to surprise loved ones with thoughtful gifts. There are tons of options to use as gifts for birthdays because it’s not a very streamlined occasion. Gifts can include cake, chocolates, getting the person an item they always wanted but don’t have yet, taking the person out to a special place, an item in the person’s favorite color and the icing on the cake – a beautiful card.

Birth of a baby

The presence of a new baby is usually a joyful and beautiful time for a couple, so almost all gifts will be welcome. As amazing as this sounds, this is also a great time to find thoughtful heartwarming gifts for both mum and child. Gift hampers containing self-care products for the mum and baby will be appreciated. Other gifts include; toys and clothing for the baby, baby monitors and strollers. When in doubt, however, another good idea is to give the couple some money to buy what they might need.

House warming party

This is another event where both personal and random gifts can suffice. If the house owner is a close friend, a great place to start will be from checking out items they may need in the house that haven’t been bought yet. It could be kitchen items, living room decorations, bedroom accessories etc. One could also get less personal items like antiques, art pieces or even a bottle of wine and some cookies that everyone can drink and eat while they admire the new house.

Wedding

A wedding is an excellent opportunity to give gifts that symbolize togetherness and love. Frames, albums, houseware sets, home appliances and kitchen items are all fantastic ideas. Tickets to visit a beautiful place of their choice is another heartwarming gift that would be greatly appreciated by the couple.

Finding the perfect gift may be tasking, but the best heart-warming gifts are the ones that come from the heart. When in doubt, however, already packed gift hampers for different occasions come in handy.

6 SOCIALLY DISTANT VACATION IDEAS

Destinations, hotels and attractions are working diligently to make it safe for travelers to visit, but we’re living in a reality where social distancing (and wearing a mask) is the prudent thing to do to keep yourself and others safe. Thus, socially distant getaways have become the biggest travel trend of 2020. Here are six unique and relatively safe travel options that include outdoor adventures for this new era:

Rent a Tricked-Out RV: Bookings of travel trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes have jumped more than 1,000 percent since early April. Blacksford is a new recreational vehicle rental business offering fully stocked Mercedes-Benz Sprinter overland adventure vehicles from Winnebago with an all-inclusive pricing model that includes unlimited miles, no generator fees, bedding, bath and kitchen supplies, free Wi-Fi, a free annual pass to national parks and 24-hour roadside assistance.

DIY Bike Tours: Bike sales have boomed recently – now, where to ride? Plan an epic bike tour of your own that visits small towns, scenic parks and historic landmarks with resources from Adventure Cycling Association. The organization offers maps, an app and more for 50,000 miles of routes across North America. Try the TransAmerica Trail, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route or the new Parks, Peaks, and Prairies route from Yellowstone to Minneapolis. If self-guided isn’t your style, Adventure Cycling also leads a variety of tours every year.

Glamp Near a National Park: Just minutes from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fireside Resort offers 25 pint-sized, luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus. Each place has its own outdoor fire pit and deck. The resort is located a stone’s throw from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole ski slopes. It’s a great place to post up for a summer getaway or a ski trip.

Visit a Remote Guest Ranch: Red Reflet Ranch is a 28,000-acre luxury resort and working ranch on the west slope of the Bighorn Mountains, just minutes from the Bighorn National Forest or a scenic three-hour drive from Yellowstone National Park. The closest sign of civilization is Ten Sleep, Wyoming, with a population of about 260. As a guest, you’ll stay in a private chalet and enjoy family-friendly activities like horseback riding, ATVing, ziplining, swimming, fishing, shooting and indulging in gourmet farm-to-table cuisine. 

Bike, Hike & Camp: Bike touring could be the safest bet for a socially distant vacation. Escape Adventures has been leading cycling and camping vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world since 1992. From road cyclists and mountain bikers to electric bikers, Escape Adventures offers an array of great multiday tours, often with camping options, in iconic destinations like Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon.

Yellowstone-Area Adventures: If spending a day on a trail through shaded forests and wildflower-filled meadows or on a clear, cool river is your style, a stay at The Wilson Hotel in Big Sky, Montana, is in order. From this town on the edge of Yellowstone, you’ll find summer adventures like hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing, whitewater rafting and national park tours. In winter, average annual snowfall of 400 inches and 5,850 acres of ski terrain on four connected mountains means Big Sky Resort has plenty of powder and space to spread out.

FACING A QUARTER LIFE CRISIS IN YOUR 20S: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE PERIOD OF UNEASE EARLY ON

Facing A Quarter Life Crisis In Your 20s: How To Navigate The Period Of Unease Early On

In recent years, the term ‘quarter-life crisis’ has become more familiar and widely publicized. As more adults in their 20s come forward with their quarter-life experiences, it is becoming clear that today’s millennials are facing an enormous amount of pressure and uncertainty when it comes to their future. In a survey by Portafina, a staggering 82 percent of 24-35-year-olds said they experienced a crisis. Further research by LinkedIn showed that 77 percent of 25-33-year-olds have gone through a quarter-life crisis. In a time of your life where many of your peers are focusing on building their careers and achieving life goals, finding yourself in a place of self-doubt and confusion, and experiencing feelings of anxiety about your life can be unnerving if it's not handled correctly. The first step to getting through this crisis? Accepting that it is normal, even in your 20s.

Find Your Trigger, And Regain Control By Reevaluating Your Options

When asked what the most common triggers for a quarter-life crisis were, a LinkedIn study found that it was job dissatisfaction. The widening gap that may appear during your 20s as your friends’ lives take different turns, coupled with the pressures of social media, can leave millennials constantly comparing themselves to unrealistic standards. Other triggers can include dissatisfaction in your personal life and a stressful work environment. 

The best way to cope with a quarter-life crisis is to identify the underlying causes. One good way to narrow it down is to note down all the things you are happy with in different aspects of your life, such as your career, family and personal health. From this, you can highlight what you are unhappy with, and begin to chart a path to improving it.

Find Your Way Of Switching Off

Even though the common perception is that life in your 20s is meant to be carefree, it turns out that is not the case for many workers in their 20s. A past survey by Harris showed that 76 percent of adults aged 18-33 years old are stressed by work, while 73 percent say money is their top stressor. With an increasing emphasis being placed on early success, and widespread social media personas having their lifetime careers all figured out before the age of 30, many millennials are now feeling the pressure to live up to both personal and societal expectations. However, career pivoting and second chance careers are becoming more common, and this can help with truly finding a sense of purpose and settling on choices that are both rewarding and fulfilling.

Another point to note is that many younger workers find themselves working long hours to achieve their career goals sooner rather than later, which sets them up for the common work burn out and poor mental well-being. Therefore, you must carve out time in your personal and professional life to switch off from the stressors in your career. Find a balance for personal hobbies, goals and pastimes such as travel, regular exercise and self-care activities. Past research has shown that both travel and exercise can counteract stress. Additionally, try to set strict boundaries between your work and personal life; making time to enjoy family time and events

Shatter And Redefine Your Expectations Based On Reality 

Finally, it can be helpful to perform an honest review of your life goals, values and what has changed. With social media giving rise to unrealistic expectations for many millennials, the pressure to achieve certain life or career goals before the age of 30 can be crushing, and often leaves an unfillable gap between expectations and reality. Therefore, you must remove those unrealistic expectations and become comfortable with more attainable goals. A great place to start is by setting small timed or measurable life goals. It can also be a great place to beginning charting the changes you wish to see in your life and acts as a motivator.

It can also be helpful to look towards the future. Once you have narrowed down the aspects of your life that are making you unhappy, look at the future paths for improving them. If you are bored at your job, research routes for upskilling, or a potential career change. Similarly, if you are feeling stressed or lacking great health, speak to your GP about a plan to get your health back on track. Small, achievable steps forward can help feel in control of your life again and get you through this period.

LEARN HOW TO FILE YOUR NAILS INTO YOUR FAVORITE NAIL SHAPE

Whether you’ve started going back to your manicurist or are still doing it at home within your bubble, during these times of COVID-19. we all could use a refresher on nail shapes (we tend to lean towards a squoval but may want to change it up a bit). Ana of Sundays Nail Salon breaks down the shapes (originally on the nail salon’s blog).

Oval, squoval, square, round, stiletto, almond-there are so many different shapes that you can achieve by filing your nails. Having to pick how you want your nails to look can get overwhelming, but we all tend to gravitate towards that one nail shape that really makes us feel confident and happy to look down at our hands. Even when we visit nail salons and the nail specialist asks us which nail shape we desire, we find ourselves always going with the same choice (oval or square). We don’t really get to experiment with different shapes, but now’s the time!

Your nail shape can really transform the appearance of your hands so it’s always fun to experiment with new shapes and find which one really speaks to you. But every shape requires a different filing motion and here’s how to achieve each one!

Prep Your Nails

Before you choose your desired nail shape, make sure that your nails are dry. Filing wet nails can really cause damage or even break your nails. Also, make sure you have a nail clipper handy if you need to shorten your nails. When it comes to your nail file we recommend using a softer emery cushion board. 

Ps. most of Sundays’ nail kits actually come with everything you need to file your nails properly!-nail file and clippers included

Oval

This shape is definitely a more traditional one and can visually elongate your hands. If you’d like to achieve an oval shape, file your nail at a diagonal in an egg-like shape, really going in on the sides. But make sure that you’re filing towards one direction, instead of using the back and forth motion.

Square 

If you want a square shape start filing from the middle. Really go in on the middle part of your nail and then file away towards yourself. 

Squoval

Start by filling the top of your nails straight across. Then go in on the sides to round the corners of your nails. 

 Round

Ah, this one is a classic! Start at the side of the nail and file towards the center in a movement towards the same direction. When you notice one side getting rounder move to the other side of the nail.

Stiletto

This nail shape is really for the brave! Your nails have to be a little longer to achieve a stiletto look. We recommend you start by trimming the edges of the nail with a nail clipper at a diagonal. File at the sides to bring in the tip of the nail. Alternate between filing both sides to make sure they’re even. 

Almond

Almond shape also requires a bit of a longer nail. To cut the filing time, use a nail clipper to cut the sides on the nail. File the sides in motion towards the middle. Make sure you’re not filing too much on one side and that the sides are even.

If you want to have bare nails after filing them into your desired shape but want them to look healthier and shinier without having to do a full-on mani, we recommend you do a buff mani. Our buff mani kit includes everything you need to get that clean, healthy look. You can also keep those cuticles looking cute and go in with a buff to give your nails a natural shine. 

Reprinted from Ana of Sundays Nail Salon

SEASONAL TRANSITION SIGNALS CHANGE IN OUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

According to Angela Rosen, Founder of D A P H N E Studio in New York City and PENELOPE & The Beauty Bar in Seattle, it’s important to change your skincare routine every 1-3 epidermis cycles, which each last for about 6 weeks. “When using a product for too long, skin stops responding properly to active ingredients in the products,” Angela notes.

With this in mind, the estheticians at D A P H N E Studio and Penelope & The Beauty Bar recommend updating your skincare routine in order to protect skin and keep it healthy and glowing.

Pro Tip #1: Glowing skin

“The summer heat causes skin’s oil glands to produce more sebum so I recommend switching to products that are lightweight and won’t clog pores and cause breakouts,” says Patty Huang, a Biologique Recherche skin specialist at PENELOPE and The Beauty Bar. “I like to mix certain creams such as Biologique Recherche Biomagic Mask, which is rich in clay and antioxidants to absorb excess sebum, with a serum such as Extraits Tissulaires which captures and diffuses water to reestablish the skin’s water balance. They provide light moisturization and also help with brightening, lifting, and sculpting.” 

PENELOPE and The Beauty Bar’s Amina Sharif recommends double cleansing with Biologique Recherche Lait VIP O2, “Using this cleanser keeps the skin looking fresh and keeps pores clean also removes makeup without stripping your skin’s good oil. Always double cleanse and rinse off with cold water. Store Lait VIP O2 in the fridge to calm skin especially after sun exposure!”

Pro Tip #2: A summer cocktail for your skin 

We all love a summer cocktail… so why not treat your skin to a soothing cocktail, too, as the temperatures rise? Jade Haifa from D A P H N E Studio recommends L’Eauxygenante from Biologique Recherche as a beach bag must-have that will keep skin hydrated and toned all summer long, “Kiwi and orange-infused L’Eauxygenante is a vitamin-packed mist that features Biologique Recherche’s exclusive oxygenating complex and edelweiss extract. The stimulating formula contains a high concentration of natural anti-free radicals to restore balance and moisture to the skin.”

Pro Tip #3: Protect from pollutants

As temperatures heat up in the summer, pollution increases as pollutants react to heat and sunlight. Sometimes pollutants are so small they can penetrate our pores which leads to a dull, tired complexion, deeper wrinkles, blemishes, and more. It’s important to protect skin from pollutants, so Sharif recommends using Biologique Recherche Fluide VIP O2, an oxygenating fluid that protects and gently firms the skin. Its anti-pollutant properties are especially important for those living in cities where pollutant levels are higher. Sharif also loves Biologique Recherche’s new Sérums de Teint, a unifying skincare product that creates a shield against pollutants and free radicals while providing a light and healthy glow, “I love to mix it with a Biologique Recherche finishing serum for great light weight, radiant coverage that lasts all day.” 

Pro Tip #4: Don’t forget about your body

When you get too much sun Haifa recommends using Biologique Recherche Huile Bénéfique when you notice your skin starting to get flakey and dull. It’s a rich, luscious oil that can be used for body, hair, and face. It nourishes the skin and guards against dehydration for silky, soft, and glowing skin. It contains a treasure trove of botanical oils and flower and plant extracts to keep skin healthy. 

Working out in the heat and humidity can do a number on clear skin. This is why it’s important to make sure you always exfoliate and cleanse your skin after sweating. Lotion P50 improves many common skin conditions including whiteheads and blackheads, and even prevents and treats ingrown hairs, making the product ideal for pre and post-shaving care. 

AUTHENTICALLY MATT BARNES

This month, we caught up with retired NBA Champion Matt Barnes who played 14 seasons in the league. His ability to bring his energy and focus to the court was seen on a number of teams from the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings just to name a few. His unapologetic honesty and loyalty to himself as well as who he works with shined through on the court and continues to be seen through his philanthropy, his skincare brand HUE For Every Man, the cannabis industry, as well as his focus on social justice. With the confluence of COVID-19 and the movement of #BlackLivesMatter, he continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that voices are heard and that people understand the importance of voting at the local, state and national level for changes to be made. He has lent his voice to rally's in his hometown of Sacramento for George Floyd as well as Stephon Clark. We talk about this as well as his successful podcast All the Smoke on SHOWTIME, his enterprises and the upcoming NBA season and playoffs and the importance of sports as we navigate challenging times.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We just wanted to kick it off that we’re excited to be talking with you about your basketball career, your skincare brand as well as the current state of things that are taking place right now. We’ve always enjoyed seeing you and have been following your career since you got into the league and how unapoligetically authentic that you are as a team player and someone that plays hard and how you use your platform to benefit others and to just bring awareness to the forefront.

MATT BARNES: I appreciate that very much. I try and I enjoy it so thank you.

AM: Of course! When did you fall in love with the game of basketball and what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to play in the NBA?

MB: I’d probably say that I fell in love with the game of basketball – hmm. I actually grew up as a football fan. Football was the sport that I was better in and naturally more gifted in. But I continued to grow so basketball, I kind of picked it up and started taking it more seriously probably around 7th grade. That’s when I started really playing a lot more. But back then, we just played, it wasn’t so much working out. It was just another sport that I took seriously. It kind of took me to being lucky enough to make it to the NBA.

AM: You played on a number of teams with amazing athletes. What do you feel your legacy is in terms of the sport?

MB: Just a real guy that was a great teammate. I played as absolutely hard as I could and I never took a play off, never took a game off and I left it all on the court.

AM: In your opinion, when a player is going on in their career, what is the process like when you realize that you’re going to retire and that you’re about to transition to that next phase of life and did you find that hard?

MB: My retirement was kind of subtle. I had just signed a new contract for 3 years at the beginning of the season. I had actually just retired and it was actually just a perfect storm of winning a championship although it didn’t really pan out the way that I had planned it but, winning a championship and missing my kids – I mean, I was going through a divorce at the time when I wasn’t able to see my twin sons as much as I wanted to. I figured that I had gotten 14 years in the NBA and I wasn’t supposed to be there. I figured it was time to transition and to see what was next. I was actually excited about my transition so I ended up retiring at 37.

But I started to think about business and what was next. I mean, the average NBA career is only 3 years and I beat that. At about year 8 or 9 when I was in the NBA, I started thinking about what’s next. So I started investing in things that I kind of enjoyed, that I liked, that I could use and that I could promote. Most people think that kind of stuff happens fast – they don’t realize how long the process is until if the company actually makes it and until you start making some real money off of it. A few business decisions that I had made 4 or 5 years prior with me being in my final season when I had made the championship started coming into fruition and showing a little bit of money, so that’s when I said that now was the time to retire. My transition has been smooth for me, luckily. I’ve been able to transition into media, then social justice and all the things that I am passionate about along with first and foremost, being a single father of 3 kids. I coach my kids, and I am a very hands on dad with my 18 month old son, so retirement has been amazing and I feel like, I’m going to be able to have an impact on the world post-career than during my playing career.

AM: We love seeing you as an analyst on ESPN for The Jump (we recently had Rachel Nichols as our cover for issue #51 earlier this year) and Get Up. What do you like about sports broadcasting?

MB: What I like to do and why I got into the space, is to give them the other side from a players point of view. From what we’re thinking with 2 mins to go in the fourth quarter of a big game or overtime of a big game. How we deal with injuries or how we deal with family and travel. Like, you can be a great reporter, but would never be able to give that kind of insight or detail because you’ve never played. I think as a player, it’s our duty to give the raw and real integral details of what makes our job so unique and so special. I see these days that so often so many people that have never played the sport, want to disrespect people and talk crazy about people and kind of don’t appreciate how hard it is for us to be in that position in the first place. You know what I mean – to be a professional that’s like 1%. You have a better chance of being struck by lightening than being in the NBA. To give a clear cut understanding of what it’s like to walk in those shoes and then to be able to also talk about it for the first time – well not for the first time, it’s slowly but surely becoming more popular to have African American men that are able to get our point across. They don’t have to tell our stories anymore. You know, there are so many guys that have their platforms now that have a voice and they can tell our own stories now and sports is just part of it.

AM: What led you to being a part of HUE For Every Man which is a natural, multi-cultural brand. What stars aligned to do this and why was it so important that you wanted to be attached to this?

MB: I was always known during my career for having the best haircuts and cleanest hairline.

AM: This is true.

MB: I mean my hair, when I was approached by HUE and I found out first and foremost that it was a great product line, but then Jessica Estrada (CEO of HUE For Every Man), she has been amazing. She pours her heart and soul into this company. She’s a blue collar worker and that’s what I was in the NBA, so part of me really wanted to help her to fulfill her dream and to get this off the ground. I wanted to see what we could really do with it. On the multi-cultural side, I’m Italian and Black. Now more than ever, we’ve been divided and so many things are targeted for either a white audience or a Black audience. There’s no real in between and there are a lot of people who are in between these days. There are a lot of biracial people out there. So really, the message for every man is that at the end of the day, we’re all men, we’re all human and it kind of speaks to more of an understanding of what this country needs right now.

AM: What are your 3 must haves that are go to products within HUE For Every Man?

MB: I use the pomade but my favorite product is the awakening mist. Because, I’m a cannabis user and I smoke throughout the day and the awakening mist is always something that refreshes me. Obviously, it helps my skin and I really enjoy it and I give it to all my friends and they really appreciate it so those are my 2 favorites along with the shampoo and the conditioner. The conditioner has a really special smell to it that I really like. Most people, when you get a celebrity or an athlete, they attach their name to it and it may not even be a product that they use everyday. I’m such a person that has always been real and true and I speak my truth. This is something that I really believe in and something that I really use and I want to make it work.

AM: Are there new products that are about to launch that you can tell us about?

MB: I’m also going to get into the CBD skincare line. I’m an advocate of cannabis and realizing how amazing CBD is and educating people on the plant as a whole, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to jump into the space. I’ve been told that I have nice skin, so it just made sense and I also realized that there are not too many people in this space that talk to my demographic. Skincare is something that we care about, but it’s not really spoken on. So if I make it with the movement to make it cool to care about what your appearance is as many people think of it as something that only women do. Men care just as much about their appearance as women do. So, if we can do something for lines and get people on a cleansing routine, moisturizing and realizing how important moisturizing is for your skin. It’s on a personal level, but it’s also on an educating level. We need to let guys know that this is the only face that we have. You have to take care of your skin and your appearance.

AM: We recently started listening to your podcast All the Smoke with you and Stephen Jackson, it’s such a clever show. How did you come about creating the concept, the two of you deciding to work together and what’s your process like in terms of booking the people that come on your show?

MB: We were former teammates and he’s one of my closest friends. We were both respectfully working with ESPN and FOX Sports. We would always get people on social media asking if we would do something together, but we were working for our networks. One day I said that we had to do something together. With me being with ESPN/Disney and FOX – we need to kind of walk the line, but I know that the podcast – even though I didn’t really know what it was, I knew that people felt it would really speak to them. He and I would be good at. We tried it and SHOWTIME took a chance on us not really knowing what we were capable of and we struck gold! We wanted to come in as a sports podcast because obviously, that’s what we’re known as. We also wanted to shift more towards culture as a whole.

We wanted to humanize our guests and let them know the other side of their favorite celebrity, athlete, musician or whoever it may be. Everyone already knows what we’re known for. I play basketball, I rap or I play football – you know that, but what are they really like off of the court? What are they in to, what are their day to day lives like – so humanizing people was something that I wanted to do. Through our long careers, we’ve been able to make a lot of friends and connections. The majority of our guests – all of them, we have booked them ourselves based off of personal relationships as well as our ability to being real. A lot of our guests will somewhat let their walls down and really freely and comfortably speak to us. It’s worked.

AM: Well 2020 has been an interesting year between us quarantining with COVID-19, #BlackLivesMatter, tackling social justice issues and the 2020 election that is around the corner. In looking at your Instagram, you’re out there on the forefront. How important is it for you to use your platform, to push for changes and to get other people to raise awareness regardless of people’s skin tones to ensure that this movement keeps progressing?

MB: I think it’s important. I experienced a lot of racism growing up and it culminated in high school where my school was vandalized and the building was nearly burnt by the KKK. I faced racism growing up and I have always been really sensitive to the subject. Just to see the current state of America, we have never been more divided. Things have continued to happen and it’s almost normalized to where you think that this is normal – Black people being killed now. It’s unfortunate but it has been happening so much. I think what happened with George Floyd obviously boiled not only our country but the whole world to say that we have had enough. We’re upon a big change and as someone who has always been vocal, I am speaking on different matters and this is just something that I am very passionate about. I feel like that this is the first time in over 400 years that the world hears us and particularly the United States. So now, we have to have a plan and me using my platform, showing people what I am doing and trying to educate people. I think that we have to have a plan of intelligence. Now that they are listening, we have to know what we want and the only way to get what we want is to vote. It’s not just about voting for the president, it’s about your local level. People don’t know that most laws are made and passed on the local and the state level. Just continuing to educate people, trying to do my part and getting my friends to help and really understand the power of our community and when we come together that we can change the world.

AM: Being able to see how people have come together and to know that we have to follow through to continue to make our voices heard by making our votes is essential. In addition to this taking place, with the absence of sports, I’m sure you like the rest of us were riveted to ESPN’s The Last Dance as we get ready for the NBA basketball season to resume. What do you think about the format that will take place to complete the season and to head to the playoffs?

MB: I think it was great you know? Normally, when the world is having a crisis, sports is something that we can always turn to. It’s been a hell of 2020 like you mentioned, and 2020 took away sports. So for the NBA to be coming back, it’s slowly but surely becoming America’s past time. I love that they were able to come to some sort of solution or understanding to get back on the court and to really help start the world to heal. We obviously have so far to go, but sports has always been that one time that people can come together. I think that now, more than ever, that’s what we really need. I’m every excited about it and it wouldn’t seem right if we didn’t have a champion this year and now we’re going to be able to get a chance to get that.

AM: We couldn’t agree more. We’re sure that you have a number of projects going on, whether you’re talking about in front of the camera or behind it, are there things that we should be looking forward to in order to keep our eye out for it?

MB: Obviously, you can catch All the Smoke on SHOWTIME right now although we’re in negotiations for a new deal so hopefully, that happens! Also, I’m continuing to produce and create content that I’ll start really getting out there on different networks and platforms as it’s taken over my love of sports – just being able to create content and being able to share true stories, real stories and do inspirational stories. I’m starting to that and I just signed with ICM to help me build my goal and that will be cool. I’m doing a lot in the cannabis space right now trying to educate people on that. Continue to follow that. Last but not least, educating people in a fun way on politics and teaching them on how meaningful it is. Not so much about not being passionate overall in voting for the president or whatever, but finding causes that you’re passionate about and building on those. That’s a small step to getting people first and foremost to register, getting them interested and hopefully getting them all the way interested in being able to understand how powerful their voices are to this country.

AM: We always like to end our interviews asking our changemakers who you clearly are – who are you inspired by. Who are three people who have inspired you to be at the point that you are at now?

MB: Nipsey Hussle RIP. Kobe RIP. These guys because of their focus and dedication on their craft and their obsessive nature – like their beautiful mind to be great. I think that both of those guys were great in their own way and they would have only become greater before their lives were cut short. Someone else that I look up to which is a big thing – I look up to someone like Michael Strahan. Someone who is able to be a formal athlete, able to speak on sports, crossover to mainstream media as well which is something that I would like to do.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 16 - 25 Matt Barnes + Editorial Design by Athleisure Mag | PG 27 + 33 Ray Chavez | PG 28 - 31 SHOWTIME |

Read the June Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see Authentically Matt Barnes in mag.