THE TOP US SPORTS EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021

2020 has been a challenging year for sporting events, but there are thankfully lots of major US sports tournaments happening in 2021. Here are the top ones to look out for.

PHOTO CREDIT | Pixabay/WikiImages

Super Bowl LV (February 7)

The biggest North American sporting event of any year is the Super Bowl, and 2021 will be no exception. The 55th Super Bowl, which decides the league champion for the current NFL season, is scheduled to be held in Tampa, Florida, in February. But who will make it to the Raymond James Stadium? Bookmakers place Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints as the hottest contenders, but it is still too early to call at the moment. Who do you think you will win? You can make a more-informed decision by checking out this guide on how to bet on Super Bowl LV.

Daytona 500 (February 14)

The 500-mile-long Daytona 500 race is the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar. Like every year, the event at Daytona International Speedway in Florida will attract motor racing fans from far and wide. Whether you watch the race in person or from the comfort of your home, you are sure to get caught up in the energy and excitement of the prestigious Daytona 500. It may be too early to predict who will win, but favorites include Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.

The Masters (April 5 - 11)

The Masters golf tournament dates all the way back to 1934. Today, it is still one of the most prestigious events in the golfing calendar. The competition is held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Early predictions suggest Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas or Rory McIlroy stand a good chance of winning the 2021 Masters, but at this stage, it is still anyone’s game.

Kentucky Derby (April 29 - May 2)

More people usually attend the Kentucky Derby than any other stakes races. The premier horse racing event in North America is a week-long event. It is due to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, in April and May. Although the race is still any horse’s, hot favorites for the 146th Kentucky Derby include Tiz the Law, Honor A.P., and Max Player.

Indianapolis 500 (May 28 – 31)

Indianapolis is known around the world for one thing above any other: the so-called “Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indy 500. The annual event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway dates back to over a century ago. 2021 will mark the 105th running of the major racing event.

US Open Tennis Championships (August 30 - September 12)

The US Open tournament is the modern version of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the US National Championship, which was first played back in 1881. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, after the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. The 2021 competition will be held in Flushing Meadows, New York. Last year, Dominic Thiem won the men’s singles title and Naomi Osaka won the women’s singles title. But at the moment, it is way too early to call who could win the 2021 championships.

US Grand Prix (October 24)

The United States Grand Prix began life in 1908 as the American Grand Prix. It later became part of the Formula One World Championship. The 2021 US Grand Prix is due to be held at the state-of-the-art Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in October. Seeing as the 2020 US Grand Prix was cancelled, racing fans are eagerly anticipating its return in 2021.

HOW TO TAKE YOUR PERSONAL TRAINING CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Are you considering starting a career in personal training? Or, perhaps you are already a personal trainer and looking to advance your career even further? Today, society is placing more importance than ever before on fitness and healthy living, leading to high demand for personal trainers – there has never been a better time than the present to consider pursuing this career path. Within the next ten years, the health and fitness field expects to welcome tens of thousands of new personal trainers.

Whether you’re in the process of becoming a personal trainer or are already working in the field, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to climb the career ladder. Successful personal trainers are those who are able to look beyond their basic certifications and general job options to generate more responsibilities, create new careers for themselves, and earn a better salary. So, what career progression options are available in this field?

High-End Coaching

If you’re ready to start working outside of the established gym setting, want to dig a little deeper in your clients and focus more on the psychology and mindset surrounding fitness, high-end coaching could be ideal for you. It has many similarities to personal training, except for that you’re getting even more complete transformations for your clients in both body and mind. While helping your clients improve their physical fitness and body composition is still a key part of the role, it is set apart from a standard personal training service with the fact that you’re also working on helping your clients change their mindset so that they will find it easier to succeed not only with their fitness goals, but in many other areas of their life.

Start Your Own Fitness Business

As a personal trainer, you don’t need to confine yourself to standard employment. Once you’ve completed a personal training course, you’re not only ready to work as a personal trainer, but you’re also in a great position to start your own fitness business. If you have always wanted the opportunity to work as your own boss and set your own rules, personal training is an industry where it’s easier than ever to do just that. As a personal trainer, you are in a prime position to consider opening your own gym, fitness studio, health club, or even a sporting centre. Perhaps your local area is lacking when it comes to physical activity options and you want to provide something different from basic gym facilities, or maybe you want to provide a mobile service where you can work with clients from the comfort of their own homes - the opportunities are endless when it comes to starting out as your own boss.

Specialise in a Certain Area

Another great way to advance your career, get more clients and make more money as a personal trainer, is to choose an area of specialisation. Becoming an expert in a certain type of client will help you get more credibility and will encourage those clients to choose you over a general personal trainer due to the additional support and knowledge that you can provide. If you’re already a personal trainer and want to move into a more specialised area like obesity management, sports event training, injury rehabilitation, strength and conditioning or wellness coaching, you can find advanced courses available at TRAINFITNESS to help you expand your personal training knowledge and tailor your services even further.

Management

If you’re a personal trainer who wants steady employment with great benefits and a consistent salary, it might be worth considering a management position at a gym or health club. If you’re more interested in the business administration and customer service side of things rather than working one-on-one with clients, this could be the ideal opportunity for you to further your fitness career. Many successful personal trainers go on to become excellent managers thanks to their passion for fitness and their naturally great people skills which make them amazing customer service representatives and great bosses. The best personal trainers tend to be people who are creative, disciplined, and have strong people skills - all traits that make great management professionals.

Clinical Work

Once you have earned a personal trainer qualification, you might want to take it a step further and attend university to get a relevant degree that will help you further your career into clinical work. Bear in mind that some areas of clinical work do not require you to obtain a degree, so do some research into the areas that you are interested in and familiarise yourself with the entry requirements for each position. There are various specialised fields that you can enter in the clinical setting, such as occupational therapy, athletic training, clinical training, sports medicine, injury rehabilitation, physiotherapy and more. You can find these roles in a variety of different settings including clinics, hospitals, university campuses and schools.

Fitness Influencing

If you live your life vicariously through social media and love creating online content for your clients, fitness influencing could be an ideal direction for taking your career to the next level. Fitness influencers tend to be highly active on social media networks like Instagram and YouTube, promoting various health and fitness products through working closely with relevant brands while providing their followers with informative and educational content.

As a personal trainer, you may have already experienced some difficulty doing your job this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent gym closures, which led many personal trainers to start offering an online service. Whether you decide to focus solely on creating an online business or add a strong online component to whatever fitness career you decide on, it’s clear to see that this is the best way to future-proof your personal training career from any potential disasters.

Consulting

Consulting plays a very important role in the fitness industry. If you are already well-established as a personal trainer, there’s plenty of opportunity in sharing your knowledge with others. Many personal trainers will also work as a freelance consultant, helping others who want to get into personal training to get their foot in the industry, find the right education options and get meaningful work. Consulting can be offered in a variety of ways including teaching in gyms, creating online training programmes, mentoring new personal trainers, and private or one-on-one coaching to name a few.

Nutrition

Finally, while many personal trainers focus on helping their clients to exercise better and get the most out of their physical activity routine, no personal trainer can deny the role of good nutrition when it comes to improving your health and fitness. If you are interested in the effect that diets have on health and fitness levels, it may be worth taking your career in a more nutrition-focused direction. Whether you train to become a nutritionist or write and sell a recipe book filled with your favourite healthy meals, there are plenty of ways to take your fitness career down this path.

Working as a personal trainer doesn’t mean coaching in the gym forever. Once qualified, there are tons of opportunities available for personal trainers who want to expand their careers and focus on doing something that they really love.

THE BACHELORETTE S16. E12. | FANTASY SUITES

If you have yet to see episode 11, spoilers are ahead! Tonight, ABC’s The Bachelorette begins with everyone getting ready for another key week, Fantasy Suites. Tayshia talks with JoJo about what to expect during this week. First up, Ivan gets his date card. They have an ice bath date where they will see how long they can kiss each other and to break the record. Of course, Chris Harrison pops in and lets them know that this is more then a date, it’s about breaking the world record. Not only do they do the date, but they also break the record and continue for another minute! During their dinner, Ivan talks about when he knew he was falling in love with her and apologized for not telling her sooner and she says that she has been falling for him too. They wake up the next morning and catch the sunrise. Ivan comes back happy about the date and shares portions of it with the Zac and Brendan. As happy as he is, he realizes that she will have experiences with each of them.

Up next, is Zac who’s excited to spend time with her. They create lifesize canvases where they will use their bodies to spread the pant. They also have a daydream about what their date could be like. As it turns to night, Zac realized he needs to tell her that he is falling in love with her. Tayshia shares that in her conversation with his mom, she learned that he didn’t want to have kids. He lets her know that he said that for years as a way to safeguard himself, but now he realizes that he wants to have a full life and not just being a cool uncle. He also tells her that he loves her. She then says that she is in love with him (she also told Ivan that she is falling in love with him as well). Another Fantasy Suite card is presented and of course, they take it. Zac comes back and makes a very low key recap of his date which is a nice way to handle the obvious elephant in the room.

Brendan gets ready for his date. They make their way to Neil Lane! We’ve seen that Brendan has been getting a little nervous about being with her and it makes us wonder what else might be going on with him that he has yet to share. We do know that like Tayshia, he has been married before, but is there something else going on with him? This date actually lets us get to know more about Neil as he shares how he attends the Bachelor/Bachelorette reunions and how he has been involved in so many couples’ lives. Brendan shares that there are parts of him that still needs time to heal and grow while they are at dinner. Just like that, Brendan heads home.

The next morning, Rachel pops in to catch up and to see how Tayshia is doing. She shares how Brendan’s Fantasy Suites went. Rachel just lets her know to follow her cut. Meanwhile, Ben heads over to Chris’ place to let him know that he would like to tell Tayshia how he feels and he doesn’t even know what he is asking for - but he has to try.

As Tayshia prepares for the rose ceremony, Ben tells her this and Tayshia becomes emotional at being blindsided by him being there. The episode ends with her talking to production saying that she doesn’t know what to do in this moment. This all leads up to tomorrow’s finale.

Each night, we’ll tweet The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!

We also suggest a podcast that we’re newly obsessed with, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback!

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LAST EPISODE

Ivan, Brendan and Zac made it through Hometowns. We felt that Zac would propose to her and that she would accept.

WEEK 11 (TAYSHIA’s 8th)

This week definitely made it a twist! Brendan says that he couldn’t continue with her due to his own broken-hearted issue from his ex-wife. Ivan and Zac had succesful Fantasy Suites with her and it’s interesting to see where this will go. Ben is back - but we don’t know if she will let him stay or not (so we are leaving his image slightly filtered)! We’re still cheering on Zac and feel he will propose to her as well as get a yes!

WHO’S LEFT

BEN

IVAN

ZAC

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THE BACHELORETTE’S CONTESTANTS

BEN, 29 - Indianapolis, IN

BENNETT, 30 - NY, NY

BLAKE, 29 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

BRENDAN, 30 - Milford, MA

CHASEN, 31 - Walnut Creek, CA

DEMAR, 26 - San Diego, CA

ED, 36 - Pittsburgh, PA

EAZY, 29 - Dallas, TX

IVAN, 28 - Dallas, TX

JASON, 31 - Rutland, VT

JAY, 29 - Langhorne, PA

JOE, 36 - North Woodmere, NY

JORDAN, 32 - NY, NY

KENNY, 39 - Chicago, IL

MONTEL, 30 - Boston, MA

NOAH, 25 - Tulsa, OK

PETER, 32 - Everett, MA

RILEY, 30 - NY, NY

SPENCER, 30 - San Diego, CA

TYLER, 27 - Morgantown, WV

ZAC, 36 - Haddonfield, NJ

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

SMOKING AND GRILLING WITH CHEF DAVID ROSE

It has been quite a year and yet, 2020 continues to roll on. In the midst of a lot of uncertainty, there have been things that remind us how life was prior to living in the pandemic that has taken place across the globe. This holiday season will be a bit different than what we have experienced with us socially distanced and not partaking in holiday parties and events that we have been used to in the past. We caught up with Chef David Rose to hear some tips on how we can tackle this year's season.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed seeing you as a finalist on Season 13's Food Network Star, being a Food Network personality and a number of shows. How do you define your cooking style?

CHEF DAVID ROSE: My cooking style is kind of a mix of a couple of different things. First off, my family is Jamaican and I am from the tri-state area so there is a huge cultural melting pot. I would say that I cut my teeth in terms of cooking in the South. So you see a lot of Southern influences and twists on my recipes. But I was also classically trained in the French arts at Le Cordon Bleu where I graduated summa cum laude back in 2006 – very proud of that one right there! I would say that my cooking style is elevated Southern with a Caribbean French Twist and a bit of international influences. So I'm sort of a man of mystery and a chef of mystery! I like to keep people on their toes and to keep them guessing.

AM: The Athleisure team throughout quarantine has enjoyed a number of the dishes from Omaha Steaks so we know that they are more than just steak and chicken as they have sides and desserts. As the Executive Chef for Omaha Steaks, what is the synergy between you and the brand and what can we expect to see between you and them in this partnership?

CHEF DR: Definitely. I am a huge smoking and grilling fan and fanatic! I have about 4 or 5 grills so I think that smoking and grilling unleashes the natural amazingness and flavors that you can find over at Omaha Steaks. From one of my favorites, the Tomahawk Ribeye that nice luscious bone eye and then there is the file as well as the strips and the T-bone. You also can’t go wrong with a lobster tail as well. I’m pretty sure when offered a surf and turf, nobody ever ever said no! A lot of those things go really well together. As far as being Jamaican, you know we eat everything. Whether it be chicken, it’s beef, turkey – whatever. We love everything and you can find so many assortments of proteins from ready to eat sides and ready to eat desserts. It’s all on the web-site and I’m excited to be able to bring my Southern influence and Caribbean influence to an incredible company known for their meat and protein portfolio in order to exude and explore and to showcase my style of cooking with Omaha Steaks.

AM:We’re in holiday mode and obviously celebrations look a little different this year with virtual get-togethers and gatherings. What tips do you have especially for veteran hosts that will be putting on dinners that are slightly scaled back then what they’re used to.

CHEF DR: I think that 2020 is a year that nobody has experienced and I’m pretty confident in saying that. According to a new Harris Poll, more than half of Americans are planning to celebrate with 5or less people and 1/3 of Americans are opting or are considering Zoomsgivingwhich is through the joy of Zoom whichI’m pretty sure that everyone has become acclimated with during quarantine. You can celebrate that experience of cooking and eating even if you’re not able to do it in person but can through the magic of Zoom or other virtual platforms.

The holidays can be very anxious especially if it is the first time that you have ever cooked a turkey. We have a 10lb pre-bast-ed turkey that gets shipped to your door-step. What I recommend is that the #1mistake that most rookies make when they are tackling a turkey is not allow-ing enough adequate time for the turkey to thaw. You always want to allow for at least 3 days for that turkey to thaw. If it’s a 10lb one, you want to give it the full 3 days and if you want the crispy skin that we all love and is indicative of a turkey, you want to uncover it in a roasting rack for an additional 24hours. By doing that, it’s going to dry the skin out and give you that golden brown crispy turkey skin every single time. As far as doing all of that. We also suggest making your turkey a day ahead of time. It allows you to have a stress free, anxiety reduced day on Thanksgiving. When you do that, you want to take the turkey out, remove the breast, the thighs, the legs and the wings. The key thing is to allow the turkey to rest and come to room temperature. What you do then is put it inside of the fridge. When you remove the turkey from the fridge on Thanksgiving day, you just need to reheat it and then you’re just focusing on the sides, the appetizers and my personal favorite – the desserts. Another way to shave some time from the prep is to buy some mix and match sides from the site as there are a lot of options. We also have a great partnership with Wine.com where we have some packages that can be purchased.

I always say, that being ready, being prepared and keeping your freezer stocked with a plethora of goodness means that you’re always going to be the hero at any Thanksgiving or Zoomsgiving table.

AM: What are your go to mains and sides that you enjoy having around?

CHEF DR: One of my favorite things is a Prime Rib Roast. I think that this reigns supreme at any holiday dinner table. I just love to eat that bone when I’m done. I’m a gnawer Athleisure, I’m a gnawer. If you have dogs, the dogs will appreciate that as well. The great thing about a Prime Rib Roast is that I can be shared with families, it’s great for leftovers – you can make a prime rib sand-wich the following day. To me, nothing screams celebrations, nothing screams holidays more than an amazing Prime RibRoast. We have an amazing selection of those as well.

AM: What are some recipes that we should keep in mind as well as we are navigating this holiday season?

CHEF DR: What I would recommend is that you want to go and brine the turkey to add additional flavor. These pre-basted turkeys are already pre-brined. They have their brown sugar, their honey and so it’s not just about the flavor but the color so it has that golden brown deliciousness. Now some of my personal flavor recipes is that I love doing compound butters. They're great for steaks, they’re great for roasts and I recommend if you want to get that juicy lush turkey breast, is make that. A compound butter is a fancy way to essentially say a butter with herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage and garlic. To get that re-ally juicy and luscious turkey breast, you take that compound butter and you slide it under the skin and slather it all over the breast. Now what that does is that when that turkey slowly cooks and we know that that fat of the butter is where the flavor comes in – it just makes it taste amazing with great texture 10 out of 10 times.

AM: Like you said earlier, 2020 no one can say that we have ever seen anything like this! How do you plan on ringing in the New Year?

CHEF DR: I think everyone is looking for-ward to ringing in 2021 and what I’m planning on doing is having a nice Prime RibRoast, maybe a filet or Ribeye on the grill– one of these amazing food packages where you can’t forget about your libations! For me, a nice glass of bourbon and just enjoying one of my favorite pairings– steak and bourbon. You can’t go wrong with that.

IG @ChefDavidRose

PHOTOS COURTESY | OMAHA STEAKS

Hear Chef David Rose on our show, Athleisure Kitchen - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeart-Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, AmazonMusic, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see Smoking and Grilling with Chef David Rose in mag.

STYLE FILES | SS21

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9LIST STORI3S | NORMANI

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BINGELY STREAMING

SCAM GODDESS

Earwolf + Team Coco

Spotify

We've followed Scam Goddess for quite a while, but it was seeing the podcast's host Laci Mosley sharing her insight on scams on a recent episode of ABC's The Con which looks at scams that are known and unknown that intrigued us even more. After hearing her commentary of The Varsity Blues Con, we began listening to her show which breaks down a variety of cons in this true crime genre with her comedian guests that appear on the show.

Each week, she talks about the scam of the moment, digging deeply into the scam of the week and then looks at the historical ones and how they have manifested. They even share anecdotes of scams and rackets that they engaged in and the lessons that they learned and why they no longer doing them.

GHOST TAPE

QCode

Apple Podcast

As we have navigated quarantine, we got to know about the immersive audio-focused podcast network, QCode and have shared a few of their shows on previous Bingely Streaming inclusions. This month, their latest Ghost Tape dropped and we're hooked with-out a doubt.

If you enjoy military conspiracies with a sci-fi component, this show is something that you will enjoy. We are introduced to a cast that is in the throws of grief as well as being confused about the circumstances of how Tessa Dixon'sgrandfather died. Her desire to know more about his unexpected death sends her to signing up for the military to be able to under-stand more. Along the way, she comes across a tape that creates havoc on the lives of anyone that listens to it.

This tape takes over aspects of her life and puts her in a scenario of being accused of killing a fellow soldier. In addition, her psychiatrist in an attempt to help her listen to the tape and begins his own journey with it. He also realizes that not everything he is being told by military staff is in fact true. As we navigate the death of Tessa's grandfather and her charges - we get closer to what this podcast is all about.

DEAD EYES

Headgum

iHeart Radio

We've all been in an interview scenario where we thought we had the job, had to go back and maybe it didn't go as well as planned. In Dead Eyes, actor Connor Ratliff tells us about auditioning for HBO's Band of Brothers and his excitement for getting one of the minor roles. Although they had seen his tape, his agent calls him suddenly and asks him to come back into read in front of the director, TomHanks as there is a concern that he has "dead eyes." Although this audtion happened 2 decades ago, this podcast explores those who were connected to this show, Tom Hanks or, Connor. We get to hear his conversations with the actor who ended up playing his part - Adam Sims (Lost in Space), the actors he would have worked with Ron Livingston (Office Space and Sex in the City TV series) and Stephen McCole (Rushmore and Outlander) and friends Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs and Neighbors) and Bobby Moynihan (The Secret Life of Pets and Saturday Night Live). In the second season, we continue to delve into this story and to see if we ever get to hear Tom weigh in on what happened.

Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

6 SIMPLE TIPS TO GET RED OF NICOTINE ADDICTION

Nicotine, one of the components of tobacco, triggers veins to constrict, diminishing bloodstream to the cerebrum and the covering of the brain (the meninges). Diminished blood stream prompts discouraged cerebrum action and induces extreme pain, which might be felt in the back of the head or in the face.

Nicotine additionally may stimulate the nerves which are pain sensitive, as they go through the back of the throat. One of the major effects of nicotine addiction is in the form of nicotine headaches which can then turn in migraines. 

Obviously the simplest way of getting rid of nicotine addiction is quitting nicotine. But if you are confused as to where to start, here are some simple tips to help you begin your journey.

1. Remove Triggers

Probably the first thing you should do is remove yourself from the situations which trigger your urge to smoke. Get rid of toxic “friends” who encourage you to smoke. Get rid of e-cigarettes that you might have in your home. Identify your triggers and then replace them with something healthy so you don’t deprive yourself of anything while keeping yourself away from harmful environments. 

2. Increase Your Water Intake

Water is basic for the human body to work appropriately. It makes up 66% of our body weight, and each cell and organ relies upon it. But that’s not the only use of it. It also helps with getting rid of nicotine in your system. 

Nicotine is reported to cause dehydration which is a main factor for slow digestion and slow brain activity. When you increase your water intake, you’re making up for the lost amount of water which was caused by nicotine. Water likewise helps flush remaining nicotine out of the body, and by keeping yourself all around hydrated, you'll feel better in general.

3. Practice Deep Breathing

Cravings to smoke typically come on quick and with force. They start off strong and vanish in force within three to five minutes. Try not to panic when you're hit with a serious inclination to smoke. Take a couple of seconds to focus on your breathing, and you will have the option to stop the craving effectively.

Deep breathing is a speedy method to stop a negative mindset that is forcing you to take a wrong step.

4. Exercise Daily

Shortage of breath, lung diseases and digestion problems are some of the most common side effects of nicotine addiction. While self-care is important in all scenarios, it gets especially important if you are fighting an addiction. Exercising daily will allow more fresh air into your system thus expanding your lungs’ capacity. It also helps release dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical in our brain. A simple brisk walk, light jog and cycling are great ways to help you get started on a healthy lifestyle. 

5. Downsize Your Stress

Stress is also a contributing factor because of which people turn to drugs. Reducing your stress is obviously going to help. There are numerous approaches to do it. You could work out, contemplate, implore, spend time with individuals you love, and do things you appreciate. In the event that you are able to change a part of the things that make you tense, change them and do not include those things in your daily routine.

Counseling and stress management classes are extraordinary to try, as well. You can likewise look into biofeedback, where you figure out how to impact certain things (like your pulse and breathing) to calm down pressure.

6. Treatment

If all else doesn’t seem to help, then sign yourself up for proper treatment. You can go for an outpatient treatment if you think that a residence treatment is too much. Visiting a doctor is equally important as sometimes there may be clots that get formed in our brain due to the improper flow of blood. 

Quitting tobacco might not look like that much of a big deal but if you look at the bigger picture, it can cause serious threats to your health. We hope you understand the severity of the situation and get help as soon as you can! 

THE PICK ME UP

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IS GENETICS WHAT MAKES SPORTS STARS?

When you remember Usain Bolt’s speed, Serena Williams’ court know-how, LeBron James Jr’s stroking skills, you tend to be stunned by their performances. However, what comes to your mind in terms of their skills and traits? Do they possess a special form of DNA that already made them favorites of greatness? Or their endless hours of training made them outstanding in their chosen careers?

In 2010, Dan McLaughlin, a former photographer, made an announcement to quit his photography job to become a professional golfer. As much as the announcement – though seemingly funny – attracted a series of commendations, it also witnessed more hilarious comments. His goal was to compete on golf's pro tour, just like Tiger Woods.

Of course, he never golfed. He was just going to start golfing. According to him, there is no inborn, innate talent. Rather, people only need “to foster their own abilities through deliberate practice." To this end, he practiced for the number of hours stud claimed to be sufficient to attain true expertise. Maybe or not he was right, this brings us to the long-standing controversy that has surrounded the impact of genetics in making sports stars.

It is common to hear that sports superstars are rather born than made. On the flip side, it is also heard of that they are made. Well, both may be correct. Sports Betting Community Site, OLBG.com has provided insights through an article on the role of genetics in shaping the future of an elite sportsperson.

Sports stars may be born

It is true genes determine potentials for developing certain characteristics that impact sports performance. For instance, the ACTN3 gene is said to be the "gene for speed" while the ACE gene influences skeletal muscle function. Both ACTN3 and ACE genes are also linked to strength and endurance. People that are born with great height undoubtedly have a clear advantage in volleyball and basketball. In other words, success in the National Basketball Association requires an individual to inherit the gene for tall stature. This brings to remembrance Joe Bryant and Kobe Bryant of the NBA.

While many people know Kobe Bryant as an NBA star who had placed himself into the conversation as a top-10 player in the history of the league, only a few know his father was also a sports star. Traversing the NBA in the ’70s and ’80s, the name “Joe Bryant” tends to ring through the seasons. He was an NBA star who averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in his eight seasons. The family is among the most famous sports families.

In baseball, the Ripkens are a household name. Cal Ripken Jr., the most recognized from this family, featured in a Hall of Fame that spanned 21 MLB seasons. Well, his dad, Cal Ripken Sr., and brother, Billy Ripken, are also baseball sports stars. Both sons played under the tutelage of their father for the Baltimore Orioles for some years in the late '80s. Cal Ripken Jr. played 2,632 consecutive games, setting a Major League record.

The Earnhardts also have proven over the past 60 years their dexterity in driving a race car successfully as they are the most famous family in NASCAR. This could be partly due to the position of their grandfather as a race car constructor. The driving skill started with Ralph Earnhardt back in the 1950s and then passed down to Dale Earnhardt (a winner of 76 races), and Dale Earnhardt Jr., the only 3rd-generation NASCAR champion. Dale Jr. is among the top 10 standings in 2014. It is obvious that the family legacy remains a sustainable one.

Sport stars may also be made…

On the flip side of the controversy, only a few athletes rose to stardom with natural talents. A host of them achieved success through due diligence and great commitment. According to Don Yaeger, a motivational speaker and New York Times bestselling author who built a career studying some sports stars, “sports stars know they need the ability to recognize the needs they have to be better every day.” Thus, they challenge themselves to learn new things every day.

Nadia Elena Comăneci is one star that has distinguished herself as a gymnast. As a five-time Olympic gold medalist, she is regarded as is one of the best-known gymnasts in the world. Neither her father nor her mother was a gymnast. In fact, her parents separated when she was about nine years old. Her mother only enrolled her daughter into gymnastics classes because she was so full of energy and very difficult to manage. She was the first gymnast to achieve a score of 10 (also regarded as “the perfect 10”) in the Olympic Games.

Usain Bolt is another sports star that earned himself a great reputation in sprinting through hard work. He is regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time. He is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, an eleven-time World Champion, the first winner of four World Championship titles in the 200m, among others outstanding feats. Unlike the Burrells who are a family of sprinters, Bolt’s parents ran a local grocery store.

In boxing, Muhammad Ali remains one of the greatest sportsperson of the 20th century. He competed in some of the greatest fights in the history of boxing, including the ''Rumble in the Jungle,' Fight of the Century', and 'Thrilla in Manila'. He often refers to himself as the “double greatest” rather than the greatest. He was the winner of the 1964 world heavyweight championship and the only three-time lineal champion. At 18, barely six years after he started training as an amateur boxer, he won a gold medal. Also, his parents were not sportspeople. His father was a sign and billboard painter, and his mother was a domestic helper.

What then makes sports stars?

The stories of champions whose parents or grandparents were also champions indicate that parents can be responsible for the difference between winning gold or silver. Notwithstanding, there is no absolute truth as sports genes. Athletic performance is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. It would then be safer to say that almost every athlete requires a certain level of training to improve their “talent” or skill.

UNSTOPPABLE WITH TRACY TUTOR

As our long time readers know, a number of our cover photoshoots have taken place in phenomenal luxury residences here in NYC as well as other locales around the country. So it's no surprise that we love reality shows that focus on luxury real estate. The OG of these programs includes BRAVO's, Million Dollar Listing. Both NY and LA focuses not only on the housing market in those cities but also follows the brokers to understand what their lives and interactions are like as they are closing multi-million dollar deals.

Tracy Tutor is the first female broker to join the cast of Million Dollar Listing LA. Her no-nonsense ability to wheel and deal, put her clients in check when needed and her belief in empowering those around her comes through the screen every week. In addition, her understanding of the industry due to her years of work within residential as well as her work with her father, Ronald Tutor of Tutor Perini on the commercial side of the business makes her someone you enjoy watching. While she has had successes in her career, and in the show, we saw her navigate divorcing her husband and being a mom of 2 daughters. We took some time to catch up with Tracy to talk about her work, balancing being a mom, how she has embraced fitness into her lifestyle and what she thinks about the current market in these times.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have enjoyed seeing you on BRAVO’s Million Dollar ListingLA by shaking it up as the show’s first female multi-million dollar real estate broker, with your industry know-how, business savvy, and amazing outfits! We know that your father is a noted civil and building contractor, Ronald Tutor, I’m sure that you were aware of the industry from a young age but, what was the moment when you realized that you wanted to work in real estate?

TRACY TUTOR: The truth is, that it was not at all what I had planned. I was an actor and had studied theatre in college. After a couple of years of auditioning post-graduation, I realized that I didn't want to wait around for someone to tell me I had gotten the part. I knew I was good at selling myself, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to sell houses. Candidly, I knew I could sell anything, so I’m glad I picked a product that happens to have the highest return on my investment.

AM: Prior to focusing on residential real estate, what was your path in this industry and what is it about residential that speaks to you?

TT: Residential sort of fell into my lap, after making the decision to stop pursuing being an actress. Residential is about an emotional connection but it’s still a business. I love the marrying of the two! As we know, emotion and business (one is not quite like the other) so when you are able to navigate between the two, that is what excites me.

AM: As one of the top agents at Douglas Elliman Beverly Hills within their Sports & Entertainment division. You’ve represented noteworthy brands, iconic architects, consulted for luxury five-star hotels as well as serving as a US Ambassador for the Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences in Dubai – just to name a few. How has it been juggling all of these roles, projects and opportunities?

TT: I always say if you are not striving for something new and pushing yourself, you are just surviving.

AM: What is your process when it comes to deciding on upcoming projects that you and your team will participate in?

TT: I rarely turn down a project, but when I do it will be about one of two things.

1. Unrealistic price expectation.

2. Ego. I think ego is the toughest to get beyond. I have learned how to get around unrealistic sellers and price, and have many have strategies to get around that in most cases, but ego....well, at my age, Idon’’t have time for it.

AM: Tell us about how you joined the cast of Million Dollar Listing LA and why you felt that this was something that you wanted to do with your brand?

TT: I was on season 9 showing a property of Josh Altman's and we were able to put a deal together on the listing. During the course of shooting, we had great chemistry on screen together. After the show aired, the producers approached me and asked if I had any interest in discussing joining the cast. The rest is history.

AM: What is it like filming each season with you and your team as well as with the other brokers that are also in the cast?

TT: It is a lot of work for all of us. Remember, we already have full-time careers and the show generally shoots for 12 months, so there are days where a normal 10 hour day becomes a 13 hour one. It is hard to juggle the clients and shooting, but we get out there and do it because it is the best marketing tool we could ask for and we are all grateful for it.

AM: One of the things that we have enjoyed watching you on the show is how you speak your mind, you demand more and how you’re not willing to settle. Have you always been this way and how can one get that mindset when they are in their boardrooms in their life?

TT: It really is about fear, isn’t it? That is what truly holds us all back from achieving our highest potential. I have always had the instinct to challenge the system and push back. But to be truly good in the proverbial “boardroom” you have to embrace fear every day, feel and acknowledge it and then put it away so that you can trust your instincts to guide you when you need it the most. If you can’t hear what your gut is telling you because there is so much noise and insecurity in the way, then you can’t win the room. It’s that simple.

AM: How important is it to you to empower women to own their space, handle ego and deflect power plays?

TT: I love women. I believe we are the stronger sex. Period. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually. We have unfortunately for centuries been told we are the weaker sex, so believing in our power, doesn’t come naturally to us. I love that discussion and reminding women that they are all lions, they maybe just haven’t heard their roar yet. We should listen to our intuition more. It’s our greatest gift and trusting it, learning how to use it to our advantage and giving it a real voice is what separates us from our male counterparts.

AM: What led you to creating your best-selling book, Fear is Just a Four-Letter Word: How to Develop the Unstoppable Confidence to Own Any Room?

TT: I knew that I was lucky to have the platform representing women on a show dominated by men. I was hyper-aware of my industry and felt particularly passionate about sharing my experience as a woman in this business.

AM: Do you think that you will continue to write additional books in this area?

TT: I think the next one might be a more personal journey. Who I am in business is greatly affected by my personal experiences. I want to take my own advice to be fearless enough to talk about it.

AM: What words of wisdom do you have for women who are navigating their careers?

TT: Read my book and don’t let anyone tell you what you are capable of. Only you can define that.

AM: How do you balance the demands of a full career, filming, being a mom of 2 girls and your personal life – how do you take time for yourself?

TT: I forgive myself every day for the lack of perfection and I am honest. I am stretched as most working moms are; add in a divorce and the desire to have love in your life again and you have to be forgiving. I schedule time to not do anything. I mean really. I will say I am booked on a Sunday so that I can have that time to do whatever I feel like doing and sometimes that is absolutely nothing and it is fantastic.

AM: We know through the show that you went through a divorce while still having a very full schedule. How did you take going through this process and putting those emotions into focusing on health, fitness, and wellness?

TT: I don’t think that divorce propelled me into health/wellness and fitness. I think owning my truth and finding happiness within myself propelled me there.

AM: What is your preferred method that you enjoy to do when working out?TT:I love to mix it up but what I have found with my body now is that I don’t try to kill myself with anything too high intensity. I love weight training because you have to be mentally strong to push up weight be-yond your comfort zone. I like that challenge. It’s a time where I don’t think about work or friends or family or stress. I focus on my goal for that hour and give it 100%.

AM: Our readers are always looking for routines to add into their workout. What are 3 workouts you do for arms, 3 for abs, and 3 for glutes that you do?

TT: Arms: when I am walking on the tread-mill (which I do 5 days a week for an average of 45 minutes,) I carry 3 lb weights and do arms. 4 sets of 30 reps of each exercise:

o Curls

o Tricep kick backs

o Bicep extensions

o Shoulder press over head

ABS: 3 sets of 30-45 seconds each – upper ab first:

o Slow bicycles

o Toe touch with 10 lb db

o Suitcases

o Then lower – grab a pilates ball and place under small of back

o Out an inch and in an inch

o Single leg toe taps with ankle weights

o Both legs toe taps

Glutes: 4 sets of 20

o Hip thrusts with band – warmup

o Hip thrusts with 20 lb ball on hips

o Barbell squats

o RDL’s

AM: 2020 has been quite a year to navigate from COVID-19, social justice and the election to name a few. How have you been dealing with this especially as a parent of children?

TT: Let’s just say that I am welcoming 2021 as are my children.

AM: In terms of the real estate market, what do you think the impact of COVID-19 will be as we close this year and transition to 2021?

TT: Despite a couple month shutdown, we have rebounded quickly and I anticipate a strong 2021.

AM: What is your advice for those that are debating on whether they should buy a personal home or even one for investment purposes?

TT: Interest rates are at an all-time low and that gives someone attempting to get into the market strong buying power. So my advice is get out there and speak to your banker or financial advisor and discuss your options.

IG @TracyTutor

PHOTO CREDITS | PG 119 + 120 Matt Sayles | PG 123 Tracy Tutor |

Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see Unstoppable with Tracy Tutor in mag.

THE BACHELORETTE S16. E11. | TAYSHIA + THE ROAD TO HOMETOWNS PART II

If you have yet to see episode 10 spoilers are ahead! Tonight, ABC’s The Bachelorette begins with Tayshia thinking about Hometowns. Chris Harrison meets the guys and lets them know that they need to come up with fun dates that will let Tayshia get an idea of what it would be like to be with them. In addition, they are looped into who from their families will be there as they have also gone through testing and quarantine to be there to share this experience.

First up is Brendan which the two have had a great connection since day 1! Their date included carnival games complete with prizes and his niece being on the date. As we get to the evening, we finally meet Brendan’s brother and his sister-in-law. You can definitely see his connection with his family and how they are so close. While chatting with his brother Daniel, he lets her know that he would be ready to marry her.

Zac brings a NY inspired date and teaches Tayshia how to be a NYer so he teaches her how to hail a cab, they ride in their cab Flinstone style and they come to a bagel and coffee stand that is by a “brownstone”. They hop back into the cab and enjoy a slice of NY pizza and then they have a backdrop of Central Park. It’s such a cute date and feels very NY in the most simplest and epic ways possible. His brother gets down to business and asks her the hard questions. Zac’s dad lets her know that he is uncomfortable with the situation but is comfortable with her. Although his dad wouldn’t go through this process, he can appreciate that Zac’s smile says that there is something there. Zac tells his mom that although he has always said he didn’t need love or to have kids, he now realizes that he does and it’s because of Tayshia. Zac also thanks his mom for her strength and that it is a big reason why he is alive and can navigate through life.

Ivan introduces Tayshia to Filipino cooking and they get to bond on this fun date. Ivan’s parents are direct and sweet. They advise her on having the right conviction and doing what needs to be done if she intends on Ivan being her husband. Both parents are impressed by her. They also give him a reality check in leting him know that this would not be a process that they would go through! We finally meet Ivan’s brother! The love that he has for his brother and how he is inspired by how he raised his daughter is something that you can see as he speaks.

We finally come to the last date with Ben. Her date entails rollerblading in “Venice” and going to the “beach.” Seeing them transport themselves to another place and just being able to have a natural conversation is a great thing to see especially because he has been one of the mysterious contestants. Although his family vibed well with Tayshia, we’re bummed that he didn’t tell her he loved her.

The men head to the rose ceremony and Ben tells Chris that he loves her and of course, Chris asks if he told Tayshia. He admits that he didn’t and hopes that he has the chance to tell her. Brendan, Ivan and Zac are given a rose. Ben’s undoing is the fact that he kept his thoughts to himself and didn’t let her know what he was thinking. When she walked him out, it seemed like she was trying to give him another chance, but he just couldn’t formulate the words. We definitely can’t wait until the 2-night finale to see how everything ends up!

Each night, we’ll tweet The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!

Each week we will let you know who our faves were last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns (it will be interesting to see how Hometowns will take place - we’re assuming families will be quarantined) if we were choosing right now! We will also say who we think should take it all. Poor Brendan has responses that are deemed inconclusive which makes Tayshia hesitant. Zac answers that he has cheated on someone which makes Tayshia uncomfortable. Riley is asked his name to set a baseline and the red bulb goes off!

We also suggest a podcast that we’re newly obsessed with, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback!

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LAST EPISODE

Ben, Ivan, Brendan and Zac made it to Hometowns We felt that Zac would propose to her and that she would accept.

WEEK 10 (TAYSHIA’s 7th)

Hometown dates with Ben, Brendan, Ivan and Zac were fun to watch. We’re doubling down and cheering for Zac to propose to her as well as to get a yes!

WHO’S LEFT

BRENDAN

IVAN

ZAC

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THE BACHELORETTE’S CONTESTANTS

BEN, 29 - Indianapolis, IN

BENNETT, 30 - NY, NY

BLAKE, 29 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

BRENDAN, 30 - Milford, MA

CHASEN, 31 - Walnut Creek, CA

DEMAR, 26 - San Diego, CA

ED, 36 - Pittsburgh, PA

EAZY, 29 - Dallas, TX

IVAN, 28 - Dallas, TX

JASON, 31 - Rutland, VT

JAY, 29 - Langhorne, PA

JOE, 36 - North Woodmere, NY

JORDAN, 32 - NY, NY

KENNY, 39 - Chicago, IL

MONTEL, 30 - Boston, MA

NOAH, 25 - Tulsa, OK

PETER, 32 - Everett, MA

RILEY, 30 - NY, NY

SPENCER, 30 - San Diego, CA

TYLER, 27 - Morgantown, WV

ZAC, 36 - Haddonfield, NJ

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE BACHELORETTE S16. E11. | TAYSHIA + THE ROAD TO HOMETOWNS PART II

If you have yet to see episode 11, spoilers are ahead! Tonight on ABC’s The Bachelorette we get right into it with the impromptu 2 on 1 showdown which has a rose on the line between Bennett and Noah. She talks with both of them in the same setting and is shocked by their level of petty. She then talks with each one privately. In talking with Bennett, he explains that he doesn’t question her integrity and intentions. It seems like she sees his side. Then she talks with Noah and explains that she thinks that he is the common denominator. He defends himself by stating that he was given a “gift” by Bennett and he just wants her to know the kind of person that Bennett is. She says that she will think about it as she needs to be able to focus on finding a man and not being in between their petty drama.

After deliberating, Tayshia explains that she can’t give Bennett the rose and walks him out. When she comes back, she lets Noah know that this is not a win for him and she’s not giving him the rose right now, so he will have to wait until the ceremony. She continues to meet with the guys so that she can focus on the guys that she wants to continue her journey with. In addition to Bennett who was sent home earlier in the evening, Spencer, Demar and Ed are also eliminated.

After a crazy night, JoJo comes by the guys place and lets them know that Hometowns will be next week and she will be meeting with their families. Ben also finds out that he will have a 1-on-1 date. They will hop on a scooter to find their date location. They navigate themselves around the resort to end up enjoying a drink and chatting. She still feels that she is trying to figure out what makes Ben tick and at that moment, she doesn’t know if she would give him a rose. But with a dinner coming up, she will get her answers to make their path clearer than it is at the moment. When they sit down to dinner, Ben explains that he attempted suicide twice and that he owes his sister everything as she saved him, even though she has no idea that this happened. He also shares that he went to therapy and was intentional about it so that he could be the best person that he could be. Connecting over his vulnerability in sharing this story made her feel close to him and he received the rose as well as a moment in enjoying their private concert.

The group date includes Zac, Brendan, Ivan, Noah and Riley. Blake finally gets what he wanted - a one-on-one date with Tayshia. Nothing says date-time like a polygraph test. JoJo also lets them know that Tayshia will also be taking this as well. Answers that the detector deems true will have a green light bulb, those that it finds false are red and if the detector can’t tell, then the orange bulb will light up. Clearly, when she meets up with the guys after the group date, she has a number of questions. First up is Zac! Tayshia will not tolerate cheating and Zac admitted that he had. This is triggering for her and she addresses it as that is why her marriage ended. Zac admits that it was his first girlfriend in 6th grade - so it’s nice that she knows the full story and makes us like Zac even more for her. Brendan explains that as someone who had been previously married that he’s excited about her meeting his parents, but he also wants to make sure that whoever meets them is someone that he knows will not make them feel negative. Riley who even got his name wrong is the one we want to know more about. Apparently, he is sitting on some serious secrets that due to the proximity of Hometowns he has to loop her in on. He lets her know about his family and why the name change took place as well as his family issues. She is so impacted by the guys that she lets them know that she will hold off on giving the rose as it wouldn’t be right to do so and wants to think about it. She leaves the party feeling great and sees Bennett waiting at her place. He pitches himself and lets her know that he loves her. Next week, we’ll be treated to 2 nights (Mon and Tues) of The Bachelorette.

Each night, we’ll tweet The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!

Each week we will let you know who our faves were last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns (it will be interesting to see how Hometowns will take place - we’re assuming families will be quarantined) if we were choosing right now! We will also say who we think should take it all. Poor Brendan has responses that are deemed inconclusive which makes Tayshia hesitant. Zac answers that he has cheated on someone which makes Tayshia uncomfortable. Riley is asked his name to set a baseline and the red bulb goes off!

We also suggest a podcast that we’re newly obsessed with, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback!

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LAST EPISODE

We cheered on Ben, Ivan, Brendan and Zac. We felt that Zac would propose to her and that she would accept.

WEEK 9 (TAYSHIA’s 5th)

When it comes to Hometown’s we think that it will be Ben, Brendan, Ivan and Zac - but we still think Zac will find love.

OUR HOMETOWN PICKS

BEN (Copy) (Copy)

IVAN (Copy) (Copy)

BRENDAN (Copy) (Copy)

ZAC (Copy) (Copy)

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THE BACHELORETTE’S CONTESTANTS

BEN, 29 - Indianapolis, IN (Copy) (Copy)

BENNETT, 30 - NY, NY (Copy) (Copy)

BLAKE, 29 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Copy) (Copy)

BRENDAN, 30 - Milford, MA (Copy) (Copy)

CHASEN, 31 - Walnut Creek, CA (Copy) (Copy)

DEMAR, 26 - San Diego, CA (Copy) (Copy)

ED, 36 - Pittsburgh, PA (Copy) (Copy)

EAZY, 29 - Dallas, TX (Copy) (Copy)

IVAN, 28 - Dallas, TX (Copy) (Copy)

JASON, 31 - Rutland, VT (Copy) (Copy)

JAY, 29 - Langhorne, PA (Copy) (Copy)

JOE, 36 - North Woodmere, NY (Copy) (Copy)

JORDAN, 32 - NY, NY (Copy) (Copy)

KENNY, 39 - Chicago, IL (Copy) (Copy)

MONTEL, 30 - Boston, MA (Copy) (Copy)

NOAH, 25 - Tulsa, OK (Copy) (Copy)

PETER, 32 - Everett, MA (Copy) (Copy)

RILEY, 30 - NY, NY (Copy) (Copy)

SPENCER, 30 - San Diego, CA (Copy) (Copy)

TYLER, 27 - Morgantown, WV (Copy) (Copy)

ZAC, 36 - Haddonfield, NJ (Copy) (Copy)

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | AMIGO BY NAI

This month's The Art of the Snack focuses on a savory destination from Chef Ruben Rodriguez who has taken culinary inspiration from his home in Galicia, Spain. NYer shave the ability to enjoy a number of the dishes he grew up eating from his mother's kitchen in Spain. In addition, he gives us the scoop on the restaurant group that he is creating as well as a bit on Nai Tapas and his newest venture, Amigo by Nai.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Chef Ruben Rodriguez, tell us about your culinary background and the influence for your style of cooking?

CHEF RUBEN RODRIGUEZ: I spent my days growing up in my mother’s restaurantMerendero Cave in Galicia, Spain, where I learned some of my mother’s coveted secret recipes. Being from Galicia, you will find that in any of my menus I make sure to highlight my culture in some way. NaiTapas is my first restaurant and I opened it ten years ago after working in numerous NYC kitchens around the city. My style of cooking continues to change and now I’m really focused on clean flavor profiles with strong presentations. I like the ingredients to speak for themselves on the plate.

AM: Before we talk about Amigo by Nai, you’re currently celebrating your 10-year anniversary with Nai Tapas. Tell us about your menu and the ambiance here.

CHEF RR: Nai Tapas is my ever-evolving love letter to my mother and grandmother, as I spotlight a number of their traditional recipes. However, I am constantly experimenting with flavors and different techniques to continue to grow as a Chef. My menu is divided into modern tapas and traditional tapas with an option to do a tasting menu, which I always suggest as it allows for our customers to really get the full Nai experience. I’m a serious chef, who doesn’t take himself too seriously, so at Nai it’s all about playful presentations and flavors that pop and surprise my guests.

AM: What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to create Amigo by Nai and when did it launch?

CHEF RR: Amigo by Nai has always been in the back of my head, as I knew I wanted to create a fine dining taqueria while infusing my Spanish heritage into the ta-cos served. I found a spot that I loved, which is just a few blocks away from Nai Tapas and then ironically enough a few months later I came across a video of Billy showcasing his tacos and speak-ing about his heritage and the tradition behind the famed carnitas recipes. I jumped on a plane to Los Angeles to meet Billy and discuss a collaboration. From there, the Amigo vision began to take form and we launched in October.

AM: This restaurant is a collaborative one with Carnitas el Momo – how did this come about and why have you guys combined your efforts in this venture?

CHEF RR: We just got together to talk about the collaboration after I saw his video and the stars just aligned. On the menu you will see his carnitas as well as our collaboration taco with the Amigo, which is pork belly, citrus gastrique and red salsa brava. Apart from those, as mentioned I always want to incorporate my Spanish heritage into each of my menus, so you will find the four other tacos feature those kinds of ingredients.

AM: What can guests expect when they come in to dine at Amigo by Nai?

CHEF RR: At Amigo by Nai you can expect a completely different taqueria experience. We are trying to push the envelope and create tacos that have more of a fine-dining feel complete with incredible signature cocktails from our Beverage Director Niko Hagerty, who I have literally seen grow up in my NaiTapas kitchen.

AM: When creating this menu, can you tell us about where the inspiration for your dishes came from?

CHEF RR: My inspiration will always stem from my heritage and consistently playing with different flavor combinations and techniques. Something that I love to do too is I will draw the dish before trying to create it in the kitchen. The menu at Amigo By Nai was something that took a while to formulate, always ensuring that I was paying respect to the culture.

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

CHEF RR: I would suggest you try the Rabo, oxtail, red mojo and shishito peppers with an optional side of consommé; Gambas, shrimp, garlic sauce, aioli and red cabbage; and a vegetarian taco with the Coliflor, shawarma roasted cauliflower with avocado-lime chimichurri and Marcona almonds.

AM: What are 3 appetizers and/or desserts that we should try when at Amigo by Nai?

CHEF RR: When it comes to my new apertivos menu the Esquite De Maiz Gratina-do, husk sweet corn, Panela, Oaxaca and Manchego cheese with panko crunch, applewood smoked bacon, Serrano pepper and cilantro; Taco Crujiente De Cordero, braised lamb in a nixtamal hard shell tortilla with majorero cheese, garlic aioli, salsa brava and cilantro; and Pescado Frito, fresh Atlantic cod and squid with Pedro Ximenez sherry vinegar and garlic aioli are all a must!

AM: What are 3 cocktails that you suggest we should have when visiting?

CHEF RR: Everything that Beverage Director Niko Hagerty serves is truly amazing, but if I had to pick three, I would say the hunt for Red October with Michter’s bourbon, apple brandy, allspice, apple, lemon, honey and cinnamon; Athena Goes To TheMarket with Green chili-infused vodka, Greek feta washed singani 63, pistachio oil, fresh dill, lemon, ginger and celery salt; and What Happened To 8th Street with wasabi infused Dewar’s white label scotch, sea salt and sesame seaweed, green chartreuse, matcha, coconut and Aztec Chocolate.

AM: During COVID-19, many restaurants have had to pivot on how they serve the guests and neighborhoods with pickups, delivery, reduce indoor dining, outdoor dining, etc – what methods are you doing to ensure that you’re available?

CHEF RR: We are available for delivery on GrubHub and pick up, and we have a great selection of tacos by the pound, which are perfect for game days or small home get-togethers with friends. We also offer bottled cocktails and bottles of wine. When it comes to our outdoor space, we have a beautiful set up of tables that guests can feel safe and secure in, which are equipped with heaters as we head into the colder months.

AM: You’re launching a new restaurant group, Nai Management LLC. What restaurants are currently within this brand and are there new restaurants that we should keep an eye out for?

CHEF RR: Nai Management LLC will en-compass Nai, Amigo by Nai, the Spring 2021 launch of Avoa, meaning grandmother in Gallego that will serve as an all-day café plating farm to table tapas in the back with coffee creations from Coffee Project at the front, and a num-ber of other concepts that I have already started to lay the groundwork on.

IG @RubenBoilsOctopus

@NaiTapas

@AmigoNYC

Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Amigo by Nai in mag.

BETTER TO GIVE THEN RECEIVE WITH MADISON PREWETT

We first got to know about Madison Prewett on The Bachelor Season 24 as she got to know Peter Weber. Although they ultimately didn’t find love together, we loved how she was passionate about basketball and specifically Auburn Basketball (we enjoyed seeing her dad who is the Director of Operations for the men’s basketball team), her commitment to her faith, her focus on giving back and even voluntarily leaving after being a runner up on the show! So when we found out that this holiday season that she is lending her voice to World Vision! We wanted to find out more about their gift catalog, how it assists those in need and how we can come together to help others whether they are here in the US or elsewhere around the globe.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is that you love most about the holiday season and how will you be celebrating this year?

MADISON PREWETT: Obviously my favorite part about this season is that it’s a season full of - well at least how I was raised and how I have been so fortunate - is that it is a season of being able to give back and to be able to celebrate it with the people that are closest to me. That’s why I think that it’s so cool to be able to partner with World Vision. This is something that is so dear to my heart and something that I am so passionate about. My family is also passionate about this and every single year, we’re asking ourselves, what can we do to help those that aren’t able to do that same experience of being able to celebrate with those that they love or really just to celebrate in general. So I think that it’s so perfect that I was able to really connect with World Vision at this time especially with everything going on at this time with the pandemic. There are more kids living now in poverty and you can give - we all can give gifts that can change lives. So I think that that is really what I love and what I am excited about this holiday season.

AM: You have partnered with World Vision. Can you tell our readers about this organization?

MP: Yeah! World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization and they work all over in nearly 100 countries - including the United States. That’s something that is so amazing to me as it’s just not something that is overseas, but is also something that is right here! They provide people the tools so that they can overcome poverty and that is something that I really love about World Vision. They aren’t just handing over whatever, they are actually walking through it with these people, they’re training these people, they are empowering these people to really create change for their lives. It’s not just handing them something, but it’s actually creating that change for them right here and for the legacy of that family that they are going to be able to create.

AM: Tell us about the World Vision Gift Catalog and their focus on giving a gift to change a life. Can you tell us about the gifts that they are offering to change lives?

MP: You can buy gifts like goats, alpacas, emergency food kits and there are a bunch of gifts that you can give beyond symbolic gifts. You can also do tangible gifts that you can give as well. There are handcrafted gifts like jewelry, candle holders, ornaments. I’m wearing one of their rings now which is known as their Circle of Hope Ring by Sadie Robertson Huff. I love jewelry so this is just something that is so easy for me to wear and to want to give people. The most popular gift at World Vision is the gifting of animals! You can buy a goat for $85 and I think that it is one of those things that here, you’d say, “why would you want to buy a goat?” But it’s actually so beautiful because you can really transform not only a home and a family’s life, but an entire community. Because those goats multiply and it’s more than just them cooking a goat and eating it right? But the goats can provide up to 16 cups of milk a day and they also not only provide milk for their families, but they can also sell that milk and also help those that are around them. So for $85 you can provide a goat and it’s just something that can really change these people’s lives and their futures forever.

AM: These gifts, in terms of the catalog, do they exist only during the holiday season or can people contribute year around?

MP: You can definitely contribute year around. Right now the way it works is that you can go to WorldVision.org and can choose a gift and then you can just browse the catalog, order the gift and then you just purchased something that is making a difference. You can also honor a loved one by giving a gift that is in their honor and in their name which makes it more personalized. You can definitely do this year round but right now is just such a great time in that you are already buying gifts and are already getting presents under the tree and spending money during this time. So why not give a gift that is purposeful and is making a difference?

AM: We're currently watching Tayshia Adams on The Bachelorette and we're pretty excited about The Bachelor with Matt James. I enjoyed you on your season of The Bachelor what was that like for you and what have you been up to since we saw you on Season 24?

MP: The experience was full of a lot of highs and lows. I think that I really learned a lot about myself and just coming off the show, I was able to have a new perspective on a lot of things. Now I have this new platform and I want to be able to do what I can especially in this time where there is a lot of loneliness, poverty and division and be able to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. So that’s why really since then, I have been focusing on what I can do to find out my purpose, how I can help and doing a lot of speaking, writing and partnering with amazing organizations like World Vision. I just want to be involved with the ways that I can help in the midst of everything that is going on and that’s why I love World Vision for everything that they are doing to help people in this time during the pandemic in the US with family emergency kits that are filled with essentials that people can purchase for $75. It can feed a family of 5 for up to a week which is really amazing. All these families are desperately in need and it provides essentials like masks, hand sanitizers and things like that. To be able to be a part and to help with things that are going on all over the world but also right here in the United States.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE BACHELORETTE S16. E10. | TAYSHIA + THE ROAD TO HOMETOWNS PART I

If you have yet to see episode 10, spoilers are ahead! Tonight, ABC’s The Bachelorette brings Chris Harrison (JoJo did a great job) back into the show as he lets us know that he dropped his son off at college. He also gives a recap of how Tayshia has cleaned house while he has been gone. After their catch up session, we head straight into a 1-on-1 with Blake. The last time we remember the two of them having a real conversation is when he let her know that it would take time to get out of his shell. He was still caught up on Claire and Tayshia was understanding. The guys don’t know that Bennett has popped back in - that will definitely be a bit of drama. Their date includes a reiki master who will help them seek what they are looking for. Through a series of exercises that are meant to come together, she realizes that the vibe and connection isn’t there. Blake feels like he can get there, but they don’t make it to dinner and she sends him home. She’s not done yet, as she heads over to the guy’s place to talk with them. She lets them know how tough it is, but that she appreciates what they are doing. She then asks Riley to come with her so that they can talk. Although she feels connected to him and has enjoyed his vulnerability, she doesn’t feel that she can get there as her heart isn’t where it should be with him.

With 2 eliminations behind her from the night before, we head into the daytime rose ceremony with the remaining 5 guys (plus a secret Bennett spot) and Ben is the only one with a rose feeling a sense of security. As they all look at one another waiting for Tayshia, they share their feelings with one another until Bennett walks in. While the guys figure out his reappearance, Chris lets them know that there will not be a cocktail party and they will head straight to the rose ceremony as her mind is made up.

She sends home Bennett and Noah and is left with Ivan, Brendan, Zac and Ben! Tonight, we also get the Men Tell All which is always an interesting event that takes place as you head into Hometowns.

In terms of the Men Tell All, they have also included Yosef from Claire’s season! There is no audience due to the intimate nature of the times that we’re living in. We’re loving the set which they should think about continuing to do. But it’s good that they’re still doing the elements that we all enjoy watching when tuning into this particular show. It was great to hear more from Tayshia and we can’t wait to get into Hometowns tomorrow!

Each night, we’ll tweet The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!

Each week we will let you know who our faves were last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns (it will be interesting to see how Hometowns will take place - we’re assuming families will be quarantined) if we were choosing right now! We will also say who we think should take it all. Poor Brendan has responses that are deemed inconclusive which makes Tayshia hesitant. Zac answers that he has cheated on someone which makes Tayshia uncomfortable. Riley is asked his name to set a baseline and the red bulb goes off!

We also suggest a podcast that we’re newly obsessed with, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback!

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LAST EPISODE

We cheered on Ben, Ivan, Brendan and Zac. We felt that Zac would propose to her and that she would accept.

WEEK 10 (TAYSHIA’s 6th)

Hometown’s will have Ben, Brendan, Ivan and Zac . Our predictions have been pretty spot on this season and we think that Zac will propose and get a yes!

OUR HOMETOWN PICKS

BEN

BRENDAN

IVAN

ZAC

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THE BACHELORETTE’S CONTESTANTS

BEN, 29 - Indianapolis, IN

BENNETT, 30 - NY, NY

BLAKE, 29 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

BRENDAN, 30 - Milford, MA

CHASEN, 31 - Walnut Creek, CA

DEMAR, 26 - San Diego, CA

ED, 36 - Pittsburgh, PA

EAZY, 29 - Dallas, TX

IVAN, 28 - Dallas, TX

JASON, 31 - Rutland, VT

JAY, 29 - Langhorne, PA

JOE, 36 - North Woodmere, NY

JORDAN, 32 - NY, NY

KENNY, 39 - Chicago, IL

MONTEL, 30 - Boston, MA

NOAH, 25 - Tulsa, OK

PETER, 32 - Everett, MA

RILEY, 30 - NY, NY

SPENCER, 30 - San Diego, CA

TYLER, 27 - Morgantown, WV

ZAC, 36 - Haddonfield, NJ

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

GOOD VIBES ONLY WITH SOFI TUKKER

This month's cover story features 2 X GRAMMY-nominated musical duo that we have been a fan of for awhile now. SOFITUKKER's music can be heard in some of your favorite Apple commercials, TV shows and even when you're hopping on your Peleton. This group is known for their jungle pop vibes and continuing to expand their footprint in the world through their creativity. We talked with them about how they began working with one another, how they got into the industry, their body of work and what they have been doing as they have navigated this time of quarantine.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to becoming the powerhouse duo that you are, when did you fall in love with just music in general?

TUCKER HALPERN: I have always been in love with music. I played the drums and I was in garage bands growing up. But it al-ways took a backseat to basketball. That was my whole life for such a long time until I was like 20 – 22. For me, I didn’t really fall in love until the way that I am today until I got sick in college. That’s when I started turning my attention to something else. I really just fell in love with dance music and house music and stuff.

SOPHIE HAWLEY-WELD: I can’t really point to a specific period in time where I fell in love with music. It’s always been something that I have enjoyed listening to and I have always been dancing. I would always dance and be in musical theater as a kid. I started writing as a means of music therapy actually in middle school. I would play the guitar and I would write about my feelings. I found it so therapeutic to honestly just write about my experiences as opposed to thinking about it. It was my primary way of getting through my angst.

I was really into jazz and I took jazz singing lessons. I started to realize that I liked Brazilian jazz more than any other kind of jazz. I started taking Portuguese and I said, “hey, if I love this music so much, I should probably start taking lessons in it."So I really started loving the music and moved to Brazil for a bit and I just kept it going. I think it’s a long story but music is just such an experience in the way that you fall in love with it.

AM: We’re big fans of jazz music in our team and our co-founder’s great uncle was Joe Henderson, tenor saxophonist.

SHW: Cool!

AM: We love bossa nova as a form as well, what is it about this genre of music that pulls you in?

SHW: I just find it so intimate and sexy and soothing. I think that the language is perfect for jazz and singing. I think that it’s very vowel-y. I think it’s perfect and when you’re listening to it, the singers are whispering into the microphone.

AM: Pretty much.

SHW: Yeah and I just really enjoy that whole vibe.

AM: How did you guys meet one another and was the moment when you realized that you wanted to work together and that you had those traits that would be really beneficial together?

TH: Well, I think that I had to convince Sophie to do that – that I had traits to add to her repertoire. But the story goes, I was DJing after my basketball life in college during my senior year. I was DJing tons of house parties – like college stuff, but it was cool under-ground stuff. One of my friends asked me to DJ after this art show. We went to Brown and it was at this show in Providence in downtown like at a warehouse thing. I went early to set up and Sophie was the acoustical per-former at the art show and I think that there was only 10 people there. But I was sort of setting up and watching her perform with a couple of friends that I knew from my music classes at school. She was amazing and she was only singing in Portuguese and it was really beautiful bossa nova music which I had never really heard much of before.I thought that it was really cool but it was really slow. Like REALLY slow – like 4BPMs – I swear! I was like, man this would be so much cooler if it was more upbeat and had a house beat behind it. When she sort of finished and it was supposed to be my turn to play, I actually said casually,“hey keep playing and I’m going to bringing a beat with it.” So like, looping the intro with a house music track and I put it really slow at the tempo that they were playing at and then I started speeding it up and I said, “just follow the tempo.” She start-ed singing the song at a faster beat that was behind it. So I said, “ok this is going to work.

After that, I think she stayed for my set – did she?

HW: I did.

TH: You must have – you had to. She was probably hitting on a guy that was there ha.

SHW: Of course haha.

TH: So the role reversed. I had to introduce myself to her after I played and I was like, what were you singing. She told me that they were original songs that she made. I asked her if I could do a remix of the last one that she was singing. She agreed but told me that there was no real recording of it. I said, “cool, come over to my apartment tomorrow – a dorm apartment and let’s rerecord it and I’ll make an electronic version of the song. She did come over and we did start making a different version of the song and –

SHW: We just started working every day and making new projects. It was so easy to work together. Were we even friends? We started working with each other for a long time but we weren’t hanging out socially. We just had a great work friendship.

AM: That’s mind-boggling! You’d think that the two of you started this as being best friends or at least really good acquaintances.

SHW: Yeah we didn’t even hang out with one another outside of making our music. We were just making music. Eventually, Tucker convinced me that I should come to NY. Then I thought, “wait, who is this guy?” I talked to people that I knew that we had in common and I was like, “do you vouch for him and should I move to NY with him to create a band with him?” They were like, “oh yeah, he’s a great guy – you should go with him.”

AM: What is your process like when you do sit down and create music together? Do you guys have designated roles?

SHW: Yeah. Every song is very different. But for the most part, Tucker is at the computer and I’m on the guitar and writing most of the lyrics. Now he’s singing a lot more which is cool. It’s also because as the band has evolved we have done the same as well.

AM: You guys have worked with so many artists over the past few years, what are you guys looking for when you are deciding on collaborating with people outside of yourselves?

TH: Honestly, I think that we’re just looking at people with good vibes. We love working with friends and people that we admire and look up to. That actually has a lot to do with the vibe that they are putting out into the world. We enjoy working together. One of the coolest things about collaboration is about putting out like a baby into the world that you created together and then being able to celebrate that together. Then being able to perform it together. You’re sort of bonded with that group forever. It will sort of always be a part of who you are. It’s just fun and it also gets you to have that opportunity for that music to have a little more freedom.

Because you’re able to work with another artist who has their musical sound, we don’t have to worry about whether that music has the SOFI TUKKER sound and if itis really in our world, having that aesthetic and that palette because it’s a collab-oration. So it can also live in Icona Pop’s world or someone else’s world. So it can have a little more risk and it can be a little more out there. Maybe not more out there as I think SOFI TUKKER songs are out there.

AM: Oh yes in the best possible way!

TH: Right I love out there. In a way – the collaboration has a way of being able to be out there – you know what I mean?

AM: Yeah. It’s about blending. When you have two collaborators that you know their work separately, come together it’s a hybrid that’s undefined and gives you the space to create. That’s so exciting when you see that come together.

TH: You get me.

AM: Yes! Our team has done fun projects outside of Athleisure Mag. Our Style Director had the opportunity to style Nile Rodgers a few years ago and her style has its signature and Nile is known for his. So the two coming together to create a look really took the pressure off of her as they both had a united vision without her wondering how it would go against her aesthetic. She could just sit back and enjoy the work and embrace his vibes and interests while adding in her touches.

TH: Exactly, it’s fun to have the other create fingerprints on it as well.

AM: Prior to COVID-19, you guys had a number of tours that you were on and creating a number of amazing shows. In prep for this interview, when we have told people that you guys are the cover, everyone would tell us about their show experience when jamming out with you guys and how it was the best night of their lives. So many people have painted a picture for us about your shows, but for those that have yet to go, what is it like for one of your in-person shows?

TH: I don’t remember.

AM: It feels like so long ago!

SHW: It’s like an electric orgasm!

TH: It’s all that energy coming together on one wavelength. It’s like losing your shit. You know when you’re like 13 with your friends and you’re listening to music on your boombox in your room and you’re like dancing on your bed – like losing it? I try to bring the adult back to that – to that primal nature.

AM: Do you guys have pre-show things that you do to get your mind ready for the show and then things that you do when the show is over? You guys are pushing through so much energy that it’s unimaginable how much you guys must hype yourselves up and then come down from that whole effect.

SHW: It is a p-r-o-c-e-s-s.

TH: We have different processes.

AM: Assumed!

TH: I’m going to let Sophie go as it’s such a process.

SHW: I’m really sensitive to stimulus as a person. I have to warm up to and then cool down from it or else I would never be able to survive. Basically, hours before the show my prep begins. 4 hours prior to the show, I will have my last meal. About an hour before the show, I start my vocal exercises. They are very physical and funny. That will go for about an hour and a half. Down to the hour, I know exactly what I am doing. After my vocal warm-up, I will do my physical warm-up. It’s about rolling out my body and it’s intricate. For the last 5 mins, we will dance around and psych each other up. You know, just jumping around with nervous energy.

After the show, then I have a vocal cooldown and then ideally, there’s a bathtub or a shower that also helps me to come down.

AM: Although that was an unexpected answer, love hearing this and knowing that there is such a thing as a vocal cool down is something new to us!

SHW: It doesn’t take that long. It’s just learning about putting the vocal in the right place in your mouth if that makes sense. That way you don’t get hoarse. When you talk right after singing, it can be really draining on the voice.

AM: Totally. Tucker?

TH: Mine is a little simpler. Before the show, we both pretty much treat it like a basketball game. It’s all about the warmup, being able to blast music – usually, dance music. It gets more intense as it goes. The first hour maybe a bit more chiller. By the end, it could be trance by the time we’re ready to go out so we're losing it. I’m really big into warming up because if we don’t do it or don’t do it long enough, my hamstrings will just bedone and then it’s all over. Right before we go out, we really hype each other up and Sophie gives me a 5-star on the back, like a really hard one. And it always hurts, but it stings and it gives me a little extra jolt which I like – but I don’t miss it that much haha!

SHW: What?

TH: I call it the 5-star. Sophie didn’t know that that’s what I call it until now! It’s a big slap on your back – it’s a 5-star. Afterwards, I ice up my knees and my feet with bags of ice or an ice bath type of situation.

AM: Um truly like a basketball player!

TH: Yeah, it’s very similar to my routine when I was a basketball player. We kind of run around and go nuts on stage. When I come off stage, my shirt is entirely dripping in sweat. It’s like a full hour and a half of going nuts. So I really have to ice but I don’t have to do the wind-down when we go back to the ho-tel after shows, I can just lie on the bed and fall asleep a minute after raving. Sophie has to do like a full 2-hour yoga wind down. When we used to share a hotel room for the first couple of years because we had smaller budgets, it was not ideal to share a room. I’d want to put the TV on so that I could watch SportsCenter and fall asleep to it and she could not have any light stimulation or noise or she would not be able to fall asleep. She has like earplugs and an eyemask. If I had the TV on even in silent, she’d be like, “nope the light flickering is fucking me up.” I was like, “this is ridiculous.

AM: You guys have had such a successful career, you have 2 GRAMMY nominations, you’ve played a number of festivals, I al-ways love hearing your music when it's an Apple (Best Friend) or Peleton (Purple Hat) commercial – we’re huge fans of HBO’s The New Pope. So when we heard, Good Time Girls the opening song –that was amazing. What does it mean to you guys to have so much of your music placed into so many pop culture areas?

SHW: I think that we feel really lucky to be able to be in that space! It’s a great way for people to be able to connect to our music and it’s just such a great opportunity.

AM: Even as we navigate COVID-19, you guys have continued to stay connected with your fans. How did your daily con-certs from home start and how impactful has it been to be able to provide this to your fans? Especially when we’re in a moment where you can’t really, travel, tour etc.?

SHW: It started very organically and by accident. Tucker was DJing and I was working out. Our friend came down and started live-streaming what was happening. People were watching and it was really fun and we said let’s do it again. I think on the 3rd day, Tucker was like, we’re going to do this every day until COVID-19 is over. Obviously, little did we know that we would still be at it. What we’re doing is different than our live shows as this is a DJ set and has been so much fun. Honestly, it’s been one of the most meaningful moments that I would say of my life. We're in this moment in time right now where people are feeling loneliness and are suffering and we are able to bring people together every single day. Everybody that is coming together are our friends and our community is now called the Freak Famand it’s grown to be this big community outside of ourselves. They have come together and they’re so inclusive and warm– it’s been great to see and gives us hope. This year, we’ve seen a lot of things about our world that hasn’t been great so to see that there are people like this has really been something that I have loved being able to be a part of.

AM: Are these shows thematic by genre, country or dedicated to specific portions of your fan base? Do you guys just freeflow every day?

TH: The Freak Fam is really so world wide that our music is really for everyone out there. It’s interesting because there are so many different time zones and languages that for those, it would feel odd to be specifically towards just one place because it's so diverse. We have done specific shows like an all Australia set for Australian radio where it live-streamed and it only featured artists from Australia. We’ve done some Mexico specific ones – we’ve done it. But for the daily streams, we just try to keep it inclusive for everyone.

AM: When you guys createdTreehouse, there are so many good songs on it. How long did it take you to make it and what was that like?

SHW: It’s so different now versus then.

When we madeTreehouse, we didnt have real time off. We basically used the time in between our tours. We would go to the studio, work on the songs, etc. Since it was done that way, it probably took a year to get that album out. There would be gaps where we couldn’t work on songs for a number of months as it would be a couple of days here and a couple of days there.

AM: Last month we interviewed you andIcona Pop about the release of SPA which we loved. We just caught the video recently as we have it on repeat. What was the thought behind having Jordan Firstman and Mia Khalifa also being included in this video and how did that come about?

SHW: I think it started out with Icona Pop as they were friends with him. We’re so lucky that we were able to have them in their as they are so iconic and I love their videos. They’re both so cool and iconic in their own way.

AM: You guys have the interactive e-con-cert coming up on Yoop on Mar 12, 2021 at- live from their eSPACE in Nashville. How did this come together and how are you working in terms of being prepared for that one?

TH: We’re so excited about this one. We’ve been waiting for the right kind of virtual experience that would fit what we would want that would be really unique and would be different from going and watching one of our live shows from YouTube or something. We were looking for a platform that had a real two-way traction. One of the main parts about our show is the connection between us and the fans and the real give and take and not just for our enjoyment although we definitely do have that. But the shows have a real live effect as it gets everyone on the same wavelength which is an important part about our show. To try to do that in a virtual world through technology, we thought that this platform would be a great way to do that. It has no lag between communication. People can clap at the end of shows or scream and we can hear that. There are these 3 big movie like screens in front of us where the crowd would normally be and there’s the ability to scroll through thousands of people who are listening in from their house. We can even pick them out and hear them with no lag time.

It’s the first thing that we have seen that is close to a real show and being able to get that real energy. We watched a couple of them as they were getting their plat-form going and just watching the kinds of interaction between the artist and their fans, talking through the songs and see-ing everyone interacts – it was such a cool experience. It made me really thing that you were there in that experience altogether. You know it’s live. I’ve seen some live streams and it looks like it was just pre-recorded shows that you’re watching. That’s cool, but for us we want to try to really have that live feel.

AM: In these times that we’re living in right now, how are you spending your time in quarantine when you’re not doing your daily shows? Are you working on your next album or finding new hobbies that you didn’t know that you had?

SHW: We’ve never had this much time be-fore ever! It’s really interesting. We have been working on a lot of new music. I'm not going to announce anything specific.

AM: Thought so.

SHW: But, there is a body of work!

AM: Nice.

SHW: But we have never had this amount of time where we could work on songs like this. So we’re really excited about that process. I mean, we try to get outside a lot. I’ve been DJing every day. I wasn’t really DJing before this time. So I spend a lot of time practicing DJing now and I spend a lot of time doing tutorials. I take guitar lessons as well to take the time to work on my craft. I love being able to do that and I also play things in our DJ set of things that our Freak Fam is doing. It could be poetry or things that they are doing and so I will work on that. There’s a ton to do!

AM: How do you guys stay inspired?

SHW: I’d say that the DJ sets that we're doing right now are really inspired. It’s energizing and it’s fun to try out a set or song and see how it works. Then we can go back and work on it more and then try it out on a set again. It’s really cool to be able to have that feedback when we're working on something. We can go directly from studio to set to play it.

AM: A lot of people are thinking about what next year will look like in terms of returning to IRL events and things of that nature. Have you guys begun to sketch out what plans to doing something like that will look like? Or are you looking at circling that date in hopes that you can actually do that show or particular event?

SHW: I would say that we’re trying not to get our hopes up!

AM: Same!

SHW: I think that we actually haven’t even gone there. Like obviously our team is there creating plans, but in our hearts, we just believe that today is what today is and tomorrow is what tomorrow is. But it’s really hard mentally to go past anything like a month. I mean how the world is right now and what it will be, we know it’s really unpredictable right now and that’s all we can predict!

AM: We’ve literally had the same conversations on this end. When can we do IRL shoots, attend events etc. To be able to think about that and to think about the safety around those elements is just a lot to take in because the plans become so fluid and it’s definitely hard to predict. It’s too soon!

SHW: Yeah.

AM: What do you guys think about the fact that because you have had so much virtual/digital engagement and even hearing about this new platform that your show on the 4th will be on, everyone regardless of their vertical has embraced these concepts. When things at some point in life do get back to being in person, will you guys maintain some of these virtual nuggets that you have been playing around with and that people have enjoyed even when they can move around more freely?

TH: For sure! I think that he whole world has definitely embraced the virtual element in all industries. I’m sure a lot of companies are saying, “you know, we don’t really need that office space. We can do it from home and save all of this money.” I think that it will be the same in the music industry. We can’t get everywhere and there are still places that we have never been able to go. We have played in a lot of places but there are so many places that we haven’t been able to play for many reasons. Sometimes it’s just as simple as the currency of that country as doing it would mean that we would financially lose money and people can’t afford the show. I think there is such a good use of virtual shows and our DJ sets whether it’s geotargeted or geo-locked and can only be seen in certain places, I think it’s going to be really useful.

You can have people watching you from all over the world and be united and that doesn’t have when we have our in person shows. Only people in that space/that town get to be in that moment. It can accomplish something sometimes bigger and sometimes more broad. Because it’s free (not the Yoop show,) but what we have been doing is, hopefully, it’s just a 1-click for free mouse move as the barrier into entry. Those who may not have known us well enough to pay for a ticket or two to make a plan in their week to see us can do it now because of this platform when they wouldn’t have prior to. So there is always a good use for something like this and I think it will get creative when the world is back to the new normal or whatever it is.

AM: What do you guys see as being next in terms of the SOFI TUKKER brand? Launching a fashion line, getting into acting – are there other areas that you want to be able to embrace in addition to your successful music career?

SHW: Tucker is a thespian!

TH: No not really! Haha

SHW: Haha I don’t think my sarcasm translates well to print haha!

AM: Haha we caught it!

SHW: So we have our body of work that we are working on right now and I don’t think that we have ever been so proud of the music that we are making. We definitely are interested in launching projects of course.

TH: If you have anything in mind, we’re around!

AM: Of course!

SHW: We don’t have any booking plans right now to get in the way of that.

TH: We want to be able to continue to do what we’re doing and to grow the FreakFam as well! When live shows return, we want to be able to do it in a hopefully big-ger and more exciting place than where we left off. It’s exciting and we’ve loved being able to find ways to keep growing and to work with so many great people.

SHW: It’s been a really tough time as I’m really far away from my family. So that’s tough so to have the work that we do –our music and our purpose and to have a community that is so vibrant it really helps. It takes a time that is really tough and difficult and helps me and others get through it. It makes it a lot easier to focus on things and to be able to be excited about them.

AM: Clearly you guys inspire people with everything that you do. So we always like asking people who are 3 people that you know or admire from afar that have in-spired who you are today?

TH: There are so many people and I think when you think about the people that we have learned from – when we started the group or band or duo – still don’t know what to call it 5 years later ha! We start-ed, we were really uncomfortable taking photos, being on social media and we wouldn’t take selfies because we thought it was lame. Then something as simple as seeing other friends of ours do what they did and were amazing at social media, that was inspiring to us.

For me in short, it would be Larry Bird.

AM: Yes! Our Co-Founder loves Larry Bird!

TH: Is she from French Lick?

AM: No, Indianapolis but she’s all about him and you can never say anything wrong about him – his work ethic and focus is amazing.

TH: Exactly. I’m from Boston and as a sports guy, I grew up idolizing his work ethic, how hard he played and how hard he practiced. When I watched him play, that was always instilled in me and I learned it from sports. I knew that if you’re not working, someone else is getting better. It’s not like everything is a competition but it is competitive and that is motivating for me.

AM: In our Style Director’s home state, they believe in Life is Sports and Sports is life. How you are in sports is how you're going to go about life. So it is a competition and in many ways, that competition will be with yourself. And the reality is that someone else is also doing what you are doing so you need to be ready to perform. It’s a great point!

TH: A lot of what I learned there, we have brought into our world here. Being a captain on a college basketball team and working together – a lot of those skills are also applicable in what we do now and it was great to bring it in here.

SH: I’m going to give you an emotional answer because my grandfather passed away recently. I would say that he is one of the reasons why I am who I am today and he inspired me. A – he always treated me like I was the most special person in the world. The thing about him is that I think he actually treated a lot of people that way so it wasn’t just about me. That’s how he was with people and when he interacted with them, he made them feel that way. Feeling seen and having that kind of love in my life made me believe in myself and made me want to give that back to other people so that others could be seen and feel special. The other thing is that he was always jolly and I never heard him complain and I think that that value is something that we have also brought into the community and the band.

IG @SOFITUKKER

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's virtual cover shoot was shot by Co-Founder + Celebrity Photographer Paul Farkas. Throughout this shoot, Paul used an iPhone 11 Pro, iPad Air 2, Facetime and Clos.

STYLE CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith shares what she used to create the cover editorial with SOFI TUK-KER for a number of fun vibrant looks.

LOOK I | LOUNGE STYLE

FRONT COVER, PG 16 + 19 | SOPHIE: DIPPIN' DAISY'S Show Off Bralette + Friday Night Pant | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | EXPERIMENTAL JEWELLERY CLUB Gold Pyramid Stud Bracelet | NIKE Sneakers | TUCKER: RUSSELL ATHLETIC Tie Dye French Terry Hoodie + Short | PUMA RS-2K Messaging Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |

LOOK II | SPORTY STYLE

BACK COVER + PG 20 - 25 | SOPHIE: L'OEUFPOCHE Cloud 9 Crop Pullover | L'ETOILE SPORT A-Line Skort | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | Nike Sneakers | BABOLAT Pure Aero Tennis Racket | TUCKER: ALO YOGA Idol Hooded Runner + Chill Short | MATADOR MEGGINGS Cubed Meggings | PUMA RS-2K Messaging Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |

LOOK III | WEEKEND STYLE

PG 27 - 32 | SOPHIE: BALANCE ATHLETICA Tie Dye Hoodie | PANGAIA Lightweight Recycled Cotton Track Pants | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | PUMA RS-Fast Sneaker |TUCKER: MUNICIPAL Standard Issue 300 Hoodie | PUMA X KIDSUPER STUDIOS Track Pants | Nike Sneakers | SOFI TUKKER Yellow Choker Chain |

LOOK IV | STUDIO STYLE

PG 35 - 39 | MUNICIPAL Sport Utility Hoodie + Jogger |

LOOK V | CASUAL STYLE

PG 40 + 41 | KALORE Ivory Satin Top + Stretch Pants | MAISON MIRU Halo Oval Hoop Earrings in Sterling | STELLA MCCARTNEY Holographic Sneakers |

LOOK VI | CHILL STYLE

PG 42 + 43 | BALANCE ATHLETICA Tie Dye Hoodie | MUNICIPAL Crossover Short |

IG @PVFarkas

@Shes.Kimmie

Hear EDM musical duo SOFI TUKKER on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see SOFI TUKKER in mag as well as their 9PLAYLIST 9MIX.

HOW TO CHARM A GIRL WITH A DELICIOUS DINNER ON A DATE

Most people love to eat well, and dating is a good reason. You can impress a girl you’ve met on a site for dating. Discussing culinary passions is always an excellent icebreaker – chatting about your mouth-melting favorites will put you in the mood for a dinner date. You can book a restaurant table for a candlelit meal, or once you’ve developed sufficient chemistry during online conversations you could suggest preparing a delicious meal at home.

One important thing to keep in mind is that most people can provide a shortlist of their perfect dishes, and these are the ones you should focus your planning on. There could be a scenario where your prospective partner announces they are huge fans of Argentinian beef dishes or Japanese sushi. If you haven’t tried either of these before, your first date with someone you are keen to impress shouldn’t be the occasion to begin sampling food you are unfamiliar with. If you’ve invited a girl out on a dinner date, it would be far better to appear assertive and reliable. Women appreciate guys who seem confident and can even exert a modicum of control over a situation. She will not be impressed if you have to query the translations of the title of dishes from the menu, and even less so if you order something which you dislike.

One of the pluses of online dating is that it gives some breathing space before you take your relationship to the next level and arrange a face-to-face liaison. During your online text exchanges there will be ample opportunity to discuss those meals you both enjoy. As with any aspect of your respective hobbies and interests, finding common ground is always crucial for striking up a rapport, and dining is no exception. Here are some further tips to help you charm your new partner over a dinner table.

Find a suitable romantic restaurant

Your choice of dining venue is a crucial decision. It would be preferable if you could do some background research. Sound out various possibilities by posting queries on your social media. Ask for recommendations. If any of your friendship circle has had less than favorable experiences of a particular outlet, consider alternatives. One thing about eateries is that there are many to choose from.

What to choose from the menu - and what is better to refuse

It would be worthwhile not over-indulging in eating before your dinner date. You don’t want to turn up for the meal feeling as if you’re already bagged up. The ideal approach is to have a relatively empty stomach and be ready to enjoy your time together – but not so empty that your guts make embarrassing gurgling noises during quieter moments.

Always opt for dishes you know you will appreciate. If anything is written in a foreign language, informally ask your partner if she is any the wiser. If not, there’s always Google, or you could politely ask a passing waiter. Don’t try and show off by ordering something you’re not sure about, only for your plate to arrive with an octopus sprawled over it!

What about drinks? - Approach the issue carefully

Drinks are an essential part of the date, and a passing knowledge of some of the cocktails or titles on the wine list would help to impress your partner. But one of the most important pieces of advice to take on board is not overdoing this. It’s only natural to be a little nervous with someone you’re just getting to know better. Getting drunk will leave you liable to conversational slip-ups, mishaps with cutlery, or – if your food is rich – the sudden onset of nausea.

Dinner dates have been a staple choice for courting couples for decades. There is something deeply romantic about getting to know someone better over a selection of dishes, against a backdrop of subdued lighting, atmospheric music, and glimpses of other suitors engaged in flirtatious small talk in the background.

Being close will also provide numerous openings for getting closer to your significant other. As you lean in closely to chat, your feet could brush together. Here’s another excellent tip – unless there’s nothing else on the menu that catches your eye, always try to order a different main dish. This will present one of the most potentially erotic moments for your date – the sampling of food from the other person’s plate. Holding her in eye contact while you slowly present a tasty morsel from your dish towards her anticipatory lips would be a moment to savor. If she reciprocates, there might even be some justification in reading this as a subliminal message that she is interested in building on this intimacy. Coffee and liqueurs at your place or hers?

9PLAYLIST | SOFI TUKKER

Read the Nov Issue #59 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | SOFI TUKKER in mag.

9PLAYLIST 9MIX | SOFI TUKKER

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag #59 and see 9PLAYLIST 9MIX in mag as well as see them on our YouTube channel.