Yoga Means Business

 

WARRIOR 2 

Work stress tightens the psoas muscles, leading to poor posture, back and pelvic pain. Warrior poses release the psoas to alleviate physical pain as well as the anxiety that causes it.

 

A new startup, Yoga Means Business, has taken the practice of yoga out of the studio and into the office.  Co-founded by two entrepreneurial yoginis, Chiyoko Osborne and Jen Kluczkowski (left and right in front above), Yoga Means Business brings their signature 30-Minute Method to you, with no yoga mats or change of clothes required. Using just office chairs, desks and walls, the 30-minute session consists of basic yoga postures and stretches, breathing exercises and meditation, and offers the physical and emotional benefits of yoga in a corporate setting.

Yoga allows the mind and body to tap into higher levels of focus, creativity and clarity. “Our unique YMB 30-Minute Method is specifically tailored to help busy, stressed employees reboot seamlessly during their workday,” says Jen Kluczkowski, YMB co-founder and lead facilitator. “This unique yoga method is designed to make participants better at their jobs by offering a way to unplug, recharge and return to work refocused–all in under 30 minutes.”
 

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ROTATED HALF MOON

Sitting all day and staring at the computer, our chest caves inward, shoulders collapse and neck tilts down, which physically blocks our communication centers in the body. This posture releases tension in these areas and improves communication.

 

“The most powerful purpose of yoga has always been to better focus your own mind—and nowhere is that more useful than in business,” said co-founder Chiyoko Osborne, who understands the stresses of today’s work environment having held posts at Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang and McCann Erickson. “What is new is the rapidly spreading realization that these Eastern practices can drive Western business success. Leaders of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies, hot tech startups and giants like Google, Intel, General Mills and Goldman Sachs, have been incorporating mindfulness practices for their executive teams and staff for years.”

Coincidentally Team YMB and Style of Sport share offices at The Grind, along with a community of other happening start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures, and we asked them for a few moves to share with our readers. We wrangled a some fellow Grind members for Chiyoko and Jen to guide through the moves. Above and below are 7 key postures they recommend to counter balance the physical and emotional stresses work life takes on us all.
 
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Your Favorite White Jeans

 

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CLICK ABOVE TO BE TAKEN TO SHOPPING DESTINATIONS

Continuing with our Summer Essentials theme, we present another staple of the season: The White Jean. Now why, you may ask, is this a Style of “Sport” feature? The answer is because they look a heck of a lot better when you are in shape! Fit bodies, however, come in different shapes and sizes and what looks good on me, might not be the right style for you. We asked our Facebook friends for their favorites and from skinny to boyfriend fit, now present your top picks for the hot white jeans of Summer 2014!

ROW 1: J.BRAND Mid-Rise Cropped Capri $172. Ok, me first… Great for athletic builds, the slimming capri shape and cropped leg make these white jeans one of this editor’s personal favorites. PAIGE Verdugo $179. These skinny white stretch-denim jeans are closely cut for a long and lean silhouette, and “ideal for those with a flatter rear”, says fashion editor and former Self Magazine colleague, McLain Bennett. 7 FOR ALL MANKIND Josephina $169. “White jeans should not be tight. A boyfriend fit is the way to go”, suggests very-in-shape SoulCycle spinner, Susan Thomson. These crisp white jeans from 7 For All Mankind have the perfect relaxed yet flattering fit. CURRENT/ ELLIOT The Stiletto $168. The Stiletto is a chic fitted jean, cropped above the ankle, and a favorite of Laurie Miller O’Connell, owner of Perch Vail in Vail Colorado, who curates her store with the perfect selection of year round apres-ski AND sea!

ROW 2: AG The Stilt $164. This crisp white, cigarette leg skinny jean has a streamlined silhouette that looks polished dressed up or down. Raves SOS friend Heather Berman Yablon, “They are so soft and sit low on the waist. I love the back pockets and great white white color!” RAG & BONE Dre $187. This Slim Fit Boyfriend Jean was a popular favorite of a number of SOS readers including Marion Berrian Roaman, Co-Founder and General Manager of Peloton, the hot new indoor cycling studio and bicycle company. These white jeans feature a straight-leg style with a relaxed fit and are infused with stretch for extra wearability. RALPH LAUREN DENIM & SUPPLY Carmen Skinny Jean $79.50. This cotton-blend jean is designed with a fitted silhouette. “They are skinny with the perfect amount of stretch”, says good buddy, Glynis Karp, SVP Global Merchandising at Ralph Lauren Childrenswear. She owns 5 pairs, and of course, is wearing them today. J.CREW Stretch Toothpick $115. Fitted through the hip and legs, with a superskinny, ankle-length cut, these are another Style of Sport favorite for their lean and sexy fit. They are made of premium stretch cotton from Cone Denim®, one of the oldest denim mills in the world. Not that she has one, but financier Alexandra Lebenthal says, “They don’t make my butt look big… very important when it comes to white jeans!”

 

Millinery Helmets

 
SAWAKO FURUNO IN TRIBECA, NYC

 
Sawako Furuno designs bicycle helmets as chic and sophisticated as any hatmaker would create. Born in Japan, she studied as an architect, and later received her masters at Oxford. Oxford is cycling city. As a student, Sawako was a lodger at the home of an elegant 80 year old woman, who happened to own the most beautiful bicycle Sawako would use to travel around town. It was there that her appreciation for cycling and its culture began.

Sawako moved to London to pursue a career in architecture and continued cycling as her mode of transportation. After a couple of close calls, she realized it was time to start wearing a helmet. Finding only road biking and racing styles available — the right idea but the wrong look — she decided to make her own. Producing 150 to start, she was soon spotted by Daily Candy in London and orders began pouring in. While she enjoyed architecture, she was passionate about these helmets and a side project would soon become her career. Furuno eventually gave up architecture to focus her creative energy full time on producing a line of posh helmets for the urban cyclist.

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SAWAKO FURUNO BICYCLE HELMETS

 
Sawako recently moved to New York where I had the opportunity to meet her last week for a coffee at one of our favorite cafes, Smile, in the Shinola store in Tribeca. She rode to our rendezvous on a beautiful purple Bobbin Bicycle, perfectly put together in the outfit above, and of course topped with her own Leopard Leatherette helmet. A few of her other designs are above. From tartans to animal prints to florals, these helmets have such flair, you might choose to wear them whether cycling or not.

Sawako Furuno helmets are available online at Sawako Furuno, Adeline Adeline and Papillionaire Bicycles

 

Beach Day

 

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SUMMER… it’s finally here! This weekend marks the unofficial start of 3 months of sun filled, water chilled beach days to come. It looks to be a bright and sunny season and we’re not just talking about the weather! From the yellow classic cruiser bike, to the flowery beach tote, to the black and white striped sunglasses, this summer’s beach essentials are colorful, graphic, and made for fun!

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ROW 1: THE BEACH CRUISER: Schwinn Starlet $470. The beach cruiser is a summertime favorite and the classic Schwinn only gets better with age. The “Starlet” is a stylish gal with its yellow frame, pink detailing and spring seat, and a cup holder for bit of extra cool while riding. THE RASHGUARD: Dakine Womens Classic Tropic $55. The surfers rashguard has become as much a fashion piece as a protective layer and this flowery number offers UPF 50+ sun protection. Quick drying and silky smooth, this rashguard has comfort and style both in and out of the water.

ROW 2: THE BEACH TOTE: Herschel Market Tote XL Paradise $60.Half floral, half camo, this multi-patterned beach tote features a reinforced bottom, stow pockets, and the room you need to transport all your summer essentials in style. THE CHRONOGRAPH: Vestal ZR2. The chronograph is a summer staple on land and sea. This classic sea blue timekeeper is made from surgical grade stainless steel, water resistant to 100 meters, and is ready for all your water sports. THE BEACH SHORT: Lemlem Lilly striped cotton-blend gauze shorts $170. Easy on and off with an elasticized waist, these little blue and white stripe cover-up shorts are made for a quick change and mad dash to and from the beach.

ROW 3: THE WAYFARER: Italia Independent Tribute to Juventus $197. World Cup fever has begun and this classic seaside sunglass takes its inspiration from the black and white striped jersey the Italian Juventus team. The frames are inscribed on one side with “Campioni d’Italia 2014 “ and on the other, “Non c’è 2 senza 3” (There is no 2 without 3), celebrating the consecutive victories of the Club in the past three seasons. THE BEACH TOWEL: Jonathan Adler Mykonos Beach Towel $98. Plush and luxe, this chic beach towel with its bright and graphic Chinese motif has ample real estate perfect for toweling off, laying out, and catching the eyes of passer-bys.

ROW 4: THE FLIP-FLOP: Havaianas Slim Cool $28. Made in Brazil, there is no rubber thong more comfortable than Havaianas and vibrant Brazilian urban art adorns the signature textured footbed this flip-flop. A slim matte strap with a contrast logo finishes the colorful look with pop. THE BEACH TOY: Sunnylife Pacific Beach Paddles $25. Hailing from Down Under, this Made in Australia paddleball set features the signature Sunnylife brand design aesthetic. Bright colors, clean lines and geometric graphics decorate these paddles for extra hit of fun in the sun. THE WATER SHOE: Sperry Top-Sider H2O Escape Bungee Sneaker $90. This ultra-lightweight and flexible water shoe is designed for all your favorite water sport activities from paddling to kayaking to hiking the rocky shores. Adaptive Wave-Siping™ disperses water underfoot to enhance stability and reduce slippage. Internal water channels and a perforated footbed provide drainage and help feet dry more quickly. An adjustable bungee provides a secure, easy on and off fit.

 

 

Surph-o-morph

 

 

Recently exhibited at Milan Design Week 2014 were the three surfboards of the Surph-o-morph project: Orca, Delfino, and Squalo. The translation is Whale, Dolphin, and Shark and the design of each is based on the marine mammal for which they are named — from the nose down to the tail fins. Surph-o-morph represents the collaboration between Italian industrial designer Giulio Iacchetti and Francesco A. Fiorentio of Surfer’s Den Daily Surfboards.

The boards are currently in production on request at a cost 1500 euros each. Yes, these works of art are made to be surfed, but one might want to be cautious given their likeness to these large ocean fish, as real sharks already mistake surfboards for prey. As design objects, however, they are beautifully crafted and quite the statement piece in and out of the water.
 
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Windrunners

 
VERUSHKA IN VOGUE 1965; NIKE TECH WINDJAMMER JACKET 2014

 

We have had our eye on the new bright and graphic Nike Tech Windrunner Jacket, and by chance stumbled upon this image of Verushka from Vogue, photographed by Henry Clarke in 1965. Whether purely coincidental or direct inspiration, the resemblance of the windbreaker to the dress is uncanny. The pink, lavender and green color blocking with black taped seams, look as fab on this mod dress as they do on this modern running jacket, and the blue of the Mediterranean sky is echoed in the jacket’s hood.

The Nike Tech Windrunner Jacket is in fact one of the first pieces of apparel Nike created in 1978 when the company was known only for its footwear. This updated version is a statement piece designed to protect against the elements. It features moisture wicking Dri-Fit fabric, an adjustable scuba hood, raglan sleeves, a stretch hem, and cuffs with thumbholes for high performance style.

 

The SOS Quick Summer Shape-Up

 
BODY SPACE FITNESS AND OWNER KELVIN GARY

 

Located on West 14th st. in Manhattan is Body Space Fitness, a mini-training camp for the urban athlete. The gym is laid out like a football field with 65 ft. of astro turf, and filled with NFL style training equipment and other sports conditioning apparatus. Weight sleds, power ropes, TRX suspension trainers, agility ladders, kettle bells and more are all used as part of the functional training that is at the core of owner and coach, Kelvin Gary’s fitness philosophy. Functional training is designed to simulate everyday movements performed at home, work or sports with multi-muscle, full body exercises that build strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, and help prevent injury.  Says Kelvin, “I believe in training the body to work and workout the way it was designed. Resistance training should be performed with as much lower and upper body integration as possible.”

With June just a couple of weeks away, we asked Kelvin to design a quick “Body Baring Workout” to get you ready for the hot months of short shorts, swimsuits, little dresses and tank tops to come. It’s a 3-part workout, 15 moves in total, broken down into phases of 5 moves each. We debuted phase 1 four weeks ago, followed by phase 2, and now have phase 3 for you below, which introduces a band into the workout. Each phase should be performed once a week for a 3 x per week workout, 2-3 sets of each exercise, 10-12 reps of each, performed circuit style or consecutively.

For optimum results, Kelvin recommends combining these moves with cardio, which can be done in 1 short 15 minute interval training session or 30 minutes of continuous movement. For those of you opting for intervals, start with a 2 minute warm-up, followed by 1 minute on, 1 minute off. This can be walk-run, run-sprint, flat-hill or other variations of your preferred cardio. Read More

 

Time For Adventure

 

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THE BIG SUMMER SPORTWATCH

From the mountaintops to the race tracks to the deep seas, this summer’s watch takes its inspiration from the world of sport and puts the fun in fun-ctionality. With all the features required for your sportiest adventures, be they just a day at the beach or walk in the park, these watches have BIG style to match. And while built for a guy, they make the perfect sporty accessory for women too!

ROW 1: CHOPARD MILLE MIGLIA GT XL $8960. Chopard’s emblematic sportswatch is named after the world famous classic car rally, the Millie Miglia. Its natural rubber strap echoes the 1960s Dunlop Racing tire-tread motif and the 44mm steel case houses a self-winding chronograph certified by the COSC. TISSOT T-RACE $650. A popular choice of Tissot motorsport ambassadors, this sporty timepiece boasts a dramatic design with race inspired elements. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal shields three chronograph dials and features Swiss quartz ETA movement. CITIZEN PROMASTER ALTICHRON $850. Made of lightweight titanium, the Promaster Altichron features an electronic compass and altimeter that can measure a range of 1000 to 32,000 feet. This watch is built for adventure-seeker with the style of the urban dweller.

ROW 2: TECHNOMARINE BLACK REEF $890. Inspired by one of the world’s most popular diving destinations, the Black Reef collection is built for divers in pursuit of adventure and fun. With a 500m water resistance, the luminous three-hand dial is easy to read underwater and the bezel is simple to grip and turn while wearing diving gloves. ROLEX EXPLORER II $8100. When it was launched in 1971, the Explorer II set new standards for chronometric precision, and is the recognized guide, tool and companion of sophisticated explorers worldwide. CASIO AMW380-4AV $120. From the ever popular diver-inspired analog chronograph series this fun orange watch is 100m water resistant and features a bi-directional rotating bezel functional for any watersport activity. With its bold color and style, this sportwatch makes a big statement on land too.

ROW 3: ELECTRIC DW01 PU $375. The DW01 takes its inspiration from the classic dive watch and reinterprets it with modern aquatic style. 300m water resistant, the watch features a 6 hand Japanese quartz chronograph and is housed in a 44.5mm surgical stainless steel case. TAG HEUER AQUARACER 500M CHRONOGRAPH $5500. This Limited Edition Calibre 72 Countdown Chronograph was designed in partnership Oracle Team USA during the 34th annual America’s Cup. It features the official Team USA emblem displayed at 6 and the iconic Defender boat motif stamped on the case back. OMEGA SPEEDMASTER “DARK SIDE OF THE MOON”. The Speedmaster chronograph from Omega was created in 1957 and in 1969 claimed its place in history as the first watch worn on the moon. The Apollo 8 astronauts were the first to see the “Dark Side of the Moon”. This watch represents is a sleek new addition to the iconic collection and features a black zirconium oxide ceramic dial with striking 18K white gold hands.

 CLICK FOR MORE GREAT SPORTY WATCHES!

 

Pocket Change

 
KAUFMANN MERCANTILE EDC BIKE KIT

 
For those appreciative of utilitarian chic, Kaufmann Mercantile is one of those stores like Best Made and Terrain, that manufactures, curates and sells the most perfectly simple things. Games, toys, tools and other everyday basics, beautifully crafted with nostalgic appeal, are their specialty, and add to that list the EDC Bike Kit.

Every day carry (or EDC) refers to the Kaufmann Mercantile collection of pocket-friendly necessities, and the kit includes the five indispensable tools every cyclist needs: two hex keys for on-the-road bike adjustments, a pair of mini pry bars for unexpected tire changes, and a glow-in-the-dark compass, along with a quick release keychain attachment. Handcrafted and Made in the USA with corrosion proof brass and industrial steel, these tools are the perfect pocket companion for the sophisticated rider whether they encounter a mishap or not.

 

Soft Landings

 

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6 TRAINERS THAT GO THE DISTANCE

For those putting in the miles training for 10ks, triathlons, half marathons and more (NYC Marathon for this SOS Editor!), a cushioned running shoe with good stability and durability is essential. This season’s crop have all that, plus a whole lot of style, and now are lighter than ever as well. Check out these 6 picks for the top trainers that go the distance!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BROOKS GHOST 6 $110. Winner of the Runners World Editors choice award 3 years in a row for its balance of cushioning, comfort and durability, the Ghost 6 is its lightest model to date. With full ground contact and segmentation of the sole, the shoe rolls with ease from heel-strike to toe-off, providing a soft and flexible ride. The unique offset lace loop keeps the tongue in place for a snug and comfortable fit.

SAUCONY KINVARA 5 $100. Another Runners World award winner, the fifth edition of the ever popular Kinvara, now weighs in at 7.7 ounces. Made with PowerGrid, this lightweight, ultra-premium cushioning foam maximizes rebound and flexibility for a smoother ride. The 4mm heel-to-toe offset allows for a more natural gait, giving the foot greater range of motion, and providing a more powerful running stride.

NEW BALANCE 890V4 $110. This lightweight trainer has been recognized for its responsive REVlite cushioning, but now offers more flexibility as well. The new sole configuration, with its deep grooves and rubber pods, give the forefoot more pliability, while the ABZORB® crash pad cradles the heel both medially and laterally for added stability.

NEWTON ENERGY NR $119. For those heel strikers who have wanted to experience the unique technology and ride found in Newton Running shoes, the EnergyNR facilitates the transition from a traditional running shoe to a more natural design. This is the second Newton model to incorporate their newer 5-lug sole design, which mirrors the structure of ball of the foot. With a more neutral heel drop than other Newton models, it offers more cushioning in the heel as well. Lightweight and bouncy, this is a fun and responsive shoe to work into the rotation.

NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR2 $150. The Nike Flyknit Lunar2 delivers the ideal blend of support, comfort and style. The soft and responsive Lunarlon cushioning, combined with the ultralight and strong Flyknit upper, delivers a plush ride with a supportive fit. The one-piece Flyknit layer is a formfitting and virtually seamless upper. It is woven more openly in areas that need greater flexibility and tighter in areas that demand more support.

ADIDAS ENERGY BOOST 2 $160. BOOST™ foam is proven to provide one of the highest energy returns of any cushioning material in the running industry. It is temperature-resistant to keep the spring in your step regardless of weather conditions. Light and fast, these shoes offer a soft and bouncy responsiveness combined with a seamless, sock-like fit that stretches and flexes as you run for added comfort and support.

 
 

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