V O L U M E I V / I S S U E I I I / M A Y- J U N E 2 0 2 0
52 INCHES A P A R T
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
COVID-19:
WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THE WRONG SYMPTOMS OUR EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON LIFE-SAVING INDICATORS
NAOMI CAMPBELL CONFINED
VEUVE CLICQUOT
THE 10th ANNIVERSARY PARTY IN LOS ANGELES EXCLUSIVE STAY FIT WITH OUR SIX-DAY "ANYWHERE" TRAINING PLAN
BRAIN POWER BEAT THE STAY-AT-HOME BLUES ICONIC MOMENTS
MOVING IMAGES FROM SHELTER-IN-PLACE
THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY IN THIS CRISIS
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Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand
Stanley Pierre-Etienne
Joshua Jakobitz
Luxury Contributor
Contributing Photographer
Mark Wine
Lifestyles Contributor
Michael J. Snell
Brand Representatives Anne-Isabelle Saint-Pierre - Dubai Rudy Volel - New York City Michael J. Snell - The Hamptons Stanley Pierre-Etienne - Caribbean Sara Ali - London
Publisher
Style Contributor
Philippe Lucas
Editor-in-Chief
Fitness Columnist
Joey Velez
Wellness Columnist
Cezar Kusik
Wine Contributor
Raphael Dapaah Art Contributor
Jyoti Paintel
Anne-Isabelle Saint-Pierre Style Contributor
William Smith Philanthropy Contributor Gregory Bertrand Copy Editor
Elle Chrysler
Polo Contributor
Claire Barrett
Head of Photography
Eva Espresso
Jessica Foret Wax - Santa Fe Charles Ward - Montecito K & Co. Media - Los Angeles Contributing Photographers
Claire Barrett U.S. Polo Association Ricky Tucker
Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518
Content Copyright Š Polo Lifestyles 2020 All Rights Reserved. For information or to advertise Contact editor@htpolo.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com Cover photo by Richard Phibbs Photo this page also by Richard Phibbs
Spiritual Contributor
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SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS R E T R O S P E C T I V E
ICONIC IMAGES FROM SHELTER-IN-PLACE A G LO BA L LOO K I N S I D E A PR I L 2020
page 28 POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand
Josh Jakobitz
Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain
Elle Chrysler
Stanley Pierre-Etienne
Polo Contributor U.S. Polo Connection @ellechrysler
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Claire Barrett
Head of Photography Claire Barrett Photography @clairebarrettphoto
Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz
Eva Espresso
Mark Wine
Jyoti Paintel
Fitness Columnist Functional Muscle @functionalmuscle
Spiritual Contributor Polo Lifestyles @jyotipaintel
Michael J. Snell
Gregory Bertrand
Style Contributor Photographer Lifestyles Contributor Lanmou Pou Ranyon Eva Espresso Photography MJS Groupe @stanleypierretienne @eva.espresso @agnello_1
Copy Editor Polo Lifestyles @bertrand7367
Philippe Lucas
Cezar Kusik
Luxury Contributor Flip Lucas @flipohlucas
Wine Contributor Polo Lifestyles @cezartastesearth
Joey Velez
William Smith
Wellness Columnist Philanthropy Contributor Velez Mental Performance Santa Fe Comm. Fdn. @velezmentalhealth @willismith_2000
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Naomi Campbell, model germaphobe page 88
Feeling nostalgic? Try period pieces pg 82
BStrong Foundation supplying PPE page xx
Retrospective: Veuve Clicquot L.A. page 38
COVID-19 REPORT:
An over-the-counter medical device could save your life and why waiting for the wrong symptoms is killing people. Now, physicians weigh in on what we can do at home to know when to go to the hospital. page 96
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Fifteen years ago today, as I write this, I became a published, front-page news writer at a daily newspaper. The newspaper wasn’t daily (it was six days a week, and later five during my tenure), but it was massively circulated through the community and I still remember the pride I felt holding a copy of it in my hands later that day when I was done with classes and starting my afternoon as a temp in the newsroom. One of the full-time news writers noticed me admiring my handiwork and winked at me, understandingly. Then the managing editor walked by and, without slowing down, asked me in passing, Where I was on the next piece I’d promised him for today? Back to work. May marks the second month of massive stay-at-home orders for much of the world. In the ever-shifting landscape of medical advice, orders, suggestions and commentary, we sought out experts in the medical field after deciding to include a health piece about COVID-19. We don’t and won’t profess to being a medical journal and I’m certainly not a health writer, but our sources are solid and the argument presented is based on evidence found in E.R.s in New York and research being done on the West Coast. New York City is ground zero for this pandemic in the United States, putting reality tv start-turned-humanitarian Bethenny Frankel (The Real Housewives of New York) smack dab in the middle of the action. Armed with her business knack and cell phone, Frankel has raised $15 million for providing personal protective equipment for frontline workers and, against all odds, has delivered it. Calling herself a no-red-tape humanitarian, her experience in Puerto Rico as well as smaller-scale disasters fueled her into a force to be reckoned with in the medical supply world. Her story and a feature BStrong Foundation can be in this month’s pages. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month and isn’t the timing about right? In an interview with Dr. Darby Bomoni, a clinical psychologist who works with riders, hunters, jumpers and other equestrians, Jyoti Paintel explores the emotional, mental and spiritual connections between horses and humans in an age of social distancing. Joey Velez shares how to arm your brain to face challenging times and Cezar Kusik is back, taking us to Sicily (until we can travel again, I’m happy to have his tales) to sample wine that warms the heart and soul. New writers Elle Chrysler and Philippe Lucas cover collegiate polo and luxury industries flourishing in 2020, respectively. Coach Wine has gifted every Polo Lifestyles reader with a six-day-a-week “anywhere” exercise routine, found in the back of the book. Josh Jakobitz josh@pololifestyles.com
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Thank you for not riding with UBER.
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afrolegacy.house Keep expecting and believing that your due season is coming. Photo credit @stevenonoja
harrywinston Harry Winston's diamond showers will bring May flowers
wimbledon Happy 50th Birthday to tennis legend Andre Agassi page 24
luxoitalia
garcelle
Musical icon Andrea Boccelli gave a solo performance representing a message of love, healing and hope
Garcelle Beauvais joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills this season
johnlegend "Quaranteam" post from John Legend and Chrissy Teigen is both heart-warming and thoughtful
platformforartists On Easter Sunday, a doctor's uniform was projected on Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro
billionairehouse Bajacu is a Caribbean masterpiece, designed by Marco Aldaco and listed for $18,800,000
wellcom_haiti New screening procedures in place as Caribbean nations open up factories and essential businesses
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Click and comment on our choices... tag @pololifestyles. We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
cntraveler Isolating outside of Dubai with photographer @aldric_a
jillgarbercouture What do you have at home that, perfectly paired, creates a statement look?
gabunion It's #happyhour table for 1? Missing our usual routine, but making an adapted one
allisonspeerpr Daily dining inspiration from Allison Speer #covidtable #coviddining #stayathome
royalreplimeghan The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spotted in Los Angeles delivering meals for Project Angel Food
starbucks Starbucks app brings updated news on open locations and COVID-19 protocols
frederique_makkei Rest in Peace to nature photographer Peter Beard who past in April
promodivers So proud of my brother @jpvertus for his debut as “Pascal� in Insecure on @HBO
vakiano.artisans All brown everything. Waterproof felt hat made of rabbit and otter hair by Lagomarsino page 25
The Ultimate Driving Machine.
CHOOSE YOUR X. THE BMW X RANGE.
NOW WITH 0% FINANCING.
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I C O N I C I M A G E S O F S H E LT E R - I N - P L A C E
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Shelter-in-place mandates around the world created a new reliance on ingenuity to stay connected to the ones we love, while limiting the spread of disease.
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Isolation and quarantine have unanticipated effects on family units: Internet searches for "How to not hate the person you're stuck inside with" have skyrocketed. Mindfullness activities and structure are the most popular suggestions for dealing with the stress of being with family units 24/7. Families dealing with separation from elderly relatives or divorced parents sharing custody of children are all new challenges of 2020.
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Celebrities and influencers have taken to social media in droves, relying on features like Instagram Live to connect with fans and consumers. Work from home (WFH) meetings, and ensuing virtual happy hours, are enhanced by video chat programs like Zoom. Drones around the world have captured footage of family units sheltering in place.
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Television hosts tape their programs from home, while families celebrating Passover and Easter connected digitally with other believers while synagogues and churches sit empty. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and her response to COVID-19 have been lauded for low infection rates. In India, police officers find humor in their jobs, educating the population on correct social distancing.
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Retrospectie
TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF
VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO CL A SS IC · LOS ANG E LE S
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RETROSPECTIVE BEHIND THE SCENES: DREAMING & CREATING LUXURY'S PINNACLE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENT
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os Angeles-based event producer Jeff Brown dreamed that he would design the VIP experience for the 10th Anniversary of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles under a floral canopy duet of custom-made, 30-foot tall fantasy trees comprised of 1,500 branches blooming in the brand’s iconic yellow hue. page 40
Then he presented that idea – in addition to vignettes and looks for dozens of other areas of the event – to the brand team. His pitch was met with one recurring question: How will it look on Instagram? “Ten years ago, when we designed and produced the first Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles, we didn’t think about capturing moments for Instagram or other social media,” Brown said. “The conversation has
definitely shifted, and today, one of the more pressing topics when looking at design and budget is, ‘Is it Instagrammable?’ We design from two perspectives: over-the-head ‘wow’ and head-down detail that works within that 4x4 Instagram frame.” Brown’s plan – his signature overscale elements mixed with poignant vignettes in strategic locations – including the floral canopy duo received the go-ahead from the Veuve Clicquot
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The VIP experience for Veuve Clicquot’s 10-Year Anniversary Polo Classic, Los Angeles, under a floral canopy duet of custom-made, 30-foot tall fantasy trees comprised of 1,500 branches blooming in the brand’s iconic yellow.
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Celebrities, like Julia Roberts, right, turned out for the elevated VIP experience. The RosĂŠ Garden and General Admission were soldout ticket levels at the 10-Year Anniversary of Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles.
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brand team at Moet Hennessey. Brown and his team began the design process of assembling the raw materials and florals necessary for the installation weeks in advance. The result was an out-of-this-world feeling of being embraced by super-natural elements. Oversized design elements also made appearances in both the Rose Garden and General Admission experience. The former was anchored by eight blooming arches each 16 feet square, while the latter sported a 20-foot high, tiered birthday cake with a hidden DJ booth on top. “We work hard to ensure that every ticket level feels the love. For example, in general admission, a DJ duo played a surprise set, page 44
inspiring a dance party on the lawn after the last chukker and Nacho Figueras joined the party, spraying champagne and dancing.” On the more exclusive side of the event, a $1,000-per-person ticket to the inaugural La Grande Dame lounge elevated the experience for an intimate group of about 100 guests. “This was definitely something special created to debut at the 10-year anniversary,” said Brown. “Will it be a recurring ticket option next year? You’ll have to wait and see,” he teased. Brown also saw the 225 catering and waitstaff professionals as blank canvasses for design. “We love color, so the Veuve Clicquot palette – that
iconic yellow with bold pink and the greens of the lawn and natural areas – gives us a compelling mood board from which to jump. From there, we design looks and outfit staff members in detailed wardrobe accessories that play into the garden chic theme and create thoughtful images.” For Veuve Clicquot and Moet Hennessey, the images are essential. Literally millions of likes, impressions and shares mean that the Internet is saturated with very on-brand imagery over the course of the day, and in the weeks to follow. It’s nearly impossible to browse Instagram the day of the event and not see something from the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles.
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The RosĂŠ Garden was anchored by eight blooming arches each 16 feet square to heighten the luxury experience while providing Instagrammable, 4x4 moments.
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VE U V E C L I CQU OT P OLO C L AS S I C
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Polo power couple Nacho Figueras and Delfina Blaquier are perennial figures at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classics in both New York City and Los Angeles. They joined Team Veuve Clicquot to face Team Will Rogers in the day's match.
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BROWNHOT EVENTS “I get most imaginative when I’m in a quiet space. I often initiate the crafting of my greatest designs in the quiet and calm of a blank setting” said Jeff Brown, principal of BrownHot Events in Los Angeles. “There is great magic in collaborating with our talented designers and partners on our prestigious vendor team - playing off of each other’s ideas until the perfect tableau emerges.” Brown’s ethos of overscale design elements work within the context of a grand event like the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, attracting more than 6,500 consumers – and creating an ultra-luxurious party environment that both invites attendees to sit back, relax and enjoy more champagne as well as clamor for tickets year after year.
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N E W Z E AL AN D BMW POLO OPEN
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A 20-foot tall birthday cake was the photo op du jour on the General Admission side. Post-match, Nacho Figueras made a surprise appearance in front of the cake to spray champagne while a duo of DJs popped out of the top of the cake for a dance party.
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Attendees took "polo chic" to the next level, arriving in couture looks, preppy suits, avant-garde pieces and traditional hats perfect for the sunny day's activities.
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The creation of this exceptional clock draws its inspiration from the concept "tempus fugit" (times flies), providing an endless source of fascination. Whether long or short, friend or foe, time runs wild and free. The idea of "taming" it - not to gain mastery over it but rather to better appreciate it - this was the starting point of the amazing adventure which gave birth to the mare and her foal, an automaton and exceptional clock baptized “Hippologia.� The Parmigiani Haute Horlogerie Manufacture has mastered the fine art of creating beautiful timepieces shrouded in mystery. Through its restoration work, Parmigiani is intimately acquainted with historical masterpieces, enabling it to hone its own creativity. This manifests itself in the form of unique timepieces, each a real piece of watchmaking bravura. In the past, the manufacture has already created many table clocks decorated with sculptures reproducing a dynamic movement. This year, Parmigiani Fleurier wanted to dream bigger and go further.
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YA L E P O LO C LU B
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR COLLEGIATE POLO ELLE CHRYSLER @ellechrysler Polo Contributor
A
year ago, not many would have believed what would transpire in 2020. Life,
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as we knew it, has changed forever. When events, schools and businesses shut down, Interscholastic and Intercollegiate (I/I) Polo was not spared by COVID-19, and, unfortunately, seasons came to a sudden end as teams were separated indefinitely. Members of various I/I programs shared with Polo Lifestyles how they are dealing with the ongoing situation, what it was like to go through the
abrupt turn of events, what their plans are for the future and the advice that they had for other programs going through the same circumstances. For the first installation of this focus on I/I polo, Yale University’s Elizabeth Brayboy provided her insights. Brayboy is a well-known and respected member of the polo community. Her titles include alumni advisor, Yale Polo Board president and
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Covid-19 brought Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Polo to a screeching halt. How are teams planning for an uncertain future?
former Garrison Forest coach. In our conversation, she shared the effects of social distancing and stay-at-home orders on their program, as well as plans for going forward. EC: When the lockdowns were first issued, what transpired, and how has the suspension of the season impacted members of the team? EB: “Of the three programs at Yale, the intercollegiate team was the most significantly impacted. They were away for spring break and basically told not to come back. This all occurred right before the men’s intercollegiate team was scheduled to play in the USPA regional tournament at Cornell. The team was just about to ship horses out when the tournament was officially called off. The players were disappointed to not finish their season but understood that it was necessary because of the circumstances.” “From the intercollegiate team’s perspective, they were not gearing up for a tournament. The season was over for the most part, but they lost an additional month that they could have continued to play.” EC: How has it changed how you operate? EB: “The biggest issue for the program has been a loss of revenue.
Normally, Yale would have active programs going with 30 horses to the middle of April and then 10 horses between April and May before ramping things back up again for summer polo. Due to COVID-19, the program decided to reduce costs by turning out most of the horses. The team took two shipments of horses to a farm in Virginia, leaving only 10 horses at the Yale barn in turnouts. EC: What are some of your concerns going forward with the operation of your team? EB: “The Yale program has gone through a scenario modeling process, in which they looked at five different outcomes. The board will be talking through the models and using them to make plans for the program moving forward. They looked at reopening dates of June 1, July 1, August 1, and an additional scenario based on the [students] not returning in the fall. The board modeled out what the cost implications would be for each scenario and how they would need to respond. Would workers need to be furloughed? What would the program do with the horses? The biggest question for our program and everybody at this point is, ‘When do we come back?’” EC: How have you dealt with funding your club during this crisis?
EB: “We were solid going into this – not that we can run without revenue for a long time – but we were okay. We did apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The PPP requires a lot of paperwork. You submit all of your payroll information from federal and state filings; you show that you paid unemployment compensation, etc. We were in a good place because we have a great accountant. They were able to pull the work very quickly to submit the PPP application the Monday after the loan process opened. Yale Polo shortly after heard that the application had been submitted and approved by the SBA. The next step will take about 10 days for the bank to do the paperwork and complete the loan origination, and then ideally, we should see the funds in our account. All in all, it has been about a three-week process by the time that it is done.” EC: Do you have advice for other programs? EB: “Having your paperwork organized and easy to access made a big difference in helping our program to secure a PPP loan. Avoid taking shortcuts because they can be costly later.” By Elle Chrysler Polo Contributor Polo Lifestyles 2020 •
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NOW STREAMING
POLO PROGRAMMING DESIGNED
FOR YOUR SHELTER-IN-PLACE 'POLO FIX' JOSH JAKOBITZ @joshuajakobitz Editor-in-Chief
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ith our favorite polo series and tournaments canceled in the interest of global health for the foreseeable future, there are still ways to stay connected with teams and page 62
players. From Instagram Live chats to streaming content on the Internet, on one hand, it is as easy as ever to stay connected to our community. Sure, it’s still not the same as actually being there, in the VIP tent on the sidelines, but it might help to change out of those yoga pants and pour yourself a mimosa while you tune into a few of our preferred platforms.
Global Polo, streaming online at globalpolo.com, continues to push out original content. “Inside the Boards” is hosted by the U.K.’s Karl UdéMartinez, who joins guests via video chats. The platform did not exist a year ago. “We feel we are really doing the right thing at the right time,” said USPA’s Shannon Stilson, assistant vice president of marketing at USPA Global Licensing. The launch and rollout coincided with the 2020 Gauntlet
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Far left: The Global Polo desk from where programming was taped prior to Covid-19 restrictions; Above: PoloLine.tv broadcast the Argentine Open final last fall; left: ChukkerTV is rolling out additional programming in lieu of live matches
Global Polo's "Inside the Boards" continues to tape with remote production while Instagram Live is an interactive way for polo players and fans to connect virtually. of Polo series. Global Polo was posting two or three live games per day when the matches were played back-to-back at the International Polo Club in Wellington. The producers also created 10-minute recap videos of the matches. COVID-19 brought the entire world to a grinding halt, and by early March as cities, counties and states were going into lockdown and enforcing stay-at-home orders, the leadership at the U.S. Polo Assn. met to discuss discontinuing the Gauntlet of Polo series. In an effort to stave off the inevitable, the last matches were played in the company of only grooms, coaches, family, close friends and USPA personnel. A few days later, the remaining matches of the series were canceled. Faced with a lack of fresh content, Stilson and the Global Polo team discussed what could continue to be produced and how. With subscription numbers hovering just under 5,000, they did not want to disappoint the fan base they had worked
so hard to attain in a short period. “Inside the Boards” would continue to be taped and produced remotely, working across time zones and language barriers. Additionally, the crew dug into the archives to pull out best-of and vintage matches. Each Monday, an email newsletter drops the weekly lineup, and Stilson says the response has been positive. Global Polo exceeded 5,000 subscribers and will partner with Polo Lifestyles in the month of May to distribute content and expand the subscription base. The Instagram Live feature is another one of our favorite places to connect with polo players and influencers. Although less planned and more spontaneous than Web-based streaming content, if you are on your phone and happen to follow more than 10 polo users, chances are you will find a live chat at just about any given time. Instagram Live is not perfect, the
interactive feature has considerable delays, and depending upon Wi-Fi bandwidth, the connections can be less than ideal. But the conversations and topics are raw, off-handed and generally motivational. ChukkerTV, available for free on most TV and phone streaming platforms, created the ChukkerTV@ Home feed, in which polo personalities interview players and others. Interviews to date include Grant Ganzi, Juan Bollini Jr., Nic Roldan, Sebastian Merlos, Gussie Busch, Billy Busch, Hilario Ulloa, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Jan-Erik Franck, Hope Arellano and Julio Arellano. PoloLine.tv has a plethora of quality segments on 11 different channels on their subscription-free Web site. The PoloLive.tv channel lineup includes FIP, The Polo Show, Q&A, Polo News, Women’s Polo, Royal Charity Polo, The 2018 Westchester Cup, Polo Herencia de Gloria, Gladiator Polo, Break Time and XPL. page 63
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MENTAL HEALTH TOOLBOX THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PEAK RIDING PERFORMANCE
JYOTI PAINTEL @jyotipaintel Spirituality Contributor
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he global pandemic sweeping through the world has forced us to see how much we need our most valued social relationships to sustain our mental health. We are rapidly losing our ability to create meaningful connections in real-life scenarios. By meaningful, I am page 68
referring to the time when people did not have to cover their faces, stand six feet apart or stay at home most hours of the day. It almost feels like a by-gone era. I certainly hope not, but mentally we must cope with uncertainty and quickly adapt to a new, slightly dystopian world where we are collectively fighting a formidable enemy. We must change the way we eat, breathe, sleep and interact with the world with
very conscious intent every moment from now until no more are lost to this enemy too terrible to name, so I will just call it 19, hoping, like last year, it will come to pass. May is also mental health month, so I am covering a special topic for Polo Lifestyles on how equestrians can adapt to some pretty big constraints. Training for polo matches is exhausting for both rider and horse, so several ponies
are used, with teams of people needed to prepare for each new ride. Social distancing would appear to be impossible in many equine-related sports. Claude Alix-Bertrand, Captain of Haiti Polo Team, explained what goes on behind the scenes daily to stay in shape and to play professional polo: “There are a lot of people involved in the handling of polo ponies – grooms, coaches, vets, delivery peo-
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ple, etc. Due to the number of people involved in the running of a barn, I’m spending less to no time at the barns in order to avoid contacting anyone potentially with the virus.”
Adaptability and Peak Performance It might be difficult for ordinary non-athletes, such as myself, to understand, but reaching the level of peak performance getting to the level of professional competition often takes starting a physically challenging fitness routine at dawn and ending at dusk most days. The athletes who will no longer compete in this summer’s canceled 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo must certainly be heartbroken. Aside from feeling collective grief with the rest of the world, they must feel crestfallen with disappointment from not being able to compete after years of intense physical conditioning to achieve a spot in the prestigious competition. In fact, in the world of professional sports, at any time, lost training can affect the physical condition of athletes, not to mention the lingering impact it can have emotionally and mentally. After all, they have passionately pursued their lifelong dreams to compete at this level. Equestrian sports must take into consideration that there needs to be complete cooperation and confidence between the rider and the horse.
Peak Performance Post-Virus The government-mandated lockdown, its ban on public gatherings and closing of businesses has surely impacted anyone who has a horse, or professionally rides either through sport or show. In the case of practicing equine professionals such as polo players, it is now impossible considering we know how many people must be involved. There is something unique about the relationship between a horse and the rider that demands constant attention to detail. Like all good relationships, it page 70
takes a lot of time and patience. Being an equestrian is not for the weak; it takes strength, discipline and stamina to stay in peak physical condition.
Going to the ranch and just being around the horses was very healingthey were my sanctuary, and they still are.”
To get a better understanding of this relationship and about the time and energy that goes into maintaining and elevating equestrian sports performance, I had a chance to speak with who else? A horse whisperer.
Unlike many other traditional sports that do not rely on the cooperation of another animal, riding requires that you gain trust and the confidence of the horse first, and if you are emanating anything other than confidence, then, unfortunately, the horse is acutely tuning into that energy, too.
Dr. Darby Bonomi has had a passion for riding horses since she was in high school and is an equine specialist. While she holds multiple degrees in counseling and has her own practice as a therapist for human problems, she also specializes in “horse problems” and coaches competitive riders through a wide array of psychological blocks toward progress. Clearly, she has the academic and professional expertise required for such a niche role in the industry. Still, besides her breadth of knowledge on traditional techniques to enhance performance, Bonomi relies on something unique to anyone who understands what it means to be an equestrian: intuition. “The importance of relying on an unspoken communication system between you and the massively strong animal you are trying to ride and control simply cannot be underestimated.” She should know, she began honing her skills and the mastery needed to become a world-class equestrian while still a teenager when her family bought a ranch in Sonoma county. The discipline of the routine that goes into grooming and the maintenance of a horse was hard work, but it paid off handsomely when Bonomi went on to ride and win in many prestigious shows and competitions. The ranch not only took her far away from the hectic city life of San Francisco, where she had grown up, but it was also a reprieve from the hectic events going on in her personal life. “My parents divorced in my late teens, and like most kids, I took it hard.
The language used between a horse and its rider is a sacred contract, an unspoken agreement that has enabled civilizations and humanity to progress, this language speaks through our intuition. Horses have had an incalculable role in humankind’s evolution, and continue to be an inherent creature of fascination. Our love affair with them has sustained, even in this modern day of the era of endless, ever-new technology. But like all relationships, fear can get in the way of harmony when the rider feels emotional or psychological roadblocks, is experiencing frequent frustration or no longer having positive feelings about riding altogether. Bonomi has been working with precisely these types of issues, and as someone who has honed her intuitive capacities, as well as being an expert in equine and human behavior, she can diagnose by gently peeling back the layers of what else? Fear. This word is often associated with many mental health issues. Her clients experience fear of failure, anxiety during performances or competitions or frustration when hitting the same obstacle in training. Her work is fascinating, and her approach is so holistic that this will be covered in a two-part series where she gives more insight and advice on weathering through this pandemic (at home!) and staying in peak performance. By Jyoti Paintel Spirituality Contributor Polo Lifestyles 2020 •
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BETHENNY FRANKEL FROM REALITY TV TO DISASTER RELIEF HERO
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BETHENNY FRANKEL
NO-RED-TAPE HUMANITARIANISM DELIVERS $15 MILLION IN AID TO HEALTH-CARE & FRONT-LINE WORKERS
I
n the pilot episode of Real Housewives of New York, Bethenny Frankel turned on her stove. “I’m a natural-food chef,” she said in voiceover, by way of introduction. “I want to be a household name, like a modern, healthy Martha Stewart.” It was just one of the things she was known for in 2008, like her fluffy dog Cookie, her desire to find love, and her signature “skinny-girl margarita.” Since then, Frankel has taken on many professional titles; one of them, increasingly, is savior. With her BStrong initiative, she springs into action around disaster relief, contributing critical supplies and funding to Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Maria and Irma, California after the wildfires, Mexico City after an earthquake. Now, with the rest of the planet, she has turned her attention to COVID-19. She has
raised over $15 million so far, using the money to coordinate the delivery of masks and hazmat suits, and to direct funding to hospitals, healthcare systems and police officers in New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco and more. At a time when many celebrities seem brutally tone-deaf, logging into their Instagram accounts for live sessions from their mega-mansions, Frankel, 49, appears to be using her money and influence for good. In 2017, Frankel launched the BStrong initiative, which provides disaster supplies and coordinates their delivery via shelters and local organizations. In a heartbreaking 2018 episode of RHONY, Frankel, and co-star Dorinda Medley traveled to Puerto Rico, where they handed out $300 pre-loaded cards and bottles of water to weeping recipients. Why has disaster relief become Frankel’s raison d’être? “I am an intense business person. I dive into whatever I’m passionate about and don’t come out until the mission is over...I am a ‘get it done’ executor and I don’t do red tape or complaining,” Frankel said in an interview last week. “I just figure it out. Disaster relief is for an intensely organized person who can handle the fastest rollercoaster on earth.” For their work on the global pandemic, Frankel and BStrong have teamed with a 501(c)(3) organization, Global Empowerment Mission, to raise funds
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and work directly with PPE manufacturers to drop supplies at hospitals, health clinics, health departments, police departments and healthcare companies. Occasionally, they give the money straight to these essential departments. “With this donation, we continue to make sure our staff are able to suit up for this fight,” said Paul J. Connor, the chief administrative officer at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital. The hospital received 4,000 masks and 500 bio-hazard suits from BStrong and Global Empowerment Mission. “We are grateful that Bethenny Frankel and her BStong initiative will protect our healthcare heroes.” While her volunteer work may seem herculean, Frankel’s current daily routine during COVID-19 might not be all that different from the one happening in your house. “We wake up and snuggle with the dogs, watch TV, start
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Frustrated by federal and humanitarian responses to Puerto Rico, Bethenny Frankel's BStrong Foundation gathered supplies, chartered jets and personally handed out relief items, toys for children and pre-loaded gift cards redeemable as cash to Puerto Ricans, largely those living in the hardest-hit, most-rural areas of the island.
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“With this donation, we continue to make sure our staff are able to suit up for this fight,” said Paul J. Connor, chief administrative officer at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital. The hospital received 4,000 masks and 500 bio-hazard suits from BStrong and Global Empowerment Mission.
https://w w w. b e t he nny.co m / bs t r o n g - di s a s t e r - r e l i ef/ learning and reading. Then we may get into an art project,” she says of life with her 9-year-old daughter, Bryn. “I am the day-to-day operations—organizing my daughter’s school, cooking, dog groomer, running my business, and relief effort.” She is also diving back into that original professional passion. “I’ve been cooking all three meals and loving it,” she says. “I am always creative with my freezer and pantry, but it’s very creative to plan the meals out. I’ve been to the market twice in a month, so I am foraging daily.” Bethenny Frankel's BStrong foundation has raised over $15 million so far. The funds have be used to coordinate the delivery of masks and hazmat suits, and to direct funding to hospitals, healthcare systems and police officers in New York City, New Orleans and San Francisco. The BStrong Foundation has committed to serving up to 250 hospitals in the United States, where PPE is increasingly hard to find on the marketplace.
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to BStrong to assist with COVID-19 issues. “As I ramped up my Covid relief efforts at my foundation, I knew she was someone who could make a difference.” When asked why more celebrities and privileged people are not stepping up, Frankel doesn’t take the bait to bash them further. “I have no idea what other people are doing,” she says. “I know this takes a very organized, strategic person who is an executor. This is a non-partisan, ‘don’t complain, don’t explain’ effort.”
Still, Frankel’s not superhuman, and One item on her regular to-do list she feels the same anxieties as anyone that you might not be able to reabout the pandemic and its aftermath. late to, though? Rallying celebri“It’s normal for people to feel trauma, ties like Mindy PTSD, anxiety I have no idea what other Kaling, Amy and fear. This people are doing,” she says. Schumer, Ellen is an unpreceDegeneres, Katie dented crisis, “I know this takes a very Couric and many so we should organized, strategic person who have unprecemore to contribis an executor. This is a nonute. A few days dented feelpartisan, ‘don’t complain, don’t ago, Matthew ings,” she said. explain’ effort.” McConaughey Structure helps, and his wife she added. Bethenny Frankel Camilla Alves “Even taking McConaughey a hot bath and stepped up, donating enough money putting clean clothes on resets the to cover 80,000 masks for essential day.” workers in Austin, Texas. And her BStrong work brings a kind “We worked closely together during of comfort, too. “It’s a project. It’s the Puerto Rico crisis. As entrepreproductive,” Frankel says. She recently neurs, I was able to see first-hand her posted on Instagram, wearing a big ability to execute against all odds, cozy sweater and flannel pants. “If and I was deeply impressed,” says there is one thing COVID-19 has reGrant Verstandig, the founder of Rally minded us of is what is real and what Health. He and the Verstandig Family is important,” she wrote, “Because Foundation have donated $1.3 million everything else is just filler.”
“
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Above: "Downton Abbey's" Lady Mary Crawley Talbot (Michelle Dockery); Right: Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) for "The Crown"
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A DOSE OF NOSTALGIA PERIOD DRAMAS TRANSPORT US TO DAYS-GONE-BY
There is something comforting about a period drama. Perhaps it’s the escapism we are afforded by looking into an era in which we do not live or the aesthetic that’s unfamiliar to our own. Or, maybe it is the lavish production that often accompanies period pieces, offering endless hours of dreaming and distraction. Whatever the reason for their appeal, costume dramas continue to beguile contemporary audiences. Here, we round up our 10 favorite television and film dramas set in bygone eras.
“Downton Abbey”
“The Crown”
One of the most popular period dramas of all time, “Downton Abbey,” has been a huge success in both the UK and the US. The series, which launched in 2010, follows the aristocratic lives of the Crawley family between 1912 and 1926.
“The Crown” has made fans out of period drama detractors and the most steadfast anti-royalists. The show uses the life of Queen Elizabeth II as its focus, offering insights into the inner dynamics and workings of the British royal family, tracking her life since she was young up until more recent years. It has received acclaim for its acting performances, cinematography and gripping storytelling.
To date, it is the most-watched television show on both ITV and PBS, and subsequently became the most successful British costume drama series since the 1981 television program “Brideshead Revisited.” In 2019, its creator Julian Fellowes followed up its six seasons with a feature-length film starring many of the original cast.
“Poldark” “Poldark” is the show that made Sundays sexy again. Yes, the nation may have stayed in for “Downton Abbey” and “Indian Summers”, but page 83
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it was “Poldark”, which emerged on our screens in 2015, that sent female reviewers and audiences aquiver. Starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Aidan Turner, the show became a hit almost instantly. The public became obsessed with the relationship between the aesthetically gifted Ross Poldark and his wild-haired wife, Demelza.
“Pride & Prejudice” There have been many Jane Austen adaptations, but none (bar perhaps 1995’s “Sense & Sensibility”) are as convincing and charming as the 1995 BBC version. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth star as Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, who realize that they, despite their different temperaments and social standings, are perfect for one another. The pairings are believable, the supporting cast is excellent and it accurately represents Austen’s intelligent, sharp dialogue. It also delivers one of the most unforgettable scenes in history, Firth’s Darcy dripping wet after emerging from a lake, and for that alone, we are grateful.
“Atonement” Based on Ian McEwan’s book of the same name, “Atonement” is a film about love, war and redemption.
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The narrative starts with one awful mistake made by a 13-year-old child that prompts a tragic series of events set amid the backdrop of World War II. Featuring a young Saoirse Ronan, as well as James McAvoy and an ever-stylish Keira Knightley, this is a complex film that asks whether we can really atone for our previous crimes.
the story follows Ryder’s relationship with a wealthy and eccentric family called the Flytes, who live in a mansion called Brideshead Castle. Sophisticated, nostalgic and hedonistic, “Brideshead Revisited” offers escapism into a bygone world of the English good life.
“Life is Beautiful”
“The French Lieutenant’s Woman” interweaves two love stories set in different periods, one in the Victorian era and another in the 1980s. Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons star as the romantic leads in both, with the former earning herself an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA win for Best Actress. Their performances, viewed today, might feel on the hammy side, but the character of the French lieutenant’s woman is still interesting - a woman ahead of her time who refused to conform to what was expected.
The triple Oscar-winning “Life is Beautiful” is about a Jewish man who uses humor to shield his young son from the horrors of living in a concentration camp. One of the highest-grossing foreign-language films of all time, it is directed by Italianborn Roberto Benigni. Released in 1997, the tear-jerking movie stirred controversy for allegedly diminishing the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust. However, the critical acclaim that the film received speaks for itself. “Life is Beautiful” is a brave testament to the power of imagination and resilience in the toughest of scenarios.
“Brideshead Revisited”
“Bright Star”
“The French Lieutenant’s Woman”
The 13-hour serialization of Evelyn Waugh’s novel may have first aired in 1981, but it is still rightly remembered as one of history’s finest period dramas. Starring a young Jeremy Irons as lead protagonist Charles Ryder,
Jane Campion perfectly depicts the intensity and pain of first love in “Bright Star”, which explores the passionate relationship between 19th-century poet John Keats and his muse, Fanny Brawne. He was a
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dreamer, and she was a realist, but they fell madly in love anyway, much to the disdain of her family, who hoped that she would marry someone of wealth. Ultimately, Fanny and John’s story ended when the sickly poet died young, aged 25. “Bright Star” is a delicate, beautiful homage to heart-stopping passion.
Opposite Page: On the set of "Pride & Prejudice" and the film poster for "The French Lieutenant's Wife." Above: "Life is Beautiful"; Left: "Atonement"
“A Room with a View” Helena Bonham Carter was just 19 when she landed the life-changing role of Lucy Honeychurch in 1985’s “A Room with A View”. Set between Florence, in Italy, and Surrey, in Edwardian England, this compelling romance sees Lucy fall in love with the unsuitable George Emerson while on holiday in Tuscany. Her chaperone immediately whisks her back to the U.K., where she becomes engaged to the smug Cecil, played by a young Daniel Day-Lewis. Not long after, George moves nearby, and Lucy is forced to make a big decision about what she really wants from life.
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STAY HOME NAOMI CAMPBELL DOESN'T MIND SOCIAL DISTANCING
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NAOMI CAMPBELL'S QUARANTINE STATUS,
HER NEW SHOW & VIRAL VIDEOS OF HER AIRPLANE SANITIZING ROUTINE T
he “Making the Cut” judge was in the middle of a battle with a household appliance.
winning look from each episode will be available for purchase directly on Amazon.
“Hold on, one second. What happened here?” She said to herself, along with some light banging of a then-unknown object in the background. The culprit of her distraction? “I don’t know what happened to my juicer!” she said after she resolved the technical difficulty. (She was making celery juice.)
With two episodes dropping weekly every Friday, Campbell is already making a name for herself as one of the more entertaining judges to watch for her blunt fashion criticism.
Amazon Prime Video’s “Making the Cut,” created and hosted by “Project Runway” alums Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, premiered last month. With Campbell as one of the judges, alongside Nicole Richie, French editor Carine Roitfeld, mega-influencer Chiara Ferragni and designer Joseph Altuzarra, the series is the latest to join a growing group of reality fashion competition shows currently on view, including Netflix' “Next in Fashion” and the longtime, aforementioned “Project Runway.” But what sets “Making the Cut” apart from the rest is how high the stakes are and the exposure that comes with it. The contestants are experienced designers from all over the world competing for the grand prize of a mentorship to be the next global fashion brand, along with a $1 million reward. Challenges take place in Paris, New York City and Tokyo. Plus, every page 90
“I wasn’t impressed with your outfits,” said Campbell to Los Angeles-based contestant Jonny Cota, who designed an oversized cotton kimono for the second episode’s couture challenge that, according to the supermodel, is something she would wear to the hairdresser’s. “It’s not inspiring. It’s a respect to the word ‘couture.’ You can envision it your way, but you have to keep it at a certain level.” “I got my (expletive) handed to me by Naomi Campbell,” said Cota after the judges decided to keep him in the competition. “She’s seen it all; she’s done it all; she’s worn it all, so read me. If you see the imperfection, read me. I don’t care. I can handle it.” What drew you to join “Making the Cut” as a judge? Campbell: Heidi is a friend, and she asked me. I had said no originally because I didn’t think I could commit that much time, but it wasn’t that much time filming-wise, so I was able to change my mind and do it.
How was the experience compared to previous reality competition shows you’ve been on, like “The Face”? Campbell: There isn’t much difference. At the end of the day, it’s the same thing: You’re trying to find the best and who’s going to get that title and opportunity. I just love the creativity and seeing how they’ve interpreted [challenges] into their style. They’ve got a lot of things thrown at them, and they’ve dealt with it. I like to see growth, and I got to see growth. I love all of the places we’re in: Paris, Tokyo — you couldn’t ask for anything better — and New York. All of these highly creative places in the fashion business. That was a real treat. That’s a dream, and a lot of the creatives don’t start off in that way. You’ve been praised for your honest critiques on “Making the Cut” so far. What’s your approach to that? Have you ever felt like holding back? Campbell: There is no approach; I don’t have a plan. That’s just who I am. All that Naomi knows, that’s how I’m going to speak. For me, whether the cameras are there or not, that’s what I would say. It’s not about reality TV; it’s reality to me. It’s someone’s life in your hands that you have an opportunity to give a
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STAY HOME
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platform to, and to show their creativity, you don’t want to play with that. You want to be honest. Your YouTube channel is getting a lot of attention, too, especially the video on your flight routine. Did you expect your videos to go so viral? Campbell: No, I didn’t do it for [it to go viral]. It’s what I’ve been doing for so many years, and I just never showed it. My friend had never flown with me, and she was like, “You do this all of the time?” And I was like, “Yep, for years.”
Campbell: People have been asking a lot of things in the last week or two. I don’t know. I like the YouTube format because you get to own the content, and I like it the way it is for right now. Are you in New York City quarantining right now? Campbell: Yes, I am! You know what? I’m hanging with the New Yorkers! I am proud of being a New Yorker. And I love your governor! Governor Cuomo is bloody brilliant. Absolutely bravo, honest, he’s great. He’s straight to the point.
And then we filmed it, yes, with the intent of putting it on my channel. But all these years that have passed, never thought about it. For me, that’s the way I’ve always flown.
Campbell: That’s how it needs to be! No B.S. (sic).
Would you be open to a reality series on your life in the future?
Campbell: I work out every day with my trainer [Joe Holder] live on
What have you been doing while staying home?
Instagram at 12:15 pm EST. I'm doing different things with different friends. I cooked banana pudding for Ghetto Gastro’s “Gastronomical Cribs.” I’m just keeping myself busy; doing these meetings on Zoom. And I’m cleaning my house, which I am loving! [Laughs] I'm loving it. I’m loving to clean my own house. What’s your go-to outfit while working from home? Campbell: In the morning, it’s workout clothes and then sweats and a T-shirt, and maybe a caftan after my bath. For me, I realized I must have a routine. I’m sticking to a routine, so I have something I can always look forward to. Maria Bobila for Nylon · Reprinted with permission · Polo Lifestyles 2020
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SPECIAL REPORT
A COMMON MEDICAL DEVICE COULD SAVE YOU FROM COVID-19 A
s both public and private researchers and health organizations begin to learn more about COVID-19, respected physicians and researchers are suggesting many patients are focusing on the wrong symptoms, delaying medical attention and ultimately facing the uncertain availability of a ventilator when their lung capacity is exhausted. For nearly two months, patients have been largely instructed to wait at home until their symptoms – cough, fever and body ache, loss of taste or sense of smell, or difficulty breathing – either improve or worsen, but physicians at the heart of the pandemic are treating patients who waited far too long – based on medical advice. The human body is a remarkable organism, when one part of the organism cannot function at 100%, the body can compensate for extended periods of time. Such is the case of the novel coronavirus. As the virus attacks the
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lungs’ function and capacity, the body overcompensates by breathing harder to offset the incapacity. By the time the body is exhausted from compensating, the weakened immune system simply fails, Drs. Richard Levitan and Michael Marcin contributed to this article. and patients can no longer breathe on their function, which can be inhibited by own. There is a light at the end of the pneumonia. tunnel; however, as leading voices begin to advocate for the use of simOn Monday, the New York Times ple, at-home technology to measure published an opinion piece by Dr. lung function using oxygen saturation Richard Levitan, an emergency physilevels. cian who worked at Bellevue hospital in New York City for 10 days during Anyone who’s been to the doctor’s the height of the crisis in the city. He office, a clinic or hospital should be cited his experience as a physician, familiar with the oximeter – a medical inventor of an imaging system for device slightly larger than a clothespin teaching intubation and his experience that clips onto the finger to measure in the E.R. in New York City. “I heard pulse and, perhaps provincially, oxyfrom a fellow physician that this [the gen levels, offering insight into lung pandemic] would be like nothing I’d
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ever seen. He was right,” said Levitan. “Pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had a stunning impact on the city’s hospital system.” During his time at Bellevue, almost all E.R. patients had Covid pneumonia. Within the first hour of his shift, he inserted breathing tubes into two patients. “Even patients without respiratory complaints had Covid pneumonia. A patient stabbed in the shoulder, whom we X-rayed because we worried he had a collapsed lung, actually had Covid pneumonia. In patients on whom we did CT scans because they were injured in falls, we coincidentally found Covid pneumonia. Elderly patients who had passed out for unknown reasons and a number of diabetic patients were found to have it,” he said. According to Levitan, these patients did not report any sensation of breathing problems, even though their chest X-rays showed diffuse
pneumonia and their oxygen was below normal. “We are just beginning to recognize that Covid pneumonia initially causes a form of oxygen deprivation we call silent hypoxia — silent because of its insidious, hardto-detect nature,” Levitan said. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus. Typically, patients develop chest discomfort, pain when breathing and other breathing problems. But when Covid pneumonia first strikes, patients do not feel short of breath, even as their oxygen levels fall. And by the time they do, they have alarmingly low oxygen levels and moderate-to-severe pneumonia (as seen on chest X-rays). Normal oxygen saturation for most persons at sea level is 94% to 100 %; Covid pneumonia patients that Levitan saw had oxygen saturations as low as 50%. Levitan is not the only physician looking at oxygen saturation levels as in-
dicators of the severity of the illness. Dr. Michael Marcin, M.D., M.S.C.R., clinical professor and a medical director at University of California San Francisco, noted in his research that there is a national conversation starting across the United States regarding pulse and oxygen levels as a proxy for determining infection. Marcin, in an interview with Polo Lifestyles, suggested that every household purchase an oximeter and regularly check oxygen saturation levels, noting any fluctuations. “Someone asked me a good question,” he said. “Since there is no treatment for Covid, why does it matter if you catch it earlier? For me, there are a lot of ways to support breathing early on that keeps you from needing a ventilator. Conceivably, if you are in a hospital before your lung capacity drops, you can basically fall apart in a situation where everyone is prepared for that possibility. There is support in place at a hospital, whereas at home, you’re page 97
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falling apart and then rushing off to the hospital at the last minute. A lot of the damage to the lungs come from our own immune systems. Doctors and nurses can better reduce the impact of your body’s immune response. It’s like the Trust Game (falling into the arms of friends who will catch you): when you allow yourself to fall into the arms of someone prepared, that is very different than when you fall, and no one is prepared or looking after you. Both times you are falling, but you have very different outcomes.” Marcin believes people are looking for the wrong symptoms before they become patients. Cough, body aches and pains, fever and shortness of breath, none of these symptoms actually tell you when you need hospitalization, he said. “What hospitals across the country are discovering is that patients are showing up too late to get care. How is that? It’s because people are focusing on symptoms that aren’t good markers for severity of illness.” What causes people to die, researchers are saying, is the inability of the lungs to function due to damage from the infection. “Our bodies are compensating for poor lung function for so long page 98
that when breathing is difficult and coughing is uncontrollable, it’s already too late. You need to be hospitalized early. You need to seek medical care when you can be saved, not be admitted to the ICU to be hooked up to a ventilator,” he said. This revelation comes despite many hospital policies and measures meant to discourage mildly sick people from seeking hospitalization. “I’m sticking my neck out here,” Marcin said. “But I
think lung function is a major symptom. The doctors in the E.R. work on concrete facts and figures – give them something concrete to work with: an oxygen saturation number.” Levitan’s experience backs up Marcin’s research. “A vast majority of Covid pneumonia patients I met had remarkably low oxygen saturations at triage — seemingly incompatible with life. Although breathing fast, they had relatively minimal apparent distress,
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despite dangerously low oxygen levels and terrible pneumonia on chest X-rays.” COVID-19 attacks lung cells that make surfactant. This substance helps the air sacs in the lungs stay open between breaths and is critical to normal lung function. As the inflammation from Covid pneumonia starts, it causes air sacs to collapse, and oxygen levels fall. Yet the lungs initially remain compliant, not yet stiff or heavy with fluid. Patients still expel carbon dioxide, and without a buildup of carbon dioxide, patients do not feel short of breath. This silent hypoxia, and the patient’s physiological response to it, causes more inflammation and more air sacs to collapse, and the pneumonia worsens until oxygen levels plummet. In effect, patients are injuring their lungs by breathing harder and harder. Dr. Luciano Gattinoni, of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Medical University of Göttingen, found that 20 percent of Covid pneumonia patients develop a second and deadlier phase of lung injury. Fluid builds up, and the lungs become stiff, carbon dioxide rises and patients develop acute respiratory failure. By the time patients have noticeable trouble breathing and arrive at the hospital with dangerously low oxygen levels, many will ultimately require a ventilator. “There is a way we could identify more patients who have Covid pneumonia sooner and treat them more effectively — and it would not require waiting for COVID-19 test at a hospital or doctor’s office,” Levitan told the New York Times. “It requires detecting silent hypoxia early through a common medical device that can be purchased without a prescription at most pharmacies: a pulse oximeter.” Pulse oximetry is no more complicated than using a thermometer. These small devices turn on with one button
“
I’m sticking my neck out here, but lung function is a major symptom. Doctors work on concrete facts – give them something concrete: AN OXYGEN SATURATION NUMBER.” - Dr. Michael Marcin
and are placed on a fingertip. In a few seconds, two numbers are displayed: oxygen saturation and pulse rate. Pulse oximeters are extremely reliable in detecting oxygenation problems and elevated heart rates.
sarily due to misinterpretation. There also may be some patients who have unrecognized chronic lung problems and have borderline or slightly low oxygen saturations unrelated to the COVID-19.
The New York Times reported that detection of hypoxia, early treatment and close monitoring also worked for Boris Johnson, the British prime minister.
Levitan concluded his analysis of the pandemic with a call to patients who have tested positive for COVID-19: “All patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 should have pulse oximetry monitoring for two weeks, the period during which Covid pneumonia typically develops. All persons with cough, fatigue and fevers should also have pulse oximeter monitoring even if they have not had virus testing, or even if their swab test was negative, because those tests are only about 70 percent accurate. A vast majority of Americans who have been exposed to the virus don’t know it.”
“Widespread pulse oximetry screening for Covid pneumonia — whether people check themselves on home devices or go to clinics or doctors’ offices — could provide an early warning system for the kinds of breathing problems associated with Covid pneumonia,” Levitan said. According to Marcin, people using the devices at home should consult with their doctors to reduce the number of people who come to the E.R. unneces-
By Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles 2020 •
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STAY-AT-HOME TAKE A BREAK FROM REALITY (WITH A BOOK) DIVE INTO MAGICAL REALISM & SPECULATIVE FICTION GREGORY BERTRAND Copy Editor @bertrand7367
F
ull disclosure, initially, I planned for something slightly different for this month’s column. I wanted to present books that fell under the literary sub-genre of magical realism. With a significant population of the world still at home, I thought we could all appreciate some surreal escapism. However, after sitting with this month’s texts day after day, I could not, in good consciousness, strictly call them all magical realism.
If anything, some fit more onto the speculative fiction side of the spectrum (I should note, the distinction between the two sub-genres is quite interesting and something I am looking to delve deeper into in a follow-up column to give the distinction justice.) For now, though, in the simplest of laymen’s terms, magical realism is where fantastical events or tropes infect a world that seemingly mirrors our real one. In contrast, speculative fiction speculates on how the world would change if we add science fiction, fantastical or horror tropes. See the overlap? With that being said, I will do my best to point out into which of the two genres this month’s books fit.
“The Lonesome Bodybuilder” YUKIKO MOTOYA
Motoya is big in Japan. A playwright, stage director and, of course, novelist, “The Lonesome Bodybuilder,” a collection of stories, is her English language debut. Motoya’s stories are hyper surreal, featuring monsters, shape-shifters and in the titular opening story, a tiny, meek housewife who becomes a solidas-rock bodybuilder. She does her training regimen, consumes protein powders and spends hours at the gym, all while her clueless husband fails to notice any change in his wife. Clueless husbands and men and meek housewives are a reoccurring element in these 11 stories. The best example lies in the collection’s longest and most impressive story, “An Exotic page 105
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MAY 2020 READING LIST
“Vampires in the Lemon Grove: And Other Stories" KAREN RUSSELL
If Motoya’s fiction sits on the speculative end of the spectrum, Russell’s fits squarely on the magical realism side. Instead of speculating on and enhancing a minute detail to show the absurdity in society, Russell transforms elements of our world, morphing them into something preternatural. Unlike a genre like fantasy or science fiction, the characters in this collection spend little to no time marveling at or explaining the strange nature of their world. Strange is considered normal in “Vampires in the Lemon Grove: And Other Stories.” Marriage,” where a young housewife notices her husband’s facial features sliding around on his head. Not only that, but her own face begins to morph into what her husband’s used to look like, and this is far from the only couple experiencing this phenomenon.
the narrator has his theories about the girl’s origins. He swears she is a ninja, fighting alongside her father and younger brothers to ward off an evil witch and her gang. However, the truth turns out to be a whole lot stranger.
Beautiful and haunting, “An Exotic Marriage” also displays Motoya’s use of both feminism and body horror to speculate on and satirize a culture that sees women as blank vessels, something that is a common theme throughout “The Lonesome Bodybuilder.”
One last example and another standout is “The Women,” a horror story of sorts (depending on your perspective) about a group of women in a village who painfully transform into a hyper-sexualized, vampire-like, lusty ideal of a man’s perfect woman.
In “I Called You by Name,” the leader of a boardroom meeting is afraid she will lose all the credibility she has as the supervisor of an all-male team after she swears something, or someone is standing behind a curtain at a meeting. Is it a ghost? Or, maybe an ex-lover? The narrator tries to figure it out while her employees give their presentations.
They grow high heels from their bare feet, secrete red lipstick from their newly voluptuous lips and grow clawlike fingernails. The women in “The Women” then take their boyfriends down to a river, where once and for all, they’ll do battle.
In “How to Burden the Girl,” the male protagonist fantasizes about his new next-door neighbor. She has pink hair, green eyes and cries tears of blood, and
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“The Lonesome Bodybuilder” is speculative fiction at its best, challenging modern society by wondering what would happen if only things were just slightly different.
Take “Reeling for the Empire,” another fine piece of body horror. The story takes place in an increasingly industrializing Japan. In this version of Japanese history, women are turned into silkworms after they are sold into servitude by either their husband or father. They live in a sweatshop and are forced to painfully pull silk from the veins to make garments in service of the empire. For Russell, in “Vampires in the Lemon Grove: And Other Stories,” time and setting act as a structure for her to weave her narratives. In using specific and distinctive time periods, Russell can set up and subvert our expectations. One would expect a vampire story to take place in a gray, dark and rainy part of the world, not in sunny southern Italy, like in the story “Vampires in the Lemon Grove.” Instead of consuming human blood, the vampires, a husband and wife, live off of lemons. One of the collection’s standout features is “The Barn at the End of Our Term,” a Kafkaesque story about
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writes about women and sex can be a bit uncomfortable—no one can argue he isn’t one the most important modern authors today.
Rutherford B. Hayes and several other dead former U.S. presidents reincarnating into the bodies of different horse breeds. “American Street” IBI ZOBOI
Ibi Zoboi’s 2017 novel about a young Haitian immigrant living in Detroit with her aunt and three cousins has only a light dusting of magical realism. Still, what magic there is in the text has a great impact on the plot. At the beginning of the novel, Fabiola’s mother is detained by immigration services on their arrival into the U.S. Distressed, and missing her mother, Fabiola has to enter a strange new world all on her own. Living in a house on the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola must fight to keep her Haitian roots alive, all the while integrating into her new American life. “American Street” almost plays out like a familiar fairytale. Fabiola has three loud, expressive cousins who constantly make fun of her, but protect her when push comes to shove. Her aunt, who Fabiola wants to call “Matant Jo”, matant meaning aunt in Haitian Creole, forbids her from
speaking the language she grew up with and cherishes so much.
In his 2018 novel, “Killing Commendatore," Murakami embarks on his most exhaustive effort to date. Clocking in a just shy of 700 pages and packed with prose as dense as tangled ivy, the book is not for impatient readers. “Killing Commendatore” takes its time doling out its mysterious plot.
If this all sounds like an ordinary story of a young immigrant coming of age, that’s because, in a sense, that’s what “American Street” is, except, however, for the stark presence of several lwa spirits in Haitian Vodou culture. One of these lwa is “Papa Legba,” an intermediary of sorts between the living and spirit worlds. In the disguise of an old homeless man, Legba acts as Fabiola’s guide through the underbelly of Detroit as she goes up against her cousins’ boyfriend Dray, who might have his own secret identity.
The novel centers around a middle-aged portrait painter who secludes himself in a mountain property in rural Japan after separating from his wife. The house once belonged to the acclaimed painter and father of an art school classmate, Tomohiko Amada.
In “American Street,” Zoboi deftly weaves the undercurrent of magical realism into this harrowing tale of a daughter and the love she has for her mother.
Then there’s the narrator’s mysterious neighbor Wataru Menshiki, who requests the narrator paint his portrait; however, the narrator soon hears through the jungle grapevines that this Menshiki might not be just any ordinary man.
Killing Commendatore” HARUKI MURAKAMI
Of course, no list on or associated with magical realism would be complete without Haruki Murakami. The renowned Japanese author is an almost cult-like figure in the literary world. Those who love Murakami do so with absolute adoration, and while he does have his critics—the way he
Slowly but surely, eerie and unexplained phenomenon start to occur for the narrator. First, there’s the titular painting “Killing Commendatore,” which is hidden away in a secret attic compartment, almost like it was never meant to be found.
Much of the fun of “Killing Commendatore” is piecing together what exactly is going on yourself as you try to figure out what’s real and what isn’t, so I won’t go further in revealing anything about the plot to avoid any potential spoilers. By Gregory Bertrand Copy Editor Polo Lifestyles 2020 •
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FASHION & STYLE
NO SHOW? NO PROBLEM. LUXURY IN THE AGE OF COVID-19
VOLUME IV / ISSUE III / MAY-JUNE 2020
NO SHOW? NO PROBLEM
USE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES TO DRIVE YOUR BRAND
A
s we enter month two of placing all real-world PR events on hold, it is no wonder that digital experiences are quickly gaining steam.
by surprise. The upshot? Few small businesses have a short-term digital plan in place. To provide you with some understanding and direction, here are a few basic strategies for using virtual experiences to benefit your brand.
A recent survey indicates that 64.3% of PR and event professionals say they have never created a virtual experience for their brand, but they’re willing to learn. While the fashion industry thrives on face-to-face interactions, the digital alternative can provide your organization with the opportunity to expand your reach, connect meaningfully with your audience and possibly cut costs in the upcoming months.
Pivot and Explore Your Creativity
Sudden changes in our world and the world at large have caught everyone page 112
It is essential to recognize that we are facing a temporary shift, not a complete revolution. For now, the task is to explore and experiment. First, let go of fears of the unknown. Constantly fretting over ever-changing events is a waste of time, energy and mental health. Get comfortable with the fact that digital solutions—and the re-tooling and re-educating that go with
them—are the best way to maintain business continuity. Fortunately, others have already forged this path and shown us the way. Brands have often used innovative approaches to engage with their consumers, so we know that straying from the norm works—and works well. Tom Ford skipped the runway for his Spring 2016 collection, instead enlisting pop star Lady Gaga to model the collection in a digital film. Monse founders and creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia leveraged their network of connections to present their Fall 2018 collection with a film narrated by rap artist Nicki Minaj and modeled by Erin Wasson.
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Designers, creative directors and influencers are a source of fascination to consumers, so this is a great opportunity to provide a virtual interaction. Michael Kors put this concept into play by narrating his pre-collections, proving that an up-close-and-personal experience with the designer can enhance a product launch. Savvy influencers know this, too, and they are reaching thousands of consumers stuck at home, delighting and entertaining them with their creativity and credibility. Fashion is often judged as elitist, and that lofty attitude can be a detriment right now. A private, invitation-only Instagram account that showcases your collections for a handful of followers is not the way to go. Now more than ever, your brand needs to be inclusive. Tapping into the power of a virtual event will give you the expanded reach that is so crucial today.
Understand Your Objective Whatever you decide to do—whatever approach you opt to take—keep in mind that the key objective is good experience management. To be effective,
you must follow the rule of three: Make sure the concept is part of a broader, long-term plan. Always acknowledge the current environment. Create micro content that your audience can easily understand. Once you have followed those steps, implement technology to make it happen. Keep in mind that the user’s experience drives the technology—not the other way around. For example, TikTok is a popular tool right now, but it’s not right for every brand. On Wednesday, April 15, Xcommons, a Shanghai-based biannual designer support and crossover platform, created the first online virtual fashion show. This immersive digital experience, the first of its kind, focused on emerging labels and provided an alternative for designers to present their fall 2020 collection amid the COVID-19 outbreak. In the U.S., supermodel Cindy Crawford and photographer Kat Irlin joined forces to create a remote photo shoot done completely over FaceTime. Posted on Instagram, this collaboration
featured Crawford posing at home in California while Irlin was in New York. It’s not necessary to become an e-wizard to create a virtual experience. You do, however, need to become knowledgeable about the options available so you can determine what is most appropriate. The most important question I ask myself before creating any kind of experience is: How does it add value and differentiation, and how can I make that specific to the brand?
This Isn’t Forever There’s been a lot of talk about the fate of events and how we will present ourselves moving forward, but please do not lose sight of one simple fact: Virtual experiences are not the future. For now, however, they are a viable alternative. See them as a complementary tool, not a replacement, that aligns with your long-term goals. Our industry will always bring value. Events, although currently deferred, are here to stay. And the growth—the normal—will return. By Marco D'Angelo Guest Columnist Polo Lifestyles 2020 Courtesy The Impression •
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OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES FOR LUXURY IN THE AGE OF COVID-19 PHILIPPE LUCAS Luxury Contributor @flipohlucas
T
he COVID-19 epidemic continues to expand with over 2.5 million cases in over 200 countries and over 180,000 deaths at the time of writing. Alongside the unprecedented human cost, the onslaught of COVID-19 globally is changing the way we work. With most national, state and city governments putting self-isolation guidelines in place, remote work is the order of the day with video conferencing service providers like Zoom seeing exponential growth. Unfortunately, COVID-19 also dictates whether some work at all: notably grounding whole industries such as retail, transportation, travel and food and beverage. Oil prices have plunged into the negative, and roles reversed with buyers being paid by sellers for the overstock. The challenges facing luxury, design and technology industries are well-documented – Cannes Film Festival, Venice Architectural Biennale and Milan’s Salone Del Mobile are all canceled. Alongside traditional ports, shipyards housing superyachts are feeling the pinch. However, with such challenges come opportunities and different actors across these industries are adjusting and even thriving under page 116
the new and, hopefully, temporary normal. We expect the luxury and technology landscape to evolve as a better understanding of the effects of COVID-19 are discovered. High-End Sporting Events and Sponsors Face a Tough Year Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 has also upended the sporting calendar, with
professional leagues everywhere suspending their activities, including the NBA, European football leagues and Formula 1. Summer sporting events like Wimbledon and the Monaco Grand Prix hope they can recoup their losses through insurance policies. Luxury sponsors of these events stand to lose in sales terms with a global
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Photo by Ricky Tucker/Special to Polo Lifestyles
economic slowdown anticipated. This is only made worse when the star athletes, on whom they depend, can expect a pay cut of up to 70% in some cases.
polo match coverage and review are included within the pages.
Editor-in-Chief of Polo Lifestyles Josh Jakobitz said of the developments, “This is like nothing we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes, but these tough calls were without a doubt the right decision to protect everyone involved: players, grooms, coaches, patrons, organizers and fans”.
Challenges and Opportunities in Super-Yachting Ports in the western Mediterranean and elsewhere are all but closed with no yachts currently accepted into ports. Superyacht events scheduled for the first half of the year suffered similar fates to the sporting events above, with many canceled, postponed or going virtual. Venice Boat Show and the Superyacht Show in Barcelona are canceled. Regattas, such as the America’s Cup World Series and Dubai Boat shows, are canceled. Singapore Yacht Show and Genoa International Boat Show have all been moved to autumn. Palm Beach International Boat Show will go virtual this month on May 14.
The May 2020 issue of Polo Lifestyles is the first issue since the publication’s inception in 2017 that no current
According to Monaco-based naval architect, Raymond Kandal Fagarli, the lockdown is a welcome breath-
The heads of the world’s largest polo organizations met in March to make the toughest decision of the season; polo events across the world would be, first, played without fans in attendance and, later, entire seasons and series were simply canceled.
er for those plying his trade. “It has removed distractions and allows us to spend more time fine-tuning our concepts and basic design”. One group that may find themselves underwater are charter brokers with ongoing travel restrictions meaning demand for superyacht charters will plummet. “For those who make their living off charters, 2020 will be a year for the loss column as charters are pushed to the end of the season or next year”, said Fagarli. All is not lost for those in the brokerage business, though. Yacht sales have slowed down temporarily as viewings obviously are not possible. This is only a temporary setback for sales brokers, predicts Fagarli. “Most sales brokers only need to sell two yachts a year, and there might be great deals this summer for both client and broker”, he said. Acceleration of Athleisure In recent years, consumers have page 117
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gravitated toward instagrammable experiences rather than buying items. Boutique hotels, restaurants, bars and cruises have been some of the most dynamic components of the luxury sector until recently. When the lockdowns are lifted at a global level, we expect a big resurgence in this trend. But for now, residents must settle for experiencing luxury in the comfort of their homes. This is in contrast to customers in China who have started blitzing boutiques and malls on revenge shopping sprees, according to Bloomberg. Chinese consumer habits drive the luxury agenda with streetwear-in-
spired athleisure as the order of the day, making up over a third of the luxury sales and about two-thirds of global growth.. This is now the case in North America and, to a lesser extent, Europe, but according to Brand Strategist Alexander Shapiro, athleisure is a staple and not a trend. Based in Beijing with agency PBB, he told Polo Lifestyles, “COVID-19 has exploded athleisure wear, from Louis Vuitton Cashmere sweatpants to Gucci hoodies. These are status symbols that are appropriate anywhere.” An insider at Louis Vuitton in New York City assured Polo Lifestyles that
sales are fine – holding steady thanks to online retail and the re-emergence of the Chinese luxury market. Shapiro asserted that enforced lockdowns have not created the athleisure boom but have only accelerated it amongst other new luxurious ways of living. He pointed out that high-ticket fitness items such as Peloton are just the start. Soon one may be able to keep fit in a driverless car or in business class at 30,000 feet. “New luxury means being able in this new normal to do as you normally would in your home life or in transit”, said Shapiro. By Philippe Lucas Luxury Contributor Polo Lifestyles 2020 •
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Join the Party Memorable moments delivered
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Recently, drinks at the bar turned into drinks in our individual homes, but that doesn’t mean you have to drink alone.
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Sicilian Renaissance
Wines that Warm our Hearts
CEZAR KUSIK Wine Contributor @cezartastesearth
I
n 2015, I took off on a threemonth long, world traversing trip that ultimately led me to Sicily.
I had been to Italy a few times, but not to the island of Sicily. The reputation of the island with its capital city of Palermo has been shrouded in mystery for centuries, mainly fueled by the romanticized notoriety of Mafia crime culture whose origins date back to the Middle Ages. With its geographic positioning in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea straddling Southern Europe and Northern Africa, Sicily carries a rich history and both cultural and ethnic diversities.
In that context, the island stands out from all the other regions of Italy’s mainland. The earliest records of human inhabitance date back to 10,000 years B.C. The Greeks, Phoenicians, Arabs, Romans and Normans were all inhabitants of what would be modern-day Sicily at some point in the history. Viticulture and wine making have always been an intrinsic part of the island’s history. Ancient civilizations are believed to have produced wine there as far back as the 17th century B.C. The Greeks settled the island between the eighth and sixth centuries B.C. Mamertino, a type of ancient Sicilian wine, was said to have been Julius Caesar’s favorite. During the Byzantine Era between the sixth and ninth centuries, wine production flourished before ultimately falling into decay once the Muslims took over the island
between the ninth and 11th centuries A.D. Production again rose during the Aragonese Empire which ruled till the 16th century. The weather conditions in Sicily are ideal for viticulture. Its abundance of sunshine balanced by moderate rainfall, hilly landscapes and soils enriched by the ashes of the Etna Volcano benefit grape farming. For centuries, Sicily’s wine industry has felt the pendulum of ups and downs. In 1773, inspired by Port and Madeira wines, British merchant John Woodhouse introduced Marsala wine, a fortified concoction made from local grapes of Grillo: Catarratto and Inzolia. Its popularity and production exploded, significantly contributing to Sicily’s economic boom. Then, in the late 19th century, Phylloxera came causing island-wide vineyard devastation from which it did not recover until the 1950s. page 123
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To rebound from the crisis, the government encouraged very high-yield vine farming, which led to the production of bulk, inferior quality wines that ultimately blemished the reputation of Sicilian wines for decades to come. The change did not occur until the late 1990s and early 2000s. Inspired by other Italian wine regions whose wines started to gain international recognition, an insurgence of new, ambitious wineries emerged. Local and foreign winemakers found inspiration and saw potential in the region’s climate, its unique selection of indigenous grape varieties, as well as an introduction of some international grapes. A friend of mine and I flew from Tangier, Morocco, to Palermo in late July 2015. It was scorching!
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Temperatures were in the high 90s and low 100s. The city was bustling; the cars were honking, the hustlers were hustling, the street vendors were yelling and gesticulating wildly, the tourists were sweating, the street dogs were barking; practically everybody was there. Two full days in Palermo in that heat were enough. We dined at a few recommended restaurants, walked the charming streets of the old town, took a historic, scenic bus tour and ate tons of gelato.
Mascalese. Primitivo and Nocera are noteworthy, but their presence is limited. The leading whites are Grillo, Inzolia, Carricante, Catarratto, Malvasia and Muscat. In the international camp, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah have acclimated the best. REGIONS OF NOTE Cerasuelo di Vittoria DOCG
Most importantly, I tasted a lot of local wines, and I was hooked. We rented a car, appropriately a two-door Fiat, and hit the road, heading for Catania, a city on the east end of the island at the foot of Etna Volcano.
The only DOCG region in Sicily, the highest denomination in Italian wine classification, is Cerasuelo di Vittoria, located on the south of the island. It makes only red wines from a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato. The wine must contain 50 to 70 percent Nero d’Avola and the remainder of Frappato.
There are three key red grapes in Sicily: Nero d’Avola, Frappato and Nerello
Cerasuelo means “cherry-like” in Italian and the wines exhibit, among other
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things, warm flavors of cherries and sour cherries. The marriage of the two grapes is of a complementary, symbiotic nature. Nero is a vibrant, spicy, tannic and earthy grape where Frapatto comes in with a delicate, soft structure and rose petal, raspberry aromatics result in a complex, flavorful wine of impressive aging potential. Many wineries make 100 percent Nero or 100 percent Frappato wines, but these cannot be labeled Cerasuelo di Vittoria DOCG. Etna DOC Some of my favorite wines in all of Italy come from here. The highest active volcano in Europe, Etna, is a formidable force of nature and a blessing to Sicily’s agriculture. Rich in minerals, volcanic soils reach far beyond the slopes of “Mama Etna” as the locals endearingly call it. Its presence changes the climate of the area from Mediterranean to almost Alpine, with intense sunlight and double the rainfall of other regions. Green pistachios, legendarily flavorful strawberries and grapes constitute most of the farming here. Driving up the narrow, steep roads of Etna, you enter an eerily beau-
tiful landscape where dark gray, nearly black rocks and gravel of the mountain are the dominant building material used by the locals for their house walls, roads and driveways. Carricante is the main white grape that produces mineral-laced wines with flavors of honey, citrus, anise and a touch of saline. Nerrello Mascalese and Nerrello Cappuccio are the red grapes of the area, with the latter being a filler grape allowed a maximum of 20 percent in the mix.
Marsala DOC Briefly mentioned earlier, still remains as one of the world’s great fortified wines along with Port and Madeira. Since its inception in the late 18th century, the region has gone through many ups and downs. The downs, which dominated, were a result of decades of unregulated yield restrictions and wine making practices. In 1969, the region was granted DOC protection, and in 1984, the production conditions were revised with the focus on quality over quantity.
Nerrello is a finicky grape with high sensitivity to terroir and micro-climate variations, making it analogous to Burgundian Pinot Noir. Generally, the lower-altitude reds tend to be denser, fruitier with a more masculine structure. The high-elevation vineyards with cooler temperatures and poorer soils produce wines of more ethereal structure, with earthy flavors and nuanced complexity.
The wine has since improved dramatically, and strong efforts have been made to return it to its original glory. Ten grape varieties can make the Modern Marsalas, including the original trifecta of Grillo, Inzolia and Catarratto.
These wines can offer a primal sensory experience of visceral austerity sprinkled with the mountain’s ash itself.
DOC Noto
Marsala has five aging-related categories: fine, Superiore, Superiore Reserva, Vergine/Solera and vergine stravecchio from the youngest to the oldest.
The region is named after the beautiful, baroque city of Noto, situated on the
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southeastern side of the island, one of the hottest parts of Sicily. Two sun-loving grapes dominate in this arid climate: Nero d’Avola and Muscat. Still, overripe grapes are a clear and present danger here, and harvesting at the right time is crucial to the wines’ quality. The region offers white, red, sparkling (Spumante) and dessert (passito) wines. This is one of the most recent areas exposed to modern and innovative wine making. The influx of ambitious and quality-oriented wineries has been slow but steady. One has to be careful when selecting wines from Noto because of inconsistent quality. “The old school” wines can be disappointingly high in alcohol, excessively ripe and jammy. Mamertino di Milazzo DOC Hailing from Northern Sicily, Mamertino wines date back to antiquity. The wines come from both white and red grapes ranging in style from dry to sweet. Catarratto, Grillo and Inzolia grapes are used for the whites. Nero d’Avola and Nocera go into reds. “Without Sicily, Italy leaves no image in the soul. Sicily is the key to everything,” Goethe once wrote. Today, the quote may sound like an exaggeration, but be that as it may, Sicily’s uniqueness in comparison with other Italian regions is undeniable. The island’s
landscape has a certain frozen-in-time feel. Mountains and hills dominate the scenery with sporadic, arid flatlands spotted with random stone farmhouses and dusty country roads with donkey-pulled wagons. The people give out an aura of welcomed isolationism and stubborn integrity. They are beautifully raw in their appearance carrying both an external and internal no-nonsense intensity. The island inspires historical awareness and exposes humanity’s painfully duality: the ugly and evil side of ignorance filled with unspeakable atrocities; and the noble side: full of love, creativity and compassion. Yet the battle of the two will never stop, and there will not be a winner because in the realm of cosmic justice; there is no room for the minutia of human morality and self-righteousness. So, stay healthy and true to yourselves, my friends.
Diego, the founder of the company, planted the first vineyards in 1985, and ever since, he and his family have been tirelessly striving and succeeding to put Sicily on the world wine map. They offer a wide range of wines in all colors and styles from both local and international varieties. Despite the size of the production, the quality remains their main focus. Azienda Agricola Tornatore Etna DOC One of the oldest wine making families in Sicily offers an eclectic lineup of whites, reds, a rosé and a sparkling. Tenuta Delle Terre Nere
FAVORITE SICILIAN WINERIES
Tenuta Delle Terre Nere produces white, Rose, and red wines. The lineup of the reds is particularly impressive with their single-vineyard bottlings. The rare, small production Prephylloxera Calderara Sottana is spectacular if you can find it.
Planeta
Baglio Baiata Alagna
One cannot talk about modern Sicilian wines without mentioning the Planeta family and their island-wide contribution to the elevation of the quality and reputation of the Sicilian wines.
This one is a relatively small Marsala house that offers high-quality wines. It is also a great place to visit and partake in an educational tour.
Their project, which spans five different wine regions with impressive winners in each, is the brainchild of Diego Planeta.
Azienda Agricola COS A winery in Cerasuelo di Vittoria founded in 1980 that farms bio-dynamically and is known for using ancient wine making practices, including aging in terracotta amphorae buried in the ground. Mazzei Zisola A winery in Noto OC in the province of Syracuse offers some impressive reds made from Nero d’Avola grape as well as import grapes Syrah and Petit Verdot. Vasari Vasari winery in Mamertino di Milazzo DOC offers some delicious whites and reds. By Cezar Kusik Wine Contributor Polo Lifestyles 2020 •
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THE POWER OF GIVING
IN THE FACE OF COVID-19
The numbers. The stories. The despair. Here in the pages of Polo Lifestyles, each month, we endeavor to create a space that celebrates luxury and allows the imagination to wander from the daily toils. So in that spirit, this month’s column will celebrate the power of giving and the extraordinary philanthropy that has flourished over the past months. If there is a silver lining to this pandemic, it is evidenced in the triumph of the human spirit and the profound charity to which it is predisposed. There is no substitute for the leading role of our governments and multi-lateral institutions to mount bold responses to catastrophes. In fact, this is among the most fundamental reasons for their being. However, the animating spirit of philanthropy – the desire to promote the welfare of others – has also blossomed in the private sector during the current crisis.
BILL SMITH Philanthropy contributor @willismith_2000
I
t would be strange, given the pandemic that has descended upon every corner of the globe, to write a column on philanthropy about anything other than the extraordinary response to this challenge. For example, I recently read the May issue of a state-focused magazine, page 130
and there was nary a mention of the novel coronavirus. That felt inauthentic at best. We find ourselves in unchartered territory in the modern age. Not since the pandemic flu of 1918, also more commonly referred to as the Spanish Flu, has such a public health crisis tested our collective personal and global capacities to act and save lives. Many of us, myself included, have retreated for weeks on end into the haven that our homes provide while keeping tabs on friends and family both near and far. And inevitably, we hear the news.
Take, for example, the large swaths of celebrities that have come forward to lend a helping hand and raise needed resources. On April 18, Lady Gaga curated and led a star-studded virtual benefit concert aimed at raising money for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund of the World Health Organization (WHO). Promoted as a “love letter to the world”, at a presser promoting the event, Gaga said, “What we see tomorrow will not be the end… Let’s remind each other that this is a kind world.” The “One World: Together at Home” event drew everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Keith Urban, Pharrell to Lily Tomlin, Kesha to Michael Buble, Luis Fonsi to Eddie Vedder, and the venerable Rolling Stones also made an appearance.
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PHILANTHROPY IN FOCUS Moreover, the event is reported to have raised $127 million USD for the WHO’s efforts to secure personal protective equipment and other supplies for countries most in need. To Lady Gaga’s credit, even before she assembled the world’s artists and entertainers for the virtual bash, she had already raised $35 million USD for COVID-19 relief efforts, prompting Vogue to publish an article with the more-than-apt title, “How Lady Gaga Became the Face of COVID-19 Relief.” How indeed! We have also written previously in this column about the extraordinary philanthropy of Rihanna. When it comes to the current crisis, she is again at the forefront in putting her charitable dollars into action. For Rihanna, the pandemic hit close to home when her father, who lives in the singer’s native Barbados, was diagnosed with COVID-19. Even before this news, however, Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation donated $5 million USD to several international organizations working to fight the pandemic, as well as to her beloved Barbados. Rihanna teamed up Jay-Z and his foundation, with each donating $1 million USD to address the crisis in hard-hit New York City and Los Angeles. A few weeks later, the two made a joint announcement with Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey with the trio announcing an additional $6.2 million USD in grants for organizations working globally and nationally. In the U.S., grants will be focused on struggling New Orleans, where evidence suggests the holding of Mardi Gras may have unwittingly contributed to the significant
spread of COVID-19.
vaccines for COVID-19.
Innumerable other acts of charity from the world of celebrity and sport are also powerful examples of leaning into the crisis. Dolly Parton donated $1 million USD to Vanderbilt University for research toward a cure. The Golden State Warrior’s Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha pledged to support one million meals for kids whose meals are usually consumed at now-closed schools. “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively donated $1 million USD to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. And the New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and his wife have pledged $5 million USD into efforts in the state of Louisiana. These are just a few of the examples reported in the press.
Finally, closer to home, local response funds have emerged to help at the most grassroots level, where neighbors are out of work and wondering how they will pay the most basic costs of living. I run a small community foundation in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a gorgeous and world-renowned destination for art and exploring a unique milieu of cultures. We are assumed to be a wealthy community, but in a state with persistently high poverty.
Leading foundations that have long invested in public health initiatives have also been at the forefront of mobilizing resources to find treatments for COVID-19. On March 10, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation coordinated $125 million USD to create the “COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator.” Working with the Gates’ are the U.K-based Wellcome Trust, a private foundation founded by the medical entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Henry Wellcome, which has pledged $50 million USD to match the same amount of the Gates Foundation pledge, and the Mastercard Impact Fund, which has committed $25 million USD. In Asian countries (and beyond), the philanthropic activity of Chinese businessman Jack Ma and his affiliated foundations has been significant. Ma, whose estimated worth exceeds $40 billion USD, has utilized both the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation, to direct millions of pieces of personal protective equipment and other medical gear to the Middle East, hard-hit European countries, the U.S., Canada, Latin American nations and countries throughout Asia. A total of $14.4 million USD was also donated to research entities developing
Our foundation, like so many other community foundations and United Way organizations across the country, began a COVID-19-focused response fund. Over the past five weeks, we have raised nearly $1 million USD and granted INFLUENTIAL out about half PHILANTHROPY of that to nonprofits working to make sure food is available, health services are operating and accessible, that remote education is ensuring children advance in their studies (and seniors graduate), and finally toward supporting individuals and families whose finances are in jeopardy. I read every application for support, and I can attest to the sad reality that the needs are real here in New Mexico, and I hear from colleagues across the country that we are not unique. Of course, we are not. To that end, regardless of where you live, someone is out of work. A family is hungry. A business is struggling to stay afloat. The power of philanthropy is great. And not just at the scale of Jack Ma. In this time of great challenge, there is no more rewarding and more needed philanthropic engagement than to give locally. Perhaps it is your local food bank or other non-profit you are already familiar with and support. Or if you are familiar with your community foundation (they are global) or other similar entity, consider supporting their efforts to keep our communities and neighbors strong as we weather this situation and until the virus recedes. And recede it will. Until then, stay safe and give generously. page 131
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LUXURY
CANNES CALIFORNIE 25,000,000Â â‚Ź
700 SQUARE METER VILLA OF LIVING SPACE WITH SEA VIEWS ABOVE CANNES (06400)
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ith a breathtaking ocean view, the luxurious villa of 700 square meters nestles on 2940 square meters of landscaped garden with a magnificent pool area. Built with high-quality materials, it offers seven en suite bedrooms, two spacious reception rooms with panoramic sea views, two kitchens including a professional one, a wellness area with a magnificent gym, a spa, and a private cinema room with the latest generation equipment. This prestigious newly built mansion is bathed in light thanks to its large windows; its very neat and elegant decoration, the volume of the rooms and its openings on sumptuous exteriors make it an exceptional property for sale in the heart of the Californie area of Cannes, known for its prestigious residences and its breathtaking views close to La Croisette and the seaside. The estate also offers a garage for three cars, and two guardian apartments. Served entirely by an elevator, the villa, with its security post, is protected by an alarm system and video surveillance and offers a new generation home automation. page 136
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Welcome Home
LE PALAIS VÉNITIEN LUXURY PALACE IN THE HILLS CANNES (06400) DIVINE LIFESTYLE LIVING 120,000,000 € / 3,000 SQUARE METERS
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stunning residence inspired by the architecture of Byzantium and Venice, Le Palais Vénitien overlooks a magnificent panorama of Cannes and the blue waters of the Mediterranean stretching as far as the eye can see. Its 2.4 hectares encompass a wealth of luxurious amenities, including a lake, a tennis court, secluded woodlands and an expansive outdoor pool. The luxurious terraced grounds are a worthy setting for the villa’s sumptuous interior. Featuring monumental columns and exquisite moldings, this home - which boasts over 3000 square meters of living space faithfully reflects the elegance and grandeur so characteristic of Venetian design.
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The ultimate expression of contemporary refinement, this exquisite structure seamlessly and invisibly incorporates the latest high-tech controls. With nine residential suites and numerous reception rooms, Le Palais VĂŠnitien gives new meaning to the concept of comfort, subtly melding the luxury of Cannes with the elegance of Venice.
AMENITIES:
Security System Home automation system enabling the control of lights, music, air-conditioning, A/V systems and security Cinema and nightclub Gym and sauna Hammam Stocked wine cellar Elevator Tennis court and pools Sea views
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Welcome Home
ROQUEBRUNE CAP MARTIN LUXURY VILLA
24,900,000 € PRESTIGIOUS PROPERTY AT THE GATES OF MONACO (06190)
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prestigious villa at the gates of Monaco in a secure private estate, nestled between Monaco and Italy in the heart of a wooded area, the property offers a magnificent ocean view and an exceptional view of the Principality of Monaco and prestigious Cap Martin.
This exclusive 747 square meter property consists of a main villa of 540 square meters, with a master floor of 130 square meters, and a secondary house of 207 square meters. The property mainly offers nine bed-
rooms, including an independent apartment for the staff. Several large terraces for a total area of more than 1000 square meters give you the feeling of living on a boat, facing one of the most exceptional landscapes. A heated pool, a sauna and a jacuzzi complete this prestigious property— benefiting from great potential for anyone who wants to enlarge the villa or add some extra personal touches.
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A few minutes away from Monaco on foot, close to beautiful beaches and the famous Monte-Carlo Beach Club and Country Club, Italy and the highway. 25 minutes to Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport.
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Welcome Home
THEOULE SUR MER AN EXCEPTIONAL PROJECT
CLOSE TO CANNES (06590) - AN ICONIC PRIVATE ESTATE WITH PANORAMIC SEA VIEWS / 90,000,000 €
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n architectural masterpiece designed by a world-renowned architect, this contemporarily designed estate is nestled within approximatively 1.2 hectares of landscaped park designed by Jean Mus. Located a few meters from Pierre Cardin's “Palais Bulle,” this iconic project offers four independent houses from 250 to 300 square meters page 142
each and two 75 square meter apartments built around a fabulous infinity pool.
of four independent houses is characterized by its ultra-modern architecture.
designed following two typologies, the Maritime villas and the Landscape villas.
Boasting panoramic views of the sea and the Estérel mountains, this luxurious estate will seduce you with its unique character at the gateway to Cannes.
Enjoying an exclusive prime location on the top of a hill and offering a 240 degree sea view, this prestigious domain is built around an amazing oval shape swimming pool.
The Maritime villas are the ones oriented toward the sea, their design and aesthetic approach refer to the world of the sailing.
Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular properties of the French Riviera, this private family residence consisting
The private estate features four breathtaking villas, artworks created with the wind, stone, air and sea, which are
The Landscape villas are the ones oriented toward the coast and are more integrated into the hill.
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VILLA A - THE THEME OF VARNISHED WOOD VILLA B - THE THEME OF THE WATER AND LIGHT REFLECTIONS VILLA C - THE THEME OF THE WHITE MONOLITH VILLA D - THE THEME OF THE LIGHTS AND INSIDE GARDENS
The 50 meters long, 30 meters wide swimming pool is your private sea on the top of the hill. Gracing the top of the hill, the 500 square meter pool deck and pool house are enhanced by unprecedented views while sun-bathing. The tranquil outdoor swimming pool with a dining area is a perfect space for 200 persons and all year-round events. The spa with hammam, sauna, gym and massage areas will fulfill the requirements of the pickiest jet setters. Between the swimming pool level and the vil-
las’ level, the spa is treated as an extension under the mountain. An inside, outside pool takes its place between the rocks, and opens toward the view. Conceptualized by Israeli specialists, the complex has a multilevel security system and reaches the highest security standards, including the bunker. Ample 16 cars underground lobby-parking. It’s possible to acquire the plot free from any legal challenge by third parties for €25.000.000. page 143
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M U S C L E The revolution to online, at home and interactive Appbased fitness is here. Functional Muscle Fitness is proud to be able to offer a variety of fitness programs to users all across the globe. Our programs include physique programs, at home programs, circuit-based training, athletic programs and more. Our interface provides each user with videos and exercise coaching points within each workout. Taking it even one step further, the interface is fully interactive - allowing for users to input their numbers, which is stored for future reference, and a message board to ask questions. Choose between custom programming or a basic online programming. Functional Muscle Fitness brings over a decade of training and programming experience‌ experience that ranges from youth training to professional athletes. We do not believe in random when programming. Everything has a purpose and if you have a goal we will make sure your get there.
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F I T N E S S
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POLO LIFESTYLES EXCLUSIVE
"ANYWHERE" FU NC TIONAL M USCLE F ITN E SS
The entire balance of your bank account and all the tips on the Internet can't help if you don't follow some basic guidelines. TIME SPACE RESOURCES
MARK WINE CSCS, BA, USAW, PT, PES, CES @functionalmuscle Healthy Lifestyles Contributor
F
unctional Fitness is more than exercise; it’s a lifestyle. Having the ability to freely move about and engage in movements that help you with your daily life, health and daily performance is vital to one’s health.
However, with the current climate of fear and microscopic viruses, do not let limited resources stand in the way of your mental and physical sanity. Anywhere Functional Muscle Fitness is a program that allows fitness participants of all levels and passions to engage in an at-home fitness routine, which takes in to account three major factors: page 146
Time: Being at home means less uninterrupted time than normal. For this reason, we shortened the program by selecting exercises that engage multiple muscle groups, core and high levels of metabolic workload. Space: With the understanding that there is a limited ability to partake in activities outside or in large facilities during this time, the exercises and workout structures had to be crafted as to allow
performance within a tight personal space. Resources: normal fitness centers and health clubs come fully equipped with machines, bands, barbells, dumbbells and more. At home, we often have nothing but our furniture, our bodies and maybe some bands. The Anywhere Functional Muscle Fitness program takes this into account by only having a few band exercises included in the program. The program is a multiweek workout routine with an easy-to-follow set up that directs and guides you through six days:
MONDAY “Tone Those Legs” TUESDAY “Sculpted Upper Body” WEDNESDAY “Tissue Recovery & Stretch” and Yoga THURSDAY “Cardio, Abs & Glutes” FRIDAY “Total Body Pump It Up” SATURDAY “Tissue Recovery & Stretch” & Yoga Stay motivated, stay fit and get functional.
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MONDAY
TUESDAY
“Tone Those Legs”
“Sculpted Upper Body” EXERCISE
SETS REPS VIDEO DEMO
Blood Hounds
2
Deadbugs
2 12
Click here
Hip Rolls
2
12
Click here
Shoulder Pushups 3
15
Click here
Band One Arm Row 3
15 ea side Click here
PUPT
3
8-8
Click here
Separation Fly
3
12
Click here
V-Sit Bicycles
3
30
Click here
Plank
3
45-60 secs Click here
12 Click here
Opposite arm, opposite leg each rep, pause at extension
SETS REPS VIDEO DEMO
Squat Jumps
3
10 Click here
Get after it! Squat down to 1/4 to 1/2 squat each rep
Lunge Transitions 3
10
Click here
Be balanced and quick but work on a smooth transition
Lunge & Lift
4
18 ea side Click here
Focus on squeezing the glute at the top of the lift
Same side, same leg, keep the core drawn in Do not let the feet drop during the rotation
Pike your butt up the whole time, maintain the position
Prone Xs
3
15 ea side Click here
Plank STS Steps
3
20 Click here
Lateral Band Walks 3
10-10 steps Click here
If you have a band or ankle weight put it on
Always step back to the midline prior to taking the next step Keep the knees over the feet, do not cave in
Retract the shoulder each rep and slowly release tension
Place the hand under the elbow and the elbow under the shoulder Hands must remain at shoulder chest height throughout Be slow and work opposite sides
Core drawn in tight, elbows under shoulders
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A 30-MINUTE, HOME-BASED FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE SERIES
EXERCISE
VOLUME IV / ISSUE III / MAY-JUNE 2020
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
"Cardio, Abs & Glutes"
A 30-MINUTE, HOME-BASED FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE SERIES
"Tissue Recovery, Stretch & Yoga" EXERCISE
VIDEO DEMO
SMR Cross Over 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Hip External Rotation 60 sec each side
Click here
Follow this with a gluteal stretch
Follow this with a hip flexor stretch
EXERCISE
SETS REPS
X-Ups
3 20
Side Plank Leg Raises
3
12 each
Over-Extended Plank
3
30 seconds
Spread out and keep the lower stomarch drawn in Stay in perfect lordosis position
Put those elbows way in front of the shoulders
Forward-Backward Lunge 3
15 each side
Polish Glutes
3
3 minutes
HIIT Cardio
15 min
30:60 secs
Stay controlled, stay all on one side before switching
SMR Thoracolumbar 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Tilted· 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Calves· 60 sec each side
Click here
Follow this with a hamstring stretch Follow this with a lower back stretch
Follow this with a calf stretch page 148
Band Bridge - Band Bridge Hold - Lying Band Abduction
30 second warm-up at 100% pace followed by 60 sec at 70%
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FRIDAY
“Tota Body Pump It Up”
SATURDAY
"Tissue Recovery, Stretch & Yoga"
SETS REPS VIDEO DEMO
EXERCISE
VIDEO DEMO
Blood Hounds
2
SMR Cross Over 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Hip External Rotation 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Thoracolumbar 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Tilted· 60 sec each side
Click here
SMR Calves· 60 sec each side
Click here
12 Click here
Opposite arm, opposite leg each rep, pause at extension
Deadbugs
2 12
Same side, same leg, keep the core drawn in
Hip Rolls
2
12
Do not let the feet drop during the rotation
Click here
Click here
Follow this with a gluteal stretch
Follow this with a hip flexor stretch
Follow this with a hamstring stretch
Plank Complex
3
20-20-20 seconds
Side plank to regular plank to side plank
MB Leg Flutters
3
20 seconds
Keep your upper back off the ground
Seal Sit Ups
3
20 seconds
Jump Rope
3
20 seconds
Burpee Jumps
3
8
PUPT
3
6-6
Split Squats
3
20 seconds
Follow this with a lower back stretch Follow this with a calf stretch
Arms straight up to the ceiling, suck the lower stomach in If you don't have a jump rope, substitute jumping jacks Perform a full pushup each burpee
Click here
Six reps right-left-right-left and then six reps left-right-left-right Do all on one side before doing the other side
Horizontal Pushups 3
15
Keep your body flat and control your reps
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A 30-MINUTE, HOME-BASED FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE SERIES
EXERCISE
Classic Fusion Gold Crystal
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MOLD YOUR MIND
BRAIN STRENGTH & CONTROL: THE ARMOR FOR FACING CHALLENGING TIMES JOEY VELEZ MA, MBA @velezmentalperformance Healthy Lifestyles Contributor
T
he current pandemic is bringing many business operations to a virtual halt, and simple pleasures like going to the park or the bar after work have been taken away from us due to something microscopic. We are all faced—no matter where we live—with the difficult challenge of how to maneuver through life while being relegated to the confines of our own home. Not to mention, the variety of emotions we are more likely to experience due to the current situation: anxiety, fear, doubt, lack of motivation, loneliness, weariness. Because of this, emphasizing your mental health is key to helping you get through this trying time. Three techniques to increase your psychological well-being include increasing connections with other individuals, monitoring your information intake and setting daily goals.
Me, Myself, and I I recently relocated from California to Georgia page 152for an exciting opportunity in my field of study. I accepted this role in
February and had a planned start date of March 30. Next thing you know, the country declared a state of pandemic and emotions such as doubt and worry started to creep into my mind, wondering if my new employer would still allow me to begin work on time. Thankfully, this was the case, and my move went on as planned.
what was wrong. I explained my injury and all the things I could not do; the trainer looked at me and said, “Okay. Well, let’s focus on what you can do.”
The plan was altered to self-quarantine in my new residence for two weeks as a safety precaution, which I understood, but at the end of my first week, Georgia installed a shelter-in-place order throughout the state to do their part to minimize the spread of this disease.
In the present, I began to focus on all the things I could do in my current situation. I started incorporating daily goals, reaching out to my family and friends and implementing daily meditation practices to direct my concentration in the direction I wanted it to go: a more productive focus. In just a short amount of time, I saw my production and daily performance increasing. I started having more real-life, intimate conversations with family and friends in my short time in Georgia than when I was back home, and I find myself being more present in my current environment than when I had first gotten here. It takes time to settle into a new place, of course, but adding the pandemic factor made this situation extremely unique, but the key is to focus on what you can control.
Again, this is something I understood, but in a brand-new environment, I experienced negative emotions. I asked myself, Did I make the right decision? What am I doing here? What am I going to do? Then, there were the general homesick feelings many people experience their first time away from home. I was not able to explore my new surroundings or meet new people (other than the maintenance guy in my building), and my work training was adjusted so much that I essentially had to teach myself this new curriculum. It was at this point that I began to slow things down. I started to focus on my breathing and drew on a particular past experience that has always stuck with me. One day, while at my then local fitness center, I was struggling through a specific workout due to an injury. As the frustration began to set in, one of the trainers approached me and asked
From that point on, I had an excellent workout, working out the same body parts as before but making subtle adjustments to the injured body part.
What You Can Do
One thing we are being deprived of right now is our ability to have daily interactions with other individuals in public. We can utilize this time to reach out and connect with people, whether it is someone we talk to every day or someone we have not spoken to in a while. We can check in with family and
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friends, providing emotional support to those who may need it. We can catch up with those individuals who we have not spoken to in quite some time. I have a relative in Minnesota, and we keep in touch through social media, but the only time we have more in-depth conversations is when I see her in person, which is once a year at best. This summer, she is supposed to get married. Unfortunately, this pandemic has put this event in jeopardy. Weddings are a chance to celebrate a new chapter, a joining of two people, in front of everyone that matters in one’s life. I know how I would feel if my wedding were canceled, so I thought I should reach out. We had a two-hour conversation, not just about the wedding, but about everything: life, work, our families. We have never had conversations like this. I felt our connection and bond grow, and had it not been for this pandemic, we would never have had that conversation. During this pandemic, we want to be careful about the amount of information we ingest. One activity that you can incorporate into your daily routine to divert your attention away from this information is meditation. Practicing meditation narrows your focus to one thing, your breathing. When focusing on your breathing, you are becoming more mindful and existing in the present moment. We cannot control what is going on around us, nor can we control the information we receive from the various media outlets. While it is vital to stay informed, we do not want our day consumed by the information being released. Therefore, practicing meditation is a great way to break things up and a great way to increase relaxation, not just for your body, but also for your mind. With the combination of being in a new city and being in a state of isolation during this pandemic, I have incorporated meditation more regularly into my daily schedule. There are two times when I practice meditation: doing yoga first thing in the morning and a mindfulness app (Headspace) in the afternoon. I practice yoga three to
four times per week first thing in the morning. Yoga is a great way to wake up the mind and the body, and it establishes a feeling of productivity after completion of the exercise. I practice mindfulness meditation five to six days per week, typically in the afternoons, but sometimes in the morning as well. Mindfulness meditation is a great way to set your intentions for the day by clearing your mind of the distractions around you, and it is also a great way to break up your day. The mind can become overwhelmed when intaking a lot of information, so allowing yourself the five to ten minutes of focusing on your breath can keep you from experiencing information overload.
going from your typical working day routine at the office to working from home because many factors change: there is no commute, less human interaction, the environment, even the clothes you wear. It is unrealistic to mimic your work environment in your home precisely, but having a daily action plan can, at the very least, help you maintain your productivity. Every night before I go to bed, I make a list of what I want to accomplish and what work I have to do for the following day. My list typically goes as follows: Meditation - yoga Work - read two research articles Exercise - cardio and 30-minute fullbody workout Work - compliance training Breathing exercise - 10 minutes Work on column - write one section Do laundry As I complete each task, I cross it off my list. Sometimes I have to make adjustments and switch tasks around. For example, if I sleep through my alarm, I may skip my morning yoga, but practice my breathing exercise earlier in the day. Once I complete my list, it is either time for me to relax, or maybe there was a task I planned on completing the next day that I felt I had time to finish today. Doing this helps me maintain my productivity and directs my focus toward something that I have control over.
Final Thoughts Lastly, it can be a challenge to maintain motivation when working from home as the number of distractions around you greatly increase. We may also find that we have some extra time on our hands. Setting daily goals can help maintain and even improve daily production. Creating a daily action plan at the start of your day, or the end of the day for what is coming tomorrow can increase your motivation and focus, which in turn will increase your productivity. Not only do daily action plans set the tone for the day, but they also normalize your day to a certain extent. It can be a difficult adjustment
You have control over your actions and responses. Focusing on what is in your control increases your overall well-being and your productivity, decreasing your levels of anxiety, stress, doubt and fear. Soundly within your control are the daily goals you set for yourself, the amount of information you consume, practicing mindfulness and the connections you make and the conversations you are having. While doing these will not change the situation, but they will make it more manageable to live through. page 153
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