Latest news with #Recess
Arab News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Recess evening at Hayy Jameel celebrates youth, creativity, alternative learning
JEDDAH: Hayy Jameel has hosted Recess: Closing Conversations to mark the conclusion of its flagship after-school initiative for teenagers. The evening offered a platform to revisit the transformative journey of the program's first cohort, and featured thoughtful exchanges with the learning team at Hayy, along with mentors who guided the students through the months-long experience. The session welcomed reflections from mentors including Dr. Effat Fadag, Saudi artist and founder of Naqsh Art Studio; Rizwana Anwer, educator and alternative learning advocate; Sahrish Ali and Nayla Attar, artist-teachers and members of the learning team at Hayy Jameel; and Abdelelah Qutub, exhibition designer and program mentor. Speaking about the inspiration behind Recess, Attar said: 'After all these foundations were laid out, we were really trying to create a comprehensive program, something that teaches teenagers how to navigate skills and topics usually reserved for much later in life. 'We wanted them to get a glimpse of what it means to move from high school into a design-thinking process, and even into the contemporary art world. There's a big gap in how people perceive and interact with art, especially in Saudi, and Recess was about bridging that.' Ali stressed the importance of creating lifelong learning spaces, and said: 'We started by developing a program for kids aged 5 to 13, but we noticed a gap when it came to teens, so we built this program with weekly after-school sessions, combining core theoretical knowledge, practical art studio time, and mentorship from creatives in our network.' Fadag said: 'It's not just about hearing, but listening. Listening helps promote the inner voice. One of the most important things for me was encouraging students to ask questions like 'Why are we doing this?' and to integrate research and critical thinking into their work. Art challenges us to negotiate identity and social engagement, and this is what we tried to bring into the program.' Anwer brought an educator's lens shaped by both international teaching experience and homeschooling, and said: 'I came from a traditional academic background, but as a teacher I saw how many students struggled with that model. 'When I became a parent I knew I didn't want to put my children in the same system. Homeschooling and unschooling helped me realize that learning can be more holistic and individual. That's what we tried to reflect in Recess.' Qutub, who boasts an architecture background, emphasized the importance of spatial thinking and collaborative presentation, and said: 'Students had a tendency to view their work in isolation, so I worked with them to think about how their pieces related to one another and to the space as a whole. 'My role was to get them production-ready, to help them engage with the real-world process of creating and displaying artwork, and to see themselves as part of a collective dialogue.' The showcase at Hayy Jameel featured the works of 10 young artists, with each piece a reflection of their journey through Recess. The multidisciplinary program, which ran from February to May, offered a structured yet flexible curriculum blending theoretical sessions, practical workshops, field trips, and portfolio development. Through art-making, mentorship, and cultural engagement, the students explored themes like identity, nature, technology, and personal narrative, resulting in works that invited reflection and dialogue. Hadeel Felemban, learning assistant at Hayy Jameel, said: 'The program was mainly designed for high-school students who are passionate about pursuing art at a higher level. 'It ran over the course of several months, with weekly Saturday sessions that combined theory, practical work, and mentorship from artists and educators. The students learned about the creative process behind artworks and exhibitions, built their own portfolios, and engaged with different departments at Hayy, including the exhibition, cinema, and public programs teams. They also had weekly interventions with guest artists and visited cultural sites like the Islamic Biennale and Al-Balad.' As the mentors gathered with students one last time for Closing Conversations, the atmosphere was charged with pride, curiosity, and a shared sense of accomplishment. Young artist Aleen Alqurashi shared how the program had transformed her perspective on both art and herself, saying: 'I honestly didn't think I had any talent in art; I just joined because I wanted to improve. 'But throughout this program, it really helped me see things differently; not just in art, but in life. I discovered talents I didn't know I had, and I wanted my final project to carry a deeper meaning, something people could relate to.' Nooh Spurlock, 14, also a homeschooled student and the son of mentor Rizwana Anwer, participated in the program with a concept that merged creativity, gaming, and self-exploration. He said: 'My work is about a video game — are you inside your mind when you're fighting against yourself? 'I was inspired by a lot of things: different video games, different elements from that genre. The mentors connected me with game developers who helped me with the research and planning.' His final project, titled 'Into the Mind,' was a video game set inside the player's consciousness, in which one must battle different versions of themselves. The game featured three levels, each representing a specific emotion, with each stage designed to mentally and emotionally prepare the player for the next.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Lululemon faces new threat from upscale clothing retailer
I love Lululemon as much as everyone else. But it's expensive, and there are only so many pairs of $100+ leggings one woman can justify. So I'm always looking for alternatives. Beyond Yoga and Athleta have good options, although they're not exactly bargains either, unless you happen to hit a sale. And what about when you're in the market for more than leggings and sports bras? Athleisure, for example, or 'fits for tennis, golf, or pickleball. I play all three, but a Lululemon dress to wear for pickleball or tennis is $148, and a skirt is $78. Ouch. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE Daily newsletter Nordstrom is hoping people will give its Zella line a second look. Zella doesn't make Lululemon dupes per se, but it certainly has plenty of lookalike products in its lineup. Some of the comparisons are especially obvious in categories outside of the basics. Now Nordstrom is jumping on the hottest trend in fitness and collaborating with Recess, the unstoppable pickleball brand. Recess x Zella just launched, and it's winning plenty of kudos on social media. The limited time lineup features lined shorts for men and women, mesh tops, dresses and skirts, plus vests and sweaters with a vintage vibe. As @losangelesinfluencers writes, "Loving this retro trend." And @nhiii says, "OK that green vest!!!" while @maisonpickleclub says, "Congrats! Great price point!" If you happen to be one of the millions of people who have picked up pickleball in the last couple of years, you know you can't wear just anything to play. Related: Another struggling mall retail chain closing more stores Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in America for the past four years, according to the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, and while pickleball doesn't necessarily require a wardrobe of its own, people who play definitely love to have options just for the game. True pickleball cultists will also want to check out the Recess x Zella paddles, available in colors and styles that match the clothing. A Recess x Zella dress runs $79. Men's court shorts with a compression liner from the Recess x Zella line are $49, while a similar pair from Lululemon are $78. Recess calls it a "collection for on and off the court." Athleisure has seen explosive growth over the last few years, starting during the pandemic but evolving from a trend into a lifestyle. During the lockdowns, consumers prioritized comfort and versatility in their wardrobes so sales of leggings, joggers, and performance tops surged, and brands quickly adapted with new styles and fabric technologies. Players like Lululemon, Nike, and Adidas also expanded their offerings, while newer brands like Alo, Zella, and Vuori gained traction with influencer-driven strategies. More retail: Aldi releases viral Trader Joe's item that is always out of stock Home Depot, Lowe's rivals strategic growth plan Trader Joe's making huge mistake not copying Walmart, Target According to industry reports, the global athleisure market is expected to continue growing, driven by health-conscious lifestyles, increased focus on wellness, and more casual workplace dress codes. In the United States alone, the athleisure market was estimated at $88.48 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to around $245.25 billion by 2034, a compound annual growth rate of 9.7%, according to Precedence Research. Lululemon will likely maintain its status in the market (only Nike has a bigger share), but other brands like Zella are coming up with ways to chip away at its dominance. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Do Adaptogens Actually Benefit You? What You Need to Know Before Drinking Another New Age Beverage
Adaptogens are herbs, roots, other plants, and fungi that help your body respond to and recover from stress. Examples of common adaptogens include ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, ginseng, maca, ginger, and licorice root. Multiple studies suggest that some adaptogens are proven to assist with the body's response to stress, and can possibly aid with sleep issues and improve cognitive functioning. Adaptogens have historically been used in multiple herbal medical systems throughout the world, and have been offered as supplements in stores in recent years — now they're often included in nonalcoholic beverages to make them more accessible. Walk past the rows of refrigerated drinks in your usual supermarket, corner store, bodega, or artisanal grocer, and you're bound to find much more than the usual offerings of seltzers and sodas. There has never been a more bountiful array of canned nonalcoholic drinks available, and many of these are promoted as being quite different from their sugary soda counterparts. Instead, the new wave of pastel-colored and beautifully designed cans highlights the health-focused ingredients contained within each one, such as CBD, magnesium, prebiotics or probiotics, and perhaps most commonly: adaptogens. I keep a few nonalcoholic drinks in my refrigerator regularly. I don't love sweet drinks, and these tend to lean towards the tart, herbal, and bitter side, which is what I enjoy. However, for the vast majority of my favorites, including brands like De Soi, BRĒZ, and Recess, the packaging proudly proclaims that the beverage contains adaptogens or is adaptogen-rich. I primarily drink these products for their flavor — I simply find them delicious — but many others turn to them in equal parts for taste and the potential health benefits of the ingredients they contain. I suspect that many consumers who enjoy these beverages, including those who purchase them for their health claims, share the same questions as I do, or at least some uncertainty, about what adaptogens are and whether they can genuinely benefit you. In simple terms, adaptogens are roots, herbs, other plants, and fungi that help your body cope with stress. Rachel Gargano, MS, RD, CSSD, CBS and the Chief Registered Dietitian at Live it Up, provides a more detailed explanation, telling Food & Wine 'Adaptogens are plants thought to help the body better handle internal and external stressors, such as fatigue, anxiety, and even immune response.' Both Gargano and the Cleveland Clinic note that an ingredient must meet three criteria to qualify as an adaptogen: First, it cannot harm you or be toxic when taken in normal doses. Second, it must assist your body in adapting to stress. Finally, an adaptogen must help your body return to its normal functioning (an equilibrium also called homeostasis) after you've experienced stress. Related: People Are Using Elderberries to Cure the Cold and Flu — but Does It Actually Work? There are a lot of adaptogens out there, but some common examples include ashwagandha, ginseng, reishi, rhodiola, ginger, licorice root, and maca. Although drinks featuring these ingredients may be new to the beverage aisle in your grocery store, adaptogens have been available in the supplement sections of supermarkets and pharmacies for quite some time, and have been used in traditional medicine around the world for thousands of years, playing an essential role in medical systems such as Ayurveda, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), and Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan medicine). It is crucial to note that adaptogens are not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, if you're looking for ingredients that are genuinely recognized as adaptogens and meet the criteria outlined above, it's best to look for items you recognize and that are widely regarded and researched as adaptogens. I have excellent news: Research suggests that adaptogens likely help with stress and can also aid related issues like difficulty sleeping or cognitive impairment. The primary way adaptogens function is by influencing your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a neuroendocrine system essential for helping your body cope with stress. The HPA axis releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline in times of distress, and adaptogens can aid in regulating its response. Multiple studies have shown that adaptogens help the body manage and respond to stress. One review published in 2010 in the peer-reviewed journal Pharmaceuticals concludes that adaptogens may 'reduce stress-induced impairments and disorders related to the function of stress (neuro-endocrine and immune) systems.' Related: Foods Like Kimchi and Miso May Have Major Mental Health Benefits, New Study Suggests Another analysis from 2021 published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients found that 'natural adaptogens have the ability to increase the body's resistance to stress changes caused by different types of stressors,' and that they could potentially help treat chronic fatigue and cognitive impairment as well. More research is needed, but the science conducted thus far confirms that adaptogens can help you manage stress and possibly do even more. Regardless, Gargano emphasizes that 'the first thing to keep in mind is that the term adaptogen refers to the entire plant and how it functions, rather than any specific chemical within that plant. The compounds within adaptogens often need to work synergistically to provide the benefits we see in studies.' Two of the most common adaptogens — ashwagandha and rhodiola rosea — also happen to have greater bodies of research supporting their effectiveness. Studies from 2021 and 2022 concluded that ashwagandha was effective in helping subjects manage or respond to stress. According to research from 2008, Rhodiola rosea may decrease the body's cortisol response to stress and even enhance cognitive function when you're tired. These are just two examples of adaptogens that have been more closely researched, and it doesn't imply that other ingredients are less effective. 'Many adaptogens becoming popular today have been used for centuries as traditional medicine, including Panax ginseng, bacopa, reishi mushroom, astragalus, and eleuthero,' says Gargano. 'While there is more work to be done to prove their safety and efficacy, it's exciting to see research starting to underscore how these herbs can contribute to our health.' I reached out to one of my favorite nonalcoholic beverage brands, BRĒZ, to learn more about how and why it incorporates adaptogens into its products. To start, Founder and CEO Aaron Nosbisch explains that, 'Consumers are increasingly seeking functional beverages that offer more than just refreshment — they want drinks that provide tangible wellness benefits.' To see exactly which adaptogens are used in a drink, you'll typically need to look at the ingredient list. Two of the most common ones listed are reishi and lion's mane mushrooms. Some research suggests that reishi may aid your immune system. And Nosbisch notes that BRĒZ utilizes lion's mane in its drinks because it 'has been linked to enhanced memory, improved focus, and mood regulation. Research suggests it may also support nerve regeneration and overall brain health. If you're looking for advice on which adaptogens to try and whether they are suitable for you, consulting your healthcare provider is always the best option. However, if you're simply browsing the beverage aisle, you can also rely on trial and error to discover which drinks make you feel your best. Read the original article on Food & Wine
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Remix brings bright cocktail flavor to low-calorie mocktails... but where are the bubbles?
Remix brings bright cocktail flavor to low-calorie mocktails... but where are the bubbles? Welcome back to FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. I'm a little skeptical about fauxtails. After all, Recess left me thoroughly unimpressed and, well, if I want a well made non-alcoholic drink there are plenty of craft sodas that can scratch that itch without trying to trick my brain into believing there's booze around. By trying to recreate the presence of bourbon or vodka or whatever, too many of these un-spirited cocktails wind up just tasting entirely too complicated and at least sorta gross. Remix could buck that trend. It's a low calorie mixer meant to stand up on its own or work as the backdrop in a simple, two-step cocktail. It's not trying to recreate the flavor of alcohol without the alcohol, which is a common sense play that should make everything better. Let's see if it does. Mischievous Mule: B- It pours lighter than expected, but with the unmistakable sharpness of ginger and lime. It's also minimally carbonated. There's a quick fizz on the pour, but little in terms of sparkling water about 15 seconds after it settles. The first sip starts out like a light ginger beer, then quickly gets inundated with mint. That's a bit of a surprise, even if it's written right on the label. It leaves you halfway between a mule and a mojito, which isn't bad but is a slightly weird place to be. The lack of carbonation keeps it from reaching its potential. A fresh Moscow mule has bite. Its ginger spice, lime acidity and a steady torrent of bubbles clear each sip crisply. Remix doesn't offer that, instead letting each gulp linger, leaving behind an aftertaste that slows your drinking pace. It's possible that's a canning issue, but per the printing on the bottom of the aluminum I'm still about three months prior to the "best by" date. That's kind of a bummer. I like what Remix was going for here and the flavor is better than any of the other pointed NA cocktails I've had in the past. But I can't shake the idea this could have easily been better. Muddled Berry Mojito: B We're back to the mint well, but this time in a place I'd expect it. The berry, not as much. But blackberry is a wonderful ingredient that's too often overlooked in modern cocktails. Anyone who's taken a pull from a pint of blackberry brandy on a cold day knows exactly what I mean. Again, this pours with muted carbonation that gives off the impression the can's gone flat. It smells... busy. The acid and the mint are a bit jumbled and the overall vibe is stale passion fruit. So we're not starting out great. Fortunately, the taste is significantly better. You've got three flavors intertwined to make a braid. There's sweet blackberry, tart lime and the mint, uh, mint. It's more complex than the mule and while the mint overpowers the end of each sip it's still enjoyable. But, like last time, the limited carbonation means we're lacking the bubbles to finish crisp. That fruit-mint lingers on your tongue like children's toothpaste. So we're stuck wondering what could have been. This is a nice, low calorie, flavorful craft mocktail. But it's just missing one key element. Perfect Paloma: B This one pours pretty much devoid of carbonation. The smell off the top is all grapefruit, which is a lot to get through. But it's also a very pretty pink, so... True to form, you're getting a still version of grapefruit soda. That makes this an easy pairing for vodka or tequila. It's tart and sweet and the flavor is full-bodied, if not entirely authentic. The lime is subtle, offering little resistance to that bulldozer of pink citrus. As is becoming standard, some carbonation would help. But as is it's a solid enough low calorie mixer -- possibly the best suited for booze of the bunch. Tres Citrus Margarita: B+ This one sounds awesome -- lemon, lime and orange together with a little salt. There's gonna have to be a precarious balance here to make it all work but the ceiling is high. It pours completely still. Instead of minor bubbles there are none. It smells like lime first and foremost -- that makes sense, since it's a margarita -- but you do pick up some of the other citrus flavors as well. It's got a bit of a "cleaning supplies" vibe, which is not a bad thing but is where my mind went. There's a real "flat Sprite" taste that comes off the first sip. It's chased by a little bit of orange. On its own it's a little thicker than a soda but not quite at juice levels. There's a lot of flavor for a 20 calorie drink, but it does feel like it's missing a key ingredient. Adding a little tequila helps snap off each sip with some boozy burn that had previously been missing. Would I drink it instead of a Hamm's? This a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Remix over a cold can of Hamm's? There's potential here. The mixes are vibrant and low calorie. But the lack of carbonation is an issue. That's a simple fix, but for now I'm sticking with Hamm's.
