Virgin Active, a world-class fitness brand from the UK, recently launched Sprint, a new indoor cycling class designed for health lovers who are time strapped but love challenges.

Available at all five of its Bangkok gyms, Sprint is a cycle workout built on the science of high-intensity interval training. This allows nine times the fat loss of regular cardio training in a 30-minute class –burning up to 500 calories! The body also continues to burn more calories for hours after the class.

As the class begins, you will warm up your climbing muscles, then hit a series of full-on hill climbs that test your strength, and cycling time trials that test your endurance. There will be time for recovery, just enough to give you the energy to push through the next challenge.

In addition to burning a lot of calories, muscles also get toned from this class. It’s not just about the butt and thighs – indoor cycling gets all your leg muscles working. All that spinning sculpts strong calf muscles and targets your quads and hamstrings.

Sprint is a quick and intense style of training that returns rapid results with minimal joint impact. It improves your cardiovascular health because it gets your heart pumping and gets blood flowing, thus keeping heart problems away.

Find out more at http://www.VirginActive.co.th or Facebook.com/virginactivethailand.

Inside her boutique in downtown Yangon, Pyone Thet Thet Kyaw crafts her own designs using traditional patterns and fabrics, many from ethnic minority groups, to make A-line skirts, dresses and tops.

On another she adds the high-collared neckline of the inngyi — a tight top usually worn by Myanmar women along with a fitted, sarong-like skirt — to a flirty pleated dress.

“We Burmese really care about our own ethnic and traditional clothes,” she told AFP in the shop, over the whir of sewing machines.

“When you modernise the traditional patterned clothes you have to be careful they’re not too flashy — or too modern.”

Myanmar is fiercely proud of its traditional garb, which was largely protected from the influx of homogenous Western fashion now ubiquitous across Southeast Asia by the former military junta.

For 50 years they shut the country off to foreign influences and tightly controlled what was worn in all official media.

Designer Ma Pont said she was not allowed to show even a flash of shoulder or armpit when she used to make clothes for military-controlled TV channels in the 1990s.

“We were not really free,” she said.

Fashion was particularly politically charged in that era, when many women would secretly ask their tailors for designs that imitated the distinctive style of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Local media reported the purple outfit she wore the day she was released from almost two decades of house arrest soon became a popular sight on Yangon’s streets.

Changing tastes

Today the democracy icon, who last year became the de facto leader of Myanmar’s first civilian government in generations, is still widely admired for the elegant Burmese outfits she wears at public appearances.

But while many still prefer traditional clothes, especially the sarong-like longyi worn by both men and women, fashions are starting to change.

Shopping malls aimed at Yangon’s growing middle class are sprouting up around the city, while on its fringes factories are churning out clothes for international brands drawn to its pool of young, cheap labour.

It is a flip-side of the industry which boutique designer Pyone Thet Thet Kyaw has seen first-hand.

As a teenager she spent months toiling in garment factories on the outskirts of the commercial capital — a job that earned her 2,000 kyat a week (now worth $1.46).

The experience made her determined to open her own boutique and train young women in the art of clothes-making to make sure they never suffer the same fate.

“I started to see things, like how you could only spend 10 minutes for your lunch or you could not go to the toilet whenever you wanted because it would disrupt their production line,” she said.

“If fast fashion and unethical fashion continues, then we’re the ones to be suffering.”

Fashion slaves

Impoverished but emerging Myanmar is swiftly becoming a new hub for massive garment factories making cheap clothes as quickly as possible for fashion giants like H&M and Primark.

Exports more than doubled to $1.65 billion last financial year, according to official data, and are expected to surge after the US ended sanctions in October.

But while the sector is helping to drive rapid economic growth, critics say few benefits are trickling down to workers who earn some of the lowest wages in Asia and have little legal protections.

A recent report by multinational watchdog SOMO warned of “significant risks of labour rights violations being committed in Myanmar’s garment industry that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency”.

Other local designers, like Mo Hom, are working to save Myanmar’s centuries-old traditional fabric industry from the influx of cheap imported clothes from Thailand and China.

Her boutique in Yangon is filled with colourful designs in cotton and silks sourced from Chin and Shan states, where they can take months to weave by hand using traditional wooden looms.

Many are dyed with natural substances like green tea and strawberries to give subtle colours, which she mixes with traditional ethnic patterns and silhouettes.

“Local mills are actually dying because there is no market demand any more,” said Mo Hom, who trained and worked as a designer in New York before moving back to Myanmar in 2012.

“A lot of the mills are actually closing down.”

At first glance, Yimsoo Cafe seems no different from the multitude of coffee shops that have mushroomed around town over the past few years. The air is fragrant with the aroma of coffee, the decor is modern, the ambience friendly and the Wi-Fi free. Walk up to the counter to place an order, however, and you realise that Yimsoo is unique.

“I’m deaf but happy to take care of you. Please point to the menu to order,” reads the handwritten sign towards which the young barista gestures.

Opened last December, Yimsoo Cafe is in Soi Arun Amarin 39, on the first floor of the building belonging to the Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities (1999), which is led by the non-sighted and highly respected former senator Professor Wiriya Namsiripongpan. The coffee shop is yet another milestone in Wiriya’s mission to create an equal society and help persons with disabilities live a happy and fulfilling life alongside the ablebodied.

The professor has agreed to meet us here – he is currently giving a lecture in law at Thammasat University – and we take the opportunity to interview the staff of this cafe with a difference. In this, we’re ably assisted by visual language interpreter Chanakan Pittayapoovanai.

Three baristas, all hearing impaired, run the coffee shop. One is on her day off but Sujira Chaiyasuriyong and Inthira Patcharaharuthai are more than happy to communicate with us. Deaf from birth and now 25 years old, Sujira, comes from Mukdaharn province and completed junior high school. She tells us that she’s been a barista at Yimsoo Cafe since it opened and has learnt so much that she thinks she will someday open her own coffee shop. She enjoys living in the busy capital, she signs, because she has lots of friends among Bangkok’s sizeable deaf community.

“When the foundation opened Yimsoo, it was quite difficult at first to communicate with customers but those problems went away when the coffeeshop introduced the touch screen ordering system, which also calculates and checks bills and balances,” she says through Chanakan.

“Now it’s easy and I love making coffee.”

Asking what she used to dream of when she was young. Sujira shrugs her shoulders. She tells us that she always lived with her mother and being deaf found it impossible to dream of a job especially one in the service sector. But she did want to be independent. “I know I am lucky to work for the foundation and haven’t ended up like so many disabled people who are upset at not having found a place in society,” she signs.

Inthira too says she wishes that other people would treat her well like a normal person and give her a chance to work. Also 25 and deaf since birth, Inthira lives in Bangkok with her mother and completed a diploma course at Don Bosco Technological Collage. She says that when she was young, her family worried about her very much and was so afraid at harm coming to her but she wasn’t allowed to do anything.

“Today I’m more confident and like to meet people when they come to order a coffee,” she signs, adding that at first it was quite difficult for her to remember not only the menu but also the recipes.

“The deaf can understand visual language but their vocabulary is very limited,” says Chanakan, one of the very few Thais to hold a bachelor’s degree in visual language from Mahidol University.

“The learning process is from pictures. Unless the family teaches them to read and write, then they will have nothing more than the basics and be unable to follow a complicated text. Reading a book is almost impossible. When she makes coffee, the deaf barista has to visualise the picture. Visual language has a different kind of grammar and hand signing has to be learned, so there are obstacles to smooth communication with society and even family members. Also since the hearing impaired show no outward sign of disability, they tend to be very shy and keep to themselves,” she notes.

“Ideally, I would like Yimsoo Cafe to be run by the deaf without any help from the hearing,” adds Wiriya, who has now joined the discussion.

Blinded at the age of 15 following an explosion. Wiriya has never let his disability hold him back. A hardworking student, he graduated with First Class Honours from Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law before going on to Harvard University to earn his LLM (Taxation).

He is the president of the foundation and actively involved in its work.

“Throughout my life, I have been trying to promote better quality living for the blind and other persons with disabilities. I see opportunities for the deaf too. By helping them to train for a career, I believe they can do anything and live a happy life as well,” he says.

The foundation recently ran a training course on coffee making for five youngsters with autism.

“We’ve learned from the work done in other countries on career training for the disabled that in the urban area running a food and beverage business is possible. In the countryside, a job in agriculture is more appropriate. Today’s urbanites love coffee and while we are not trying to make a profit with Yimsoo, we do want to set an example for others. At the foundation we already have services for visual language interpretation, so we would like to try out this project here first and also improve and develop new technology to help with ordering and the accounts. Next we aim to teach all our customers the simple visual signs so that they can communicate with our deaf baristas,” he says.

“When I became blind, I quickly learnt that there is little point in asking why or blaming the past. The foundation’s first mission is to set up a special learning centre for blind children. It’s important to help blind kids as early as possible because they tend to have multiple disabilities. I visited a family with a blind child and found that the little one couldn’t walk because his mother carried him all the time to keep him from danger. His muscles therefore didn’t develop properly. That’s a major problem here but at least now there are special learning centres all over the country.

“Another project that the foundation works on is a documentary featuring inspirational disabled persons. We’ve opened an art gallery on the second floor that showcases the works of disabled artist Thanong Kotchompoo, who paints by holding the brush in his mouth. He became ill and so the foundation bought his paintings for exhibition,” Wiraya explains.

“I think that everybody wants to be independent. They don’t want to be burden. The person I admire the most is Sister Rosemore, the dean of the School for Blind Bangkok. She constantly told me: ‘Always remember that the blind can do anything and that in every problem, there’s a good opportunity. Don’t ask for help. Secondly, always smile. A smile from can help prevent people from committing suicide. And lastly, donate blood. It can save another person’s life.’ That’s why on every birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and His Majesty the late King Bhumibol, blind people join the blood donation campaign. Even if you are disabled, you can help others. It’s just a matter of wanting to,” he says.

FULL OF BEANS

– Yimsoo Cafe is open everyday from 7.30 to 6. It’s on Soi Arun Amarin 39, Bangkok Noi district, Bangkok 10700. Call (02) 055 1901 or visit Facebook: yimsoocafe

– Coffee and other beverages are priced between Bt35 and Bt65. A small selection of food and bakery items is also available. WiFi is free.

The brand says the collection aims to emphasise ASV’s DNA and portray its characteristics – Aspiration, Approachable, and Adventurous. That description fitted Legge, who is also a talented actress, and she was invited to put forward her design ideas.

Highlights include a contrast colour piping technique that’s easy to mix and match and makes a personal fashion statement, a Knit bag with mixed pom-pom colours and a striped robe. A range of Emoji arm patches portray such images as a flamingo, the Monstera leaf, the Mustang car and a cigar and can be added to robe, t-shirt or other materials. Find out more at Facebook: @asvthailandofficial.

The theme of the event was Intergalactic, with futuristic, out-of-this-world colours and trends, especially for the lips, taking centre stage.

Joining the event were celebrities, beauty bloggers and makeup artists, among them Ployvarin Songpakorn, Pimpisa Chirathivat, Kerika Chotivichit, MR Mannarumas Yukol, Parva Nakasai, Taya Rogers, Sarah Ball, Piyarat Kaljareuk, Ploypayap Srikarnchana, Napassorn Buranasiri, Pimthong Washirakom, Nontaporn Teerawatanasuk, Katheryn Lee ,and Kirana Jasmine Chewter.

The venue at Zen, CentralWorld was lavishly decorated with sparkling colour to reflect the intergalactic theme. Guests enjoyed exploring new items from the Autumn 2017 collection, with brand owners and representatives on site to offer details and information. A special zone, Lips Trends, was dedicated to the hottest lip trends of this season.

Sephora presents new lip trends from fashion runways, which focus on futuristic design and strong, eye-catching colours. New techniques are used to achieve new trends, such as Galactic Glitter which uses a holographic texture and shimmery prism lip topper to add a new twist to your ordinary lipstick. Molten Metallic is inspired by the ’90’s when all things metallic were the rage. Apply your ordinary lipstick and top it with a metallic colour, or apply metallic lipstick on the middle of the lips. Starlit Sheen is all about juicy gloss, using oily lip gloss to create an extreme shine on matte lipstick. The highlight of the lip trends is Sephora Cream Lip Stain, matte lip colour with avocado oil and Vitamin E that’s soft, lightweight and long-lasting.

Sephora also introduced Tarte Clay Play Face Shaping Palette, 12 essential Amazonian clay matte eye shadows which multitask as universal eye, nose and brow shapers, plus contour colors. This season, Tarte also presents the Rainforest of the Sea collection, with products that work as both skincare and make-up, such as Aquacealer Concealer, concealing serum with seawater which smoothes the skin and provides targeted, full coverage. Kat Von D presents its best-selling item Everlasting Lip Liner, which combines 24-hour, water-resistant wear with weightless colour.

Also joining the party this year was American hair care brand Verb. Verb was established by a salon owner in Austin, Texas, who invented many haircare products such as Sea Spray, formulated with natural sea salt and smoothing moisturisers, to protect the hair from sunlight and UV rays.

Toofaced unveiled a Hangover Replenishing Face Primer for party girls who want to wake up the next morning with flawless, moisturised and healthy skin.

Find out more at http://www.Sephora.co.th.

The “search” quickly found 200 eager applicants ages 18 to 40, and judges “respected in their various industries” winnowed that number was down to 20 health-conscious candidates.

Chompoo was on the judging panel, keen to see guys who were not just good-looking but also smart and resourceful.

“We want the campaign to motivate Thais to be more interested in health and wellness and hope it will be more than merely entertaining,” Louis says, inviting folks to vote for their favourite contestants at Thai.fitness/coolguy.

“The winning Cool Guy will receive Bt100,000 from Men’s Fitness and Bt50,000 in vouchers from American Eagle Outfitters, as well as an opportunity to sign a contract with Polyplus Entertainment.”

As well as Chompoo, the judges include Jirayu “Got” Thantrakul, Ornapa “Ma” Krisadee, Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas, Kaneungnij “Rotmay” Jaksamittanon and Chantavit “Ter” Dhanasevi”.

Join the search for the perfect Cool Guy on Line TV or the Mass TV and Men’s Fitness YouTube channels September 6. You can also keep an eye on the “MensFitnessTH” Facebook page.

Launched recently at a gala dinner at Rome’s film studio Cinecitta, the collection explores the different moods the sun creates from dawn until dusk.

Luscious lips

This season is all about bright and bold colours and Sephora has joined |the move by launching new lip trends |that focus on futuristic design. Galactic Glitter, for example, uses a holographic texture and shimmery prism lip topper |to add a new twist to your ordinary |lipstick. Molten Metallic is inspired by the 90’s and is applied on top of ordinary |lipstick for lips that beg to be kissed. Starlit Sheen is all about juicy gloss, |using oily gloss to create an extreme shine on matte lipstick. But the highlight of the lip trends is Sephora Cream Lip Stain, matte lip colour with avocado oil and |vitamin E.that’s is soft, lightweight and long lasting.

Outside the lines

Celebrity cosmetic line Kat Von D Beauty goes one step bolder this |season with a new collection that boasts more high-pigment, full-coverage and long-wear formulas. Tap your inner artist and dare to colour outside the lines with an edgy, boundary-breaking spectrum of colours for your lips, pairing bold shades with perfectly matted skin. The new |collection includes a lip liner that lives |up to the promise of the brand’s best-|selling Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. The long-wear, matte, and waterproof |formula feels comfortable all day and comes in 30 hues from classic nudes |and reds to fearless bolds.

Masterclass in mastery

An exhibition comparing the high |jewellery of Van Cleef & Arpels to the |traditional crafts of Japan within the |context of skilled Japanese and French workmanship is drawing lovers of luxury and beauty to the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto. Continuing through August 6, “Mastery of an Art” is part of Van Cleef & Arpels ongoing series of |exhibitions at various museums in the world, with Kyoto meeting the criteria |for this year’s choice. The exhibition is designed to forge a unique bond between high jewellery, an emblematic example |of French savoir-faire, and the 1,200-year history of the traditional crafts of |Japan and serves as a testament to |the spirit of cultural exchange and |friendship that exists between France |and Japan, and more specially Paris |and Kyoto. Find out more at http://HighJewelry.Exhn.jp.

They include the Wedding Memories promotion for all couples who have held a wedding reception at the hotel since it first opened in 1970. By showing a picture of their wedding reception, the couple will get a complimentary three-course set lunch or dinner at the hotel.

The couples will also receive a copy of the ‘Thai Way of Life: The Dusit Cookbook,’ and a privilege card granting them 27 per cent off food (a la carte and international buffet) until April 15.

Meanwhile, those booking a stay at the hotel via http://www.Dusit.com before December 31 will receive the Dusit Best Rate Guarantee, a free upgrade to the next room category upon availability, complimentary early check in after 6am and late check-out until 6pm, and one daily BTS ticket per person.

Bookings can be made by August 31 for any stay until October 31. The hotel also offers its Superior Room, including complimentary upgrade to a Dusit Room, a 60-square-metre executive suite with living room that is priced at Bt4,800 per night inclusive of breakfast for two.

Founded by Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui and opened on February 27, 1970, Dusit Thani Bangkok was once the city’s tallest edifice and largest hotel. A new landmark for the capital, the hotel pioneered five-star hospitality inspired by authentic Thai values and ushered in a new era of tourism for the city, revolutionising dining, entertainment and even the way people organised wedding receptions in the process.

“Dusit Thani Bangkok is an icon made everlasting through all those who share its history, and we are sincerely grateful to everyone over the years who has made the hotel a resounding success,” says general manager Sukanya Janchoo.

“The special series of events and promotions we are introducing have been specially designed to thank our guests, staff and stakeholders for their loyal support, as well as commemorate the hotel’s rich heritage which will be carried over into our exciting new chapter to come. The Dusit Thani legend will continue.”

The new Dusit Thani Bangkok will form part of a new mixed-use development to be built in partnership with Central Pattana. Alongside the hotel, the project will feature residences, retail areas, office space, and a large green space.

In keeping with the original Dusit Thani, many of the original hotel’s trees will be incorporated in the new development, as will its distinctive, handcrafted teakwood decor, historical ornaments, and the property’s famous spire.

Find out more at http://www.Dusit.com/48anniversary.

“Our aim is to encourage Thais to embrace a healthy lifestyle starting by drinking cow’s milk. The campaign recommends a daily intake of 1-2 glasses of 100-per-cent fresh milk, complemented by daily exercise of at least one hour, and adequate rest, especially for young children and teenagers. Milk is also the best source of calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for bone-density building and preventing osteoporosis in adult life,” says Dr Olarn Chowiwattana, corporate affairs director of Friesland Campina (Thailand), manufacturer and marketer of Foremost dairy products.

“Foremost by Friesland Campina is the presenting partner of the Junior NBA Project being organised by NBA for the fourth consecutive year in Thailand. The sponsorship aims to provide Thai youths with the chance to participate in the NBA’s International Basketball Programme. We want to promote cow’s milk as a daily sports beverage that can help increase athletic performance. We invited nutritional experts from the Sports Authority of Thailand to share tips and guidance for Thai families to obtain 100-per-cent health benefits from nutrition.”

Each day, we should obtain protein from meats, milk and eggs. A predominant function of dietary protein helps us repair and rebuild tissue, including damaged muscle fibres after exercise. Milk is regarded as one of the most valuable sources of protein and provides comprehensive nutrients for post-exercise recovery, as well as greater calcium absorption in the body.

Rice, breads and starch give carbohydrates and calories. Sport enthusiasts should consume adequate amounts of carbohydrate while training to avoid possible fatigue and weariness. A balanced diet made up of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are crucial for those doing sport on a regular basis.

Cow’s milk is one of the best nutritive food sources containing all 9 essential amino acids required by the body. It also contains vitamins and minerals, especially phosphorous and calcium, which are vital for enhancing the strength of bones. Natural lactose found in cow’s milk is the component that makes it a low-glycaemic (Low GI) food. Milk slowly raises blood sugar over an extended period of time before it starts to decline at a steady rate, benefiting athletes who need prolonged energy during exercise.

Recent research published by the Journal of the International Society of Sport Nutrition (JISSN) indicates that cow’s milk is superior as an exercise beverage to a typical sports drink, especially during recovery from resistance training and endurance sports.

“Nutrition is vital to athletes as it serves as a source of energy to develop maximum athletic potential. As a result, knowledge of good nutrition is something that athletes and sports enthusiasts should never overlook. It can give them a competitive edge on the pitch and benefit their life off the pitch as well. Basically, athletes should ensure sufficient intake of all the five essential food nutrients in order that their body can perform continuously and efficiently,” says sport nutritionist Nawarat Wittawatsukol from the Sports Authority of Thailand.

On top of good nutrition, sports and exercising regularly can maximise health benefits and Basketball is a sport suitable for the growing ages. It is a brisk sport, involving a lot of running, jumping, dribbling the ball, passing it and shooting it.

As this sport involves lot of swift movement and rigorous use of the entire body and muscles and limbs, it aids in strengthening bone density and physical development. Shooting the ball into the hoop requires immense concentration and excellent coordination between hands, legs and eyes.

Blossom Entertainment and UAA confirmed the reports in an early morning announcement.

Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo attend the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards in June, 2016. (Yonhap)

“Since marriage is also between families — as well as between individuals — they had to be careful. … The two had to be cautious (about their relationship) until it bore fruit in matrimony,” the agencies said.

The star actors met as a fictional couple in the smash-hit TV series “Descendants of the Sun,” with the groom-to-be playing a heartthrob military captain and his future bride taking on the role of a doctor and his love interest.

The two shared the grand prize at the KBS Drama Awards last year, as well as the award for best couple. “Descendants of the Sun,” a series about life surrounding the barracks, proved popular within and beyond Korea in what has been dubbed “Taehoo (an acronym from the show’s Korean title) syndrome.”

Rumors the Songs were dating subsequently surfaced, fueled by reports of the two being seen together in New York. While they claimed it was mere coincidence, other reports of the couple being seen together also popped up.

Song Joong-ki, 32, debuted in 2008 and blossomed to stardom in 2010’s “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” before hitting it out of the park with his work in “Descendants of the Sun.”

Song Hey-kyo, three years his senior, debuted in 1996 as a model before expanding her range to acting. She left a lasting impression on the public through her gig in ‘90s hit sitcom “Soongpoong Clinic,” and has appeared in a number of hit TV dramas, including “Full House” and “Hwang Jin Yi.”