The Yoga Expo, North America’s largest yoga conference and trade show, will return to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Dubbed a “celebration of consciousness,” The Yoga Expo aims to elevate communities across the U.S. with a focus on informing, nourishing and empowering people to make healthier lifestyle choices for the mind, body, and spirit. The Yoga Expo will include several spacious yoga and meditation rooms featuring dozens of styles of yoga classes, keynote speakers and workshops for all levels and ages. The expo will also include a highly curated exhibition marketplace with over 100 local, national and international brands highlighting the business of yoga and destination retreats, holistic health and wellness, wholesome food, entrepreneurship, wealth creation, art, culture, music and dance; a VIP lounge; and a networking area. New this year, attendees can also partake in TEDx-style lectures, panel discussions and real-talk open forums dedicated to professional development and the business of yoga, holistic living, innovation, and progressive science for the awakening of human potential. Confirmed panel speakers include Sarah Platt-Finger, director of yoga at Chopra Global and co-founder of ISHTA Yoga. The Yoga Expo is led by CEO Arianne Traverso, a wellness leader and yoga instructor who has facilitated worldwide training and retreats for nearly two decades. In 2016, she created a business coaching program for wellness entrepreneurs that want to expand their businesses and launched Business Freedom Academy and the Evolved Online CEO training. Traverso recently acquired the brand alongside wellness changemaker and holistic health coach Sandra Tribioli in June 2022 and spearheaded the first Yoga Expo in Los Angeles post COVID earlier this month. Since taking over the brand, Traverso has grown the show from 300 to 1500 attendees. “My goal is to bring together the South Florida community to experience the healing power of yoga and how to apply it to their lives beyond the mat,” says Traverso. “Through this expo we hope to make mindful living an attainable goal for everyone and an unforgettable event that will include everything from meditation lounge chairs to guided yoga sessions to expert wellness panels.” Sandra Tribioli joined The Yoga Expo team in 2023 as Chief Operating Officer. As a board-certified holistic nutrition coach, functional fitness trainer and third-degree black belt in martial arts, she is dedicated to cultivating healthier and happier communities through the creation of various educational-based platforms while working concurrently on her latest production, “HOLISTIx Talks & Gatherings,” a multi-dimensional platform offering presentations and workshops dedicated to advanced holistic education. The Yoga Expo is open to all levels, from beginners to seasoned yogis. It provides a learning experience for those that want to know more about what yoga entails and is meant to celebrate making yoga accessible to everyone by bringing all different yoga styles together under one roof. The Yoga Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with early VIP entry at 9 a.m., on Saturday, March 18, at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. For further information, to exhibit, sponsor or tickets, visit TheYogaExpo.org or contact Sandra directly at Sandra@theyogaexpo.co. By ML Staff. Photo Credits: The Yoga Expo

For Valentine’s Day, Sunnyside – a cannabis shop offering a welcoming and convenient place for all kinds of people to explore, discover and purchase a wide array of cannabis products – is offering a special curated Valentine’s Day collection, featuring the dispensary’s best-selling products and accessories to Florida patients. Patients may find the perfect item to show some extra love to themselves with Sunnyside’s selected collection of high-quality vape cartridges, distillate syringes, edibles, accessories and more. **SKUs vary by location and availability. The Valentine’s Day Collection will be available online exclusively for pickup at Sunnyside’s Florida dispensaries from now through Feb. 19. Florida patients can select their local store at sunnyside.shop and the product menu will feature the available SKUs in the Valentine’s Day collection location. Patients may add whichever products they want to their online cart to make their own custom collection. Florida medical patients new to Sunnyside receive 40% off their purchase of regular-priced medical cannabis products (discount applied in-store; excludes accessories). To shop the Valentine’s Day collection, please visit: https://www.sunnyside.shop/collection/valentines-day More on Sunnyside Sunnyside is a cannabis shop offering a welcoming and convenient place for all kinds of people to explore, discover and purchase a wide array of cannabis products. The nationwide cannabis retailer aims to meet you wherever you are on your cannabis journey, providing education and a judgement-free place to shop. A more sophisticated and familiar shopping destination that combines high-end design inspired by healthcare, retail and hospitality, Sunnyside elevates the value dispensaries can add to a local community with a bright, inviting aesthetic and convenient shopping experience, whether in-store, online or through delivery. Visit Sunnyside.shop to learn more. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Sunnyside

Continuum, South Florida’s premier resort-style oceanfront condominium residences, announces its fourth year of participation in The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®), taking place February 23–26, 2023. South Florida’s iconic name in luxury living will be joining forces with two of today’s most celebrated barbeque and seafood chef personalities, as part of the American Airlines Dinner Series. The Patio restaurant at the Continuum in Miami Beach will once again present a preeminent evening of majestic gastronomy under the stars, hosted by Barbeque World Champion, Chris Lilly and fellow Alabamian–a 2022 James Beard Award-winner, Adam Evans, who will join forces with The Patio’s Chef Claudio Lobina on Saturday, February 25th starting at 7:00 p.m. Continuum residents and guests will enjoy a decadent four-course dinner menu featuring world class cuisine by three of today’s leading culinary maestros. Chris Lilly is head chef of the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Competition Cooking Team, the winner of 17 World BBQ Championships in meat categories, and holds a record 5 ‘Memphis In May’ World Grand Championships. Lilly is a 2016 inductee into the Barbecue Hall of Fame and in 2019 he was presented with the 2019 Pioneer Award for his work in barbecue. Also, in 2020, Lilly was awarded the Legends of Barbecue Pitmaster Award by the National Barbecue Association. He was an instructor for Pork Summit at Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and has appeared twice at the James Beard Foundation. Chef Adam Evans, winner of the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: South Award (2022), is the Executive Chef and Owner of Automatic Seafood & Oysters, known for his expertly crafted seafood dishes, featuring fish primarily sourced from the Gulf of Mexico and oysters from waters along the Southern and Eastern coastlines. Evans moved south to open Craft Atlanta as Chef de Cuisine for Craft Bar and later assisted with kitchen operations of Craft Los Angeles. Evans made his way back to Atlanta in 2012 to open The Optimist with Ford Fry as the restaurant’s Executive Chef. Here, Evans truly made his mark on Atlanta’s culinary landscape through his signature seafood dishes. Under his leadership, the restaurant earned national recognition, including Esquire’s Restaurant of the Year and Bon Appétit’s Top Ten Best New Restaurants. In 2015, Chef Evans opened Atlanta’s Brezza Cucina with Chef Jonathan Waxman before returning home to Birmingham in 2017 with the goal of opening his first restaurant with his wife, Suzanne Humphries Evans, who is Automatic Seafood & Oysters’ co-owner and project designer. “We’re pleased to announce our fourth year of participation in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival,” says Rishi Idnani, Managing Director of the Continuum. “We’re delighted to welcome two of today’s leading culinary personalities from the Southern states, who will bring guests a real taste of what award-winning grill masters can offer. The combined talents of Chef Claudio with Chef Lilly and Chef Evans will be sure to offer our guests at The Patio an evening of countryfied culinary brilliance.” All-star chefs Chris Lilly and Adam Evans will be showcasing their respective “Southern Style” specialties as they headline this official SOBEWFF® event alongside Claudio Lobina, the Executive Chef of The Patio at the Continuum. Chef Lobina will join forces with Lilly and Evans, who are celebrated for their respective award-winning barbeque and grilled seafood menus, that have won them the country’s highest accolades. Guests will enjoy an exclusive menu comprising of outdoor grilled and Mediterranean delicacies that will include: Smoked Gulf Fish Nori Taco, Chargrilled Cauliflower Po’boy Slider, Filet Mignon Beef Tartare on Waffle Parmigiano, Lobster Catalana, Spinach Ricotta Raviolone, Smoked Beef Brisket Wrapped Scallops, Barbecue Beef Short Rib & Grilled Gulf Shrimp and Bourbon Cream Peanut Butter Pie. Culinary personalities Chris Lilly and Adam Evans will join forces with Chef Lobina for a sophisticated dining experience that combines classic American culinary artistry with Lobina’s dedication to the preservation of vibrant Mediterranean flavors. Nestled in the center of the Continuum’s sublime grounds, The Patio restaurant will transport diners to an outdoor oasis for this special SOBEWFF® dinner, paired with a delicious selection of wine from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio. For more information on this year’s Festival and to purchase advance tickets to attend the dinner, visit www.sobewff.org. For further information on the Continuum, visit www.ContinuumSB.com. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Unsplash

This Valentine’s Day, absolutely spoil your partner with The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach’s Lover’s Package, an over-the-top package including a one-night stay at the hotel’s newly renovated and reopened Ritz-Carlton Suite, an indulgent couple’s spa treatment, luxury shopping, and the ultimate dining experience. See package details below, to reserve please call (786) 276-4000. The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach Package One-night stay in The Ritz-Carlton Suite The Ritz-Carlton Suite is the iconic hotel’s most luxurious suite, newly renovated by world renowned design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates. Recently reopened in December 2022, guests will be some of the first to experience the unparalleled Suite. Private shopping at onsite luxury retailers Krigler and Duchamp Have your pick at luxury retailers House of Krigler and Duchamp during a private shopping appointment. Recently opened in January 2023, the House of Krigler perfumery boutique is only situated within the finest hotels in the world. Duchamp is a fine jewelry collection exclusively available at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, operated by fine jewelers Coralie and Patrick Duchamp. Full of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces, Duchamp also has an exquisite collection of engagement rings should you look to ask a very important question this Valentine’s Day! A Couple’s Journey treatment at The Spa Unwind with your loved one, and delve into a sensorial couple’s journey designed to purify mind and body and unify souls. This experience begins with a bespoke, nourishing full body massage to ground the mind and relax the body, followed by a beautifully soothing bath for two. Soak together in aromatic salts inspired by ancient traditions that harnessed the power of minerals and water to re-energize and purify. Dinner for Two at Fuego y Mar End your day dining at the hotel’s romantic onsite restaurant Fuego y Mar with a special Valentine’s Day meal, complete with courses consisting of delicious aphrodisiacs like oysters, lobster, chocolate, and champagne. Menu linked here (vegetarian option, $165 per person, additional $55 per person for wine pairing) After Dinner Drinks and Boozy Desserts at Lapidus Bar Cap off the day of romance and indulgence with carefully crafted cocktails at the hotel’s Lapidus Bar. Dine: A romantic dinner awaits you and your love this Valentine’s Day at Fuego y Mar. The evening starts with a special Amuse Bouche, followed by truffle enhanced Focaccia and fresh seafood courses, a 30-Day Dry Aged Ribeye Pave, and finished with a special Strawberry & Chocolate Bavarois to end the night The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour Dine: Share an intimate waterfront dining experience and exquisite ocean views with your special someone at the property’s signature restaurant, Artisan Beach House. The chic restaurant will be featuring an exclusive San Valentine pre-fixe menu from February 10-14 complete with a delectable array of appetizers, sophisticated entrees, and enticing desserts from 5PM-10PM for $220 per couple. Full menu here. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton South Beach

The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour are thrilled to announce the brand’s collaboration with the elite artisan fragrance brand Krigler, unifying two iconic brands for an exclusive experience at the two South Florida properties. Krigler boutiques are only situated within the finest hotels in the world, and with the addition of a Krigler boutique in both Miami resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour will join only 11 other locations in the world where guests are offered unique purchasing access to the luxurious wearable works of art crafted by Krigler. To celebrate the prestigious partnership between The Ritz-Carlton and Krigler, the South Beach and Bal Harbour properties will offer a unique Wedding Package centered around leasing a one-of-a-kind, archived Krigler scent unavailable for purchase by the general public and inspired by the bountiful florals of the wedding. Couples can capture the olfactory memories of their wedding day by connecting fragrant notes from floral bouquets, decor, and the environment from their celebration to the historic scent that they alone are granted access to for a limited amount of time. “We are honored to welcome the world-renowned Krigler brand to The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour,” says Jacqueline Volkart, Market General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour. “Joining only six other hotels in the United States with Krigler boutiques, the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton look forward to further personalizing our guests' experiences through this thoughtful collaboration with a historic and long-beloved luxury perfumery.” Established in 1904 by Albert Krigler, Krigler is an exclusive luxury fragrance brand inspired by rich and diverse global sights, sounds, and scents. Krigler’s early work began in Berlin, where his fragrances attracted the likes of the Berlin Bourgeoisie and German aristocracy, which led him to expand his brand to France and later to New York. The house became beloved amongst American socialites like Grace Kelly, who misted on Chateau Krigler 12 the night she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955. In 2022, Krigler is more in demand than ever and is notable for delivering luxury and exclusivity in equal measure. By ML Staff. Photo Credit Bronwyn Knight for Krigler/The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach Package This Valentine’s Day, absolutely spoil your partner with The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach’s Lover’s Package, an over-the-top package including a one-night stay at the hotel’s newly renovated and reopened Ritz-Carlton Suite, an indulgent couple’s spa treatment, luxury shopping, and the ultimate dining experience. See package details below, to reserve please call (786) 276-4000. One-night stay in The Ritz-Carlton Suite The Ritz-Carlton Suite is the iconic hotel’s most luxurious suite, newly renovated by world renowned design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates. Recently reopened in December 2022, guests will be some of the first to experience the unparalleled Suite. Private shopping at onsite luxury retailers Krigler and Duchamp Have your pick at luxury retailers House of Krigler and Duchamp during a private shopping appointment. Recently opened in January 2023, the House of Krigler perfumery boutique is only situated within the finest hotels in the world. Duchamp is a fine jewelry collection exclusively available at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, operated by fine jewelers Coralie and Patrick Duchamp. Full of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces, Duchamp also has an exquisite collection of engagement rings should you look to ask a very important question this Valentine’s Day! A Couple’s Journey treatment at The Spa Unwind with your loved one, and delve into a sensorial couple’s journey designed to purify mind and body and unify souls. This experience begins with a bespoke, nourishing full body massage to ground the mind and relax the body, followed by a beautifully soothing bath for two. Soak together in aromatic salts inspired by ancient traditions that harnessed the power of minerals and water to re-energize and purify. Dinner for Two at Fuego y Mar End your day dining at the hotel’s romantic onsite restaurant Fuego y Mar with a special Valentine’s Day meal, complete with courses consisting of delicious aphrodisiacs like oysters, lobster, chocolate, and champagne. Menu linked here (vegetarian option, $165 per person, additional $55 per person for wine pairing) After Dinner Drinks and Boozy Desserts at Lapidus Bar Cap off the day of romance and indulgence with carefully crafted cocktails at the hotel’s Lapidus Bar. Dine: A romantic dinner awaits you and your love this Valentine’s Day at Fuego y Mar. The evening starts with a special Amuse Bouche, followed by truffle enhanced Focaccia and fresh seafood courses, a 30-Day Dry Aged Ribeye Pave, and finished with a special Strawberry & Chocolate Bavarois to end the night The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour Dine: Share an intimate waterfront dining experience and exquisite ocean views with your special someone at the property’s signature restaurant, Artisan Beach House. The chic restaurant will be featuring an exclusive San Valentine pre-fixe menu from February 10-14 complete with a delectable array of appetizers, sophisticated entrees, and enticing desserts from 5PM-10PM for $220 per couple. Full menu here. GITANO Miami Transport into a new world altogether at the iconic GITANO Miami this Valentine’s Day with a specialty four-course menu for two ($145 per couple). Begin the meal with a hand-crafted Besame La Piña cocktail while indulging in the first course options of Salsa Macha Guacamole or Baja California Hiramasa Tostada. For the second course choose between the 12-hour-slow roasted Tetela Birria or the Prime Rib Eye Huarache. Following the second course, guests will select between the Lubina in Corn Husk or the Veal Tenderloin & Chicatana Ants. As the final and sweetest course, the restaurant is offering a Cookies & Cream Sandwich as well as Frozen Berries & Pink Mole. Full menu here, reserve here. Dine: 27 Restaurant & Bar Dine: Celebrate the day of love at Freehand Miami’s full-service restaurant and bar. Enjoy an A La Carte menu featuring specialty Valentine’s Day dishes like the Bucatini Carbonara ($28), Rigatoni Bolognese ($29), Ossobuco Agnolotti ($29), and the Porcini Ravioli ($27) for an exceptional dining experience - inspired by the culture of Miami - that guests have come to know and love. Full menu Hotel Greystone Package: Celebrate Valentine’s Day in style with a stay at the Art Deco Hotel Greystone with up to 25% off room rates and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine valid from Tuesday, February 7 through Wednesday, February 14. Feel the love in the chicly designed guest rooms while indulging in Miami Beach’s best views. Book here. Mondrian South Beach Package: Celebrate love, all month long with Mondrian South Beach’s ‘Love On The Bae’ package. Indulge in sun-kissed vistas of Downtown Miami when you book your stay this February, which includes a complimentary 2PM late check out as well as welcome champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of each featured venue. Top photo by freestocks on Unsplash

It may come as a surprise to fellow land-dwellers, but the ocean actually accounts for most of the habitable space on our planet. Yet a big chunk of it has been left largely unmanaged. It’s a vast global common resource, and the focus of a new treaty called the biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement. For 15 years, UN member states have been negotiating rules that will apply to the ocean lying more than 200 nautical miles from coastlines, including the seabed and the air space above, referred to as the “high seas”. Covering nearly half the Earth’s surface, the high seas are shared by all nations under international law, with equal rights to navigate, fish and conduct scientific research. Until now, only a small number of states have taken advantage of these opportunities. This new agreement is supposed to help more countries get involved by creating rules for more fairly sharing the rewards from new fields of scientific discovery. This includes assisting developing countries with research funding and the transfer of technology. Countries that join the treaty must also ensure that they properly assess and mitigate any environmental impacts from vessels or aircraft in the high seas under their jurisdiction. This will be especially relevant for novel activities like removing plastic. Once at least 60 states have ratified the agreement (this may take three years or more), it will be possible to establish marine protected areas (MPAs) in high sea locations of special value. This could protect unique ecosystems like the Sargasso Sea: a refuge of floating seaweed bounded by ocean currents in the north Atlantic which offers breeding habitat for countless rare species. By restricting what can happen at these sites, MPAs can help marine life persevere against climate change, acidification, pollution and fishing. Sargassum weed can harbour endangered eel offspring.Solvin Zankl/Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo There are obstacles to all nations participating in the shared enjoyment and protection of the high seas, even with this new treaty. Nations joining the new agreement will need to work with existing global organisations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which regulates shipping, as well as regional fisheries management organisations. The new treaty encourages consultation and cooperation with existing bodies, but states will need to balance their commitments with those made under other agreements. Already, some departments within governments work against each other when implementing broad, international treaties. For example, one division may chafe at greenhouse gas pollution regulations imposed at the IMO while a sister agency advocates for more stringent climate change measures elsewhere. A new research frontier A key element of the new treaty addresses the disproportionate ability of developed countries to benefit from the scientific knowledge and commercial products derived from genetic samples taken from the high seas. More than 40 years ago, when the law of the sea convention was being negotiated, the same issue arose over seabed minerals in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Industrialised nations had the technology to explore and intended to eventually mine these minerals, while developing countries did not. At that time, nations agreed that these resources were part of the “common heritage of humankind” and created the International Seabed Authority to manage a shared regime for exploiting them. The extreme conditions for life in the open ocean have nurtured a rich diversity of survival strategies, from the bacteria that thrive in the extremely hot hydrothermal vents of the deep sea to icefish that breed in the intense cold of the Southern Ocean off Antarctica. These life forms carry potentially valuable information in their genes, known as marine genetic resources Icefish genes may hold the key to new medicines.Marrabbio2 This new agreement provides developing states, whether coastal or landlocked, with rights to the benefits of marine genetic resources. It does not establish an administrative body comparable to that created for seabed mining, however. Instead, non-monetary benefits, such as access to samples and digital sequence information, will be shared and researchers from all countries will be able to study them for free. Economic inequality between countries will still determine who can access these samples to a large extent, and sharing DNA sequencing data will be further complicated by the convention on biological diversity, another global treaty. The BBNJ agreement will establish a financial mechanism for sharing the monetary benefits of marine genetic resources, though experts involved in the negotiations are still parsing what it will eventually look like. The best hope for robust marine protected areas and equitable use of marine genetic resources lies in rapid implementation of the BBNJ agreement. But making it effective will depend on how its provisions are interpreted in each country and what rules of procedure are established. In many ways, the hard work is beginning. Although areas beyond national jurisdiction are remote for most people they generate the air you breathe, the food you eat and moderate the climate. Life exists throughout the ocean, from the surface to the seabed. Ensuring it benefits everyone living today, as well as future generations, will depend on this next phase of implementing the historic treaty. Words By Cymie Payne Associate Professor of Human Ecology and Law, Rutgers University & Robert Blasiak Research Fellow in Ocean Management, Stockholm University. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission. Top image by Delbert Pagayona/Unsplash

The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami(MOCA) invites the community to experience “Welcome to Paradise,” a dynamic new commissioning program featuring temporary public art projects by local South Florida artists. This program invites artists to create ambitious and experimental art installations to activate MOCA's Paradise Courtyard. The first season centers on artists working at the intersection of ecology and technology. On view from Feb. 8 through June 25, 2023, visitors will be able to step into the Paradise Courtyard and discover “Victory Garden,” an interactive sculptural community garden created by Miami-based artist Emmett Moore. Drawing inspiration from victory gardens of the past, which were planted during wartime tosupplement rations and boost morale, Moore’s “Victory Garden” connects the local community with contemporary art and encourages visitors to reflect on their relationship with the built environment. Utilizing sustainable materials such as repurposed steel drums to form sculptural planters, “Victory Garden” will feature plants native to South Florida and the Caribbean such as Cuban oregano, collard greens, starfruit, bee balm and Everglades cherry tomatoes that will be harvested and shared. The exhibition will also include benches and solar-powered USB outlets for visitors to use. The series will continue with “Into The Great Dying: Roles We Play,” a thought-provoking, interactive ceramic sculpture by Miami-based artist Beatriz Chachamovits, that engages with the marine landscape, highlighting the decline of coral reef ecosystems and the impact of human actions. This installation will be on view from July 5 through Nov. 21, 2023. “At MOCA, we are proud to develop programs like ‘Welcome to Paradise’ that not only reinforce our commitment to supporting local contemporary artists, but also enliven and opens up a space for shared, fee-free access to the museum for audiences of all ages to enjoy,” said Chana Sheldon, executive director of MOCA. Complementary to “Welcome to Paradise,” MOCA will offer a diverse array of on-site events and programs, including a member’s event on Feb. 24, 2023, and a workshop celebrating Earth Day on April 22, 2023. “Victory Garden” will be open tothe public during MOCA's gallery closure for installation. General admission to the museum is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, students and visitors with disabilities; and free for MOCA Members, residents of City of North Miami and children under 12. MOCA Dual/Family level and above can pre-register for programs and events scheduled around the exhibitions for “Welcome toParadise.” To become a member today, visit www.mocanomi.org/support. Support Welcome to Paradise is made possible with major support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Additional support was provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. MOCA North Miami is generously funded by the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes). MOCA is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts tosupport general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional support is provided by the Fine & Greenwald Foundation; The Nathan Cummings Foundation; and the Sol Taplin Charitable Foundation. Founding support for the MOCA Sustainability Fund provided by the Green Family Foundation Trust. Major support provided by Shirley and William M. Lehman, Jr. We also thank our Board of Trustees, Curator’s Circle, and MOCA Members for their meaningful support. About the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) MOCA North Miami presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices, and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. MOCA developed from the Center of Contemporary Art which was inaugurated in 1981. The establishment of the permanent collection coincided with the institution’s move into their current building designed by Charles Gwarthmey of GSNY in 1996. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MOCA

The popularity of yoga has grown tremendously in the past decade. More than 10% of U.S. adults have practiced yoga at some point in their lives. Yoga practitioners spend on average US$90 a month, and the yoga industry is worth more than $80 billion worldwide. Yoga is now a mainstream activity in the U.S. and is commonly portrayed as a healthy lifestyle choice. I am a behavioral scientist who researches how physical activity – and specifically yoga – can prevent and help manage chronic diseases. Many people attribute improvements in their physical and mental health to their yoga practice. But until recently, research had been sparse on the health benefits of yoga. As the body of rigorous research on yoga grows, more and more work is showing the many health benefits of a yoga practice. Yoga mixes physical exercise with meditation and breathing techniques. 10,000 Hours/Digital Vision via Getty Images What is yoga? The sage Patanjali wrote the first texts on yoga nearly 2,000 years ago.Alokprasad/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA The name “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” meaning to unite, join or connect the mind, body and soul. The first text on yoga was written by the sage Patanjali over 2,000 years ago in India. Patanjali described yoga as “citta-vrtti-nirodhah,” or “stilling the mind.” This was achieved through a mix of breath work, meditation, physical movement and body purification practices, as well as ethical and moral codes for living a healthy and purposeful life. Modern Western yoga often uses poses like downward dog that focus on flexibility and strength Over the years, various yoga teachers have modified the original Patanjali yoga, resulting in different styles that vary in their intensity and focus. For example, some yoga styles such as Vinyasa focus more on intense movements similar to an aerobic workout. Restorative yoga includes more relaxation poses. Iyengar yoga uses props and emphasizes precision and proper alignment of body. These different styles provide options for individuals with different physical abilities. Generally speaking, yoga instructors in the U.S. today teach styles that incorporate postures, breathing exercises and sometimes meditation. What does the research show? Mindfulness is an important part of yoga practice and has been linked to many health benefits.SeventyFour/iStock via Getty Images As yoga has grown in popularity in recent years, researchers have begun to study its effects and are finding that it has great benefit for mental and physical health. Yoga involves physical movement, so it is no surprise that most types of yoga can help to improve a person’s strength and flexibility. In one study with healthy untrained volunteers, researchers found that eight weeks of yoga improved muscular strength at the elbow and knee by 10%-30%. Flexibility at the ankle, shoulder and hip joints also increased by 13%-188%. There are a number of less obvious but meaningful benefits from yoga as well. Research has shown that yoga practice can reduce risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and abdominal obesity. Studies on older adults have shown significant improvements in balance, mobility, cognitive function and overall quality of life. Yoga seems to be effective at managing pain, too. Research has found that yoga can improve symptoms of headaches, osteoarthritis, neck pain and low-back pain. In fact, the American College of Physicians recommends yoga as one of the options for initial nonpharmaceutical treatment for chronic low-back pain. Yoga also provides many benefits for mental health. Researchers have found that a regular practice over eight to 12 weeks can lead to moderate reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as help with stress management. More than physical exercise Yoga is a type of exercise in that it is a form of physical exertion that helps build fitness. A lot of the benefits researchers have found are due to the physical activity component and are similar to benefits from other forms of exercise like running, weightlifting or calisthenics. But unlike these other activities, yoga practice incorporates mindfulness as a key aspect. With its focus on controlling breath, holding postures and meditation, yoga increases how much a person pays attention to the sensations of their body and the present moment. This mindfulness leads to many benefits not found from other forms of exercise. Studies have shown that mindfulness training on its own can increase a person’s self-awareness, along with the ability to recognize and skillfully respond to emotional stress. It can even give a person greater control over long-term behavior. One study found that increased mindfulness from yoga can help people better recognize and respond to feelings of being full when eating, decrease binge eating and alleviate concerns over how their body looks. My colleagues and I observed a similar effect in a pilot study on the benefits of yoga for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. After doing yoga twice a week for three months, several participants reported paying more attention to their diet, snacking less and eating healthier, even without any nutrition intervention. Our patients also reported less stress and an increased willingness to engage in other types of physical activities. Yoga is clearly different from Western exercise in how it approaches mental health. With more research, it may be possible to understand the biological mechanisms as well. Things to know if you want to start doing yoga Yoga may not be helpful for all medical conditions or right for every person, but people of all age groups, body types and physical abilities can practice yoga. It can be a form of mental and physical exercise for people who do not enjoy sweating during strenuous forms of exercise or for individuals with medical or physical conditions who find working out in the gym challenging. It is important to consider that although yoga is generally safe, just as with any other form of exercise, there is some risk of getting injured. Individuals with medical conditions who are new to yoga should practice it initially under the supervision of a trained instructor. If you do decide to give yoga a try, talk to the yoga instructor first to assess whether the style they offer meets your preference and fitness levels. Remember, you may need to practice a couple of weeks to feel the benefits, physically and mentally. Words By Herpreet Thind Associate Professor of Public Health, UMass Lowell. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission. Top image courtesy of Unsplash/wix

Gucci and Kering are pleased to announce that Sabato De Sarno will assume the role of Creative Director for the House. In his new role, De Sarno will lead the House’s Design Studio reporting to Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, with the responsibility for defining and expressing the House’s creative vision across the women’s, men’s, leather goods, accessories and lifestyle collections. Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, commented: “I am delighted that Sabato will join Gucci as the House’s new Creative Director, one of the most influential roles in the luxury industry. Having worked with a number of Italy’s most renowned luxury fashion houses, he brings with him a vast and relevant experience. I am certain that through Sabato’s deep understanding and appreciation for Gucci’s unique legacy, he will lead our creative teams with a distinctive vision that will help write this exciting next chapter, reinforcing the House’s fashion authority while capitalizing on its rich heritage.” François-Henri Pinault, Chairman & CEO of Kering, said: “One hundred and two years after Guccio Gucci opened his first store in Florence, Gucci remains one of the most iconic, prominent and influential luxury houses in the world. With Sabato De Sarno at the creative helm, we are confident that the House will continue both to influence fashion and culture through highly desirable products and collections, and to bring a singular and contemporary perspective to modern luxury.” Sabato De Sarno said: “I am deeply honored to take on the role as Creative Director of Gucci. I am proud to join a House with such an extraordinary history and heritage, that over the years has been able to welcome and cherish values I believe in. I am touched and excited to contribute my creative vision for the brand.” De Sarno will present his debut runway collection at Milan Women’s Fashion Week in September 2023. By ML Staff. Image Courtesy Of Gucci

To reduce the harmful health effects of sitting, take a five-minute light walk every half-hour. That’s the key finding of a new study that my colleagues and I published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Researchers have long known that sitting at your desk hour after hour is an unhealthy habit. Morsa Images/Digital Vision via Getty Images The big idea We asked 11 healthy middle-aged and older adults to sit in our lab for eight hours – representing a standard workday – over the course of five separate days. On one of those days, participants sat for the entire eight hours with only short breaks to use the bathroom. On the other days, we tested a number of different strategies to break up a person’s sitting with light walking. For example, on one day, participants walked for one minute every half-hour. On another day, they walked for five minutes every hour. Our goal was to find the least amount of walking one could do to offset the harmful health effects of sitting. In particular, we measured changes in blood sugar levels and blood pressure, two important risk factors for heart disease. Along with short, frequent walks, a long daily walk could add years to your life. We found that a five-minute light walk every half-hour was the only strategy that reduced blood sugar levels substantially compared with sitting all day. In particular, five-minute walks every half-hour reduced the blood sugar spike after eating by almost 60%. That strategy also reduced blood pressure by four to five points compared with sitting all day. But shorter and less frequent walks improved blood pressure too. Even just a one-minute light walk every hour reduced blood pressure by five points. In addition to physical health benefits, there were also mental health benefits to the walking breaks. During the study, we asked participants to rate their mental state by using a questionnaire. We found that compared with sitting all day, a five-minute light walk every half-hour reduced feelings of fatigue, put participants in a better mood and helped them feel more energized. We also found that even walks just once every hour were enough to boost mood and reduce feelings of fatigue. Why it matters People who sit for hours on end develop chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, dementia and several types of cancer at much higher rates than people who move throughout their day. A sedentary lifestyle also puts people at a much greater risk of early death. But just exercising daily may not reverse the harmful health effects of sitting. Because of technological advances, the amount of time adults in industrialized countries like the U.S. spend sitting has been steadily increasing for decades. Many adults now spend the majority of their day sitting. This problem has only gotten worse since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the migration to more remote work, people are less inclined to venture out of the house these days. So it’s clear that strategies are needed to combat a growing 21st century public health problem. Current guidelines recommend that adults should “sit less, move more.” But these recommendations don’t provide any specific advice or strategies for how often and how long to move. Our work provides a simple and affordable strategy: Take a five-minute light walk every half-hour. If you have a job or lifestyle where you have to sit for prolonged periods, this one behavior change could reduce your health risks from sitting. Our study also offers clear guidance to employers on how to promote a healthier workplace. While it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular walking breaks can actually help workers be more productive than working without stopping. What still isn’t known Our study primarily focused on taking regular walking breaks at a light intensity. Some of the walking strategies – for example, one-minute light walks every hour – did not lower blood sugar levels. We don’t know if more rigorous walking would have provided health benefits at these doses What’s next We are currently testing over 25 different strategies for offsetting the health harms of prolonged sitting. Many adults have jobs, such as driving trucks or taxis, where they simply cannot walk every half-hour. Finding alternative strategies that yield comparable results can provide the public with several different options and ultimately allow people to pick the strategy that works best for them and their lifestyle. Words By Keith Diaz Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine, Columbia University. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission. Top Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

When the director and the star of “Argentina, 1985” stepped on stage to accept a 2023 Golden Globe Award, the title of the film may not have meant much to many Americans in the audience. But for Argentines, 1985 is pivotal: the year leaders of its most recent dictatorship went on trial. Actor Ricardo Darín, left, and director Santiago Mitre pose at the Golden Globe Awards after “Argentina, 1985” won Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Santiago Mitre’s film details the complex judicial process against members of the military junta, which helped secure Argentina’s democratic future after years of repression that killed tens of thousands of people. The story illustrates how justice is built by both top-down and bottom-up forces, as ordinary people’s work for human rights turns them into heroes. My work focuses on Latin American literature and films, particularly how they represent ethical issues about violence and human rights. Part of what intrigues me about a legal thriller like “Argentina, 1985” is how it brings lofty ideas down to earth: showing the exacting legal processes that it takes to turn justice from an abstract concept into reality, and not shying away from murky moral questions. Mitre’s portrayal may make “Argentina, 1985,” which is now a nominee for the Best International Feature Film Oscar, a strong contender at the Academy Awards in March. 30,000 ‘desaparecidos’ In the film, which was co-written by Mitre and Mariano Llinás, a team of lawyers takes on crimes against humanity perpetrated during Argentina’s so-called National Reorganization Process: a military junta that lasted from 1976 to 1983. ‘Argentina, 1985’ These abuses did not only include the estimated 30,000 people who were “disappeared” – known as “los desaparecidos” – by government forces and paramilitary groups during the period. There was a massive campaign of repression that targeted real or imagined opposition members and “subversives,” including students, workers and labor leaders, human rights activists, academics, doctors, priests and politicians. In addition, there were severe human rights violations, like the trafficking of infants born to political prisoners, clandestine concentration camps and widespread torture. The junta was one of several Latin American dictatorships of the period, which cooperated in a system known as Operation Condor, an extrajudicial campaign of violent repression against political dissidents. But popular pressure to end Argentina’s military dictatorship mounted amid the country’s defeat in the 1982 Falklands War against the British. Resistance also rose because of corruption and economic policies that increased poverty. The leader of an opposition party, Raul Alfonsin, triumphed in the 1983 presidential elections, returning the country to democracy. He had vowed to end impunity for the dictatorship’s crimes as part of Argentina’s gradual re-democratization. Defending democracy up close Luis Moreno Ocampo and Julio Cesar Strassera, right, presenting allegations against the accused ex-military leaders in 1985.AFP/AFP via Getty Images Stories of the dictatorship have been portrayed on screen many times – most famously, perhaps, in “The Official Story,” which won the foreign film Oscar in 1986. More recent versions include “Rojo,” a portrait of the tensions leading up to the junta, and the thriller “Azor,” also co-written by Llinás. To complete the picture, Argentina needed a film to show the judicial response to those crimes: a story to represent not just the abuse of human rights, but their defense and restoration, as well as the struggle against impunity. “Argentina, 1985” plays that role – which may be why it has drawn more than 1 million viewers in Argentine movie theaters. The film’s main story is that of real-life prosecutor Julio Strassera, and behind him a team of volunteers with a mission: to demonstrate the government’s accountability for the shadowy crimes of Argentina’s dictatorship. Strassera is portrayed as someone placed in the eye of the hurricane by fate and bureaucracy. It falls on him to mount a watertight accusation of abuses that until then had not been proved in court. Confirming the facts through appropriate witnesses is more important than a mere ideological victory. The prosecutors – and the movie viewers with them – are immersed in horror of reconstructing the crimes, showing how the defense of human rights is not only an abstract ideal, but an intricate, painstaking procedure. As part of its narrative style, which closely follows the rules of the legal thriller genre, the film’s photography mirrors the dark drama of Argentina’s dangerous transition, as the country’s democratic future hung in the balance. One of the script’s key points is to highlight that this trial was a notable exception at the time, compared to similar cases around the world where military leaders had been allowed to live out their days in the comfort of their homes or in exile. Watching ‘1985’ in 2023 A protest by families whose loved ones ‘disappeared,’ held during the trial of the junta in Buenos Aires in December 1985.Rafael Wollmann/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Another accomplishment of the film is to avoid supporting the theory of the two demons, which still has supporters today: the belief that the violence of the extreme left was just as evil and violent as the extreme right’s. As in other Latin American dictatorships, violence by radical leftist groups was often an excuse for the authoritarianism of Argentina’s regime. However, the smaller-scale attacks of these groups cannot be equated with a junta’s state terrorism. Artists have strongly criticized this false equivalence for decades, as I have written about in my publications and presentations on other films and novels. “Argentina, 1985” resists blaming the whole of Argentine society, diverting attention from key institutions and perpetrators. However, it partially omits the stories of other groups that helped bring justice to the junta, such as the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, whose loved ones disappeared during the dictatorship. Yet the plot does show a series of ethical gray areas in the protagonists’ lives, avoiding the simple black-and-white view of morality that can sneak into historical storytelling. Examples of this are Strassera’s professional past as federal prosecutor during the dictatorship, when he didn’t confront the military’s abuses in several cases, and the surveillance he imposes on his daughter. These storytelling decisions illustrate how the ideology behind authoritarian rule can permeate private lives, although people can later transform their views. The film will likely resonate in Argentina and other places where people today are forgetting the pitfalls of authoritarianism and dictatorship, while taking democracy for granted. Back in 1984, the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons helped to coin an expression now famous in Argentina: ¡Nunca Más! – Never again! “Argentina 1985” foregrounds the need for that human rights slogan to be sustained in memory and action. Words By Carlos Gardeazabal Bravo Assistant Professor of Spanish, University of Dayton. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission.