Yo u r ad re
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Yo u r ad re
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Yo u r ad re
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Yo u r ad re
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Yo u r ad re
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fashion trends
Summer/Fall 2019
high fashion
High Fashion at Blind Tiger featuring model Htut Myat Shwe Yi
Feature
The Modern Gentleman’s Guide to Business Casual
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Lifestyle hotspots
Royal Sportainment Center
Feature
Motivation and Environment
Gadgets
Inspected Gadgets
health care
Mobile Clinics with Dr. Jalin Sama
Causes
Peace Corps Myanmar
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fitness Food calendar
7-Day Meal Plan
feature
Sprawl & Bawl with MMA instructor Joey Kyaw
doctor's orderS
Fighting Mental Health Stigma with Agnes Mary
training
Tabata Workout with Rebekah Galea
Recipe
DIY Facial Mists
Picks
Black Gold: Charcoal
Cover Story
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Horoscope
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Woman Who Works (Out) with Thandar Hlaing
Avengers in the Zodiac
Events
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Issue exclusives Getaways
Exploring Victoria Cliffs and Nyaung Oo Phee Island
Crossword Puzzle
Win a free gift!
Runner’s Maze
Rachel Pinnick Illustrations
Feature
Monsoon Dos and Don’ts
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Loren Lee Chiesi
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Honey
FITNESS EDITOR Casey
FASHION EDITOR Charlotte Barjou
MARKETING MANAGER Boey Zhi Chung
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Zin Me
LAYOUT & DESIGN Hlawm Moe Hein
DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Thant Zaw
LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY Lin Tun
LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY King
MARKETING EXECUTIVE Moe Yan
LEAD DESIGNER Mg Kg
BURMESE WRITER Kaung Myat Kyaw
LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY Su Yar
July 2019
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April2019 2019 July
From the Editor
Facebook Balance Magazine #balancezine #nextgenerationmagazine
Instagram @balancezine #nextgenerationmagazine
Dear Balance Readers, Monsoon season is a time of self-reflection. The sun is hidden and the water is renewing and nourishing the land, bringing much-needed vitality to the land, the cities, and the communities. In this issue of Balance Magazine, our team wanted to offer our readers content with a monsoon vibe: revitalizing, reflective, and splashy. In this issue, we talk to our cover model, the gorgeous Thandar Hlaing on how she makes time for business, fitness, and self-care in the prime of her life. We also explore Victoria Cliffs and Nyaung Oo Phee Island through a weekend getaway. Yet, best of all, this issue is filled with great tips and tricks to make your lifestyle a little bit better. From fashion trends to business casual dressing, DYI facial mists and new gadgets to in-depth conversations around mental health and the stigma of depression, Balance has so much to explore on a rainy day. It is my deepest honor and privilege to let you know this is will be Balance Magazine’s ultimate issue. As a team, we’ve decided to take a pause from creating printdistribution content. Instead, we will be focusing on our Balance gym and fitness brands and working to create exciting new products and experience from our other Balance platforms. Please continue to follow @balancefitnessyangon on Facebook and Instagram for more edgy, fashionable, and fun fitness content. As always, I hope you love reading what we have to offer in these pages as much as we enjoyed creating it. On behalf of the former editors and me, it has been a pleasure to bring the Balance lifestyle to the pages of this magazine. Cheers, Loren Lee Chiesi, Editor-in-Chief
Email info@balancefitnessyangon.com Cover story Photography by Life Photography
Contributors Rachel Pinnick Illustrations Jared Downing Emilie Ehrman
Publisher Kyaw Thet
License no 00698
Printing SECURE PLUS PRINTING No.434, Malar Yone St, Aung Dhama Yeikthar Lane, Hlaing Township, Yangon,
DISTRIBUTION Hotels, spas, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, convenience stores, supermarkets, business centers, sports centers, airport and other specialty stores in Yangon, Naypitaw, Mandalay, Taungyi, Hpa-An, Dawei, Myiek, Lashio and more. DISCLAIMER Without the written permission of the Editor-in-Chief print or photos, or other parts of this publication cannot be reproduced or transmitted. At the time of print, all information, photography and illustrations are considered to be accurate. Staff and employees of Balance are not to be held responsible for errors, omissions or inaccurate information. ABOUT US From style to entertainment, fitness to wellness, travel to culture, Balance is a lifestyle — a magazine that rides the wave of change — bringing stories, trends and dialogue for our young, modern consumers. With its unique blend of in-depth interviews, distinctive photography and captivating features, Balance is an unparalleled force. We reach a broad audience who wants to be inspired, informed and entertained.
Myanmar. Tel: 01 - 522 840
Editorial & Advertising office No.64(G), Kyitewine Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar
For Advertisement & Subscription Ei Thanzar Han 09250184675 Boey Zhi Chung 09975913135
Advertisement info@balancefitnessyangon.com
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Trends
Style Theory: The Summer/
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Fashion editor, Charlotte Barjou, reveals the trends for Summer/Fall 2019. Fashion followers will keep cool with maxi gloves, patterned tights, and Super Woman-inspired capes. Need a fashion fix for the moody monsoon blues? Brighten up your wardrobe with shiny fabrics, warm terracotta hues, and splash of funky punk looks.
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Trends
Fall Ready-to-Wear Runways
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MaxiGlove Love
The Right Tights
The Punk Matrix 14
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Shine Bright
Magical Capes
Terracotta Toned July 2019
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Gadgets
Inspected Gadgets Balance’s resident Inspector of Gadgets, Boey Zhi Chung, shows us this season’s newest and most impressive innovations in the tech sector.
1. The Pod, Price: starting from $1,200 USD A bad night’s sleep can tank your entire day, as well as affect your mental and physical health. Hence, investing in a durable mattress is smart self-care choice. The Pod –the most technically impressive sleeping bed on the market – is the savvy investor’s choice in more ways than one. With features like self-adjusting temperature controls, three layers of premium foam for back support, and a smart tech cover that tracks your sleep habits, good sleep is just a click away. With proprietary sensors embedded in the mattress, The Pod’s technology leverages users’ sleep patterns and bio signals to assure users have complete restive sleep every night from the convenience of your own bed.
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2. CleanseBot, Price: $259 USD Ever get the travel flu? This is due to the increased exposure to bacteria and germs in close proximity while you travel. CleanseBot can sanitize and disinfect all hotel surfaces using UV-C light in just the click of a button. CleanseBot is a pocket-sided robot with 18 built-in sensors and four UV-C lamps to blast away 99.99% of germs and bacteria on any surface. Just set the CleanseBot down on the hotel bed, set it for either 30- or 60-minute cycle, and go about your day while it sanitizes and disinfects your sheets and blankets! Not only does CleanseBot kill germs, bacteria, and dust mites, but UV-C light has been proven to actually help prevent the spread of airborne viruses, too. It might just be the smartest thing you pack!
3. Ruggie, Price: $99 USD
4. CoolMen, Price: $300 USD
Modern alarm clocks make it way too easy for us to retreat back between the covers. Hitting the snooze button doesn’t make you feel more rested at all; it only adds to sleep inertia (the feeling of grogginess) and throws off your circadian rhythms. Snoozing can quickly become a conditioned habit that is very difficult to break, leading to a downward spiral of wasted time, low energy, and delayed starts every morning. Meet Ruggie – the revolutionary alarm system that will not only get you out of bed on-time (you’ll literally have to get up), it rewards you with daily motivation to keep you out of bed, starting your days off on the right foot. With features like touch-activated countdown, built-in speakers, and comfortable design, Ruggie will help you practice healthier routines, giving you more time to thrive and strive on a daily basis.
There’s nothing cooler than becoming a father. CoolMen is an innovative device that is described as a pair of “intelligent underwear” that optimizes the temperature of the testicles with its comfortable cooling pouch cups. CoolMen effectively improves semen parameters and sperm quality, thus increasing the chances of pregnancy and shortening the time trying for a baby. CoolMen also records data and wirelessly transfers it to a mobile app on your mobile device. For ideal results, it is recommended for users to wear CoolMen for 12-16 hours a day for 3-4 weeks. Best of all, CoolMen is discrete; you can wear it beneath your underpants and nobody will be the wiser.
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5. Molift Raiser Pro, Price: $488 USD This unique personal raiser is a godsend for both caregivers and people with mobility issues. Molift Raiser Pro is an ergonomic platform that ensures safe, stable support during short transfers, such as between beds, wheelchairs, and shower chairs. It assists carers when carrying out transfers with minimum risk of injury and is easy to manoeuvre. Molift Raiser Pro gives the user the opportunity to use their own muscle power during a transfer, making it great for patients in rehabilitation. With its sleek vertical design, it is ideal for confined spaces, such as toilets. The Molift Raiser Pro features a versatile handle, a central brake, a one-hand adjustment, and a low step-on platform.
6. Samsung Galaxy S10, Price: starting from $899 USD In honour of the 10th anniversary of their storied S-series, Samsung is releasing the Galaxy S10. This smart phone boasts a novel-looking Infinity-O screen so large it displaces the front camera. It is fitted with a triple-lens rear camera that can take ultra-wide photos. Its in-screen fingerprint sensor tech makes it one of the most secure and easy-to-use phones on the market, while its Wireless PowerShare makes communicating with friends and sharing work files a cinch. If you need more storage (and don't want to use the microSD slot inside the Galaxy S10) you can opt for the 512 GB model. For more information, you can visit Samsung’s Facebook page or official website.
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Royal t n e m n i a t r Spo x e l p m Co
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ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံ၏ ပထမဦးဆံုးေသာ ေရခဲျပင္ စကိတ္အားကစားကြင္း ပါရိွသည့္ Royal Sportainment Complex ဟာ ၉-မုိင္၊ ေတာ္၀င္လမ္း၊ မရမ္းကုန္းၿမိဳ႕နယ္၊ ရန္ကုန္ၿမိဳ႕ မွာရွိပါတယ္။ Royal Sportainment Complex ကို၂၀၁၆ ခုႏွစ္စက္တင္ဘာလတြင္ စတင္ တည္ေဆာက္ခဲ့ၿပီး Ice Skate ႏွင့္ Bowling အားကစားကို စိတ္ပါ၀င္စားသည့္ လူငယ္မ်ား အပန္းေျဖ ကစားႏိုင္ရန္၊ ေလ့က်င့္မႈ ျပဳလုပ္ႏိုင္ရန္ ႏွင့္ ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံတြင္ Indoor Sport Complex ေကာင္းေကာင္းမရိွသည္ကုိ ျဖည့္ဆည္းႏိုင္ရန္။ Ice Skate ႏွင့္ Bowling ကစားနည္းတို႔ကို ဆီးဂိမ္းၿပိဳင္ပြဲမ်ားတြင္
အားကစားနည္းမ်ားအျဖစ္
ထည့္သြင္းကစားေနၿပီ
ျဖစ္သျဖင့္
ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံ၏
ပထမဆံုး
ေရခဲျပင္စကိတ္စီး
ကစားသမားမ်ား ေပၚထြက္လာေစရန္ ႏွင့္ ႏိုင္ငံတကာ ၿပိဳင္ပြဲမ်ားတြင္ ၀င္ေရာက္ယွဥ္ၿပိဳင္ႏိုင္ေစရန္ စသည့္ ရည္ရြယ္ခ်က္မ်ားျဖင့္ တည္ေဆာက္ ဖြင့္လွစ္ခဲ့ျခင္း ျဖစ္ပါတယ္။ ထို႔ျပင္ Ice Skate Rink တြင္ လာေရာက္ကစားသူမ်ား၊ ၀င္ေရာက္ေလ့လာသူမ်ား ႏွင့္ အပန္းေျဖ စားေသာက္လုိသူမ်ားအတြက္ Espace Café ဆိုင္ ဖြင့္လွစ္ထားၿပီး ေနာင္တြင္ Royal Sportainment Complex ၌ စားေသာက္ဆုိင္မ်ား ႏွင့္ အျခား ေဖ်ာ္ေျဖေရး အစီအစဥ္မ်ား ထည့္သြင္းႏုိင္ရန္ ေဆာင္ရြက္လ်ွက္ ရိွေၾကာင္း သိရပါတယ္။ Ice Skate စီးသူမ်ားအတြက္ ဂ်ပန္ Trainer တစ္ဦး ႏွင့္ ျမန္မာ Trainer ၅ဦး မွ ကူညီျပသေပးပါတယ္။ ေနာက္ပိုင္းမွာေတာ့ Customer မ်ားအတြက္ Personal Trainer ေတြထားရွိေပးဖို႔ အစီစဥ္ရွိပါတယ္။ထို႔အျပင္ Customer မ်ားအတြက္ ပိုမို ေကာင္းမြနေသာ ္ ဝန္ေဆာင္မ ႈေပးရန္ႏ ွင့္ Safety ျဖစ္ေစရန္ Ice Floor Maintenance ျပဳလုပျ္ခင္းကို ေန႔စဥ္ (၁၂နာရီ မွ ၁နာရီ) တစ္ႀကိမ္ (၅နာရီမွ ၆နာရီ) တစ္ႀကိမ္ တစ္ေန႔ (၂)ႀကိမ္ ျပဳလုပေပးတဲ ္ ့အတြက္ ဒီအခ်ိန္ ေတြမွာေတာ့ Ice Skate ကို ေခတၱခဏ ပိတ္ထားမွာျဖစ္ပါတယ္။Ice Skate Rink ရဲ႕ Capacity ကို လာေရာက္လည္ပတ္သူမ်ား၏ Safety ကို ဦးစားေပးေသာေၾကာင့္ လူူ အေယာက္ ၆ဝ သာ ခြင့္ျပဳထားပါတယ္။ 8°Celsius မွ- 10°Celsius ၾကားရိွ ေရခဲျပင္ ႏွင့္ အက်ယ္ 88’ x 82’ ရွိတဲ့ စကိတ္စီးကြင္းႀကီးထဲမွာ လူအေယာက္ (၅၀) ၀င္ေရာက္ ကစားႏုိင္ပါတယ္။ ေရခဲျပင္စကိတ္စီး ကစားသမားမ်ားနဲ႔ လာေရာက္ ၾကည့္ရႈေလ့လာလိုသူမ်ား နားေနရန္ Espace Cafe ကိုလဲ ေရခဲျပင္စကိတ္ကြင္း ေဘးမွာ ထည့္သြင္းဖြင့္လွစ္ထားပါတယ္။ ေရခဲျပင္စကိတ္နဲ႔အတူ Bowling Center ကိုလည္း တစ္ၿပိဳင္နက္ ဖြင့္လွစ္ထားပါတယ္။ Bowling Center ကို ၁၁ လိုင္း ထည့္သြင္း တည္ေဆာက္ထားၿပီး တစ္လိုင္းမွာ တစ္ဦးမွ ေလးဦးအထိ ပါ၀င္ကစားႏိုင္တဲ့အတြက္ တစ္ခ်ိန္ထဲမွာ (၄၄)ေယာက္ထိ တစ္ၿပိဳင္နက္ ကစားႏုိင္ပါတယ္။ Ice Skate လာေရာက္ကစားတဲ့ customer မ်ားအတြက္ ၀င္ေၾကး 15,000 သတ္မွတ္ထားပါတယ္။ Bowling အတြက္ကေတာ့ တစ္ပြဲကို 6,000 က်ပ္သတ္မွတ္ထားပါတယ္။ Royal Sportainment ဟာ တည္ေနရာအေနအထားအရ သြားရလာရ မခက္ခဲတဲ့ အျပင္ Facilities ေကာင္းေကာင္းနဲ႔ ဖြင့္လွစ္ထားတဲ့အတြက္ Ice Skate ႏွင့္ Bowling အားကစားကို စိတ္ပါ၀င္စားသည့္ လူငယ္မ်ား အပန္းေျဖ ကစားႏိုင္ရန္၊ ေလ့က်င့္မႈ ျပဳလုပ္ႏိုင္ရန္အတြက္ အေကာင္းဆံုးေသာ Indoor Sport Complex တစ္ခုျဖစ္ပါတယ္။
“Ice Skate ႏွင့္ Bowling အားကစားကို စိတ္ပါ၀င္စားသည့္ လူငယ္မ်ား အပန္းေျဖ ကစားႏိုင္ရန္၊ ေလ့က်င့္မႈ ျပဳလုပ္ႏိုင္ရန္”
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“Ice Skate Rink တြင္ လာေရာက္ကစားသူမ်ား၊ ၀င္ေရာက္ေလ့လာသူမ်ား ႏွင့္ အပန္းေျဖ စားေသာက္လုိသူမ်ားအတြက္ Espace Café ဆိုင္ ဖြင့္လွစ္ထားပါတယ္”
Escape Cafe July 2019
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l a y o t n R e m n i a t Spor lex p m o C The Royal Sportainment Complex, located on Taw Win Road in Mayangone Township, is Myanmar’s first-ever fully equipped indoor sporting complex. The complex features non-traditional sports such as ice skating at the large indoor rink and 11 bowling lanes. It’s an ideal place to for both professional athletes and amateurs looking for entertainment with friends and family. Since ice skating and bowling are now official sports in Seagames Competition, hopefully in the near future, RSC will host Myanmar’s first Ice Skating Champions competition. Until then, the space will be used for practice. For those interested in personal training, the complex has six trainers on staff. Inside the complex, there is an Espace Café for people who enjoy coffee and pastries more than sports. RSC Management plans to include additional sports and entertainment spaces, as well as restaurants. Entrance fee for Ice Skating: 15,000 kyats Entrance fee for Bowling: 6,000 kyats per game
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Picks
Charcoal, the “dirty� by-product of burning organic material, has got a new image: a medicinal, cosmetic, hygienic, dietary superhero. Activated charcoal, refined into a powder, has been touted for its natural health and well-being properties. Now, it’s making its modern debut in the self-care arena. Charcoal is available in pill and tablet form in pharmacies and in supermarkets as the key ingredient in beauty products, health foods, and even desserts! Balance explores the benefits of charcoal and how to use it to improve your self-care routines.
Black Gold
The Benefits of Using Charcoal July 2019
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1.Digestive Detoxifier Charcoal has been used in medicine for centuries to clear toxins quickly and completely from the body. The carbon in charcoal binds to and traps toxins in the gut, preventing potentially dangerous absorption. Charcoal detoxifies the body from food poisoning and indigestion, and it can relieve flatulence, cramps, and bloating due to trapped gas. Charcoal can be consumed in pill form or as a powder.
2.Teeth Whitener Have your teeth been stained from coffee, tea, or tobacco? Try putting a little charcoal powder on your toothpaste (or buying charcoal-infused toothpaste) to brush away plaque and residue that discolors the tooth enamel. Charcoal promotes good oral health by stabilizing the pH balance in the mouth, helping prevent cavities, bad breath and gum disease. For best results, use charcoal in your dental care routine 2 or 3 times per week.
3.Skin Soother Activated charcoal uses extend beyond internal applications. It’s effective at relieving discomfort from insect bites, heat rashes, eczema, and sunburn. To make an at-home salve, mix½ teaspoon of activated charcoal with ½ tablespoon of coconut oil and dab on the affected area. Be warned: Charcoal stains easily, so wrap the charcoal salve with a bandage.
4.Anti-Aging Body Cleanser Aging is a natural part of life. However, the toxic overload we are exposed to through food, city pollution, and household chemicals can cause premature aging. Charcoal flushes the toxins that cause cellular damage to the kidneys and liver, allowing the organs to repair and revitalize.
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Look for charcoal in breads, ice cream, candies, and café lattes.
5.Treats and Prevents Hangovers Feeling too boozy? It’s charcoal to the rescue! While activated charcoal does not absorb alcohol, it does help to quickly remove other toxins in the body to prevent alcohol poisoning. If taken while drinking alcohol or directly after, combined with water for rehydration, charcoal tablets can help alleviate hangovers and body bloating caused by drinking too many sugary cocktails or beers.
6.Superfood Superstar Charcoal is the rising star of the health food aisle. Loved by dietitians for its detoxifying properties and neutral taste, charcoal is popping up in lots of foods to aid digestion and purify the body. Food bloggers have taken note and added the unique dark-colored foods to the top of their culinary trends. Look for charcoal in breads, ice cream, candies, and café lattes.
7.Beauty Booster Skin care brands have been using charcoal to sell an array of face washes and facial masks. Charcoal absorbs oil, clears pores, and has an antibacterial effect on the skin, yet it’s gentle enough leave skin looking smooth and free of irritation. To make a spot-clearing, detoxifying facemask, mix 1 tablespoon of charcoal with 1 tablespoon of thanaka. Add water until it forms into a paste and apply to your forehead, chin, cheeks, and any other area of your face that needs at little extra care. Leave the mask to set for 10-15 minutes and rinse completely.
Try brushing teeth with charcoal powder to remove plaque and whiten tooth enamel. July 2019
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Feature
Balance Gym instructor and amateur mixed martial arts fighter Joey Kyaw explains how he became interested in martial arts and how his own unique heritage and history inform his path in the fighting arena.
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“I love the community aspect of martial arts. People are very kind and supportive of each other. We make real contact with each other during practice, so that translates into friendships.� Joey Kyaw
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Joey Kyaw, a 29 year-oldfitness instructor, has found a passion project, self confidence, and a strong sense of community in MMA training (mixed martial arts). Born in Yangon but raised in Cambodia, Joey has laid roots all over Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. Joey’s journey into martial arts started seven years ago in Melbourne, Australia. Out-of-shape and on a whim, he decided to take a martial arts class to lose weight and build some muscle. What blossomed was a passion that became just as much an inner awakening as a physical transformation. Says Joey, “I fell in love immediately, and I haven’t stopped since.” For almost a decade, Joey has studied both Muay Thai and Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ). Muay Thai is a combat, stand-up style of boxing first popularized in Thailand. BJJ is a martial arts style of fighting that incorporates ground fighting and wrestling techniques. He has linked both MMA lineages into a new style of fighting called “Sprawl and Brawl.” Says Joey of his current fighting style, “I train mostly using striking stances and some elements of wrestling. During a takedown, the BJJ comes out.”
“I started studying martial arts about seven years ago. I fell in love immediately, and I haven’t stopped since.” Joey Kyaw
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Now an MMA fitness instructor at Balance Gym, Joey reflects on what the MMA scene in Yangon looked like when he first arrived. “Five years ago, the fitness industry in Yangon was not as well developed. It was very hard to find a place to continue my training,” remembers Joey. Fast forward to five years later, the industry has improved greatly with many new gyms and high-level of training and coaching offered in many gyms. Joey says heis very happy to see lots of gyms starting to offer kickboxing classes and so many members picking it up as a way to lose weight and keep fit.
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“I came in to lose weight. I did lose weight, but I also gained confidence. It hasn’t been about what I lost; it’s all about what I’ve gained.” Joey Kyaw
“MMA is not about fighting; it is about being fit and healthy, both physiologically and psychologically.” Abhijit Naskar, author of The Art of Neuroscience in Everything Yet, for Joey, MMA training is not just about what he does inside the ring. It’s also about who his is with. “One thing I love about martial arts is the people and the community. People are very kind and supportive of each other,” remarks Joey. The support and encouragement he’s gotten from his MMA mates has helped him grow as a person as well as a fighter. He has gotten a great deal of self confidence. “I came into MMA to lose weight. I did lose weight, but I also gained confidence. It hasn’t been about what I lost; it’s all about what I’ve gained,” says Joey. Joey is interested in expanding his MMA clientele to a much younger crowd. “I think it’s a very good idea enroll kids in martial arts. Aside from the obvious fitness and physical skills, they can learn a lot of valuable life lessons such as respect, self-discipline, self-control and self-confidence,” says Joey. These are good skills to learn at any age. To train with Joey, check the Balance Gym schedule at www.balancefitnessyangon.com
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Runner’s Maze
by: Rachel pinnick illustrations
You’re trapped in a Balance Maze! Find your way out of the center of the maze to the exit. For the solution to the maze and other news and information, visit our social media pages. @balancefitnessyangon @balancezine, @balancefitnessyangon
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Crossword
Crossword puzzle Complete the crossword puzzle using clues from inside the magazine and your own knowledge. Bring your completed crossword to any Balance fitness center and receive a free water bottle. Check your answers on Balance’s social media: Instagram : @balancezine Facebook : @balancefitnessyangon Puzzle Maker : Jared Downing
Across
1 Type of training workout in this issue 4 What your boyfriend becomes when you break up 7 High fashion designer Sruti _____ 9 Grumpy _____, furry Instagram celebrity that died this year 11 New athletics center in Yangon, Royal _____ainment 13 Thandar _____, our cover model 16 Bit of smartphone software 18 The back cover of this magazine has one 20 English singer/songwriter _____ Sheeran 21 Hotel location for our cover feature 24 American fashion model _____ Hadid 26 Hero of the Pokemon TV series 27 DIY product for this issue 29 Indian fitness and spiritual poses 30 Women’s undergarment for the chest 31 Popular brand of black and white cookie 34 ________ Tiger, location for with this issue's High Fashion shoot 37 Papa Smurf, when asked what colour he is 39 Happy laugh 40 Room cooler, for short 41 "We never go out of _____!" (Taylor Swift song lyric) 43 One of the Jonas Brothers 45 Skinny MacBook model 47 Myanmar _____ , best beer 48 Our August horoscope Avenger
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Best-selling gym equipment Second letter of the Greek alphabet Older than 12, younger than 20 Psychic power, for short What your mobile plan consumes Balance magazine fashion editor Charlotte _____ _____'s Orders, section on mental health in this issue What Grab shows when you book a ride Maroon Five lead singer initials Opposite of "off" Country, home of the Ganges River ______ S10, Samsung product featured in Gadgets 100 _____, most refreshing soft drink brand Article, Monsoon _______ & Don’ts From a chicken; great scrambled "Though" in SMS speak Peace Corps Causes writer One of Jupiter's moons Joey Kyaw’s MMA style, _________ & Brawl Gadgets, alarm clock brand It might be in your hair, car, or cooking "_____ gold," or what our Picks article calls charcoal What horseshoes, rabbit feet, and four-leafed clovers provide Tiny, round spot The patriarchy Alex Honnold movie, Free _____ Work for Star Wars character, 3 ____ O Morning time Last letters of Kuala Lumpur’s nation
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Feature
The Modern Gentleman’s
Guide to Business Casual From shoes to shirts, Boey Zhi Chung has compiled a no-fuss style guide for owning business casual for men. With even the most formal of workplaces easing up on the dress code, it is now casual Friday every day in 21st century office spaces. We aren’t suggesting you roll into work in tracksuits pants and trainers. But now, more than ever, it is now more acceptable to dress down for your nine-to-five and let a little bit of your personality shine through. In fact, personal style should never be underestimated, and our workwear clothing is certainly no exception. The key to perfecting this corporate clothing style is to make it youthful, fun, and on-trend. Tailor it to flatter your features and build upon the wardrobe you already have. Business casual should still be a polished, neat, and clean-cut look. It is the office after all.
Basic Button-Downs Depending on where you work, it’s still probably best not to deviate from a button-down shirt. Some more casual industries such as education and creative fields may allow for flashy colours and small prints. However, if you’re in the corporate sector, a solid colour button- down is a mainstay. These traditional shirts work well as long as they are well-tailored, made from high quality materials, and of course, ironed or steamed. Both universally flattering and versatile, they work well with tailored pants, chinos, and under jackets, cardigans, and fitted blazers.
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Crisp Chinos
Chinos are great because they boost the appeal of casual looks, but they are still quite laid-back. The materials of chinos also make them quite adaptable for the workplace. Choose chinos in black, navy, khaki, and beige for maximum utility. Chinos register as quite professional for the office, so you won’t feel underdressed. You can dress them up for post-work cocktails and also dress them down for a weekend office retreat. Make certain your chinos are a slimmer fit and aren’t too long or too short. Once you find a style or brand that works well for you, invest in several pairs and colours to ensure all your looks are consistently polished and fit appropriately.
Blazers of Glory Blazers for business casual shouldn’t be too formal, yet they should still have a dressed-up element to them. Pick blazers without too much structure. The fit is important, and you do not want something baggy or that overwhelms your physique. Keep in mind that blazers in staple colours will ground your looks and lend a classic edge to your clothing choices.
Classic Cardigans and Sweaters The greatest tip for perfecting business casual lies with great sweaters and cardigans. These clothing pieces work well, because they bring a relaxed element to your office looks without looking sloppy. Round-neck cable knit sweaters convey a clean, classic aesthetic that reads preppy and sophisticated. For cardigans, shawl-neck versions are a wardrobe staple. Ensure cardigans fit well and are of good quality, because they can be worn constantly. Best of all, they’re super comfy.
Best Foot Forward Shoes
Brogues, monk-straps, loafers, and oxfords are good shoe choices, but think about changing the types of materials you select. Suedes and matte leathers are adaptable and will lend more of a relaxed vibe to your look. Opt for neutral colours for optimal adaptability. Black is classic, but use business casual as a way of introducing more colour to your looks. Try a dusty brown as it works well alongside other neutral tones like beiges and tans and also complements navy blue, emerald green and rich burgundy.
Hack It– Jackets
For days when a blazer is too formal and a sweater too preppy, there are a variety of other business casual jackets that can make excellent alternatives. For instance, a sleek bomber jacket is a great option. Just make sure to select one in a dark colour or neutral hue to ensure it appears polished. Likewise, chore jackets can also be appropriate for the office, so long as you pair them with high quality accessories. For a stylish look, pair a business casual jacket with chinos, suede shoes, and an oxford shirt. If you still feel a little underdressed, consider adding a neutral tie or scarf to yo
Dream Jeans Although they are inherently casual, the right pair of jeans can look entirely professional in an office setting. To rock business casual jeans, choose a design that appears sophisticated and neat. A straight-leg style in black or a dark blue wash makes a particularly suitable choice. Be sure the jeans have no rips and aren’t too faded to appear polished instead of dishevelled. Complete your outfit with sophisticated pieces. Wearing smart items, such as an oxford shirt paired with derby shoes, will elevate your look. July 2019
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Cover Story
(Out) Thandar Hlaing, also known on social media as Christie Mackenzie, is a woman with many titles. In an average week, she may answer to lawyer, blogger, TV personality, social media influencer, model, wellness advocate, business woman, CEO, and mum. At age 42, she is living proof that women do indeed become wiser, fitter, and more self-confident with age. In this feature with Balance Magazine, Thandar Hlaing shares her experience and advice on how to maintain her balance while pursuing careers in the competitive industries of modeling, fitness, and lifestyle branding.
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Credits: Photos Make-up artist Clothing Stylist Location
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Life Photography Nang Si Phaung Ahlatt Lumyang Yoko San Lotte Hotel Yangon
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On Modeling Balance: Thandar, you are one of the first very successful models in Myanmar. How did you get your start? Thandar Hlaing: I started in 1996. I always wanted to be a model, but at that time, there were really not that many people pursuing modeling careers in Myanmar. I always had shiny thick hair, so I entered and won the Miss Patene contest in 1996. That was my first big break. B: How was the modeling industry changed since you started? TH: It’s changed so much. In Myanmar, there were no modeling agencies or bookings. Every modeling job I got, I got through networking. Luckily, I had a very supportive family who encouraged me to try to live my dreams. Back when I started, print media was a big deal, and commercials were the best jobs you could get. Now, people don’t trust advertisers. They trust the people they select to follow on social media, so everyone is a model in sense. If you have a brand on social media, you are a model – a role model. B: How have you changed as a model since you started your career over 20 years ago? TH: When you say that – 20 years! – it’s hard even for me to believe that I’ve been in this business for two decades. When I first started modeling, I did not know anything about healthy living or nutrition. I wasn’t aware or very interested. But now, I realize that the key to looking healthy is feeling healthy in your body, and that is beautiful. God-given genetic blessings are one thing, but to stay looking and feeling young, it starts with making changes on the inside. B: Now, not only are you a model, but you’re a role model for a new generation of up-and-coming models with your TV series, The Model Academy. TH: Yes, I am! I take my TV work very seriously. I like to be able to share my knowledge and experience and advice with younger models. In two decades, even more, you can gain a lot of experience. It also helps to keep me fresh on what is new in the modeling industry. B: When can we expect to see the new season? TH: Soon! Season 3 of Model Academy airs on July 20, 2019. I am also the executive producer for a TV review show on the Canal+ Network. I talk about show highlights, give reviews and recaps of TV shows, and represent the network. It’s important to me to diversify my work portfolio and continue to challenge myself.
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“I realize that the key to looking healthy is feeling healthy in your body, and that is beautiful. God-given genetic blessings are one thing, but to stay looking and feeling young, it starts with making changes on the inside.” -----Thandar Hlaing
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On Building a Brand and Business Balance: On social media, you go by two names: Thandar Hlaing and Christie Mackenzie. How did you get the name “Christie Mackenzie?”
B: That is a very respectable business ethos. Do you have any advice for people trying to break into the online business and social media branding frontier?
Thandar Hlaing: I have a very international heritage. In fact, I am part Scottish on my grandfather’s side, so that is where I got the name Mackenzie. It’s a family name, so I wanted to incorporate it into my brand, too.
TH: Some people have said, oh, you’re such a genius at social media and online marketing. But I don’t think I’m a genius. I’m just genuine, and I promote products that I actually like and use. Companies have offered me a lot of money to promote their products or services, but if I don’t like the product, or I wouldn’t use it or buy it myself, I can’t promote it. People are attracted to what’s genuine, what is real. They can see that on my social media and in my brand. So I’m not some kind of social media genius, I’m just genuine.
B: You are quite the busy woman in the business world. When did you decide to start your own businesses? TH: I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. When I started in modeling, I booked my own jobs. After university (where I earned degrees in Psychology and Law at University of New England in Australia), I started a law firm. I’ve had a fashion line. Not everything has always worked out. I’ve had failed businesses and a failed marriage. But with each failure, I learned more about myself and gained self-confidence from my mistakes, so I still consider my ventures successful in some way. B: One business that is a success is your online branded store, Thandar Hlaing Store. Can you tell us how that evolved? TH: It grew from my social media presence. First, I did some blogging on nutrition and fitness. Then, with Facebook and Instagram, I started to post pictures and videos, and people started following me quite naturally. They were interested in what I was posting. So, about three years ago, I decided to create an online marketplace where I could share all the products I was using and offer them to people. B: That seems very clever! What is the price point? TH: It has to be affordable. For me, if only rich, elite people can buy it, what’s the point? That’s my price point: affordable, practical, and for everybody! B: Most of your products on the online store are made in Myanmar and/or by Myanmar people. What that a conscious decision? TH: Absolutely! I am so proud of the businesses that are developing in this country. For so long, when I was growing up, starting a business was very difficult, and near impossible unless you had the right connections. Now, anyone can start a business if they have a smart idea. I want to support those smart people and their businesses in my store.
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“People are attracted to what’s genuine, what is real. They can see that on my social media and in my brand. So I’m not some kind of social media genius – I’m just genuine.” ----Thandar Hlaing
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On Fitness and Healthy Living Balance: You’re in great shape. For any age, you’re body is toned and fit. How did you first get interested in fitness?
B: Do you have any nutrition or healthy eating tips you’d like to share?
Thandar Hlaing: I first got interested in fitness through Balance Gym actually. Would you believe it?
TH: I avoid anything the 3 Ps: preservatives, packaged, and processed. I like to eat meals that are nutrient-dense and rich in fats, protein and fiber. I keep sugar to a minimum. Eating this way keeps me healthy, energized, and my hormones balanced. I also try to get 8-10 hours of sleep each day. Sleep rejuvenates the mind and body. I can’t always sleep for 10 hours each night, because I have a working mom’s schedule, so I take naps when I can find the time.
B: Really? Tell us. TH: I was working with Balance as a lawyer actually. When the first Balance Gym opened in 2013, I was a part of the team that wrote the contracts for Balance Gym. At that time, I was also trying to get back into modeling, and just dieting wasn’t working anymore. So I started cardio and strength training at the gym, and I not only lost weight, but I also gained muscle. The muscle made me feel strong and powerful. So, you could say, I got addicted to the gym endorphins. B: Now, you have your own fitness app, T Fitness. What makes your app different from other training apps? TH: The difference is that it is personalized. The app helps people customize their workout experience for their body type, goals, fitness level, and language preference (available in English and Burmese). It’s available now for Android. Apple users will have to wait until October 2019. B: There are so many fitness apps. Why did you want to enter into this market? TH: I wanted to provide people, women especially, the option of having functional training at home. I’ve been a single mom. I have two kids (aged 16 and 8), and it’s not always easy to balance work, children’s schedule, and family time. But with an app, you can still meet your fitness goals. Working out gives you those feel-good hormones and confidence. What I can do now in my 40s, physically, I could never dream of in my 20s. I want to give that experience to as many people as possible. B: It’s seems like your children, and being a mother, have been a great source inspiration for your health and business. TH: Certainly. Having children changes your whole life. It gives you a new perspective on how to see the world and a reason to make changes. For example, I became very interested in nutrition because my daughter had a lot of food allergies. I had to change her diet and learn how to cook healthy allergen-free food for her. I actually got a certificate in household nutrition and started making my first YouTube videos – cooking videos – about making healthy food that she could eat and posting them to Facebook. The response I got from my followers was amazing, and I just continued to cook and post.
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B: Do you have any advice for people over the age of 40 who want to get in shape? TH: It’s never too late to start now. Anyone at any age can feel and look their best. I didn’t really start to lift weights until I was 37 years-old. I saw progress very quickly when I started weight training, and it motivated me to never give up on myself. B: Are there any other wellness projects you’re working on now? TH: Yes, I’m actually working with my fitness program, T’s Workshop, to sponsor gym memberships for women who want to make healthy changes in their lives. I have scaled payment programs for single moms or women from low-income households. I believe all women should have access to resources to change their bodies and their minds, and I see it as a social responsibility to give back. I am also an advocate for the So What Campaign. It’s a public awareness group that openly discusses and sponsors education for women to learn about their menstrual cycles. When women have awareness and autonomy over their bodies, they can come into their power.
“When women have awareness and autonomy over their bodies, they can come into their power.” ----Thandar Hlaing
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“It’s never too late to start now. Anyone at any age can feel and look their best.” ----Thandar Hlaing
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Getaways
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Training Fitness model: Rebekah Galea Photographs: Life Photography
Tabata Body Training Balance writer, Zin Me, explores Tabata training, a type of HIIT (high intensity interval training) developed by Japanese scientist, Izumi Tabata. The workout focuses on efficiency, incorporating circuit training movements in fiery energy bursts followed by short, heart rate-lowering periods of rest. The best part –all you need is 4 minutes of time to get a fat-blasting, calorie-burning workout.
The Tabata Method: The genius of the Tabata 4-minute workout is performing one exercise at maximum output energy followed by a short period of rest. To create a Tabata workout, perform any circuit training movement for 20 seconds using maximum effort. Then, rest for 10 seconds before repeating the same movement. Continue this effort/rest sequence until you have finished 8 rounds. If you have more than 4 minutes, you can challenge yourself you can combine different exercises for a full-body Tabata workout.
Benefits of the Tabata Method: 1: Time Efficiency: When you’re short on time, a 4-minute fat-burning Tabata workout is a great option. You can do it on-thego, even while traveling. 2: Fat-Burning Weight Loss: Japanese researchers found that you can lose 15 calories per minute on average from Tabata workouts. Better still, the high-intensity movements burn belly and lower body fat, which makes Tabata a popular workout to lose weight. 3: Muscle Preservation: While steady-state cardio exercises such as jumping rope and running can help burn calories, they also deteriorate your muscles. Tabata uses low-impact movements that maintain and lengthen muscles. Strong, healthy muscle-mass increases your metabolic rate.
Tabata Circuit Exercises: Perform each of the following exercises. One Tabata Workout is 8 rounds of each exercise in intervals of 20 seconds max effort and 10 seconds for recovery. Remember to rest for 60 seconds before transitioning into a new exercise.
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1: Jumping Jacks Unleash your inner child and jump! Use momentum to raise your arms over the head, engaging your core and keeping a straight spine throughout the exercise.
2: Mountain Climbers Unleash your inner child and jump! Use momentum to raise your arms over the head, engaging your core and keeping a straight spine throughout the exercise.
3: Squat Jumps Stay low in your squat and keep the knees and ankles in alignment in the squat. Burst up into a jump and light your arms.
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4: Push Ups In plank, align shoulders and wrists. Keep core engaged and bend the elbows, keeping the core off the ground. To modify, put the knees on the ground instead of plank.
5: Burpees For this Burpee circuit, just remember to keep moving and have fun.
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Causes
Experiential Learning with Peace Corps Camps in Myanmar Since 2016, more than 60 American Peace Corps volunteers served as teachers in Central and Southern Myanmar to help educate local communities. Current volunteer, Emilie Ehrman, shares how Peace Corps Volunteers participate in culture exchange, as well as skills exchange, with their Burmese counterparts.
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The goal of Peace Corps Volunteers is to help people meet their needs, share knowledge, and exchange cross-cultural understanding.
In public school classrooms in the Yangon, Bago, Mon, and Magway regions, several Burmese teachers are co-teaching with English education Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). PCVs work closely with their communities during their two-year civil service period, learning Burmese languages and culture. PCVs serving in Myanmar primarily work to bolster English education through classroom teaching, camps, and curriculum building. Beyond their classroom duties, Emilie and other PCVs host a wide array of activities in their respective communities such as sports teams, summer camps, educational competitions, and extracurricular clubs. Ehrman recently hosted Kamp Kawa, a day camp for over 100 students. Camp activities included art, English-speaking classes, music, yoga, and dancing. Kamp Kawa pushed students to step outside of their comfort zones. “I specifically chose activities that would encourage creativity, critical thinking, and group work,” Ehrman explained
Summer camps are popular throughout Myanmar, but they are not just a fun way to keep kids active during the hot season; they give students and teachers the chance to experiment with interactive, dynamic teaching methodologies. As the program continues to expand, Ehrman and other PCVs hope to see experiential learning come to the forefront of Burmese classrooms. In the upcoming years, Myanmar’s government-implemented curriculum will make its initial transition towards student-centered teaching, after years of rote-learning classrooms. Education volunteers, like Ehrman, will become essential allies in the country-wide curriculum transition. Says Ehrman of the student-centered approach to learning: “We want to encourage activities that spark problem-solving and good group dynamics, so that young Myanmar students will be able to apply those skills to their adult lives.”
“Students came to camp to learn and practice English language skills, but it was promising to watch them push their personal boundaries to participate in new activities.” July 2019
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High Fashion
Through the Eyes of a Tiger In the heart and heat of downtown Yangon at the exotic, Blind Tiger Speakeasy, Balance magazine showcases high style formal wear in traditional Japanese designs by Sruti Dalmia.
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Credits: Images Model Stylist Fashion Make-up
Life Photography Htut Myat Shwe Yee (aka Pinky) Phyo Thiha Sruti Dalmia Myo Latt July 2019
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“Our noblest hopes grow teeth and pursue us like tigers.� - John Gardner
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“O tiger’s heart wrapped in a woman’s hide!” - William Shakespeare
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“An infallible method of conciliating a tiger is to allow oneself to be devoured.� - Konrad Adenauer
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“A tiger does not lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.” - Shahir Zag July 2019
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Doctor’s Orders
Free Your Mind: Fighting the Stigma of Mental Health in Myanmar
Agnes Mary is a counseling psychologist at Serenity Counseling Services in Myanmar. Agnes has worked tirelessly, using talk therapy and personal and group counseling sessions, to help her clients process trauma, mental health, and eliminate the stigma of mental disorders. Agnes talks to Balance about her work in psychology and gives our readers tips on how to manage depression and anxiety.
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Not all superheroes wear capes. This is most certainly true of Agnes Mary, a certified counseling psychologist who uses talk therapy to treat clients dealing with depression, anxiety, acute stress, and trauma by helping them to become more self-aware. She originally became interested in psychology because she wanted to learn how people think and make decisions. In her own words, the role of a psychologist is to aid people in exploring their own thoughts so that they can know themselves better. Says Agnes, “When we explore our own self-awareness, we can then begin to understand and accept why people make decisions and how to deal with other people more effectively.” Agnes believes self-awareness is an invaluable skill for any profession, not just psychologists. “In any career, we need to deal with other people, be it teaching, engineering, sports, or business. Even if you don’t deal with others, you must deal with yourself, so there is value there, at the personal level,” says Agnes. By her own definition, Agnes sees mental disorders as any prolonged period of mental duress wherein people experience difficulty maintaining their wellbeing, daily functions, and quality of life. Through talk therapy, she helps her clients rediscover their personal resources, helps clients build coping mechanisms, and shows clients how to deal with their current situations. The most common mental situations Agnes sees in her practice are depression, stress, anxiety, attachment problems, and childhood trauma. Says Agnes, “I see my work as a personal trainer for mental fitness. Many people in Myanmar do not even know that mental fitness is something that they need to also take care of, just like physical health.”
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“People can become exhausted by constantly ‘doing’ for others and neglecting their own self care. Imagine your mental health is like a cup of water. You need to keep your cup full of clean, fresh water so that you can offer others a refreshing drink.” -- Agnes Mary
“When we explore our own self-awareness, we can then begin to understand and accept why people make decisions and how to deal with other people more effectively.”
While it may be common in some parts of the world to seek therapy, there is still a stigma in Myanmar about getting professional help to deal with mental disorders. That being said, Agnes has seen a noticeable cultural shift in thinking about mental health over the last few years. “Now, it is easier to access information in Myanmar than ever before. There are Facebook pages that talk about psychology and mental health, so the ideas around the usefulness of psychological therapy are changing for the better.” Agnes herself is a part of that change by hosting monthly workshops at the Jefferson Center in Mandalay on topics including psychological first aid, self-help, and how to create mental health resources.
Agnes Mary is a certified counseling psychologist. Currently based in Mandalay, she received her Master’s degree in the science of counseling at Assumption University in Bangkok, and has been using talk therapy with clients in Yangon. Agnes provides support to clients in both English and Myanmar language. To contact Agnes Mary, find her on Facebook at Serenity Counseling Support Services or by phone at +95 97 76 88 42 75.
Worldwide depression is a leading cause of mental illness and suicide. Here are some tips from Agnes Mary on how to notice the signs of depression and how to treat it.
Noticing the Signs of Depression
•Sudden change in feelings or usual behaviors •Prolonged periods of sadness for unknown reason •Difficulty finding joy in previously enjoyable activities •Low energy •Loss of hope or meaning in life •Expressing that life is stagnant and not worth living Tips to Treat Depression •Make a daily list of 5 things you are grateful for/make you happy •Schedule your day to regain a sense of purpose to remember your goals •Practice “little joys”: Practice meditation, exercise, find a hobby, talk with a friend, get a manicure or haircut, read for pleasure, do crafts, cook, listen to music •Keep a daily count of all the small successes in your life. Don’t compare your successes to others. •Keep active social connections. Talk with friends and family, even if you feel with drawn.
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Recipe
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Hydrated skin is healthy skin. No matter your skin type, facial mists give your skin the moisture surge it needs for a desirable healthy glow. The special ingredients in facial mists not only hydrate and refresh, but also add much-needed antioxidants and vitamins that instantly nourish the skin and revive all-day makeup. Balance’s Lifestyle Editor, Zin Me, shows us how to create facial mists at home. All you need is a spray pump bottle and simple household ingredients to make natural beauty mists in your own kitchen.
Glowing Rose Water Mist Ingredients: 2 roses ½ cup of purified water 4-6 dried rose petals (optional) 1 cup of chamomile tea
Instructions: To make rose water, pluck the petals from 2 roses and rinse thoroughly. Place the petals in a pot with purified water bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer until the petals lose their color. Pour the rose water into a jar and cool. To make the tea, add a bag of chamomile tea to a cup of hot water and leave until steeped. Then pour both ingredients into spray bottle and shake well. Add dried rose petals for beautiful presentation and extra fragrance.
Soothing Cucumber and Aloe Vera Facial Mist Ingredients: 2 teaspoons of Aloe Vera gel 1 cucumber ½ cup of rose water
Instructions: Peel and slice the cucumber and liquefy in a blender. Strain the blended cucumber with a tea strainer or cheese cloth and pour the remaining liquid into a spray bottle. Add the Aloe Vera gel and rose water and shake well before using.
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Energizing Early Grey Facial Mist Ingredients: ½ cup black tea 3 drops of bergamot essential oil 2 drops of lavender essential oil ½ cup purified water
Revitalizing Green Tea Mist Ingredients: ½ cup coconut water 10 ml of almond oil ½ cup green tea Instructions: Fill a tea cup with ½ cup of hot water and brew 1 green tea bag. Let the tea cool. Coconut water is well known for its anti-aging and acne healing qualities. Almond oil contains moisture magician vitamin E (which replenishes skin), and green tea is full of antioxidants. Combine all ingredients together in a spray bottle for a misty miracle potion.
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Instructions: Fill a tea cup with ½ cup of hot water and brew 1 black tea bag. Let the tea cool. Black tea contains natural antioxidants (which protect the skin from free radical damage) and invigorating caffeine. Lavender oil calms irritated skin, while bergamot brightens tired skin. Mix all ingredients, including water, in a spray bottle and use in the morning for an energizing skin solution.
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Horoscopes
Astrological Avengers Monsoon season is a great time to catch up on blockbuster movies indoors while the rain pours outside. Balance Magazine’s Astrology Guide show you which Avengers: End Game characters align with your zodiac sign.
Aries: Captain America The first sign in the zodiac, Aries are a lot like the first Avenger, Captain America. The headstrong, brave and dynamic Aries love challenges and taking on leadership roles. Like Captain America, Aries are very good at drawing tactics, giving orders, and leading their team into victory. Sounds familiar, Aries?
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Gemini: Loki
Quick witted and inconsistent, Gemini have two different personalities, and you can never be sure which one you will face, just like Loki. Both mischievous and heroic, Loki is as unpredictable and adaptable as any Gemini. Geminis can relate to Loki always being torn between his affectionate and his dark and mysterious sides.
Taurus: Hawkeye The Taurus sign is loyal, devoted, stable, and practical. Clint Barton (a.k.a. Hawkeye) is a highly trained individual who has no super power, yet he’s proven to be one of the important members of the A-Team due to his devotion to his friends and his work. He’s also a stable guy with a wholesome family life that perfectly fits the Taurus personality.
Cancer: Hulk Just like Hulk, the Cancer is one of the most challenging zodiac signs to get to know. They are deeply intuitive and sentimental, yet insecure about themselves, so they hardly let anyone into their lives easily. Cancer’s doubts and insecurities make it difficult for them to blend with the rest of the world, not unlike Bruce Banner (the Hulk). However, Cancers can take a note from the Hulk. Once they find peace in their life choices, they will be happy to be surrounded by loved ones and will find harmony in their lives.
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Virgo: Dr. Strange
Virgo is one of the most cautious signs of the zodiac. Being practical and analytical, Virgo’s methodical approach to life makes certain that nothing is left to chance, a lot like Doctor Strange. After all, if not for Dr. Stranger’s thoughtful prediction, half of the Marvel Universe population would have been destroyed. Vigilant Virgo is just the ace you need on your team.
Libra: Black Panther Libra is the zodiac sign of justice and harmony. The peaceful persona of Black Panther represents Libra. Just like Libras, Black Panther, the King of Wakanda, seeks justice and prefers diplomacy rather than violence. He champions equality in his own country over greed and violence.
Leo: Iron Man No other Avenger epitomizes the King of the Jungle than the one and only – Iron Man. Tony Stark is the living embodiment of a Leo: a natural-born leader, slightly arrogant, joyfully self-centered, prone to stubbornness, and would go to great lengths to prove that he is the greatest. Yet, just like a Leo, Tony is endlessly creative, clever, witty, and generous.
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Scorpio: Black Widow Scorpios and Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow have a lot in common. Brave, assertive, and resourceful, Scorpios like to investigate until they find the truth, just like the welltrained spy, who can dig up any kind of classified information – even through manipulation if need be.
Sagittarius: Star-Lord Star-Lord is the Avenger with Sagittarius-like fervor for wanderlust. Sag’s free spirited, outgoing, and thrill-seeking characteristics scream Peter Quill (alias, Star-Lord). Just like the Star-Lord, Sagittarius loves adventure and travel. His enthusiastic nature gives him great curiosity, and he approaches everything with humor. Any Sagittarius would kill to explore the universe just like Star-Lord.
Capricorn: Thor Blockheaded Thor’s arrogance got him into a meaningless battle to prove his strength. Capricorns can relate! However, upon his return from banishment, Thor became a responsible, disciplined, and reflective of his past indiscretions. Capricorns can relate! With their love of tradition and respect for ancestry, both Thor and fellow Capricorns find security in family and shared history.
Pisces: Scarlet Witch
Aquarius: Spiderman
As a water sign, Pisces traits include empathy and selflessness. Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch) is similar to Pisces; she is emotionally fragile due to her tragic childhood, but she has a caring personality and is devoted to protecting the innocent. The Scarlet Witch’s power to alter reality and manipulate other’s thoughts is just the kind of superpower Pisces would love possess (if they were blessed with a superpower), as it would give invaluable insight into their deeply intuitive and dreamy natures.
Aquarii are born introverts, both shy and quiet at times, yet energetic and eccentric at other times. Peter Parker (commonly called Spiderman) is the epitome of an Aquarius. He is just a timid geek as his Peter Parker persona, but once he turns into Spiderman, he becomes a powerful, friendly, neighborhood superhero. Also like Peter Parker, an Aquarius is highly intellectual and loves to help.
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Healthy Living
ပူျပင္းေျခာက္ေသြ႔တဲ့ ေႏြရာသီကုန္ဆံုးတဲ့ေနာက္ စိုစြတ္တဲ့ မိုးဦးကာလေရာက္လာပါတယ္။ ရာသီအကူးအေျပာင္းမွာ က်န္းမာေပ်ာ္ရႊင္တဲ့လူေနမႈပံုစံရရွိဖို႔အေရးႀကီးပါတယ္။ ရုတ္တရက္ ရာသီကူးေျပာင္းခ်ိန္မွာ တုပ္ေကြးေရာဂါ၊ Typhoid ႏွင့္ ၀မ္းေရာဂါစတဲဲ့ ေရာဂါေတြျဖစ္တတ္ပါတယ္။ မုတ္သုံရာသီမွာ က်န္းမာေပ်ာ္ရႊင္စြာ ေနထိုင္ႏိုင္ရန္အတြက္ အေထာက္ကူျဖစ္ေစမဲ့ ေဆာင္ရန္ႏွင့္ ေရွာင္ရန္အခ်က္မ်ား (Healthy Tips) ကိုေဖာ္ျပလိုက္ပါတယ္။
မုတ္သုံရာသီမွာ ေသာက္သံုးေရ သန္႔ရွင္းမႈရွိျခင္းက အေရးႀကီးလွပါတယ္။ ေသာက္သံုးေရသန္႔ရွင္းမႈမရွိပါက ၀မ္းပ်က္၀မ္းေလွ်ာေရာဂါ၊ အသည္းေရာင္ေရာဂါ ၊ အူေရာင္ငန္းဖ်ားအစရွိတဲ့ေရာဂါမ်ားျဖစ္ေစႏိုင္ပါတ ယ္။ ထို႔ေၾကာင့္ ဆူပြက္ေအာင္က်ိဳခ်က္ထားေသာေရ (သို႔မဟုတ္) ေရာဂါပိုးမႊားသန္႔စင္ထားေသာ ေရသန္႔တို႔ကို အသံုးျပဳရ၊ ေသာက္သံုးရပါမယ္။ မိမိခႏၶာကိုယ္မွာ လည္း ေရဓာတ္ျပည္႔၀ရန္လိုအပ္ပါတယ္။
ေသြးတိုးေရာဂါႏွင့္ ေရဓာတ္ခမ္းေျခာက္ျခင္းကို ျဖစ္ေစတတ္တဲ့အတြက္ မုတ္သုံရာသီဥတုမွာ ဆားဓာတ္ကို အသင့္တင့္သာ စားသံုးသင့္ပါတယ္။
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စိုထိုင္းတဲ့မုတ္သုံရာသီမွာ ကိုယ္ခႏၶာက အစာေခ်ဖ်က္အားနည္းေသာေၾကာင့္ ဆီေၾကာ္မုန္႔ မ်ားကို အတတ္ႏိုင္ဆံုးေရွာ င္ၾကဥ္သင့္ပါတယ္။ မုတ္သုံရာသီအတြက္ အေကာင္းဆံုးစားေသာက္မႈပံုစံကေတာ့ အစားအစာမ်ားကို က်က္ေအာင္ခ်က္ၿပီး ပူပူေႏြးေႏြး စားသံုးသင့္ပါတယ္။ ဗီတာမင္ စီ ပါ၀င္ေသာ အသီးအႏွံ အစားအေသာက္မ်ားမွ ျဖစ္ေစ ၊ ဗီတာမင္ စီ အားေဆး ျဖစ္ေစ ေန႔စဥ္ ပံုမွန္ မ်ားမ်ား သံုးေဆာင္ေပးဖို႕လိုအပ္ပါတယ္ ။ ခႏၶာကိုယ္မွာ ဗီတာမင္ စီ ၾကြယ္၀ေနျခင္းျဖင့္ သင့္ကိုယ္ခံစြမ္းအားဟာ ျမင့္မားေနမွာျဖစ္ျပီး အေအးမိျခင္း ႏွင့္ အျခားဖ်ားနားျခင္းမ်ားမွ ကာကြယ္ေပးမွာျဖစ္ပါတယ္။
အျပင္ထြက္တိုင္း ထီး သို႕မဟုတ္ မိုးကာ စသည္တို႕ကို ကိုယ္ႏွင့္မကြာ သယ္ေဆာင္ရမယ္။ အေအးမိျခင္းကို ေရွာင္ၾကဥ္ဖို႔အတြက္ မိုးမမိေအာင္ ေနရန္အေရးႀကီးပါတယ္။ အကယ္၍ မျဖစ္မေန မိုးေရထဲ သြားလာခဲ့ရရင္ ျပန္ေရာက္ေရာက္ခ်င္း မိုးေရစိုေနတဲ့ အဝတ္ေတြကို ခ်က္ခ်င္း လဲပစ္ရပါမယ္။
မုတ္သုံရာသီအတြင္း ျခင္ ေျကာင့္ ျဖစ္ေ ပၚလာေသာေသြးလြန္တုပ္ေကြးေရာဂါမွာ ေျကာက္စရာေကာင္းၿပီးယခင္(၁၂)နွစ္ေအာ က္ကေလးမ်ားသာျဖစ္သည္ဟုဆုိေသာ္လည္း ယခုအခါ လူျကီးမ်ားပါျဖစ္နုိင္ပါတယ္။ က်ြန္ေတာ္တုိ႔အားလုံးဟာ မိမိတုိ႔အိမ္နွင့္ ပတ္ဝန္းက်င္ရွိ ေရဝပ္နုိင္ေသာေနရာမ်ားအား ျပဳျပင္ေဆာင္ရြက္ျခင္း၊ ေရေျမာင္းမ်ားအားေ ရစီးေရလာေကာင္းမြန္ေစျခင္း စသည္ျဖင့္ ဂရုတစိုက္ ျပဳျပင္ေဆာင္ရြက္ၾကရပါမယ္။ ထို႔အျပင္ မိမိတုိ႔အိမ္ရွိ ဘုရားပန္းအုိးမ်ား ေရလဲလွယ္ေပးျခင္း၊ ျခင္ခိုေအာင္းႏိုင္ေသာ ေနရာမ်ားကို ရွင္းလင္းေဆာင္ရြက္ျခင္းတို႔ပါ မက်န္ေအာင္ ျပဳလုပ္ၾကရပါမည္။
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Feature
Motivation in Environment
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Health Care
Healthcare On-the-Go:
BUILDING BETTER
Burmese Healthcare with Dr. Jalin Sama
Yangon native Dr. Jalin Sama has returned to her hometown on a mission: to bring basic, consistent healthcare to Myanmar’s largest city. Dr. Sama tells Balance Magazine about the events, patients, and doctors that have inspired her to improve medical services and treatment for Yangon’s most vulnerable patients.
“We decided to name the mobile clinic Thway Thit, which means ‘new blood.’ We wanted to bring fresh ideas, or new blood, into the already existing health care system.” Dr. Sama
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Necessity is the mother of invention. Although Dr. Jalin Sama opened her first brick-and-mortar health care clinic in Yangon (then Rangoon) in 2005, it wasn’t until the deadly and disastrous Cyclone Nargis hit in May 2008 that Dr. Sama realized she needed to take her clinic on the road. According to official reports, some 138,000 people perished during and in the aftermath of the severe storm, leaving thousands more injured in its wake. Dr. Sama assembled a trained medical team and began visiting injured survivors throughout the Yangon, especially focusing on people in the outskirts of the city. As her check-up visits became routine, she noticed many of the patients she was seeing had chronic issues including asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. This realization was the inspiration for Thway Thit, the mobile clinics that treat patients with limited mobility and/or access to medical care in the greater Yangon region. Thway Thit founders are three fierce female doctors: Dr. Sama, Dr. San San Oo, and Dr. Myint Myint Sein.
“We decided to name the mobile clinic Thway Thit, which means ‘new blood.’ We wanted to bring fresh ideas, or new blood, into the already existing health care system.” Dr. Sama
Dr. Sama, who was educated at The Institute of Medicine I in Rangoon, splits medical practice between Yangon and New York in the United States. What started as a disaster-relief mobile clinic has grown into a full mobile healthcare practice that treats over 350 patients each month and has served over 120,000 patient visits since its inception.The clinic has become entirely mobile, operating out of monasteries in 5 wards of Yangon every Sunday and treats people with chronic illness such as heart disease, pulmonary disease, and diabetes. The mobile clinic is overseen by a senior medical doctor and staffed by local Myanmar doctors. Over 100 local doctors have assisted in the clinic over the years. Dr. Sama and her team believe in holistic healthcare and healthcare capacity-building. The mobile clinic doctors start their clinical sessions with mindfulness activities, meditations, nutrition discussions, and simple cardio and stretching exercises to demonstrate the importance of consistency in creating a healthy lifestyle. Yet, the clinic’s healthcare advocacy does not end there. Dr. Sama and her team are working to increase medical training by offering hands-on procedural training, diagnostic training, and best-practices instruction to Burmese doctors who are interested in advancing their practice. Each year, the team provides a professional development opportunity for a local doctor to attend the annual American College of Physicians conference to further his/her medical education. Dr. Than Win is the mobile clinic’s acting clinic advisor and funds the scholarship program. To find our more information about Thway Thitmobile clinics, visit http://betterburmesehealthcare.org. To help Dr. Sama and her team raise funds, look for the Parasol Project on Facebook in November 2019. This project collaborated with local artists, who create uniquely designed parasols, which are then auctioned off to raise money to continue providing healthcare services via the mobile clinic.
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Events
From fan parties, Fuse fests, to fashion shows Balance features a who’s who lineup of fantastic events.
FUSE 2.0 & BOX Back to Retro Night 21 June 2019, Yangon
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17May2019 at The Radio Bar, YangonÂ
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Sakura Dreams
Autumn/Winter 2019 Collection Fashion Show 5 June 2019, Sruti Dalmia at SEEDS Restaurant and Lounge, Yangon
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