The Daily Check-In 1.2

“When blended, soaked raw buckwheat groats become incredibly thick and creamy,” says New York City-based recipe developer Julia Gartland, who suggests playing around with the toppings. Almond butter adds protein while cacao powder gives the dish a tart, chocolatey flavor and flavonoids, a substance that has been shown to fight inflammation.

“I noticed a big difference in how comfortable it was to work out wearing a mask over my first month back [in the club],” says Leslie Tucker, a Tier 3+ trainer at Lincoln Park in Chicago. She started taking quick breaks to focus on sending breath to her belly, instead of her chest and shoulders, whenever she needs to reset. She’s found she needs those breaks less frequently as time goes on. “Focusing on my breathing helped me gain endurance and preserve energy, ultimately meeting a benchmark of 100 snatches in under five minutes, even with a mask on.” Learn more about The Equinox Standard and get our expert intel on working out while wearing a mask here.

Start 2021 with a fresh set of reads published this month. Here, our non-fiction picks, which include a memoir by Diane Keaton, Joan Didion’s latest, and a deep-dive on social chemistry:

1. Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food

2. Exercised

3. Social Chemistry

4. Brother & Sister

5. Let Me Tell You What I Mean