Last weekend, Nike partnered with Sport Chek to bring the Brahaus pop-up to Yorkdale Mall in Toronto. I had a chance to learn about the new bras in the collection and learned that while the sport bras are divided into low-, medium- and high-impact categories (with sports slotted into each one — Pilates would be under light impact and running under high impact), your personal preference and the comfort and support you feel should be what ultimately determines the sport bra you wear. For example, if a medium or even light impact bra feels supportive enough for you for running, you can go ahead and rock that one. Besides actual construction and design elements of the sport bras, the level of elasticity of the fabric content also varies.
To more about the new Nike sports bras, check out my post over at iRun; this is the Nike Pro Indy Logo bra I have on here.
Besides learning about the new bras and the other fun they had planned for the Brahaus, I also sat down with Master Trainer Eva Redpath to talk about my marathon training. To complement my training for Chicago, she recommended I take advantage of the new expanded yoga offering on the NTC app. There are currently nine yoga workouts (Nike consulted with both yogis and three Nike Master Trainers) with more to come and they range from ones that focus on mobility (concentrating on recharging the body), endurance (where the focus is strength and holding poses for a long time, and flows that will build heat and make you sweat) and restorative.
Eva knows I have no problem getting my miles in but that I slack on the restorative part of my training. She recommended two of the yoga workouts for me on my non-run days: Deep Restorative Yoga and Ultimate Strength Yoga (which was created by Traci Copeland, a runner herself). Like the other NTC workouts, you get a preview of each movement, and the app is designed so that you can follow along like you would with a yoga teacher in a class by having them lead you through without a visual.
One of Eva’s aspects of the yoga workouts is the diaphragmatic breathing (there is at least two minutes of breathing at the beginning of each workout), to help you tap into your central nervous system’s fight or flight response and help manage that; she noted that anxiety could happen mid-race and deep breaths can help me get that response under control.
This training season, I’ve upped the frequency of my training, so I’m finding timing pretty limited in my schedule but I hope to incorporate at least one yoga workout a week, so I’m looking forward to trying out these new NTC yoga workouts. Given my limited time in my schedule, I do appreciate the ease of working out at home, with zero commute-to-a-yoga-studio time , and I’ve always found the NTC app to be super well designed and motivating so will soon namaste with Nike.
How ’bout you? How’s your training going?
August 4, 2017
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES. Congratulations to Damian O., the winner of the Sport Chek giftcard of $200! (Damian, please check your Facebook messages for more details about your prize, enjoy!)
Game buzz ring, are you listening?
Is that not how the Christmas carol goes? Because I don’t think it’d be the holidays without including the #giftofsport!
Whether you know a fitness fiend or someone with the goal of getting strong and healthy in 2016, a gift of sport from Sport Chek is always a good idea. The right apparel or equipment is essential not only to make sure you’ve got the proper form and are safe, for example, but it can help motivate you to getting your workouts done. And even more special about the gift of sport this holiday season is when you consider how much winter is tied into living in Canada and how sport and fitness give us all the chance to connect with family and friends and make the most of the cold and snow and ice. From hockey and skiing to running and snowboarding, yes! Winter isn’t time to hibernate for us hardy Canucks; the cold weather gives us a chance to get closer to one another (even if only to stay warm, brrrr).
Because the gift of sport is not just the tangible goods, say, the right pair of footwear or the necessarysports equipment. It’s actually the gift of becoming better, fitter, faster, healthier, happier, and of camaraderie — all of those good things that come with being active. It’s not just high-tech apparel, but a gift that helps each of us reach a new potential.
I had the chance a few weeks ago to tour the brand new Sport Chek store in Yorkdale Shopping Centre, and it’s all that and then some. As soon as you walk through the soaring oval entrance, there’s an interactive display where you can learn about fitness classes or events in the city, or find out more about the friendly staff (there’s some cheerful, welcoming knowledgeable staff here, such a nice change from this city’s lacklustre customer service). And throughout the space, there are screens featuring athletes or just wicked cool displays that make a pair of sneakers a work of art.
But it’s not all just fun; there’s a ton of opps for learning and improving yourself. Head into this store to get your gait analysed or you can test out your golf swing. Over in the ski and snowboard section, there’s a wall size display that’s interactive; simply stand in front of the huge screen and scroll and point to learn about the products so you can narrow down your choices. Need to rest your shopping-weary feet or just waiting for one of the Sportchek services to be completed? There’s a lounge area where you can grab a seat and make use of these interactive displays to gain knowledge and get inspired more.
Honestly, you walk in here and you can’t help but feel motivated to get your fitness on. Surrounded by the top athletic brands, the store got me raring to go for winter running and a few ski trips I have in store this winter.
And because I want you to be just as inspired to get healthy and fit this winter season, I’ve partnered with Sport Chek to give away a $200 Sport Chek giftcard. Which you could keep for yourself, or give to a loved one!
How to enter? This giveaway is open to Canadian residents, and you can enter in four different ways (each way counts as one entry, so go ahead and enter in all four methods!):
1. Email me at healthandswellness@gmail.com with your name and mailing address (it just makes it quicker for us to send you the prize if you provide me with your address off the bat). Please put “Sport Chek” in the subject line.
2. Twitter: Follow me on Twitter (@healthswellness) and tweet:
I want to #sweatforthis with the #giftofsport by winning this @sportchek $200 giftcard from @healthswellness. http://bit.ly/1PjEhxW
3. Like the Health and Swellness PAGE on Facebook (at the top of the page) and then leave a comment on the specific photo about this Sport Chek giveaway — tell me what your favourite workout or sport is.
4. Instagram: Follow me on Instagram (@healthandswellness) and in the photo for this giveaway, tag a friend who loves fitness and sport as much as you do.
The giftcard is valued at $200 and the giveaway will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, December 28, 2015. Please note that this giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. The winner will be chosen at random. If I cannot reach the winner within five days, another winner will be selected. The winner’s name will be announced on the blog once confirmed with the prize winner.
Good luck! Here’s to keeping fit this season with the gift of sport!
(sponsored)
December 21, 2015
