by Maureen St. Germain
Does it really matter what we wear to exercise?
As Bridget Wilson, founder of Native Barre Studios and she will shout out, “YES”! And here is why!
We all want to look great and feel great so why is what we wear to exercise in so important? Aren’t we exercising to look good in our “real clothes?”
While the previous statement is true, the fitness and athleisure industry has exploded in the past 5 years. We used to wear old free t-shirts from 5Ks and faded gym shorts to exercise in but now fitness gear is as fashionable and can say as much about you as the LBD you own. We all know this is true, we end up in our workout clothes for much longer than just class!
So why does it matter what we wear? There is the old adage, “Look good, feel good” which is true. If you are wearing a baggy shirt and oversized sweatpants, chances are you don’t feel so great…because there is no incentive to feel great.
You hear the Native Barre instructors say it all the time, lift your chest, bellies in, grip your glutes. When you have leggings and form fitting shirt, I guarantee you are going to want to make sure you are standing up tall and pulling that belly in…none of us want the muffin top that is so easily hidden under baggy clothes!
Then when you start to focus on your form physical changes really start to happen. You get stronger, your chest starts to lift without you thinking about it as much, your abs stay in because your stomach muscles are able to hold them in and since your stomach muscles are held in, you notice your low back doesn’t hurt quite so much. All our bones, all our muscles are connected and we only get 1 body so we each have a job to use our body to its fullest potential.
Some days you may find this easier than others. When the sun is shining and the temperature is mild, going for a walk or doing some yard work is easy. Other days when the wind is whipping and the sky is grey, it is easier to stay inside BUT that is when we need to preserve and get active! This is when these fabulous clothes come into play and can be lifesavers! Who doesn’t feel good when they have a snazzy outfit on? We all know the answer to this! We all do.
The holiday season is upon us. It is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends but it can also be overwhelming. If you think you need help to stay on track, you might be surprised how that new top or fun leggings can help to motivate you! After all, how can we take care of others if we don’t take care of ourselves!