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    Under Armour Flexes On The Launch Of Its Most Versatile Trainer Yet!

    Introducing the UA Flow Dynamic, Under Armour’s newest and most versatile training shoe yet. With the perfect combination of bounce, cushioning, support, and grip, this shoe is a game-changer for athletes looking to tackle any workout with ease and agility.

    When Apollo Brands PTY LTD (official distributor of Under Armour in South Africa) launches a new trainer, you can expect technology to be at its very core.

    The new UA Flex To Flow, dropping in stores nationwide on 23 February 2023, is lightweight and durable, with cushioning that provides a comfortably snug fit, making it the perfect go-to trainer for any sports activity at any level of training. It provides the ideal structure and support in all the right places while also assisting with the natural flex of your foot.

    READ MORE: Get Outside Stay Outside This Summer With The New Under Armour SUMMERIZED Collection

    Built using Under Armour’s signature Warp technology, the UA Flex To Flow works in unison with the foot to support you during each stride. It perfectly moulds to the foot for increased performance as your feet move through your workout regime.

    Whether it’s HIIT training, cross fit, boot camp, or even pilates, its versatility is wherein the technology lies. The UA Flex To Flow provides excellent energy return, incredible consistency and dependable durability, which will keep you reaching for your new favourite pair.

    The breathable fabric allows cool air to circulate while allowing humid air to escape. The upper is finished with a lacing system that secures the mid-foot for distraction-free strides.

    UA Flow Dynamic Training Shoes

    A perfect blend of stability & mobility

    You’re not training for just one thing over the course of a day, a week, or a season. You’re training to do it all. Your schedule is demanding, dynamic, and it moves fast—so you need to be ready for anything.

    Tech Specs

    Light & comfortable; UA Intelliknit upper is stretchy, supportive and breathable

    UA Flow technology outsole creates a lightweight feel with increased ground traction on any surface

    Push heel collar for step-in comfort and a locked fit

    Internal shank for support during explosive movements

    Where Can I Get A Pair?

    The new UA Flex To Flow will be available in both men and women sizes with a recommended retail price of R2 999, and will be available in stores and online.

    Complete The Look:

    UA Journey Terry Hoodie

    UA RUSH™ Seamless Short Sleeve

    UA Infinity Mid-Covered Sports Bra More

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    Get A Perfect Look Around The Clock With The vívomove® Trend Hybrid Smartwatch

    The Garmin vívomove® Trend hybrid smartwatch gives you a classic analog style and essential smart features such as notifications on your compatible smartphone and Garmin Pay™ contactless payments. Real watch hands move to reveal a hidden touchscreen display. Live better with a full suite of health and wellness tools. This includes Body Battery™ energy monitoring, heart rate monitoring, sleep score and more. The data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked.

    READ MORE: The New Garmin Forerunner 255 Series Is A Perfect Match For Racing Addicts

    Stylish 40 mm hybrid smartwatch with a sophisticated analog look, a stainless steel bezel and smart features

    Battery life lasts up to 5 days in smart mode and up to one additional day in watch mode.

    Behind analog-style hands, you’ll find a full-dial touchscreen display. It reacts to your movements and is visible only when you need it

    Stay connected with smart notifications for incoming calls, text messages, calendar view and more when paired with your Apple® or Android™ smartphone

    Know your body better with a full suite of health monitoring features. This includes continuous heart rate sampling, Body Battery™ energy levels, Pulse Ox, sleep score, stress tracking, women’s health tracking and more. This is not a medical device. The data presented is intended to be a close estimation of the metrics tracked. Pulse Ox not available in all countries

    Breeze through checkout lines and select transit systems with Garmin Pay™ contactless payment solution (with a supported payment card)

    Get insights into your everyday fitness; including tracking your steps, floors climbed, calories and intensity minutes. Data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked

    Connects with your paired smartphone’s GPS to track outdoor walk, run or bike activities. Includes additional activity profiles such as yoga, strength, cardio and more

    Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during outdoor walks, runs and bike rides) and Assistance. Both of which send messages with your live location to emergency contacts. (with a compatible smartphone; should not be relied on as a primary method to obtain emergency assistance)

    Enhance your style with a stainless steel bezel available in colours to suit every taste and preference

    Effortlessly change your look with 20 mm industry standard quick-release watch bands (sold separately)

    Enjoy the convenience of wireless charging with most Qi-certified charging pads. Sold separately; may not be compatible with upright charging stands or wireless chargers built into vehicles

    So where can I get one?

    Shop this smartwatch here for that classic analog style with wellness tools. More

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    Get Outside Stay Outside This Summer With The New Under Armour SUMMERIZED Collection

    South Africa’s fitness scene is buzzing with activity and regardless of whether you run to train, do yoga, or train at the gym, you want your gear to be comfortable to not only elevate your training but help you reach those fitness goals this summer. Under Armour has you covered with their new SUMMERIZED collection. The scorching hot days need to be taken into account and the new Under Armour range does just that with these summer fitness essential items from the Under Armour SUMMERIZED collection.

    UA Infinity Mid High Neck Shine Sports Bra R999

    Those in search of the best sports bra to workout or run in this summer will be happy to discover the Infinity Neck Shone Sports Bra.

    Under Armour has created a winner by throwing out traditional construction rules and injecting padding in a figure-8 pattern for a more aerodynamic fit and a much lighter feel that actually works with your body’s natural movement instead of against it. Testing in a variety of different sports; so we could put the sports bra through its paces with actions that would necessitate support structures across variable axis of movements; left testers with the confidence and comfort to give this item the thumbs up for the summer season.

    Soft straps rounding the shoulders and over the back feel firm but not uncomfortable against the skin, even when adjusted to a tight fit. This is such an important aspect of choosing a bra. You can get those that rigorously hold everything in place, but it’s often at the expense of comfort. That is not the case here where the design attaches the straps to a wide band so that the forces needed for a firm secure fit are distributed over a greater surface area. The result is the fit lacks that restrictive squeezing effect and leaves you with a piece of workout gear that feels like a natural part of the whole outfit. 

    UA Mesh Tank R449

    Have you tried Padel yet? A great new sport in SA that is growing phenomenally quickly and the perfect way to get your heart rate up with friends. For a sport like Padel, a versatile top to move comfortably in is essential this summer. While bashing it about in inter-staff sessions on the court, we found the lightweight, smooth HeatGear fabric of this mesh is ultra-comfortable.

    A big part of the high-quality fabric is that the 4-way stretch material moves in every direction – as it does with this tank, while the strategic mesh panels provide breathability where you need it. Social summers mean things to do and places to go after your workout, and when you’re done moving you can rest assured this top dries quickly…testers were surprised at how fresh you can feel after working out and happily went on with the day wearing the same good looking gear.  

    UA Ankle Leg R999

    Attention to detail makes such a difference to your comfort and translates to great performance. Under Armour has identified waistbands slipping are the #1 pain point in tights. That results in constant adjusting, tweaking and tugging at your tights. It’s not a good look. That’s why Under Armour designed these tights to lock in while you’re in motion. The specific panelling will hold the fit no matter how explosive your next move. The multi-panelled design and thick waistband at the top help lock everything in place for a distraction-free workout: No pulling, tugging or readjusting. Ever.

    Our testers are committed to living a life packed with activities and often need to stay in touch with the world while working out. That’s why another detail we appreciated is the large pocket on the side of the thigh to accommodate the smartphone. This way you can measure the metrics of your workout, be in touch with your messages, listen to music or share your experience with a pic or two by having your smartphone close by.

    The new SUMMERIZED collection will be available from January 2023 at Under Armour Brand House stores nationwide as well as online: www.underarmour.co.za

    *In Partnership with Under Armour More

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    Find A New Way To Move With This GPS Smartwatch

    With up to 11 days of battery life, you won’t have to take off your watch every night to charge it, which means a more complete 24/7 picture of your health.
    With this Fitness aligned smartwatch you get heart rate, sleep score, stress tracking, Body Battery™ energy levels and a lot more. The watch comes with 25 preloaded sports apps for indoor or outdoor activities, you can try something new, including running, cardio, strength, HIIT and more.  
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    Many of us choose to exercise between our work day or other commitments so thankfully you need never miss a call or text as smart notifications are delivered to your wrist when paired to your Apple® or Android™ smartphone.
    Look and Feel
    The Venu Sq 2 smartwatch has a sleek design that’s suited for every outfit and every part of your day. Its bright AMOLED display and optional always-on mode mean you can see everything with a quick glance. From a durable Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens to the lightweight aluminum bezel and comfortable silicone band, this smartwatch was made to keep up with your lifestyle.
    Stress, Menstrual Cycle and Breathing
    You can track your menstrual cycle or pregnancy. Log symptoms, get exercise and nutrition education. Even see and log details on your wrist with the Women’s Health Tracking app. Find out if you’re having a calm, balanced or stressful day with continuous tracking. Relax reminders will even prompt you to do a short breathing activity when the watch detects stress and will then assist you to relax or focus with breath work activity while tracking your stress and respiration to help you get a better understanding of how you’re breathing.
    If you are looking for some insight and guidance to integrate your watch into a schedule to get fit, fast, strong and healthy, you can dive into the free workouts, running schedules and training plans, all complimented by a Garmin virtual coach.
    Buy the Garmin Venu Sq 2 HERE
    *In Partnership with Garmin More

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    Body20 Review: A Technology-Fuelled Fitness Experience Like No Other

    “To break down the finer details of Electro Muscular Stimulation (EMS) in words would be to try to explain what a contraction is to someone who’s never given birth before,” I thought to myself as I reflected post-training. I know, not the cutest analogy [chuckles].
    Days leading up to my first-ever EMS training at Body20 Kyalami, I fought the urge to read up too much on what the session would entail. I wanted to arrive with no expectations, and leave enough room to be surprised. 
    The ExperienceThree things immediately stood out about Body20. The studio is intimate — perfect if, just like me, you find conventional gym settings intimidating. A personal trainer comes standard with every package, meaning there’ll be someone on hand to ‘gently’ nudge you when your body begs you to drop the ball. Lastly, each session takes up to 20 minutes — YAY to a full body workout in minimal time! 
    Following a quick tour of the cosy premises, and some standard paperwork, I changed out of my regular gym ’fit then stepped onto the InBody Assessment scale. It’s basically a biometric analysis of your weight, body composition, height and BMI that gives valuable insights into your health and wellness before each session. The results also help your trainer map out a workout plan that aligns perfectly with your fitness goals. 

    What To Expect
    Then came time to be strapped into a thoroughly sanitised, and wet EMS suit. The damper the skin, the stronger the connection to your muscles, shared my trainer. “Is this your first time? Don’t worry, you won’t get electrocuted,” offers a Body20 client who’d just wrapped up their session, perhaps reading the uncertainty on my face. Still, I proceeded with an open mind. 
    After the suit and straps had been connected to my body, then came time to plug into the booster machine and run a quick test. The impulse moves through whatever targeted muscles with an intensity that can be likened to being woken up with cold water on your face! Another silly analogy [chuckles]. As I carefully followed the trainer’s instructions, pushing against the strong impulse with each move, I couldn’t help but think: “I would still choose EMS training over treadmills and lifting weights.” 
    So, it’s no lie when they say: one EMS workout is the equivalent of four hours at the gym. Though the training is intense, it’s certainly not unbearable — even for someone with an inconsistent fitness regimen like myself. Lastly, a session of thorough stretching at home afterwards won’t leave you with week-long aches and pains. 

    More On Body20
    Below are some FAQs that will help make your Body20 experience easy-peasy! 
    Does EMS training hurt?In short, no. A certain level of intensity needs to be applied for conventional gym training to be effective, right? EMS is pretty much the same. While the 20-minute sessions can be described as gruelling or intense, they are by no means unbearable. Remember this: To reach your body goals, you have to push past that point of comfort!
    Is it a legitimate workout? Absolutely! EMS is by far the most time-efficient and effective workout out there. No other form of training (running, weightlifting, swimming, CrossFit etc.) can achieve the same results within, just, 20 to 40 minutes weekly. Whether you’re a time-strapped professional looking to save yourself some hours or a recreational/professional athlete looking to enhance your performance, Body20’s Progressive EMS training programmes are tailored to your fitness aspirations. 
    Should I supplement EMS with conventional exercise? It all depends on your fitness goals. It’s totally realistic to see good results from it. Many people sign up with Body20 because they are overwhelmed by conventional gym environments, or their lifestyle is just not conducive, time wise, for much exercise — hence the recommended one to two 20-minute sessions a week are ideal. 
    To reach your body goals, you have to push past that point of comfort!
    When can I expect to see results?Generally speaking, you will notice the effects within the first month. A Body20 trainer will track your body composition — muscle, fat, water and minerals — using state-of-the-art Inbody Assessments.  Regular fitness tests are implemented to highlight physical performance improvements, and all this info is kept in your personal file. As part of the membership perks, Body20 offers a Nutrition Doctor service run by registered dieticians, to help clients introduce the necessary nutritional changes to their lifestyles.
    Is EMS safe?Totally! EMS has been used in therapy for decades, and as a training method in Germany since 2007. There are over 3000 operational EMS studios in Germany alone, which has some of the strictest health and safety regulations in the world. There are no long-term identified side effects other than improved physical health and well-being, and all regulations are adhered to. Clients are required to complete a mandatory health and fitness profile at the start of their memberships. This helps Body20 trainers identify any possible contraindications and acquire medical approval if necessary. 
    Is EMS expensive?All memberships are inclusive of the EMS technology-driven training, tailored one-on-one personal training in each session, Nutrition Doctor services, Inbody body composition assessments, and ongoing results tracking and regular feedback. 
    For sign up details and more info, visit www.body20.co.za

    READ MORE ON: Body20 Electro Muscular Stimulation EMS Fitness More

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    Finally! Sports Bras That Don’t Feel Like Freaking Straitjackets

    Recently, it’s been great to see active-wear brands starting to release more plus-size sports bras. But the options haven’t always been a bra buffet.
    “One of my biggest frustrations with sports bras, especially for plus-size bodies, is that there’s a lot of structure to them,” says yoga teacher, author, influencer and body positivity advocate Jessamyn Stanley. “It’s always assumed that we have very large breasts and so there’ll be a lot of boning and structure… but for a yoga practitioner, it’s very nice to wear something that is soft and malleable and really just moves with your body.”
    Your Sports Bra Should Match Your Sport
    She’s on to something – and it’s not limited to the world of plus-size sports bras. Prof Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, a professor of Biomechanics and the biomechanics field leader and head of the Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth, says there’s a reason why all sports bras aren’t created high impact. “In studio activities, for example, you might want more flexibility because of the activities that you’re performing. And lying on your back, you might not want a big hook-and-eye fastener – it might be uncomfortable. I really believe that there are different solutions for different activities and that hasn’t necessarily been articulated well in the sports bra market previously.”
    Sports Bras For Every Occasion
    Prof Wakefield-Scurr and her team worked with adidas on their new Bra Collection, which features a whopping 43 different styles that are globally available in a range of sizes (including plus-size sports bras) across four different categories: Run, Train, Studio and Everyday. It includes bras for breasts of all sizes – and even ones that can be adjusted to fit breasts of different sizes. “What I would encourage women to look for – and there’re lots of examples of this in the adidas range – is bras with adjustability,” she says. “Personally, I would always select a bra that has adjustment in it – in the shoulder straps and in the underband.” 
    Tried & Tested
    As an adidas ambassador, Jessamyn got to meet with the design team working on their latest bra collection. “It was really cool to share all my favourite pieces and also pieces that I do not like and explain why,” she says. She was also one of the first women to get her hands on the new range. Her verdict? “They heard me,” she says. “It’s nice to have a bra that’s not so structured and the range has options for everybody – not just for any one, particular activity and not just for any one, particular body type. It’s really inclusive for all.” For Jessamyn, having access to a range of plus-size sports bras is empowering. “We’re conquering the world,” she says. “We’re getting to a place where health and wellness are not sequestered to just one type of person; where it’s something that all human beings can and should prioritise in their lives and it feels really cool to be a part of that evolution.”
    Shop the adidas sports bra range online or book a free bra fitting at your nearest adidas concept store.
    For more information, follow the @adidasZA #SupportIsEverything conversation on Instagram.
     

    READ MORE ON: adidas Plus-size sports bras Sports bras More