id169430810233317

supplier accountmagazinefeatures

file nameFI1308-FI0813P112.jpg

titleCompression wear for beginners.

subject date15-03-2021

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captionCO MP R E S S I O N WE AR WORDS STYLING ALISSA THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY RODNEY MACUJA for beginners What is it? Have you seen those small, graded boxes printed with pictures of athletes in sensational poses of strength and endurance in the clothing section of your local sports store? You know, those serious-looking tights that, once unpacked, look like shiny thermals small enough to make you think you’ve picked up children’s wear? Yes? Well, this is compression wear. What does it do? For the novice compressor, it may seem strange to purchase a garment designed to fi t you tighter than a pair of deep vein thrombosis socks. And funny we should mention that, because it works in much the same way. Compression garments, or performance wear, are made from a super-stretchy nylon/spandex fabric (sometimes laced with contour stitching, padded panels or silicone taping) designed to fi t snugly so that your muscles are kept warm from start to fi nish during a workout. Just like those attractive long-haul plane tights that work so well, when muscles are kept warm, blood keeps moving, and cramps, injuries and clots are much less likely. This in turn helps to prevent muscle injury and increase overall performance. DI D YO U KNOW? Compression garments have been shown to help increase ver tical jump height and power. Per fec t for basketball or volleyball! No longer relegated to hugging the thighs of footy players and sprinters, compression clothing (a.k .a. performance wear) is now more relevant and benefi cial for the ever yday exerciser Is it only for the hardcore? Absolutely not. And in any case, the minute you wriggle into your fi rst pair of these wearable overachievers, you’ll feel as fast as Usain Bolt anyway. It’s important, especially in winter, that you keep your muscles warm no matter how often you exercise, and the warmer they are, the quicker you’ll be run-ready and so you’ll be able to get the most out of your workout. The other excellent benefi t is they’re

id169430810233318

supplier accountmagazinefeatures

file nameFI1308-FI0813P113.jpg

titleCompression wear for beginners.

subject date15-03-2021

place

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captionLook t 113 WORDS STYLING ALISSA THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY RODNEY MACUJA “I started wearing compression tights when I was training for a half marathon and was gobsmacked (really!) by how much they cut down on my post-run soreness. I try to wear them for as long as possible after training, but also secretly love how tight they are. As soon as I put them on, I feel totally switched on and motivated.”Madeleine, 27, Brisbane “I used to compete in half marathons all the time and I always wore compression garments. I now can’t even remember what it was like running without them! I felt that they really improved my blood fl ow during competition and then sped up my recovery time.”Natasha, 32, Sydney “I’ve exercised in compression gear for a long time now, ever since it was recommended to me years ago. I’m loving them all over again now that I’m in post-baby workout mode. They help me train longer and harder and I get much less muscle pain afterwards.”Julia, 29, Sydney TRIED AND TESTED Keen to see what all the fuss was about, these girls set aside their tights-in-public fear to become performance-wear converts Our picks Ready to climb in? Here are some of our performance-wear favourites: 1 Puma ‘CR Tech ACTV’ leggings, $160 2 2XU ‘Base’ compression top, $110 3 CW-X ‘Ventilator’ tri top, $129 4 Skins ‘A200’ compression top, $99.99, from The Iconic 5 2XU compression tights, $135 loves 123 4 5 CW-X ‘Stability’ leggings, $149 “They’re so tight and lightweight that you feel like you may have left them o by mistake and are running around in your undies! But once you get used to that half-naked feeling, they’re actually pretty amazing. Usually after a morning CrossFit session, the next two days are spent hobbling around from very sore legs but, with the compression tights, my legs are only sore for half a day – a massive improvement. They’re defi nitely worth it.” Emma, Women’s Fitness art director FI0813_ Look fit - Compressio