The Ultimate Guide to Yoga At Home

Doing yoga at home has a multitude of mental and physical benefits for your body and mind.

That’s not to mention just how practical and easy-to-do the workouts are from the safe and comfortable confines of your house.

Intersport Elverys is going to make that even easier for you.

Our expert staff member and qualified yoga instructor, Roberta Harrington of @bobbybyrobertaharr, is going to take you through everything you need to know about starting your yoga at home journey.

Check out her free YouTube class focusing on Sports Yoga for Performance and Recover HERE. 

This blog will cover all the basics you need to know about doing yoga at home: What you need; types of yoga; correct breathing; and where you can find some great routines- G to get you started.

Roberta will also have some more detailed yoga content and workouts here, like some of the Basic Yoga Poses for Beginners. 

Take it away, Roberta!

yoga at home

 

What is yoga?

“So, yoga is a spiritual based practice which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body.

“It’s a combination of asanas (or postures) and breathwork, and it allows an individual to relax their mind, become fitter and more flexible, increase strength, to tone, improve breathing and much more.”

Doing yoga at home

“I would recommend just keeping it simple, especially if you’re a beginner and just testing the waters!

“All you need is a yoga mat – no need for an expensive one until you know you’re enjoying what you’re doing – and then some comfortable and breathable clothing and a quiet space to practice.

“Make sure you declutter the space and feel free to light some candles, dim the lights and put on some relaxing music to make the space your own. There are some great yoga playlists on Spotify too.

yoga at home

“If you are just starting out with yoga and have had a recent injury, mat thickness can make a real difference. For example, I had an ALC injury in the past and after the surgery I found that my right knee was very sensitive, due to the use of a thin mat. It made it almost impossible to hold or to enjoy postures like low lunge for example.

“Thicker mats provide more cushioning for sensitive areas of the body, so keep that in mind when you are choosing your mat. Some props can also be very beneficial for those recovering from injury like yoga blocks for hamstring injuries or yoga straps for shoulder injuries. Props are equally as useful for beginners too.”

 Benefits of doing yoga at home

“Sometimes heading to a yoga studio can feel like a daunting prospect for beginners, whereas home is generally a space safe for every individual, meaning it is a great place to start your yoga journey until you build confidence and focus on getting the basics rights.

“There is an amazing selection of yoga classes and courses available on YouTube and Instagram now which means that you can save money and take classes on your own schedule, instead of running and racing to make a live class. Having the option to choose from a wide range of instructors is always a huge benefit too, meaning that you can change styles and intensities as you please.

“Personally, however, as a teacher I would say that I crave that studio space because you can really feed off the energy of the people around you. And for beginners, you can see all the different progressions within the class.

“So there’s benefits to both.”

How to breath correctly in yoga

“We look for deep belly breathing in yoga, also known as diaphragmatic breathing and abdominal breathing, which is bringing the breath deep down into the belly, moving beyond shallow chest breathing.

“This is a very calming style of breathing and is especially beneficial for stress reduction.

“It helps to increase oxygen intake and lung capacity, which is crucial for fitness and athletes.

yoga at home

“This  can be practiced on its own, or as a warm up or as a cool down breathing exercise in yoga.

“Follow these steps:”

  • Sit or lie in a comfortable seated position and relax your shoulders
  • Place one hand one your belly and another on your chest. Close your eyes if you wish
  • Take a deep breath through your nose, moving the breath into your abdomen and feeling your belly expand. The chest should see little to no movement
  • Purse your lips (as if drinking through a straw), press gently on your stomach and exhale slowly
  • Repeat these steps several times

Ujjayi Breath

“This is a really popular breathing technique in yoga. It helps improve concentration, quietens the mind and releases tension in the body. Inhalation and exhalation are done through the nose.”

  • Keep your mouth closed
  • Constrict your throat to the point that your breathing makes a tidal wave sound, or like waves meeting the shore
  • Control your breath with your diaphragm
  • Keep your inhalations and exhalations equal in duration

Different types of yoga

“There are lots of different types of yoga, so enjoy the process of finding your style!

“I’ll take you through some of the main styles now.”

Hatha yoga

“A style of yoga where we hold postures for 3-5 breaths. The class may be full body focused or it may be centred about a particular charka or body area for example. Some instructors will take you through breathing techniques in a class too.

“Hatha is typically practiced more slowly, with more static posture holds than a Vinyasa flow or Ashtanga class for example. The teacher may include mantras, visualisations, hand gestures and cleansing techniques as part of the class.  Sports yoga is hatha based.”

Vinyasa yoga

“Vinyasa is often seen as the most athletic or dynamic style of yoga. Movement is performed with the breath. We often say, ‘one breath, one movement’. It is a creative style of yoga where generally no two classes are the same. It is a great style to improve fitness levels, build strength and to tone.”

Power yoga

“A fast-paced style of yoga that’s focused on building strength and endurance… although it requires mindfulness and focus on your breathing, power yoga is more dynamic than meditative forms of yoga and provides a good cardio and strength-training workout.

“You will sure to sweat lots!”

Yoga Nidra

“Yoga Nidra is a form of guided meditation also known as ‘yogic sleep’ or ‘effortless relaxation’.

“It’s usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. The practice draws our attention inwards, and we learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep, where our body finds its natural state of equilibrium (homeostasis) – the breath balances and becomes quiet, unconscious and conscious aspects of the mind reveal themselves, and we fall into an innate state of deep, blissful awareness.” This is a great style of yoga to practice if you struggle to fall asleep or if you have poor overall sleep quality.”

Ashtanga

“Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a physically demanding style of yoga.

“Students follow a set sequence of postures each time, gradually progressing through the series. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga emphasises the linking of movement and breath (vinyasa), Ujjayi breathing and bandhas (energy blocks).”

Bikram/Hot

“This is named after Bikram Choudhury and features a sequence of set poses in a sauna-like room. The sequence involves 26 basic postures, with each one performed twice. There is a strong focus on alignment in this style.

“Be prepared to sweat – LOTS!”

Hot yoga

“This is a vigorous form of yoga performed in a very warm and humid studio. There are many different types of hot yoga classes.”

Yin Yoga

“This targets your deep connective tissues.

“It’s slower and more meditative, giving you space to turn inward and tune into both your mind and the physical sensations of your body.

“Because you’re holding poses for a longer period of time than you would in other traditional types of yoga, yin yoga helps you stretch and lengthen those rarely-used tissues while also teaching you how to breathe through discomfort and sit with your thoughts.

“Through deep poses, we can open up any blockages and allow energy to flow freely through the body.”

Restorative

“This encourages physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Appropriate for all levels, restorative yoga is practiced at a slow pace, focusing on long holds, stillness and deep breathing.

“Unlike more active yoga styles such as vinyasa or Bikram, you can expect to hold a pose for 5 minutes or more, only performing a handful of poses in one restorative yoga session.”

Where to find lessons?

“You will find lots of free yoga classes over on my Instagram @bobbybyrobertaharr.

“Feel free to get in touch with any content ideas you have or what you would like to see.

“But there’s so much out there at the minute. Even if you just look up the various types of yoga on YouTube or Instagram or search on IG via hashtags – you can find a wide variety of content.”

 Conclusion

So there you have it.

If Roberta has inspired you to start your yoga journey, then check out our training range here or below to help you get started.
If not, well there’s plenty more content coming to change your mind

yoga at home


Basic Yoga Poses for Beginners: Postures Everyone Needs to Know

If you’re here, we take it you’re interested in learning a bit more about the basic yoga poses?

Right?

Our expert staff member, qualified yoga instructor Roberta Harrington, is going to take you into more detail on her five favourite basic yoga postures – see more here in this video.

She will also give her advice on some yoga myths and also what yoga is best for weight loss.

It’s worth reading!

Before you begin, you might want to check out Roberta’s Ultimate Guide to Yoga at Home. 

basic yoga poses

Before you get stuck into these poses, why not give our Ultimate Guide to Yoga at Home blog a read?

If you’re not a beginner, why not check out our Sports Yoga for Performance and Recovery class? 

Basic Yoga Poses

“Today I will take you through basic yoga postures that will get you started on your yoga journey. These postures will help improve your flexibility, mobility and will of course works towards advance your overall physical and mental health.”

Easy Pose

“This is a great posture to learn just to meditate in or to slow down your breathing. Take a criss-cross position with the legs, allow the knees to fall out naturally left and right, and the most important thing here is that we lift up through the crown of the head, draw the shoulders back and down and really try to elongate that back and spine.

“Take the hands to the outside to the knees or to prayer at heart centre, when you’re feeling ready go ahead and close down the eyes. We’re simply going to work towards slowing down our breath here, keeping that breath slow, breathing in through the nose and exhaling through the nose.”

Cat & Cow

“Take yourself to a table top position, or all fours, stacking the hands beneath the shoulders and knees hip distance apart, toes untucked at the back. As you inhale drop the belly down, turn your tailbone up and lift your gaze straight ahead for cow pose.

basic yoga poses

“And as you exhale press down through the palm of your hands and begin to wind up with your spine, tuck your pelvis under, your chin to your chest for cat pose. Exhaling finding cat, inhaling finding cow.”

Wide Childs Pose

“Take your big toes to touch at the back, take your knees a little wider than hip width and begin to walk your hands forward reaching through the finger tips and reach your forehead down towards the mat. Find a slow and steady breath and close down the eyes.”

Low Lunge pose

“Step your right foot ahead, stack the knee over the ankle. Lift up through the torso reaching up through the crown of the head and draw the shoulders back. Option to take hands to prayer at heart centre or to reach u either side of the head, I want you to push nice and deep into that right knee at the front.”

basic yoga poses

Tree pose

“This is a really good grounding and balancing posture. So to get here I want you to shift your weight into your left foot and place the sole of your right foot into the inside of your left calf and create that triangular looking shape with the right knee.

“Go ahead and draw in the belly button so activating the core, take hands to prayer at heart centre or go ahead and reach up all the way overhead. Focus on a point in front of you or what we like to call a Drishti, and this will help you to stay balanced.”

Yoga Myths

“People thing they’re too inflexible for yoga and I always laugh at this because is that not the reason you’re doing it – to improve? It’s like practicing a skill in any other sport, you will not get better unless you do it. You will probably hate it to begin with, which I did and now I am a yoga teacher! But once you get through that barrier, it could take 6-8 weeks, you will find that your body will actually crave the movement and the space and the time, so give it a chance.”

What is the best yoga for weight loss?

“This differs from person to person, but I would say depending on your fitness and your body type, I would say for a complete beginner that might have a bit more weight to loss, a hatha style yoga would be a great introduction.

“As you progress, you may choose a more vigorous style like Vinyasa or Power. They are much more of a dynamic style where you will work on strength-based postures and it will challenge you mentally and physically.

“But make sure to attend a beginner’s class first as it will give you a sense of achievement and not a sense of failure you might get at a really difficult class.”

basic yoga poses

 


5 of the Best Weight Training Exercises for Women

Is this the year you want to really get in shape? Well, we’re here with the best weight training exercises for women to help you do just that.

Don’t worry if you’re slightly intimidated by starting weight training for the first time either, it’s easier than it looks.

Also, forget about that myth that weight training makes women ‘big and bulky’ – that’s completely outdated.

It’s proven to benefit heart health, bone health, body composition, sporting performance, metabolism, injury prevention and mental health.

So if you’re heading for the gym, or working out from home, and are wondering what basic weight training exercise you can do, look no further.

We’ve got you covered below.

Our brand ambassador and Republic of Ireland soccer star, Rianna Jarret explains what her best weight training exercises for women are.

Oh, and by the way, you also might be interested in our Ultimate Guide to Doing Yoga at Home Blog?

Best Weight Training Exercises for Women

Dumbbell Chest Press

“Playing any kind of field sport, the dumbbell chest press is really important. Especially for me as a strike, it’s important to be strong in my upper body – my arms and my chest – in order to keep the defenders away from the ball.
“When you’re doing the exercise, it’s important to make sure you’re in control of the movement throughout the exercise and not letting the dumbbell swing or sway while pressing.

best weight training exercises for women

“Keep your feet plant on the ground, engage the core and try and aim for 90-degree angles in your arms when you are at the bottom of the lift.

“I like to do three sets of eight repetitions.”

One arm row

You will need a bench or sturdy platform to do this exercise. You need to keep two feet on the ground and one arm on the bench.

“It’s important to bring the dumbbell to your chest while concentrating the feeling with your back and shoulder muscles. So squeeze these at the top of the move.

best weight training exercises for women

“This is good for building a strong core a well and as a field sport athlete, helps me in keeping the defender at arms width.”

Seated Shoulder Press

You will need a bench or something similar for this exercise.

“Start off with a light weight to get the feel for the movement, making sure you get a full range of motion while staying controlled throughout.

best weight training exercises for women

“This exercise is very important for a footballer because I need to be strong in my shoulders to compete in the aerial battles.”

Tricep Extension

The start position for this exercise is very similar to the one arm row and all the same principles apply only you keep one knee on the bench too.

“The only difference is you’re starting at close to a 90-degree angle before sweeping the dumbbell back towards your feet and aiming to keep get your arm at 180 degrees.

“This is key for me as a footballer because upper body strength is such an important part of the game.”

Kettlebell/Dumbbell Squat

“Squats with a kettlebell train the legs dynamically while also engaging the upper back and shoulders. As you hold the kettlebell in front of you, they also put a strain on your core.

“Stand with your feet hip width apart to perform a kettlebell squat. Pick up your kettlebell with both hands and hold it close to your chest with the handle facing downwards and your hands around the primary section of the kettlebell.

“Squat with your chest high and back straight while holding the kettlebell close to your chest.

“Squats are really good because how they challenge your whole body throughout the exercise and are definitely one of the best weight training exercises for women.”

 

Check out the video of Rianna Jarrett below.

 

We hope this guide has given you some inspiration and guidance in kickstarting your weight training schedule.

If you’re not yet feeling comfortable to hit the weight rack, cardio and running exercise has a lot of health benefits too.

You can check out our home-gym and weight training accessories HERE or below.

best weight training exercises for women


Christmas Gifts For Fitness Training | Gift Guides 2021

Have you been Inspired By Fitness Training this year?

Intersport Elverys certainly have and we’re committed to helping to inspire you to more.

We have everything you’ll need to find the perfect Christmas gift for the gym goer and home workout-ers in your house – have a look below. 

Before you do, you might be interest in our other Christmas 2021 gift guides, where we have covered mens, womens, kids and runners.

Nike Training

The latest drop from Nike is a must have this Christmas for all fitness fanatics.

We love the Nike Mens Swoosh Hoodie in grey and the Nike Mens Dry Pant Taper, great training. 

For women the Nike Swoosh Ultrabreathe Sports Bra is hugely popular, as are the Nike One Women’s Capri Tight 2.0. 

Check out the full Nike Range HERE

YOGA

Yoga is one of the easiest and most beneficial workout you can do at home.

There are so many forms of great content online, including out Ultimate Guide to Yoga blog. 

We’ve got a great range of comfortable yoga wear from all the top brands that you can find HERE

Home Gym

We’ve all been partial to a home workout or two since 2020 began!

And we have an incredible range of strength, cardio and home gym accessories just for you and your home gym.

This Rotocycle Fusion Spin Bike is the ultimate spin bike for your beginners and athletes alike, or this USF Squat Rack is one of the  most important pieces of equipment for your home gym. Of course, you can’t forget the USF Olympic Bench either.

Check out our full range of Home Gym right HERE.

Puma Training

While new training gear won’t instantly make you stronger, it will enhance your performance and get you excited to work out.

What more could anyone ask for this Christmas? You give them the gear, and the rest is up to them.

Some of the latest Puma training gear is top class and will do just that. 

Like the Puma Mens Evostripe Full Zip Hoodie or the Puma Mens Evostripe Pants. While the Puma Favourite Heather Cat Women’s Muscle Top is flying off the shelves, as is the Puma Women’s Train PWR Half Zip. 

Check out the full Puma range HERE.

Wearable Tech

For something very special this Christmas get them the gift of motivation with a new running watch or headphones.

It will provide them with everything they need to keep on track and motivated for the 2021 running season. 

In terms of gifts for a runner, they are right up there with the best!

Check out the latest range in Garmin, Fitbit, Aftershokz and STAT Sports HERE. 

Training Footwear

No gym or fitness training session is complete without a proper pair of trainers.

You will stand out from the crowd with the Reebok Nanoflex Women’s Trainers or the Nike Renew In-Season TR 11 Women’s Trainers in pink.

The Nike Free Metcon 4 Men’s Trainers will make sure you get the best out of your session, while you won’t be found wanting in the slick Reebok Nano X1 Men’s Trainers.

Just out our full range right HERE.

 

 

For more great gift ideas for runners call in-store and ask our expert staff for advice when ticking off the Christmas shopping list.

Or check out our full CHRISTMAS RANGE HERE OR BELOW


How to use a Foam Roller

A foam roller is one of the most popular additions to any sportsperson’s kit bag these days.

That’s because it’s hugely beneficial to use before or after exercise, and ideal for those annoying muscle aches. It’s benefits include muscle tightness relief, reduced inflammation, increased flexibility and improved recovery. They’re also affordable, easy to store and portable.

Foam rolling is now being looked at as a necessity to include in your training schedule for quicker recovery, allowing you to get back to peak performance on the pitch or the track as quickly as you can.

In this blog, we’ll give you the lowdown on how to use a foam roller.

How to use a foam roller

When learning how to use a foam roller, it’s best to be overly mild rather than too intense when you’re just getting started.

As you gain a better understanding of how your body reacts, you can vary your intensity. In general, you’re going for a level of discomfort that ‘it hurts so good’.

Pushing through discomfort into true agony won’t get you there faster, but it will put you at danger of harm. When you roll too hard, you can really injure your muscles.

To use your foam roller, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the location of your muscle that is sore or tight.
  2. Slowly lower the targeted area until it is centred over the roller, keeping your body in control.
  3.  Lower your body onto the foam roller and hold it there until you reach a point of discomfort (but not pain).
  4. Hold the position for 20–30 seconds.
  5. The pressure is beneficial on its own, but you may also roll slowly back and forth to stimulate the area further.
  6. Continue rolling slowly along the muscle, stopping and holding in the regions that require extra attention

Experiment with tiny adjustments to your body position while using your foam roller to find the most effective technique. Also, remember to take deep breaths. Many people become so preoccupied with the sensation of rubbing a painful knot that they forget to breathe.

Check out this excellent full body rolling routine using the BackBaller roller:

Does a foam roller help back pain?

Foam rollers have long been popular among athletes and physical therapists, but they’ve recently gained popularity among non-athletes with back problems.
Foam rolling can help relieve back discomfort, but it’s important to perform it right or you’ll end up doing more harm than good.

If you have a pre-existing back or spine disease that is causing your muscular tightness, consult your doctor before starting any program to “treat” or “deal with” back discomfort. If you’re new to foam rolling, you might want to consider working with a physical therapist or trainer who can teach you how to use it properly.

A foam roller should never be used directly on the lower back. The use of a foam roller on the upper back is permissible since the spine is protected by the shoulder blades and muscles of the upper back. In the lower back, there are no structures that can help protect your spine from the pressure.

If you use a foam roller on your lower back, the spinal muscles may tighten, causing more harm than good, particularly if your back discomfort is caused by a lumbar spine disease. When rolling your back with a foam roller, stop when you reach the end of your ribs.

When most people use the foam roller to identify a knot or delicate spot, they tend to work on it for a long period, sometimes utilizing their full body weight to put pressure to the area. This may result in nerve or tissue damage as well as bruising. Excessive pressure applied while wincing in pain will not help; foam rolling might be uncomfortable, but it should never be unbearably painful. Working on a tender region should take no more than 15-30 seconds.

You should roll at a speed of no more than one inch per second. Slowly moving allows your muscles to adjust to the pressure and relax.

The types of foam roller

There are different types of foam rollers on the market and it is a good idea to know what the best model is for you and when to use it.

If you’re in the gym looking at the different foam rollers or in-store looking to buy your own, have a read through the different types below to give you more of an insight.

how to use a foam roller

 

Low-density rollers

These are lightest and softest foam rollers you can find and are great if you have sore muscles after an intense workout. You can work your way to a firmer foam roller as your muscles recover.

Firm rollers

This is the densest foam roller you’ll usually find and perfect for athletes who need a quick recovery time. It offers a deeper concentrated release on the muscles working out knots and trigger points. Remember this will be a more intense workout so if you find it too sore opt for a lower density foam roller. Some people like the added soreness on their muscles so this all depends on what’s right for your muscles when using it.

Bumpy rollers

These are probably the most common foam rollers you see. It is designed with some texture and bumps on the foam roller to really dig into your knots and trigger points to get that release. Some muscles like the shoulders have more knots than others so this is great for releasing tension in these areas.

Back Baller

The BackBaller is a foam of a bumpy foam roller with a structured operating system that allows easy control. It get’s teeth into the muscles for an even greater self Myofacial release.

You can take foam rolling to the next level with the BackBaller, by putting you in total control over the force applied in an unprecedented secure and comfortable manner. The BackBaller is specifically designed to self-treat muscles in your upper & lower back. Due to the stability & control offered it goes beyond really kneading out those muscle groups.

What is Myofascial Release Therapy?
Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue massage intended to support pain relief, increase range of motion, and balancing of the body. Techniques can include manual and self-massage.

 

Take a look at our selection of foam rollers In-store or online HERE. Free delivery on standard delivery’s when you spend €60 or more.

how to start foam rolling


How to Start Running: The Ultimate Beginners Guide

Starting something new can be intimidating as well as exciting, but having support along the journey can really make a difference. If you ever wonder how to start running, now is your opportunity to experiment and give it a chance to fit it into your lifestyle.

If running is completely new to you or something that you keep stopping and starting, we thought we would help guide you toward a proactive start with all the necessary info needed for a running beginner.

Irish Runner’s Killian Byrne has featured a blog on the Health Benefits of Running if you’re interested?

We’ll cover how to get started, from your footwear to your warm up and to your training plan, and everything else in between to show you how to start running.

If you’re not new to running and just want to change up your plan, check out our blog on Tempo Runs.

If not, let’s kick things off.

Advice on How to Start Running

Athletics Aficionado Frank Greally shares his tips on getting started:

“If you’re new to running there’s nothing worse than slipping on your trainers and setting out at full speed, only to be out of breath and feeling deflated after a few hundred metres. There’s no shame in starting out walking and building up gradually.

“One thing to remember when training is that A Little- A Lot will always trump A Lot- A Little. In other words, Hasten Slowly!  It’s all about consistency and making the best of your Gift Of Days- each of them- One Day More And One Day Less that you have to celebrate on Planet Earth.”

Whether you’re a feisty first-timer or back after a little break, it’s important to pace yourself. Remember, you’re striving for progress not perfection. So why not walk your first run?

how to start running

Yes, walking uses the same muscles and joints you use when running, so it’s a pretty sensible place to start. Plus, a decent power walk can still boost your mood and burn calories.

Of course, if you feel like breaking into a jog — or even a run — while you’re walking then go ahead. Just don’t pressure yourself into continuing the run once you get tired. It’s fine to stop and walk again. Regular runners do this all the time — they call it taking an ‘active rest’ in between higher-paced runs.

Why not get started today – try walking for a few minutes with 30 seconds light jogging intervals built in.

After a few weeks you’ll have built up your baseline fitness. You can then look at progressing to Athletics Ireland beginner 5k training plan below.

Running for Beginners Training Plan

Having a goal at the start of any exercise programme can be a great motivator and in many cases can make the difference between sticking with it or giving up.

For someone starting an exercise programme for the first time or just getting back into exercise after a long break it can be a difficult and daunting experience.

How much should I do? How far should I run? What pace should I run at? What rest should I have between runs? These are all questions that are common, so if you have asked yourself any of them, don’t worry – you’re not alone!

The good thing about starting out on a beginner’s programme is that the terms ‘walk’ and rest’ are used quite a lot! Once you have decided on the run to take part in you should work backwards to however many weeks programme you are following. This sample programme lasts eight weeks and is aimed at getting you to the finish line.

It assumes that you have no major health problems, are in reasonable shape, and have perhaps done at least some jogging or walking beforehand.

The following programme is only a suggestion and should be adapted to suit your work and home life and the days of the week that is most convenient for you to exercise. As with all exercise programmes you should always do some gentle warm-up exercises beforehand and some stretching exercises to warm-down afterwards. If you have read this then you have taken the first steps towards getting fit enough for the 5km run!

Happy Running!

Terminology:

  • Walk: Brisk walking pace (faster than walking to the newsagents).
  • Jog: Gentle running (able to chat easily throughout).
  • Walk/Jog: Periods of walking followed by periods of jogging (vary the times and number of walks and jogs depending on total target time/distance).
  • Run: Faster pace than jogging but still able to chat (not continuously though).
  • Rest: Either a day off exercise completely or other exercise such as swimming, aerobics or cycling.

how to start running

 

Warming Up Women

How to Start Running: Warming Up

Whether you are running for 2 minutes or 2 miles, you need to put time aside for warming up and down – your body will thank you.

Start with a simple fast walk or slow jog before getting started at your normal pace.

A warm-up can take as little as a few minutes. Even when you’re strapped for time, going through a quick list of specific motions will help prime you physically and mentally.

Check them out below.

Knee to Chest:

Stand straight, bring your right knee to your chest while keeping your left leg straight, and rise up on your left tiptoes as you clasp your hands in front of your right knee. Take a step forward and alternate legs, hugging your left knee to your chest while rising up on your right toes. Keep your core engaged and strong.

Quad Stretch:

Lift one leg up behind your back while holding it with your hand and feel the pull in your quad. Repeat with the other leg.

Lunges:

Step one leg out and bend to a 90 degree angle and bring the other knee down towards the floor and repeat.

Calf:

Stand with one foot in front of the other, bend your front leg while keeping your other leg straight. Keep the foot that is behind firmly flat on the ground and don’t bend the knee. Straighten your back and hold the pose for 10-seconds and repeat with the other.

Toe Touches:

Standing with your feet out wide bend your body over keeping your hips straight and reach your hands down to you toes. Hold 10 seconds. For variations move your hands in between your feet and both hands to one side. Do as you see fit.

Leg Swings: 

Get an area of support to stand by, swing one leg in front and backwards and continue for up to 10 motions. Repeat with the other leg.

Hip Rotation:

Standing straight up, make exaggerated hula-hooping-style circles with your hips, rotating in one direction, then the other.

Full Arm Circles:

Keeping your arms straight and out to the side, circle your arms forward and then backward. to get the shoulder moving before running. 

Visit Our WARMING UP – WHEREVER YOU TAKE RUNNING for more exercises to warm up and down.

 

As well as warming up, make sure to warm down too!

We hooked up with Irish long-distance runner Grace Lynch to teach you how to do it correctly.

 

How to Start Running: Footwear 

This is one area that we would advise to get before you start off running, as a good pair of running shoes can seriously improve your run.

If it turns out you don’t run that often at least you will have a solid pair for spontaneous runs in the future.

There are so many different brands, technologies and pricing options nowadays with running shoes and it can be overwhelming to know which pair to choose. Once you know your foot type and what shoe you should be wearing, it’s all about brand preference then.

Things You Need To Consider Before Buying:

Finding Out If You Require a Neutral Or Stability Shoe

You can do this at home by completing a Wet Foot test or you can get your foot analysed in select stores.

You will then choose a shoe that is suited to your foot type.

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What does overpronation, pronation/neutral and supination mean?

Pronation is the natural side-to-side movement of your foot as you run or walk. As your foot/heel connects with the ground, your arch begins to flex/flatten and absorbs the shock acting as your natural shock absorber for the body.

Overpronation: When your foot strikes the ground, it rolls inwards to absorb the shock.

Neutral Pronation: When someone has a normal arch the foot experiences a normal amount of pronation on impact.

Supination: (Underpronation) Not as common as the other 2 foot types. It is typically seen with a high arch and as a result the foot isn’t able to naturally pronate.

This guide on how to Run Injury Free will help you pick the right shoes too.

Comfort Levels

At Intersport Elverys, we have 3 levels of comfort in our shoes. Find out all the information that you should consider when choosing the level of comfort below:

Regular Comfort + We would recommend for anyone just starting off or don’t require a large amount of cushioning.
Extra Comfort ++  Perfect for those longer runs, for those wanting an increased shock absorption.
Maximum Comfort +++ These are best suited for those who are looking for best shock absorption, with extra or maximum comfort.

Visit our Top Running Shoes Review for 2024 blog here.

How To Measure Your Feet

Step 1: Standing straight with your feet firmly on the ground, heal flush to the wall and a blank piece of paper taped to the floor beneath your foot.

Step 2: Measure the largest part of your foot (heel to biggest toe) using a pencil to make your markings. Repeat this on the other foot, your left and right foot may vary in size.

Step 3: Using a ruler to measure the markings you’ve made from heel to toe.

Visit our HOW TO MEASURE YOUR FEET AT HOME blog for more information on this and to see different brand size guides.

Foot Measuring Graphic

 

This blog on the Top Eco-Friendly Running Shoes is not to be missed.

Conclusion

You’re now ready to get out there and begin your running lifestyle, we hope this information will be a lot of help throughout your journey.

If you need additional advice on technical and compression clothing, running tech, accessories and nutrition then;

View all things running HERE and avail of Free Delivery over €60 and store returns.

how to start running