30 • Stay fit, stay sharp Home sweat home


As gyms begin to reopen, there’s no need to abandon your lockdown workout. Charlotte Wigram-Evans shares her pick of the best gym equipment to help you break a sweat in the comfort of your own home


CorkYogis Classic Cork Yoga Mat Made from recycled rubber and sustainable Portuguese cork bark, this is a truly stylish addition to the yogi’s arsenal. Supreme grip makes this a stand-out choice, and cork’s natural antimicrobial properties also means it’s a clean, safe choice even during the toughest of workouts. Rolling out to 1.73 metres, it’s also comfortable and beautifully tactile compared to conventional foam mats. What’s more, this is cork with a conscience too, with 10%


of profits going to Destiny Reflection, a Kolkata charity that supports survivors of human trafficking. RRP: From £65. corkyogis.com


Peach Home Fitness Fabric Resistance Bands Resistance bands are an essential for any home gym, offering a lightweight, easy and effective way to work a variety of muscle groups. Tese fabric bands come in a trio of plush pastel tones and range from 13 to 16.5 inches in diameter, each increasing in tensile


strength. Unlike plastic resistance bands, which are prone to slipping, these have an inner latex grip and the tough, durable fabric means there’s no chance of snapping either. And, of course, they’re easy to pop into a travel bag for a workout on the go. RRP: £35. peachhomefitness.com


Bands Kit Dailygym If you aren’t quite ready to head back to the gym, these high-quality bands from Dailygym do the job of several weights machines in one handy, compact kit. Each coloured cord corresponds to a different level of resistance between 10-50lbs, offering the chance to work all kinds of muscle groups at varying intensities, from triceps and biceps to shoulder and back muscles. Te kit also comes with a free e-book with more than 150 different exercises — it’s a winner if you’re after a full-body workout. RRP: £99.90. dailygym.co.uk


Blk Box Individual Hex Dumbbells Hexagonal weights are a clear choice for working out at home — not only do they look the part, but the rubber-coated heads are quieter than adjustable metal plates, incur less damage to your flooring, and the hexagonal shape stops them rolling


away between sets. Tis vast range, starting at 2.5kg and going up to 45kg, offers a weight for every ability, and means you can quickly build your own selection of weights at home. RRP: from £11.99 (sold individually). blkboxfitness.com


KOR Nava water bottle It’s all about easy access when it comes to water in a workout, and it’s almost as though this bottle was designed with the gym in mind. Made with a non-slip, cushioned base and plastic trim, it’s easy to grip, and the EasyFlow Technology for sipping makes staying hydrated straightforward. However, it’s an excellent choice not just for a workout, but as your go-to bottle: at 650ml, there’s plenty of capacity, and the built-in straw and filter made from coconut shell is a cool, clever touch. RRP: $28 (£23). korwater.com


Schwinn IC7 indoor cycling bike Packed with savvy features, this is the ultimate in indoor cycling if you’re keen to keep up a fitness regime on two wheels. Tere’s a 18kg flywheel, adjustable seat and infinite resistance, meaning an authentic, natural-feeling ride, helped by a smooth, quiet belt — ideal when working out at home.


Healthcare Innovations • Sunday 26 July 2020


PEACH HOME FITNESS FABRIC RESISTANCE BANDS


Te automated stretching mat has four pre-programmed sequences and you can customise the intensity of the workout depending on whether you want to release tension or simply relax


Tere’s an arm strap to monitor your heart rate (as well as things such as speed, time and revs per minute), as well as a USB port and an integrated multimedia holder and LCD screen. If you’re serious about cycling, then this is the bike for you. Selected stockists, price varies. schwinnfitness.com


HoMedics Stretch XS Tis back stretching mat is inspired by yoga-style stretches. Te automated stretching mat has four pre-programmed sequences to choose from and you can customise the intensity of the workout depending on whether you want to release tension, improve flexibility or simply relax. RRP: £229. homedics.co.uk


BackBaller — an Irish invention used by global sports stars


A small Irish company from Shannon, County Clare is offering relief to those unable to access their physiotherapist with a range of ingenious self-massage devices


It all started five years ago when Irish former international runner Noel Marshall was told he’d require back surgery to deal with a rupture between his L5 and S1 vertebrae. At the time, Noel noticed


modern-day athletes were very engaged with the process of foam- rolling. Noel bought one and started a programme from Gerard Hartmann with the aim of releasing the tight muscles causing lower back pain. “It was working but every day


I used it, I was rolling all over the floor and saying to myself ‘Wouldn’t it be so much better if the roller was mounted on a frame to stabilise it’,” explains Noel. So, he made a prototype and began


using it. Just four weeks later, he was pain-free and began to regain his full range of motion. “I was able


to run again,” Noel


says. “Tis thing changed my life and I knew it was a product that people would want.” Since


its launch in T: +353 (0) 61 364085 September 2016, BackBaller has become the


M: +353 (0) 86 9127534 UK T: 01245 79 0320 E: noel@backballer.com backballer.com


go-to foam roller for many of the world’s leading sports stars and teams, including Manchester City. Based in Shannon, Muscle Ballers is continuing to develop other self-myofascial release products as


its topped sales rise. Last year’s sales €1m (£870,000) and the


company is on course to double that in 2020. “We’re exporting worldwide,” says


Noel. “We’ll continue to grow as people are realising the importance of good health and looking after themselves.”


"Since its launch in 2016, BackBaller has become the go-to foam roller for many of the world’s leading sports stars and teams, including Manchester City"


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