Women's Fitness January 2023

Call it a cliché but there really is something about January 1st that fires up my fitness motivation. Perhaps it’s having 12 fresh months ahead to challenge my body and better my strengths, or maybe it’s that I tend to feel fully recharged after the festive break. It’s not that I’ve set resolutions (I never do), or because I want to clean the workout slate and start anew. It’s the same me, but fired up and raring to get going. If you’re feeling the same zest for movement, you’ve come to the right place, as this issue is brimming with exercise inspiration. On page 16, STRONG Nation® Master Trainer and all-round fitness force of nature, Ai Lee Syarief reveals her workout wisdom and top six motivation secrets. Then, on page…

Suzanne Baum Suzanne is a celebrity interviewer and lifestyle editor. She has written on fitness and wellbeing for over two decades and also reviews beauty products. @suzanne_baum Eve Boggenpoel Eve is a yoga teacher, counsellor and author. Her work is grounded in a deep appreciation of inner stillness as a pathway to transformation. @findingstillness.uk Joanna Ebsworth A qualified Level 3 PT and fitness instructor, Jo has been combining her love of exercise and writing for 15 years, and is keen to inspire others to be active. @joglows Josh Ivory Josh is a PT and online body transformation coach. He believes in pairing flexible nutrition and effective programming to achieve results. @josh_j_ivory Louise Pyne Louise is a qualified nutritionist and freelance health writer. She specialises in women’s health and wellness, as…

STAR LETTER LOCAL TALENT Thank you for your brilliant article Emma Powell’s Training Secrets (December issue). I’ve long been an admirer of Emma’s – my cousin who lives in Canada is an ice climber, so I have some knowledge of it – not that I could ever do it – and Emma's from Yorkshire, like me. Growing up in Yorkshire clearly inspired her as it has some of the best outdoor gritstone climbing, and the local crags probably influenced her passion for climbing. Just sharing her fitness story has encouraged me to get fitter. And it’s commendable that Emma is the only British woman to climb a D12-graded route in the UK. Well done, Emma! Amy Yardley Amy wins a Bowflex SelectTech 552i dumbbells, from £229, which replace a…

Fresh Start A new year means new adventures, and you can enjoy all your favourite outdoor pursuits in style by wearing this waterproof, windproof and breathable Gill Marine Aqua Parka, £145. The perfect companion for messing about on the river, enjoying long coastal walks, and taking invigorating dips in the sea, this oversized parka has a high-loft thermal fleece lining and hand warmer pockets to keep you warm even when you’re wet. Better still, it’s the only product of its kind with stretch fabric properties, so you can easily change out of wet clothes. Pair it with a matching thermal New Era x Gill Bobble Hat, £30, for an unstoppable (and toasty warm) combination! Find out more at gb.gillmarine.com WEAR THIS… Inspired by you We’re in love with fitness superstar…

Workout guru, karate athlete, surfer, yogi… Ai Lee Syarief is a fitness force of nature with the body to prove it. Passionate about movement, the super-fit presenter has helped thousands of women worldwide become their strongest ever, with the power-packed, martial arts-inspired workouts she creates for STRONG Nation®. The ultimate exercise-to-music experience, STRONG Nation® is a high-intensity workout blending a potent mix of cardio, muscle conditioning and explosive plyometric moves, all synced to thrilling, original beats. Fast-paced and challenging, each session blasts calories and strengthens your entire body and mind. Oh, and it’s amazing fun too… ‘OK team, let’s do this!’ whoops Syarief, as she leads an action hero-themed STRONG Nation® session. ‘You’re a Samurai – grab a sword and go!’ To the urgent beat of a Mission Impossible-style soundtrack…

TRAINING TIPS Q Are 10-minute workouts really effective and, if so, how do I get the most out of them? Joey Bull says: ‘Anything that gets circulatory, respiratory, cardiovascular and other systems moving is of value. This becomes very obvious if you wear a device that gives feedback on your heart rate and heart rate variability – these devices often show how the short moments of intensity can assist restoration at night. Or, conversely, how a few minutes of mindfulness and breathwork down-regulates stress. ‘How effective a 10-minute workout is depends on its contents, but given the right intensity, there are certainly gains to be made in such a short time. If the aim is to get fit and shape up, make those 10-minutes slots work well by rotating which…