Stop The Bounce

One of the most important purchases to make when investing in your active wear is the sports bra. Any woman who exercises regularly will know and understand the importance of a good sports bra. The reason for this is that it can help you work-out to your full potential, if you feel like your breasts are moving around too much you will feel too uncomfortable to carry on.

There is some science behind this – it isn’t just about how you feel! Your breast tissue is supported by muscles called ‘Cooper’s Ligaments’ (named after the man who discovered them back in the 1840’s) and too much bounce can lead to the stretching of these ligaments and cause your breasts to sag.

So to feel really comfortable check out our guide below to the perfect fitting sports bra:

• The underband should be firm, lie flat to the skin and not ride up the back.
• Straps should be comfortable, stay on your shoulders and not dig in.
• Your breasts should be fully encased within the cups, not spilling over the top or out of the sides.
• Take the jump test – check the bounce factor. If your breasts feel uncomfortable then you need a more supportive bra.

There are 3 types of sports bras:

1. Encapsulation – which separates and encapsulates each breast, providing more structure.
2. Elasticated compression – which pushes the breasts together, holding them close to the body.
3. Combination – which brings both the above elements together.

If you’re a runner or come to our classes we would recommend going with encapsulation and or combination. If you’re doing yoga or pilates the elasticated compression will be more comfortable and allows more flexibility.

If you’re big busted, a good sports bra will help with posture, keep back and neck pain at bay as with the correct support it will counterbalance the weight in front. Look out also for underwired sports bras – both Freya and Panache have great versions and this will really help improve support and comfort.

For us smaller breasted women, it is just as equally important to wear a good sports bra as it will reduce any pain you still may get when bouncing up and down due to hormonal changes throughout the monthly cycle. You can also get away with buying some of the prettier versions of crop tops that seem to be flooding the market place (such as the H&M one we recently featured on the ace loves section of our website)

SweatyBetty has a great sports bra guide option on their website, where you put in some details and they recommend the bra for that activity level. They also have a gorgeous selection of bras so check them out and don’t forget to read the reviews – it’s really helpful to know how other people found the bra!

For a more less expensive range of Sports bras TK Max have loads for very good prices, just make sure you try on lots of different styles and take our guide above with you to ensure maximum comfort and support.

For more information or if you would like to share where you bought your favourite sports bra, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

info@ace-lifestyle.com