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How Movement Supports Mental Well-Being

Written by Mia Barnes You don’t need a strict workout routine to feel the mental benefits of movement. Even small amounts of physical activity can...

Written by Mia Barnes

You don’t need a strict workout routine to feel the mental benefits of movement. Even small amounts of physical activity can help clear your mind, boost your mood, and reduce stress. Whether it’s a short walk, a yoga session, a workout class, or stretching while watching TV, movement plays a big role in how you feel mentally.

 

lady on a yoga mat stretching her leg wearing ankle wrist weights

 

At Amp Wellbeing, we believe that fitness and wellness should be accessible, enjoyable, and seamlessly integrated into daily life. Our mission is to inspire everyday movement, making it easy for you to prioritise your health—whenever and wherever it suits you. We understand that mental and physical wellbeing go hand in hand, which is why we design stylish, functional, and high-quality fitness equipment that fits effortlessly into your home and lifestyle.

Movement is more than just exercise—it’s a powerful tool for self-care, balance, and overall wellbeing. Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, build strength, or simply feel better, we’re here to support you with the right equipment and guidance to make movement a natural part of your day. Here’s how it can positively impact your mental health.

 

Reduces Stress

Stress isn’t just in your head — it also shows up in your body. When you’re overwhelmed, your muscles tense up, your heart rate increases and your breathing becomes shallow. Movement helps release that tension by lowering cortisol levels and reducing stress. A walk or some light stretching can signal your body that it’s OK to relax. 

 

Boosts Your Mood

Exercise triggers endorphins, the chemicals in your brain that help relieve pain and improve your mood. This is why people often feel better after a workout, even when they weren’t in the mood to start. But you don’t have to push yourself through an intense gym session to reap the benefits. A bike ride, a casual swim or playing with your pet can all help boost your mood naturally. 

If you’re not into traditional exercise, try dancing, hiking or anything that gets you moving in a fun way. Even if you’re short on time, just a few minutes of gentle movement can help shift your mindset.

 

Clears the Mental Clutter

lady on black yoga mat in meditation with pilates ball

Some of the best thinking happens when you’re moving. Walking, running and other repetitive activities help your brain process thoughts and emotions more efficiently. That’s why taking a walk often helps when you feel stuck on a problem. 

If you’re overwhelmed, try moving without distractions — no phone or music — just let your thoughts settle as you go. If you do need a little guidance, listening to a wellness podcast while walking can boost your mental well-being and give you new ways to manage stress. 


 

Helps You Feel More Connected

Physical activity doesn’t have to be a solo endeavour. Moving with others can help you feel more connected, which is just as important for mental well-being as the movement itself. Whether it’s joining a sports team, taking a yoga class or just going for a walk with a friend, being active with others can combat loneliness and boost your motivation. 

 

Promotes Better Sleep

If you struggle to fall asleep or wake up feeling groggy, moving more during the day can help. Regular physical activity regulates your circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall and stay asleep.

Remember, you don’t need a hectic or intense workout — just moving more throughout the day can make a difference. Even stretching or doing light yoga before bed can help your body wind down. We have some beginner guides and workouts to help you get started in our Workout Centre.

 

Increases Energy

It sounds backward, but when you’re tired, movement can actually help you feel more energized. Physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen levels, which fights off sluggishness. If you hit an afternoon slump, a quick walk or even standing up and stretching for a few minutes can wake you up more effectively than another cup of coffee. 

lady in tabletop position holding a pink pilates ball on her legs

 

Small Moves, Big Impact

The benefits of movement add up over time. You don’t have to overhaul your routine — just find small ways to move throughout the day (you can read more about creating a consistent,  easy to follow fitness plan here). If you feel sluggish, stand up and stretch. If your mind is racing, take a short walk. Even if you’re not in the mood to exercise, doing something simple can help shift your energy. Movement isn’t about doing the most but about doing what you can.

Your Guide to Creating a Consistent, Easy-to-Follow Fitness Routine That Fits Into Daily Life

Your Guide to Creating a Consistent, Easy-to-Follow Fitness Routine That Fits Into Daily Life

Written by Mia Barnes Starting a fitness routine doesn’t have to mean overhauling your entire life. The key to true success is making small changes...

Written by Mia Barnes

Starting a fitness routine doesn’t have to mean overhauling your entire life. The key to true success is making small changes that fit your current schedule, not disrupt it. Here’s how to build a routine you’ll actually stick to.

Set Clear, Realistic Goals

What do you really want from your fitness routine? Maybe you want more energy to play with your kids, improve your mood, or complete that 5K. Whatever it is, write it down. Goals give you direction, keep your motivation up, and give you something to work toward.

Pick Activities You Actually Enjoy

As much as 60% of American adults don’t get enough movement in their daily lives. A big reason for that is exercise often feels like a chore. This is why it’s so important to find something you genuinely love and look forward to. You’re much more likely to stick to something if you actually enjoy doing it.

Pilates and yoga online from home

If the idea of going to the gym makes you groan, don’t force it. Go hiking or biking if you love being outdoors. Those who prefer low-impact workouts could try swimming or Pilates. The more fun it is to you, the less it’ll feel like an obligation.

working out from home online yoga mat bedroom interiors

Schedule It Like an Appointment

You wouldn’t cancel a doctor’s appointment or skip a work meeting, so don’t miss your workout time, either. Pick a time of day that works best for you — maybe that’s early mornings before the chaos starts or evenings after work as a way to unwind. Add it to your calendar, set a reminder, and treat it like an important meeting with yourself.

If mornings aren’t your thing, don’t force it. Find the time that works for your energy levels.

 

Start Small and Build Up

It’s easy to get overexcited and try to do too much too soon, but that’s a fast track to burnout. Start with something manageable, like 20 minutes a few times a week. Once you’ve built the habit, you can gradually increase the time or intensity.

Keep Your Gear Handy

Make things as easy for yourself as possible. Lay out your workout clothes the night before, or keep a gym bag in your car. If everything’s ready to go, you’re less likely to come up with excuses. The goal is to reduce any barriers that might stop you from getting started.

home fitness weights womens workout weight loss

Don’t let social media convince you you need fancy equipment or luxury gym memberships. Bodyweight exercises are a perfect way to get started without breaking the bank.

Black_leopard_vegan_suede_yoga_mat_-_black_fitness_collection_image

Recruit a Workout Buddy

Finding someone to work out with is a fantastic way to stay accountable. Whether you join a fitness class, go for regular walks with a friend, or find a running group, turning workouts into a social activity can help combat loneliness while boosting motivation. Sharing goals and cheering each other on when the session gets tough can make all the difference. Plus, knowing someone is counting on you to show up is an excellent way to stay consistent.

Track Your Progress

Seeing how far you’ve come can be incredibly motivating. Use a fitness app, journal, progress photos, or even just mark days on a calendar. Keep track of what you did, how you felt, and any improvements you’ve noticed. It’s not just about numbers — celebrate non-scale victories like feeling more energetic or noticing your mood improve.

Here are some motivation boosters that may help:

      Set mini goals, like completing three workouts a week.

      Reward yourself for reaching milestones. You could treat yourself to a nice dinner or buy those leggings you’ve been eyeing.

      Create a playlist of your favourite upbeat songs. Research has shown choosing your own workout playlist can boost your performance and enjoyment.

      Change your routine when you feel bored. Try a new workout class or a different running route to spice things up.

Try to Be Flexible

Some days won’t go as planned, and that’s OK. Life gets busy, and missing a workout doesn't mean you’ve failed. The trick is to adjust without guilt.

If you can’t fit in a full workout, even five or 10 minutes of movement is better than nothing. Focus on consistency over perfection.

Bringing It All Together

You don’t need to flip your life upside down to build a solid fitness routine. Focusing on small, sustainable steps and giving yourself room to adjust is the best way to create a natural habit.

Get started today!

 

amp-yoga-mat-leopard-vegan-suede premium fitness luxury mats
Choosing the Perfect Yoga Mat: A Guide to Amp Wellbeing's Premium Collection

Choosing the Perfect Yoga Mat: A Guide to Amp Wellbeing's Premium Collection

Whether you are new to the world of yoga and Pilates, or an experienced practitioner, having the right kind of yoga mat is of utmost...

Whether you are new to the world of yoga and Pilates, or an experienced practitioner, having the right kind of yoga mat is of utmost importance as it will enhance your practice, maintain comfort, and be safe. At Amp Wellbeing, our select, quality, sustainable range of mats have been developed to meet the varied needs of our customers. We're going to take a peek at the types of yoga mats that we carry, why they are great for various kinds of workouts, and how to be sure they'll last you for years.

 

Pink fitness mat recycled TPE cushioned

 

TPE Fitness Mat (6mm): Comfortable and cost-effective. 

Our TPE Fitness Mats are a suitable solution for clients in need of an optimal level of comfort, yet need to mind their expense limits. Being made of Thermoplastic Elastomer, the mat is eco-friendly; it is free from chemicals and 100% recyclable. 

Ideal For: Beginners and those who require extra cushioning during their workouts. The 6 mm thickness provides great shock absorption and is most ideal for yoga, Pilates, or general fitness exercises that require more support. 

Key Benefits: 

Cushioned comfort: 6mm thick with a soft supportive surface that lessens any pressure to the joints in poses and stretches. 

Lightweight and portable: Easily rolls up and is lightweight to carry from place to place, which makes it perfect for home use or even taking it to the studio. 

Affordable Luxury: Great design quality offered at an affordable price for people starting their fitness journey.

Yoga mat microfibre natural rubber hot yoga

Microfiber Mats (4mm): Eco-Friendly and Soft

Our Microfibre Mats represent a combination of sustainability and style, with their making from eco-friendly material showing resonance with our environmental commitment. 

Ideal For: Yogis and fitness lovers who subscribe to sustainability with no compromise on quality. With 4 mm thickness, it offers the perfect compromise between comfort and stability and suits different types of yoga and Pilates practices. 

Key Benefits: 

Eco-friendly: with a base layer made out of natural rubber and a top layer from microfiber, this is safe for the environment and good for practice. Benefitting the planet while providing a safe and healthy practice of yoga. 

Soft and absorbent: the microfiber surface provides a soft touch and readily absorbs moisture, which makes them perfect for hot yoga sessions. 

Stylish Patterns: Available in our signature leopard print designs, these mats add a touch of luxury to your practice.

Lighter weight: At 2.7 kg per mat, this makes for slightly lighter material and weight compared to our vegan suede mats. Easily transported to and from your yoga class with a handy travel yoga carry strap.

 

PU yoga flow curved mat vegan leather pilates mat

 

Yoga and Pilates Flow vegan leather (PU) Mats: High performance

These Yoga and Pilates PU Mats offer a modern appearance with a curved edge design, making them ideal for those looking for something performing but durable at the same time. Manufactured in Polyurethane (PU), they offer great grip and are resilient in your practice. 

Great for: Intermediate to advanced yogis who will put a high level of wear on their mat but still require the one specially designed for invigorating practice. This yoga mat is 5mm thick and, therefore, proves to be very cushiony for staying steady in difficult yoga poses. 

Primary Benefits: 

Great Grip: The PU-coated surface gives a high-traction finish to ensure stability in dry or sweaty conditions. 

Robustness: These mats are meant to be tough in terms of longevity and wear, which just means a very long-term investment for the pro yogi or Pilates enthusiast.

Support and Stability: 5 mm is a nice balance that provides cushioning as well as the support needed for a stable base of advanced poses. 

Beautiful Colours: These are made in all the fabulous colours to match our weights. You can co-ordinate and work out in style!

PU vegan leather Pilates and yoga studio mats and equipment

 

Studio Style: PU mats will elevate the look and feel of your studio classes, with an attractive design and long lasting material, your customers will feel supported during your classes and be back for more.

 

 

 

Image: Rise Wellness Concept studio

 

 

 

 

Vegan Suede Mats: 4 mm of pure quality, the ultimate combination of grip, comfort, and style 

 

Vegan suede yoga mat sustainable natural rubber soft

 

Vegan Suede represent the pinnacle of luxury and functionality. These mats are crafted from high-quality, sustainable materials that are both vegan-friendly and eco-conscious.

Best for: Hot yoga enthusiasts and those who value a non-slip surface for a secure practice. The 4mm thickness provides a firm yet comfortable foundation, ideal for both yoga and Pilates.

Key Benefit: 

High Grip Surface: The vegan suede offers the best grip, even during the sweatiest of sessions, hence making it the best mat for all types of yoga.

Sustainable and Vegan: Made up of eco-friendly materials and being completely vegan, these mats are perfect for people looking to align their practice with their ethical values. 

Exquisite Feel: The velvet feel of suede will put your practice on a different level, making it a treat—indulging your practice. 

Non-slip Base: Our non-slip base is ideal for practice in a safe, secure way, but it does make the mat slightly heavier at 3.3 kg, making it perfect to work out with at home; however, if heading out to your class, these mats also come complete with our handy travel yoga carry strap or upgrade to our yoga mat carry bag for ease of getting to and from class.

Family Yoga: Our children's range of vegan suede mats inspires and supports a beautiful practice of mindfulness, healthy movements, and positive practices that a family can do together.

 

Fitness and yoga mat - eco-friendly TPE black - Ampwellbeing

 

How to Take Care of Your Yoga Mat 

Adequate care is of paramount importance in the life extension of your yoga mat by keeping it unsoiled and well maintained: 

Regular Cleaning: After every use, clean the mat with a solution of soft natural cleaning material or water with gentle soap. Avoid harsh chemicals; they can break down the material over time. 

Deep Cleaning: Periodically immerse your mat in a small basin of warm soapy water. Agitate gently and rinse. Hang to dry. Do not put your mat in the washing machine or dryer. 

Storage: Store your mat in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight; light can fade the colours and break down materials. Consider using a mat bag to protect it from dust and dirt when not in use. Care: Always roll your mat loosely; do not fold or crease as that will cause irreversible damage.

Read more here for further detail on our care and cleaning guide, or product description in each mat for specific detail.

 

Give Your Practice the Right Choice

Here at Amp Wellbeing, we believe a mat can do wonders for your practice, giving you that indispensable platform to work from. Be it about comfort, grip, sustainability, or all three, there's something in our line-up of yoga mats to meet every need.

Ready to elevate your practice?

Look around the rest of our yoga mat collection and see if there is one that can be the ultimate companion in your fitness journey. Step into our community of health-minded individuals appreciating quality, sustainability, and innovation. Purchase a mat that supports not just your body but also the values you practice.

Place your order for the Amp Wellbeing yoga mat today and make that first step to a healthier, more mindful life.

 

 

Core Sliders: How To Transform Your Home Workout Routine

Core Sliders: How To Transform Your Home Workout Routine

What Are Core Sliders, Exactly? Core sliders are small disk-like exercise accessories that can add an extra level of challenge and diversity to your standard...

What Are Core Sliders, Exactly?

Core sliders are small disk-like exercise accessories that can add an extra level of challenge and diversity to your standard home workout routine. Core sliders are commonly designed from tough plastic (or try our beautiful bamboo discs),featuring a smooth slide side and a padded foam surface on the other.

They can be used on all sorts of floors: yoga mats, carpet, hardwood, and tile. They allow for full range of motion in exercises and are a very valuable addition to your fitness toolkit, whether you're a new beginner or an experienced exerciser.

 

What Do Core Sliders Do?

Here are some of the benefits of incorporating core sliders into your routine:

Increased Core Strength: Core sliders activate your core throughout the range of motion, thus creating a powerful stability force within the central part.

Stability and Balance: Using core sliders will require constant engagement with stabilizing muscles, which enhances general balance and coordination.

Gentle on the Joints: The smooth gliding motion would be easy on your joints. It makes core sliders a wonderful option for low impact exercises.

Versatility: They can be used for a wide range of activities and modes of exercise that target all muscles in your body, including the core, back, arms, and legs.

Portability: Light in weight and compact, core sliders are easily portable, making it easy to carry them with you. So, you can keep on doing your routine exercises even when you are traveling out.

 

core slider home workout womens fitness pilates

 

How to Use Core Sliders

You can easily incorporate core sliders into your routine, as this is one real and very effective way to take the intensity up a notch. Here is what you need to do in a step-by-step guide:

Warm-Up Begin with a gentle warm-up exercise to make those muscles ready for the workout. Warm-ups can include dynamic stretches or light cardio.

Variations of planks:

Basic Plank: Place the sliders under your feet in a high plank position and hold the plank with your core tight.

home workout womens core sliders ab exercises strong core home gym

Mountain Climbers: From the plank position, slide one knee up to your chest and return back to the starting position; switch, then continue with this running-like mountain climber motion.

Out and in: Start in the plank position with your feet together. Slide feet out to the side at the same time and then pull them back in keeping your core engaged and your weight forward over your shoulders.

Lunges:

Reverse Lunges: Stand with one foot on a slider. Then pull that foot back into a lunge position with the core engaged and return to the starting position. Repeat this movement on the other side.

 

home fitness womens workout ab exercises strong core legs lunges fitness plan

 

 

 Lateral Lunges: Stand with one foot on a slider. Slide that foot out to the side into a lateral lunge position with the core engaged, and then slide back to the starting position. Repeat on the other side.

Curtsy Lunge: Stand on one foot with the other on a slider. Slide the other foot back beside the working leg, behind you in a curtsy position, trying to stay as tall as possible through the body, then return to the standing starting position. Perform this movement for 10 reps before doing it on the other side.

Core Exercises:

Knee Tucks/Bear: In a plank position, place sliders under your feet and pull both knees toward your chest before extending them back out.

Pikes: From plank position, slide feet towards hands by lifting hips up to ceiling, keeping legs straight.

Upper Body:

Push-Ups: Sliders under hands from high plank position, perform push up allowing hands to slide out at bottom.


Arm Circles: Kneeling on the floor with sliders placed under both your hands, now move in circular motion to involve your shoulders and arms.

Cooldown: Conclude your workout and support muscular recovery by a cool-down, including static stretch and deep breathing exercises.

Why Use Core Sliders in Your Routine

Core sliders further your home workouts and provide more benefits, such as:

Greater muscle activation: By using core sliders, you create an instability that will make the muscles work even harder in controlling and balancing. It increases strength gains.

Activation of multiple muscles mimicking natural movements: Therefore, core sliders engage many muscle groups at the same time, hence functional training for functional fitness.

Injury Prevention: Strengthening your core, back, and arms helps to stabilize your entire body, reducing the risk of injury during other activities.

Flexibility and Mobility: The sliding motion helps improve your range of motion, contributing to better flexibility and joint health.

Variety and Challenge: Mixing in core sliders with your current routine can spruce things up a bit by changing things just enough to give you the challenges needed to prevent monotony in your workout regimen.

Conclusion

Core sliders are indeed an awesome and versatile product to enhance your routine home workout. These sliders in your routine will definitely make your core stronger and more stable towards an overall fitter version of yours. Find our range here. Try them and see their benefits for yourself!

Toned arms for summer; Our top exercises and tips

Toned arms for summer; Our top exercises and tips

Having strong, toned arms can significantly boost your appearance and body confidence. With summer in full swing and shorter sleeves becoming the norm, you might be...

Having strong, toned arms can significantly boost your appearance and body confidence. With summer in full swing and shorter sleeves becoming the norm, you might be wondering how to tone your arms quickly and effectively. Achieving those sculpted arms doesn't have to be a daunting task, and with the right exercises, you can see progress in no time.

Don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are some highly effective exercises to include in your at-home arm workouts. For the best results, repeat each exercise for three sets of 12 reps, and don't forget to rest between sets to allow your muscles to recover and grow stronger.

Home gym and studio weights womens dumbbell

1. Bicep curl

This classic exercise targets your biceps on the front of your upper arm. It's a simple yet powerful movement that can help build strength and definition in your biceps.

How to do it:

  • Stand with your feet hip-width apart to maintain balance and stability.
  • Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, with your palms facing forward to engage your biceps fully.
  • Keep your arms tucked into your sides and bend your elbows to bring the weights up to your shoulders, ensuring you feel the tension in your biceps.
  • Lower back down slowly and repeat the movement, focusing on controlled, smooth motions.

2. Triceps kickback

This exercise targets your triceps, located at the back of your upper arm. Triceps kickbacks are essential for stabilizing your shoulders and supporting movements involving arm extension.

How to do it:

  • Stand with your feet hip-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing each other for a neutral grip.
  • Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the waist to create a stable base.
  • Keep your arms close to your sides, straighten your arms, and push the dumbbells backward, squeezing your triceps at the top of the movement.
  • Hold the position briefly, then slowly bring your arms back to the starting position.
  • Repeat, ensuring you maintain good form throughout.
home fitness weights dumbbells strength training for women

3. Chest press

Chest presses target multiple upper body muscles, including your triceps, pectorals (chest muscles), and deltoids (shoulder muscles). This exercise is great for building overall upper body strength.

How to do it:

  • Lie on an exercise mat with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground to support your lower back.
  • Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing the floor, ensuring you have a firm grip.
  • Bend your elbows to a 90-degree angle and hold the dumbbells wider than your chest.

This is your starting position.

Keep your elbows bent and push the dumbbells up until your arms are straight, but don't lock your elbows to avoid strain.

Slowly lower back to the starting position and repeat, focusing on controlled movements.

 

womens home fitness exercise and strength training dumbbells weights

 

4. Front and lateral raises

Lateral raises work your shoulder muscles and triceps, while front raises target shoulder and chest muscles, as well as your biceps. These exercises are excellent for building shoulder definition and strength.

How to do a lateral raise:

  • Stand with your feet hip-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing your body.
  • With your elbows slightly bent, raise your arms parallel to the floor, feeling the tension in your shoulder muscles.
  • Slowly lower to the starting position and repeat, ensuring you maintain good form.

How to do a front raise:

  • Start in the same position as a lateral raise, but hold your dumbbells in front of your legs with palms facing your thighs.

Keep your arms straight and raise them in front of you until they are parallel to the ground, engaging your shoulder and chest muscles.

Return to the starting position and repeat, focusing on smooth, controlled movements.

 

The perfect arm workout accessories

Ready to get started with your arm toning journey but don't have the right equipment? Our 4kg and 5kg pair (2kg and 2.5kg per bar) dumbbell strength bars are perfect for the exercises listed above. They are easy to hold and add just the right amount of resistance to help tone, sculpt, and strengthen your arms effectively.

If you're just starting out and looking for something lighter, try our 3kg pair (1.5kg per bar) Pilates and fitness bars. These are also easy to hold and can help you achieve toned, lean arms without overwhelming your muscles.

Let us know how you get on with these exercises and accessories; we'd love to hear what you think and see your progress!

What are your favourite arm exercises? Tell us in the comments below and share your tips and experiences with our community.

 

womens home gym fitness weights strength health and exercise amp
Revitalise and Recover: A Stretching and Foam Roller Session for Home Workouts

Revitalise and Recover: A Stretching and Foam Roller Session for Home Workouts

Enhancing your fitness journey is not only about the exercise, workouts and energy that you put into your sessions. It is also about how you...

Enhancing your fitness journey is not only about the exercise, workouts and energy that you put into your sessions. It is also about how you then rest, recover and optimise the health of your body to be able to make the most out of your workouts. The purpose of this is to improve the quality of the effort you do put in, to raise your overall performance for optimum health. Working hard without looking after yourself and implementing recovery techniques may hinder instead of enhance, your fitness journey. We are going to look at how to do this effectively, by looking at the value of incorporating foam rolling into your exercise routine.

What is foam rolling?

Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) technique. It is an effective tool to add to your warm-up or cooldown, to use before and after exercise. The benefits of foam rolling can vary from person to person but it can help to relieve muscle tightness, soreness, and inflammation as well as increase your joint range of motion and improve your posture, all beneficial outcomes to maintaining and improving your current health and fitness levels. Through this self-massage technique, you can help to release built up tightness from overuse, weakness and repetitive movements. It has become a staple in gyms, health and wellbeing centre's and with physios.

 

foam rollers how to guide

 

The Benefits of Foam Rolling

It has been recently reported that muscle strains and tightness can limit life activities as well as reduce your exercise time or number of sessions when you are still sore from the previous workout. This is increasingly prevalent in young adults and more common in women, often associated with pain. However, taking action to mitigate this tension, such as through foam rolling, can have positive impacts on your workout performance, and also your every day life. Lets looks at some of the benefits of including foam rolling into your weekly routine.

 1. Convenient

Foam-rolling is a convenient and budget friendly option for recovery, with one piece of small equipment, the foam roller, you can enjoy the self-massage techniques, releasing tension and soreness from the comfort of your own home and in your own time.

2. Reduce muscle soreness

One study found evidence that foam rolling after exercise may help reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness. When foam rolling for 20 minutes immediately after exercise, in addition to another session 24 to 48 hours after exercise these participants show a decrease in delayed-onset muscle soreness when compared to exercising without foam rolling. They also performed the physical exercises better than those who didn’t foam roll. More research is needed in more diverse groups to understand these benefits further.

3. Improved mobility and enhanced recovery

Although studies are just emerging, research has shown so far that foam rolling can help to increase mobility and range of motion in joints, as well as enhance recovery for improved future workout performance.  In Verywell Fit’s ultimate foam rolling guide they report research which shows this can be achieved in rolling just 3 times per week for three sets lasting 30-50 seconds.

4. It feels great

This is an opportune moment for self-care, priorisiting your wellbeing and time for you to look after your body, health and mind. Many people find foam rolling to be calming and relaxing, reducing tightness which can also help relieve a feeling of tension in your muscles enabling you to feel calmer as a result. Taking the time to stretch and roll ensures you also take time to rest, which can be as beneficial overall for stress levels.

5. It works!

The evidence and data does show that it is a beneficial technique, for example, further studies have shown it has helped to improve speed and flexibility, reduce muscle soreness and maintain performance. However, it is also part of a holistic approach to recovery and performance, it won’t replace a healthy lifestyle and you will still need to eat a balanced diet and get enough sleep to aid recovery.

 

Foam rollers stretch and massage muscles with our amp wave roller

 

Types of foam rollers

Foam rollers are generally cylinder-shaped hollow or dense tubes made of dense foam. They come in a range of lengths, sizes and firmness. It helps to take the time to find one which suits your needs and preferences to ensure it is comfortable to use.

Our amp wellbeing textured rollers have ridges and waves on them, which help them to be able to work deeper into the muscles to work out knots and tension. You can find the range here.

 

 

 

 

 

How to use your Foam roller

Using your body weight, roll the core muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calf muscles) in an effective way to relieve tension in areas which regularly get fatigued and sore.

Release and stretch foam roller - Ampwellbeing

 

How to foam roll calves

Increase your flexibility, stride length and performance with calf rolling. Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Place your foam roller underneath your Achilles and raise your torso up, forming a platform with your hands. Gently use the roller to apply pressure and target tender areas where necessary.

 

How to foam roll your quads

Lay flat on your stomach and place the foam roller underneath your thighs. Gently bend your legs at the knee and rock backwards and forwards taking care to effectively stretch the muscle.

 

 

 

How to foam roll your back

Lie with the foam roller placed horizontally underneath your shoulders and slowly roll your upper back up and down the roller, pause in areas of tension to focus the pressure. This can be particularly helpful for countering the effect of sitting for long periods at a desk. To enhance movement, extend your arms out in front of you as you move up and down.

Remember: focus on your muscles, avoid joints, bones and never foam roll or apply pressure to your neck.

 

Release and stretch foam roller - Ampwellbeing

 

How long does foam rolling take?

A good rule of thumb is to roll a muscle for around one minute. Make sure that as you apply pressure, you stretch the muscle out for maximum results. The bonus is the benefits of foam rolling can be achieved in 5-10 minutes post workout!

 

The widespread use of foam rollers for sports settings to increase training efficiency is shown to be justified in research.

Foam rolling can help enhance recovery, reduce muscle tenderness and improve performance, with a method that is affordable, easy to perform and time efficient to enhance muscle recovery. If you are serious about improving your health and wellbeing and achieving your fitness plan, adding in effective recovery and stretching techniques will help you reach your goals.

 

Do you foam roll? Let us know how you get on and your favourite moves!