During the global pandemic that has disrupted the world, many people found themselves with an unusual amount of free time on their hands. With shopping malls, gyms and other popular public places closed in an attempt to flatten the curve of COVID-19, many relied on daily workouts, such as running, walking and cycling, as a way to stay active and get out of the house. Since then, there has been a significant increase in people adopting a healthier and more active lifestyle. If you are one of these people, like us at IWTO, take the time to educate yourself on the importance of fitness and health, as well as the benefits of wool in sportswear and how it can enhance your workout.
The Benefits of Staying Active and Wearing Wool While You Do It
Staying active can be challenging for many people, but it does help to have the right activewear. Learn the importance of fitness and how wool sportswear can be a positive contribution.
1. Why Is Having an Active Lifestyle so Important?
Getting your body moving not only has great physical benefits, but also mental benefits. Whether you are going for a brisk walk around your neighbourhood or an endurance run, getting your heart rate up will release those happy endorphins that leave us feeling accomplished, motivated and confident. During lockdown, many governments encouraging their citizens to get daily exercise proved the importance of staying active, as many people experienced reduced stress and anxiety, felt more motivated and believed that it kept them sane under the tough lockdown regulations.
Whilst exercise benefits your body’s physical appearance, you will also strengthen your bones and muscles, reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as improve your respiratory and overall health.
Read Next: Wool’s Role in Sustainable Fashion
Why is Wool Sportswear Beneficial in Exercise?
Merino Wool has proven its worth in technical performance gear, from scaling the top of snow-covered mountains, to sailing the open seas and crossing the desert. Professional athletes and mountain rescue teams put their trust in wool garments for protection under adverse and unpredictable weather conditions. They value the attributes wool offers to keep them safe, comfortable, and performing at their best under all circumstances. We enjoy the same benefits, even if we only manage a 30-minute walk with the dog.
Wearing Merino wool to workout in reduces the amount you sweat, simultaneously serving as an effective odour controller by locking in unpleasant smells and absorbing the moisture vapour. Due to absorbing and evaporating moisture, your wool sportswear will feel significantly cooler and more comfortable. This coolness is due to the thermo-regulating benefits of this active fibre, which conducts heat away from the body and is proven to feel up to two times cooler than other workout fabrics.
Wool sportswear also contains fantastic elasticity that adapts to your body and the movements you are doing, which means that you aren’t confined to your activewear. This elasticity, much like springs, returns to its natural shape when they are no longer under pressure.
One of the greatest benefits of Merino Wool is its high UV resistance. Being a natural fibre, wool is able to protect sheep from the sun. This makes Merino wool an idealistic choice for all outdoor activities.
With exercise playing such an important role in our overall health, it makes sense to clad ourselves in sportswear that is not only environmentally sustainable, but also performance-enhancing and contributes to our overall health.
Start Your Fitness Journey in Wool Sportswear
Whether you are a pro athlete, or just starting out to beat the lockdown blues, your workout experience will be so much more enjoyable in Merino sportswear.
If you are looking for wool sportswear information, The Woolmark Company (one of our members) can help you. They even have an entire article on wool in activewear
Serving as a platform for participants in the wool textile industry and to ensure the sustainable future of wool products, browse through IWTO’s members here or contact us with any questions or queries you have regarding wool products and our members.
Now Read: Wool Face Masks in Demand