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      Fitness Trends to Watch for 2017

      Fitness Trends to Watch for 2017

      As technology, medical knowledge, and social media have grown, they’ve taken the fitness world to new levels. With access to a slew of fitness trackers and medical advice, 2017 fitness trends will be tailored to people’s individual needs.

      Some workout methods may seem unconventional, but regularly changing your routine saves you from boredom and keeps your body in better shape. Get ahead of the game and add some of these trends to your fitness schedule.

      • Fitness trackers. They’ve been around for awhile now, but their convenience and accuracy continues to improve, making new gadget releases as anticipated as smartphone upgrades. Many of them will measure your distance, heart rate, and allow you to track your health habits. These added workout insights coupled with interchangeable bands for any occasion make them an attractive trend.
      • Interval training. Long-gone are the days of the monotonous, long jog. Raising your heart rate is everyone’s new goal as they strive to enter the ideal zone for fat burning. Whether it’s sprints on the track or boxing in the gym, quick bursts of intense effort will take your workout to the next level.
      • Body-weight only. Expensive gym memberships and busy schedules have many turning to at-home fitness routines. With none or minimal equipment required, it becomes much cheaper and more time-efficient to pull up a yoga video at home. Losing the weights provides a better alternative for those easily injured or intimidated by a stack of dumbbells.
      • From land to water. Water aerobics and cycling classes are popping up utilizing resistance in unique ways to work more muscles. Hopping in the water will provide variation for land-only exercisers, challenging their strength in a new way. Additionally, water allows for minimal impact, meaning your knees and ankles will thank you.
      • Movement is key. Forget shakily attempting to hold plank position for obscene lengths of time. The bear crawl is the newest trend to rid us of planking in favor of motion. Remaining static may be challenging, but throwing some movement into old workout favorites gets your heart pumping and adds an element of flexibility and balance that will ultimately make you stronger.

      Toast the New Year with Tea-Infused Cocktails

      Toast the New Year with Tea-Infused Cocktails

      Hosting a new year’s eve party requires even the most adept party planners to find inventive new ways to celebrate, especially on the heels of the whirlwind holiday party season.

      So here’s our tasty tip: You can skip the basic drinks and throw a healthy spin in the mix with tea cocktails!

      Tea’s antioxidants, immune-boosting powers, and low-calorie flavor are the perfect ingredients for a unique party treat. Preventing cancer and heart disease and lowering cholesterol are only a few things that make tea the perfect mixer.

      Most cocktails are filled with sugar that lead to more empty calories and upset stomachs. Two tea experts from Owl’s Brew, Jennie Ripps and Maria Littlefield, turned to tea cocktails to seek delicious drinks without excess sweeteners.

      The two found that anyone can easily make their own tea cocktails when following some basic guidelines. When adding alcohol, you’ll want to double the amount of tea leaves you use in order to preserve the taste. Using a 4 to 1 ratio of tea to alcohol and a tablespoon of sweetener will balance the drink as well.

      For an extra touch of natural sweetness, try a simple syrup made with honey. It’s just equal parts honey and water!

      5 tea-infused cocktails

      Mix your own holiday tea cocktails by using seasonal garnishes like cinnamon sticks or cranberries and toss them in your favorite tea blends.

      Not ready to create your own recipe? Try some of these tea cocktail recipes to add a healthy, distinctive experience for your guests.

      How to Eat and Move All the Way to Grandmother’s House This Holiday Season

      How to Eat and Move All the Way to Grandmother’s House This Holiday Season

      Look, it’s no secret that we’re headed into the season where the Candy Land board game seems to come to life and we’re just hopping over bridges with arms full of gumdrops and trying to dodge licorice monsters lurking behind cotton candy trees all while working toward the twirly, swirly, glittery cupcake fortress of sugar coma dreams in the same pants we started in.

      Can we live?

      So before you set off for grandmother’s house by way of plane or train this holiday season, we wanted to arm you with a few travel tips that are good for your mind, body, and even hips! If you burn through all of your holiday splurges before you even get there, who’s going to eat all of that real pumpkin pie?

      TRAVEL BY CAR

      Say it with us … the cooler is your friend! If you’re traveling by car, then you can keep fresh delicious snacks or meals, depending on the length of the drive, right on hand. Sandwich supplies are the easiest for road-side picnics. Fresh, cold fruit like grapes, oranges, and apples are bite-sized, refreshing, and totally manageable in the car.

      The site Roadtrippers.com plans a route that you can filter by “vegetarian and healthy restaurants” along the way! The map indicates where to find restaurants, delis, and grocers that offer better options than greasy burgers and fries.

      Stop and stretch, too! Your entire body will thank you if your trip lasts more than about three hours. Challenge yourself to take 500-1000 steps at each gas or bathroom stop; add some resistance with squats and lunges. Do a few yoga stretches when you’re stopped like cat/cow, windmills, or ragdolls.

      TRAVEL BY PLANE

      TSA guidelines actually permit quite a few healthful foods to travel on board. Veggie sticks and hummus, chips and salsa, granola bars, a sandwich, or even a packed salad. Dressings, salsa, or other liquids have to stick to the 3.4-ounce rule.

      In light of this, airports have broadened their offerings. Carry-on your will power and the caprese wrap will be just as satisfying as a pastrami on rye. Sushi, soup, big salads, and smoothies are pretty easy to find after security. Splurge on the biggest bottle of water after security and skip the alcohol. Dehydration is all too common with the dry air and altitude of air travel.

      As for movement in the friendly skies, get all you can where you can. Walk instead of riding the moving sidewalk, take the escalators like stairs, and avoid folding into a chair in the terminal. Stateside airports with yoga rooms include SFO, DFW, ORD, and BTV. Overseas you can find them in London’s Heathrow, Hong Kong, and Helsinki. Or try these 12 yoga positions on the plane that include seated twists, savasana, and cat/cow, and neck and shoulder rolls. Stand and take a lap whenever possible.

      PS - be sure to pack your favorite Enell sport bra. Whether tackling mall sales or your younger brothers in the backyard, you’ll want to be prepared for any physical activity opportunities that present themselves!

      Gifts That Give to Your Fit and Healthy Lifestyle

      Gifts That Give to Your Fit and Healthy Lifestyle

      Treat this as a wishlist for yourself, or use it to find some inspired gift ideas for the fit friends on your nice list. We’ve gathered some of our favorite things that support a fit, healthy, balanced lifestyle.

      Quad Lock Case

      This may be the most secure way to make a smartphone part of your active lifestyle. Whether on your arm or the handlebars on a bike, your phone safely runs, rides, and climbs where you do!

      MoBot

      It’s a water bottle… and a foam roller! And it’s the only one like it in the world. Several sizes and designs of this eco-friendly water bottle are available, each wrapped in a mini, mobile foam roller.

      Gingerbread Running Team Tank

      The FitBottomedGirls have designed some super cute tanks and tees to accent your sassy gym life. This one is a holiday fave, but Kiss My Asana and woMAN UP would look good at a workout, too.

      AcaciaTV Membership

      The gift of time is priceless, and that’s exactly what you share with a membership to AcaciaTV. Your recipients can log-in from their computer or devices to expert trainer-led workouts from yoga to strength training anytime they want.

      Mio Liquid Yoga Bath Soak

      Screaming, aching muscles are crying out for this stuff! A little drizzle of this magic green elixir in your bath will give your body therapeutic relief. A sensational scent with zen-like results is made from essential oils, mineral salts and herbs.

      Bombas Socks

      If for nothing else, the blister tab make these socks a game changer for any athlete on their feet. Bombas socks will reduce sweat, maximize comfort, and donate a pair every time you buys a pair.

      Candi Factory Underwear

      Imagine panties that don’t ride up your butt -- whether just trying to live your life or while squatting, lunging, and riding. At Candi Factor, it’s a thing! This snug, comfortable, super-soft undies come in super sassy designs and keep everything in place on your behind.

      Enell Sports Bra

      Socks… undies… and bras! Of course we had to include our Enell Sport and Enell Lite on this must-have fitness fiend gift list. Treat yourself or treat the well-endowed girls you love to the sports bra made to support those in a C cup or higher. Not sure what size to get your friends or family? Go for the gift card option!

      Race or Conference Fees

      If you’d rather give experiences more than just stuff, then this is the gift for you! Take care of the race fees for their upcoming marathon or triathlon, or send them to a fitness or wellness conference where they can work to better themselves.

      The Reality Behind the Cupping Craze

      The Reality Behind the Cupping Craze

      The Rio Olympics passed with record-breaking feats and heart-melting moments, but some of us are still scratching our heads over those weird-looking welts that decorated several olympians, including U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps.

      Cupping is the source of these marks, but the name doesn’t shed much light onto the purpose behind the practice. A flame heats the rims of special cups, or air is suctioned through the cups creating a vacuum when placed on a body. Pulling skin and blood vessels upward, the cups leave behind the signature purple circles that cuppers say will lead to increased blood flow. 

      Cupping advocates also say that it soothes pain and inflammation, promoting relaxation and athletic performance. However, there’s technically no evidence that it actually does anything besides bruising people’s bodies. Bruises are blood clots, meaning that blood is not flowing. 

      Recently, “Big Bang Theory” star Kaley Cuoco gave cupping a try, and she isn’t the first celebrity. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston dabbled in cupping back in 2013. Ranging from $40-$80 a session, cupping is accessible to the Hollywood crowd, but is definitely a price jump from the bag of ice or aspirin that most people use.

      While the practice dates back centuries to when the Chinese used horns to draw toxins out of snakebites, cupping hasn’t proved to be much more than a case of the placebo effect. Tricking the mind into improving the body’s health is useful, but some have taken to buying their own cups to use on themselves. Outside of a trained environment, people have suffered severe burns and blisters from the treatment.

      If you want to avoid the risks, discomfort, and giant bruises, there are legitimate ways to find what cupping claims to offer. Regular stretching and deep tissue massages will lead to increased relaxation and athleticism. Staying hydrated and exercising will also promote blood flow. It may not be a trendy health fad, but proper diets and consistent workouts are what built olympians like Phelps, not questionable, ancient therapies.

      5 Equine Yoga Poses You Can Do on a Horse

      5 Equine Yoga Poses You Can Do on a Horse

      Uniting two ancient arts, equine yoga has emerged to show that even some of the oldest art forms can be refreshed with a new twist. Horseback riders have known for a while that yoga is an excellent tool to aid their flexibility, core strength, and balance. However, equestrians have been moving poses from the mat to the saddle, and it could even be improving their relationships with their horses.

       

      "What if you could easily tune into your pet's healing, comforting, and constant love, and in doing so, tap into a universal calm and a more enlightened way of being in the world? This is precisely what the animal method allows you to do,” asks Pamela Robins of Meditating With Animals.

      Besides adding new challenges to a yoga routine, equine yoga can provide a bonding experience between you and your horse, fostering trust and love. While some poses could be dangerous to attempt on horseback, a few are well-suited for the task.

      Try a few of these poses next time you’re with your horse, regardless of your experience level. There’s a #neighmaste pose for everyone!

      5 yoga poses on your horse

      Beginner

      • Saddle Twist. Twist your torso backwards while sitting in your saddle, turning your chest outward and using your hands to balance yourself by gripping the side of the saddle with one hand and the back of the saddle with the other.
      • Saddle Camel. Prepare your posture for a ride by putting your hands behind you, grabbing the edge of the saddle, and pushing to raise your chest upward. Your back will arch and you can feel free to tip your head back and soak in a beautiful sky view.

      Intermediate

      • Upward Bow Pose. Lie on your horse with your knees bent and your heels drawn close to your buttocks. Place your palms overhead and bend your elbows, keeping your forearms parallel and your head on your horse with your fingers pointing toward your feet. Lift your body higher, drawing your head off the floor and arching your back.
      • Downward Dog. Starting on your hands and knees, stretch out your arms and lift your knees off the horse, bringing your body into an arrow shape that points upward. Slowly straighten out your legs without locking your knees and spread your fingers out for balance.

      Expert 

      • Crow pose. Squat on your horse facing backwards and place your hands in front of you and between your legs with your knees pointing outward and wide. Slowly shift your weight forward, sliding your knees onto your triceps while bending your elbows, but keep your toes on the horse for balance. Pull your thighs against the sides of your torso, look forward, and lift one foot after the other, straightening out your arms.

      You won’t be alone in this new yoga practice. Instagram is teeming with people pairing equestrian athleticism with their yoga practice. #HorseYoga and  #PastureYoga are a couple of places to find these enthusiasts getting real connected with nature. And be sure to follow accounts like @Horse_Yoga_Girl and @Yoga.Horse.

      If a horse isn’t enough, Equinox Farms is hosting a Llama’ste event in partnership with Pamela Robins @MeditatingWithAnimals.

      Unshakable Free Downloads

      Unshakable Free Downloads

      Love the "UNSHAKABLE" mantra and want to put it on your desktop or mobile phone? We're excited to share this set of downloadable photos. 

      Download this mantra for your devices using the links below. Right click on the desired size below and then "Save As"

      Don't forget the other awesome parts of this UNSHAKABLE campaign:

      • Enter the weekly giveaway
      • Find the UNSHAKABLE tee
      • Get FREE SHIPPING on SPORT and LITE bras at enell.com using code "Unshakable" (without quotes)

      UNSHAKABLE

      UNSHAKABLE

      ENELL is excited to unveil our new "UNSHAKABLE“ campaign. We're celebrating with GIVEAWAYS all month (enter at the end of this post), new t-shirts, and other great goodies.

      "ENELL's new “UNSHAKABLE” campaign is just in time to show the world exactly who we are as women and just who they are dealing with. We are unshakable!” says ENELL founder Renelle Braaten. “We are a strong formidable force, no question. And so is the ENELL bra.”

      The ENELL “UNSHAKABLE” campaign is comprised of several elements:

      • Giveaways: Throughout the month of November, there will be a set of Unshakable-themed giveaways of ENELL SPORT bras and Limited Edition t-shirts. There are multiple entry methods across the ENELL social media accounts and on enell.com, encouraging women to share why they’re UNSHAKABLE. Want to enter to win? Jump to the end of this blog post!
      • New creative assets displaying the UNSHAKABLE mantra with images of powerful, strong women. These assets also include a series of free wallpapers for digital download at enell.com for personal use.
      • Free Shipping: ENELL is offering free shipping through 11/30/16 on their top-of-the-line ENELL SPORT and LITE bras at enell.com using code “Unshakable”
      • Limited Edition T-Shirts: For a limited time, ENELL will also have Unshakable t-shirts available for purchase at enell.com. They come in sizes S-3X and retail for $24.

      “It is our time to prove to the world just how “UNSHAKABLE” women really are,” concludes Braaten.

      GIVEAWAY: Share and Win ENELL Bras!

      For the month of November, we'll have a weekly giveaway of ENELL bras and UNSHAKABLE tees. Share why YOU are UNSHAKABLE using any or all of the methods below, and you will be entered into our random weekly giveaways. Open to US Residents only. Void where prohibited.

       

       

      Reclaim the Tailgate With an Active, Healthy Party

      Reclaim the Tailgate With an Active, Healthy Party

      Despite the stereotypes, football isn’t as male-dominated as everyone seems to think. Of the 150 million American NFL fans, women make up an estimated 45 percent. Maybe even more impressive? Eight million women in the U.S. and Canada participate in the cutthroat fantasy football world.

      Football season naturally ushers in tailgates, but the perfect tailgate doesn’t have to be a boys club. Gather some of your best sports-loving friends for some fun before the next big game!

      Healthy Tailgate Party Ideas

      What to Eat

      • Summer Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Cream: Make your tailgate stand out by replacing a plain, greasy burger with a healthier and more visually appealing option.
      • Baked Sweet Potato Chips: No tailgate is complete without chips, but they don’t need to break anyone’s diet. Sweet potato chips will taste great and won’t make you feel overloaded on salty junk food.
      • Roasted Tomatillo Pineapple Salsa: Dip those homemade chips, top the veggie tacos, or give your turkey burgers a kick with this simple, fresh salsa that uses up the last of your garden’s stock.
      • BBQ Turkey Sliders: These hand-held burgers keep you in all the backyard game action and offer a lighter yet bold-tasting alternative to typically greasy tailgate fare.
      • Chocolate Almond Butter Fruit Dip: Quick and healthy, this dessert will take five minutes to make and will leave everyone with enough energy to play some tailgating games.

      Be sure to serve some of our favorite cocktails and mocktails, too!

      What to Play

      • Ladder Golf: Perfect for people of any age at a tailgate, ladder golf won’t make you sweat but it will get you up and active before the game.
      • Touch Football: To really get your blood pumping, start up a few rounds of touch football. There’s nothing better to break the ice for new friends and even have some fun between team rivalries.
      • Tarp Toss: If you’ve got craftier skills, show them off and cut different sized holes in a tarp, painting different point values by the holes. String up the trap and you’ve got a game for anyone who wants to practice their throw.

      HOPE Bra Giveaway

      HOPE Bra Giveaway

      ENELL’s commitment to women and families goes beyond the playing field. Determined to GO BIG where it counts most, ENELL is proud to support the fight against breast and ovarian cancer by donating 10% of all sales (all year long) from our HOPE SPORT Bra and HOPE LITEBra to Bright Pink. For the month of October, get a free ENELL cinch bag with your ENELL HOPE purchase (while supplies last.) 

      Want to enter to win an ENELL SPORT or LITE in HOPE? See the details at the end of this post. 

      About Bright Pink: Bright Pink is a national non-profit focused on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. The organization’s mission is to save women’s lives from breast and ovarian cancer by empowering them to live proactively at a young age.

      Bright Pink’s innovative programs educate and equip young women to assess their risk for breast and ovarian cancer, reduce their risk, and detect these diseases at early, non life-threatening stages. Founded in 2007, Bright Pink strives to reach the 52 million women in the US between the ages of 18-45 with this life-saving education. Put Awareness In Action™ at BrightPink.org.

      GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a HOPE Bra

      We are giving away 1 ENELL SPORT Bra in HOPE and 1 ENELL LITE Bra in HOPE. Entries are open until 10/31/16 at 11:59pm ET. Winner for SPORT will be selected at random on 10/24/16. Winner for LITE will be selected on 11/1/16. To enter, use any of the methods below.

       

      Beat That 3pm Slump Without Candy or Coffee

      Beat That 3pm Slump Without Candy or Coffee

      Anyone who’s worked in an office can tell you that the most difficult part of the day isn’t the grogginess of the first hour or the eagerness to leave during the last hour—it’s the 3 p.m. crash. You’re antsy, unfocused, and even briefly fall asleep with your eyes open at your computer. If you manage to emerge from the haze, you’ll see that you’re not alone because your office mates suffer from the same condition.

      If even coffee can’t cure the afternoon slump, it’s difficult to tell what the source of the problem is. Rather than searching for one culprit, this mid-day attack is more than likely caused by a mixture of lifestyle choices.

      Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, your body’s circadian rhythm is likely preparing you for a resting state in the afternoon. At this point, your body is ready for a nap even though you’re likely diving into the toughest part of your workday.

      Despite the hefty factor of your biological clock, your diet isn’t getting a free pass for this. Both what and when you eat primes your body to slip right into the 3 p.m. funk. Burning fat is how humans should get most of their energy, however, we chow on carbs to achieve that instantly gratifying sugar high.

      Keep candy bars, white bread, and even too much fruit out of reach at your desk. Your body may crave a sugar rush to keep you afloat, but it’ll only make the crash worse and contribute to the bad habit.

      Next time you feel your eyelids drooping at work, forget the coffee and empty calories and grab one of these energy boosting and sustaining snacks:

      • Hummus and veggies

      • Whole grain bread toasted with peanut butter

      • Cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls

      • Roasted chicken

      • Avocados or chips + guac

      • Beans

      • Almonds, pistachios, or a handful of other nuts

      • Hard boiled eggs

      • Greek yogurt

      These foods are full of good fats and proteins, the real energy your body needs when it’s tired. Relying on sugar gives you a high but short-lived energy boost. Proteins and healthy fats, however, take much longer for our bodies to burn through, leading to longer spans of energy and a healthier overall diet.

      It’s Time to Treat Exercise as Medicine

      It’s Time to Treat Exercise as Medicine

      In an appearance-obsessed culture, exercise has become the chisel we use to carve ourselves a body we can be proud of. Unfortunately, the reality is that exercise alone isn’t an ideal way to lose weight. But before you toss out your new yoga pants, understand that while exercise may not be the key to weight loss, it is a miracle cure for dozens of health problems.

      In TIME Magazine’s September cover story, Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky reveals his mission to show people why they should value exercise as a mechanism that almost instantly leads to slower aging, improved mood, less chronic pain, stronger vision, and a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

      Studies by Tarnopolsky and other researchers have shown that exercise affects our bodies on both genetic and cellular levels. In 2011, Tarnopolsky’s team studied two groups of mice with a genetic condition that made them age prematurely. For five months, one group was sedentary and the other ran three times a week on a treadmill. At the study’s conclusion, the sedentary mice were worn and near death, but the active mice were almost identical to healthy mice without a genetic condition.

      Currently, 80.2 million Americans over age six are completely inactive and childhood-obesity rates have consistently increased since 1999. Exercise physiologist Marcas Bamman claims that if people view exercise as a disease cure, then the medical field could change dramatically. Doctor visits could end with exercise being prescribed the same way that drugs are. Chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease are the ideal candidates for vigorous exercise to cure. Even people who suffered from strokes rehabilitated much faster when they exercised in recovery.

      Exercise can add five years to your lifespan, help you grow new brain cells, and improve bone density, but many refrain from physical activity, claiming they don’t have the time to invest. But research has found that exercising in short, rigorous bursts for 10 minutes can have the same benefits as a 50-minute workout. These high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts will improve your heart function and blood-sugar management despite their short duration.

      If you want to maximize your body’s profit from working out, you have to do aerobic and strength training exercises. While almost half of Americans meet the aerobic physical activity recommendations, only 20% meet the strength training requirements.

      Using exercise as a cure and health boost can look like consistently running and adding some yoga or Pilates for anaerobic exercise. However, even everyday things like climbing stairs, doing yard work, and going bowling can be the first steps toward using exercise as medicine.