Health: Fitness first

Fancy footwork and super spandex The joy of proper workout attire Part I Everybody has their own style, especially when it comes to workout wear. I’ve seen it all—from baggy shorts and muscle shirts to floral printed spandex bodysuits. But, beyond a fashion statement, there are some basic guidelines about workout wear that can help maximize your workout. Apart from these rules I encourage you to develop your own workout style. Personally I favor black, pink, shirts from my alma mater and spandex. First of all—and arguably the most important—shoes. Although I realise it may be hard to get good workout shoes in Kigali, that doesn’t make them any less important. Properly supportive footwear can help you maximise your workout and prevent injuries that occur over time—including knee, ankle and shin injuries. Everybody’s feet are different—flat, high arches, different sizes. If you can you should try to figure out what kind of feet you have. If you have high arches, collapsing arches or flat feet you need very supportive footwear. It also depends what kind of exercise you do—very good shoes are especially important for running and aerobics or sports that involve running or jumping. These activities put a lot of stress on your ankles and knees. Also shoes for running are different than for activities that require lateral (side to side) movement – they are built differently to absorb side to side movement and protect your joints. If you run and do aerobics you can get crosstraining shoes that are built for both running and lateral movement (also good if you run and lift weights). And finally you want to make sure your shoes fit properly—it’s common to wear them too tight. You should have at least a toe length of space in front of your foot. Usually sports shoes should be 1-2 size larger than your regular shoes. Check out online stores and fitness sites for more information. Amity Weiss is a professional personal trainer from America living in Kigali. Contact: Amity_weiss@yahoo.com