We know that a lot of people do tend to think of fitness at this time of year and we hope that this is part of your overall fitness plan. We talk about why fitness is a long-term game here. We, therefore, wanted to do a little round-up of some of our favourite online and in-person workouts to add variety to your movement and to help with finding inner strength.
We’re big fans of female-owned businesses and Amy is one of the most positive, smiley, and flexible people we’ve met! Her online-based membership is packed to the brim with workouts and you can sign up for live classes as well. We are loving the challenges, which stay in the class library and can be accessed at any time. These 21-25 day challenges structure your workouts for you to ensure that you’re getting a balanced and varied mix of sessions. Ranging from 5-45 minutes they feel very achievable to fit into your day.
We have long been fans of the 1Rebel workouts and over the years that’s not changed. The studios dotted across London offer spin sessions, Reshape (a mix of treadmill and weights) or boxing. Whilst we’ve tried them all we have to say the spin gets us every time. There’s something very addictive about stepping into a dark studio with a club-worthy sound system and a great Spotify playlist. You really can lose yourself in the beat and focus on the encouragement from the instructor. Our version of being truly mindful and a serious cardio and strength workout.
If you haven’t come across this app yet we highly recommend you check it out. So reasonable at £2.99 per month, this app is brimming with content. There are recipes, wellness sessions and a huge amount of workouts. We like that this app has a range from more relaxed yoga sessions, breath work and meditation through to strength, cardio and HIIT sessions.
We couldn’t not mention Barrecore. We adore these workouts. Low impact with the focus on a range of small, precise movements that have been designed to strengthen and tone. We find these workouts seriously hard and a true challenge (the shake is real!) but incredible. Very satisfying and we always find that we feel impressed with our strength, which you can notice improving after several sessions.
We’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve tried any of these workouts as well as any recommendations.
]]>We’re excited to announce that Etté Athletica is coming to life in the form of events. We know some amazing instructors, have great connections with wonderful brands and a host of perfect event venues at our disposal. We thought 2023 should be the year our events programme came to life.
Just the thought of this makes us buzz with excitement – we can’t wait, and we hope to see you all there too.
If you fancy joining us one morning (we’re early birds) for the chance to experience a fun workout, use the prettiest weights on the market and exercise in a great venue, please do let us know. Our plan is to run an event with a great class, brilliant food and a chance to mingle with other guests. We’re keen to bring the Etté community together and meet you all face to face.
Our community of strong women is very powerful and something we’re very proud of. Women supporting women is where the magic happens, and we’d love to bring everyone together to spark connections and interactions.
We will be focussing on a workout that is accessible to all and an instructor who is brilliant at adapting and modifying their moves to allow for all fitness levels. It’s important that our events feel welcoming and fun to join. If you want to participate but have any concerns or requirements ahead of time, please do let us know.
Don't miss out! To hear about our events first, please sign up to our mailing list via our website. We’ll pop the details of our events and how to get involved in our mailing list first, so keep an eye on your inbox.
It’s safe to say we’ll probably have competitions, snacks and goody bags as well, so you really don’t want to miss out.
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Let’s start with the fact that life has bumps, stresses and just a lot going on. Your motivation isn’t going to magically fall into place in one month. Especially when that month falls after a bout of potential overindulging, way less routine and probably less sleep.
So, you start your year with a bang but come day 10 you’re flagging. Maybe that’s just because it’s hard to constantly keep up an intense movement schedule. Your movement plans must flex to fit your life. For example, consider longer workouts on your mornings with slower starts (thank goodness for wfh days) and quick, more intense sessions squeezed in on busier days, or in your lunch breaks. Maybe a slow stretch session is just what you need before bedtime?
When you’re looking at your movement goals as a lifestyle choice, find something that simply fits into your week. There’s less pressure. It allows you to adjust and adapt as life and your motivation ebbs and flows. When you’re on a strict plan it can so easily feel like a failure if you fall off it.
Movement is key to so many things. Happiness, a calm mind, a strong body, we find movement is always the answer. Busy day? Move to calm your mind and separate the workday from your evening. Bad day? Move to be mindful, focus on your workout and forget your day. Great start? Move to set your tone for the day. We could go on!
We wanted to write this for those who haven’t jumped on the January fitness bandwagon or never intended to do so.
Long-term. Boring adaptable long-term – that is what it’s all about and we’re here for it.
Who’s with us?
]]>We are delighted to be featured in the December 22 issue of Women’s Health. As this is the holy grail of UK fitness magazines we are thrilled to be recommended in this publication. Within the luxury gift guide, the WH team talk about their favourite items of the season to gift or treat themselves.
Claire Sanderson, editor-in-chief of Women’s Health explains that since the lockdown she has found she’s become obsessed with her home gym. We’ve found this so much – so many people have ditched their gym membership and classes in favour of working out within their own space. It’s easy, it’s convenient, and it’s one less barrier to getting that movement in. She also notes that "with my days getting busier than ever, the convenience of exercising at home means I get in more workouts without sacrificing precious time with my children."
Sanderson goes on to say that her impressive range of dumbbells ranging from 4-22kg and all have a similar black, chunky and masculine feel apart from her gleaming gold Etté weights. She says these are her "pride and joy" and they "shine like bullion among their dark counterparts."
The design of the dumbbells is also commented on, something we have worked hard to achieve. Most dumbbells are found with a textured handle to promote grip. This however can cause callouses, and sore hands and be really uncomfortable. Etté dumbbells have an ergonomic design with a smooth handle giving a much more comfortable lift.
She notes that they’re firmly positioned at the luxury end of the market but that, of course, they will last a lifetime. We couldn’t agree more. These are weights you may lust after for some time, that you save up for or splurge on with your payday cheque, but they will last forever.
Sanderson’s parting comment is:
"Functional and fabulous – I’m in love" - we couldn’t ask for higher praise.
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The warmth and depth of gold and rose are so appealing. When it came to selecting colours we couldn’t resist pursuing the production of gold weights. It just seemed like this world was so functional, so masculine and practical. The aesthetic wasn’t considered at all. The weights on the market were purely for working out and to be hidden away after each session. We all love metallic notes within our homeware, our clothing and accessories. Why couldn’t you have gold weights? Why not?
We trialled it and we of course fell in love with the results. It felt like we’d created a piece of jewellery, a mini sculpture, something we’d proudly display and show off. Times have changed so much, women now use weights within their workouts so much more than ever before. Athleisure is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The sale of trainers has overtaken the sale of heels and this was before the pandemic. Health is "in" and curating your workout space is something people consider now.
We are huge fans of incredible activewear and how the best pair of leggings can make you feel incredible. We’ve found that the same is true of an incredible pair of dumbbells. They gleam away in the corner, motivating you and there’s nothing better than catching a glimpse of them in the mirror as you work out. They add glamour to your workout and a luxury note to your gym equipment.
Gold weights – we say why on earth not!
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When Etté started because we had so many questions;
Throughout our journey, we’ve realised the answer to these questions and so we thought, for those of you who may wonder the same, we’d share our findings.
The real answer is that they don’t have to be at all. Mostly they’re all made from a very limited number of designs meaning that they’re all very similar, and very ugly. How so many are made, in three parts screwed together is cheap but doesn’t contribute to a beautiful aesthetic. Genuinely I think that most suppliers look at mass production and cheap costs before they consider anything else. Working out is all about making you feel good and being embarrassed by the weights you have in your house isn’t ideal. We’re all limited on space and so not having to hide your equipment away is a definite plus point. Etté weights can be kept out on show for all to see.
Why is it assumed that women only lift small weights and therefore pink is only made in smaller sizes?
This one really gets us. Strong women can be girly. Girly women can be strong. Pink weights should be made in all sizes. Don’t worry, we’re rectifying this – watch this space!
We will admit that texture aids grips. But it can also leave you with red, sore and eventually calloused hands. We have worked on a solution and added grip lines without the rough texture and we believe the result is still as effective.
This goes back to point one. Once a certain number are made in black, the cheaper it becomes to keep making them in black. Having the same colour as everyone else is the most cost-effective option. But not the most interesting.
We say when everyone is doing one thing, why not do the other? Be bold and different, be Etté - it’s more fun that way.
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Whilst we can never really say what weight is best for you, we thought we’d run through our range and some of the most popular exercises done with each size.
Perfect for a Barrecore workout, this weight seems light but add it into one of those workouts and it’s honestly a killer. We recommend following the all-time originals Barrecore for some inspiration.
Really simple but great for your shoulders. Raise one weight out in front of your holding onto each end, then drop each side down in turn as if you’re steering along a very windy road! Try this for 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off, 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off until your arms feel like they’re about to fall off! Top tip - keep those shoulders down.
It seems as if this exercise wouldn’t be so hard but try it and let us know how you get on. Standing up, arms down by your side with a weight in each, raise your arms out to the side, up to shoulder height and hold. Repeat for as many times as you can. That 3KG starts to feel more like 30KG before you know it!
When you switch up to a 4KG things start to shift up a gear. Our favourite exercise with this weight is a true core workout. Lie flat on your back, arms and legs stretched out, weights in hand. Then curl up, knees in, arms coming to your knees. Out again but without letting your arms and the weights touch the floor. And repeat. Hard but very satisfying and amazing for your core.
Our most popular size, by a long shot. The 5KG is a great all-rounder. It’s heavy enough to feel challenging for both arms and legs. Try a single-handed overhead tricep extension with one 5KG for the ultimate burn. Don’t forget to switch hands!
Not an exercise to try on your first time but these are a real challenge and super rewarding. A simple bicep curl, slow and controlled on the way down and a powerful burst on the way up. Two-handed, 12KG total, this is a strong move.
We love adding a 7KG to a glute bridge. Place a weight on your front, at the base of your thighs and hold in place as your thrust up. Glute bridges are a great move anyway to build the glute muscle and with the added weight, these are brilliant.
One of our favourite moves – the rower. With one knee up on a bench (or chair/sofa/bed, whatever you have nearby), weight in the other hand, lean forward and bring your hand up, ensuring you squeeze your shoulder blade as you lift and lift your elbow as high as possible. Power on the lift and control on the release. Such a great move for your shoulders.
You either love them or hate them but a weighted Bulgarian split turns into a totally different move with a 9KG in one hand. Challenging to the extreme, this is a very effective move to build your glutes.
The heaviest in our range, the real deal. This is a heavy weight and we’re proud to say, it makes it into the top 5 most popular sizes. We have a strong community and we’re so happy about that. We love these weights on their own or if you’re feeling really strong, as a duo for weighted squats. Super resistance.
Let us know what you try and which size you love. Personally, we of course love a range of sizes so many of these moves will appeal. Maybe there’s a reason why people love to buy a small, medium, and large weight – a great cross-section for your workouts.
]]>Now’s the time to invest some thought into curating the perfect area within your home to workout. We’ve pulled together some top tips to help you!
For an effective workout, you actually don’t need that much equipment. It also depends on the type of workouts you prefer to do. Our top choices would be;
Of course, we would say this, but seriously a few pairs of dumbbells can transform your workout. If you don’t have the space for a full set, opt for light, medium and heavy pairs so you can effectively cover a full body workout.
So useful to add resistance and they take up no space at all.
It sounds simple but we think this is really important. A good mat does so much for your workouts;
If you’re into Pilates, weighted ankle weights or a Pilates ring are a great addition.
Kettlebells are brilliant but a heavy dumbbell held upright can be just as effective.
The great thing about working out at home is that you can do it pretty much anywhere however we’d say that considering where before you lay your mat is key.
Whilst transforming your garage is great if you like an equipment-heavy workout, consider the temperature and environment – lots of garages don’t have windows or heating which doesn’t always make for the most appealing space.
Great to be doing a sweaty workout, but not so great if your whole road can see you doing it. Whilst it’s amazing to be working out, it can be off-putting if you lock eyes with a stranger walking past whilst you’re mid-rep!
It’s worth noting that any high-impact workouts may be better on a solid floor so that the impact is absorbed. Equally, if you need space to stretch out you don’t want to accidentally knock anything over.
One of the best things about working out from home is that there’s nowhere to go, no commute or walk to the gym. You can exercise in whatever the weather, whatever the time or day and wear whatever you want! We say, grab your mat, pull out your equipment and just go for it. You’ll never regret it.
You need to love your movement to ensure you do it. We all have crazy, busy lives and it can be so easy to procrastinate when it comes to being active. Making your home workout space your happy space really helps. Light a scented candle, keep your cosy jumper and socks on until you warm up (we’re more than a little obsessed with our T Store sweatshirts here) and buy the equipment you genuinely like having around.
I would’ve always said that my strongest was when physically I felt the fittest. Just before my wedding I had the time to workout a lot and loved that. Physically I was really strong and felt it. With my strength came a lightness – my body just felt as if it functioned better.
Mentally I think I feel strongest when I have balance. When I’m moving lots, eating a really good range of food and when life feels the right side of busy – manageable and not overwhelming.
As I have gotten older, I have realised it’s all so fluid – you have times of strength and times when you feel less so and it comes and goes. Nothing is static, it’s always changing.
Definitely and I didn’t realise how true this was until I came through the other side. Just after I’d had a baby my body felt broken; I’d not loved pregnancy, my labour was long and complicated and recovery was very slow with further complications. My mind wasn’t doing so well either – not being able to move as freely really impacted me and then add to that a pandemic and it’s not surprising I wasn’t feeling great!
As I look back though on that period I see how far I’ve come, how I prioritise movement, am kinder to myself and have learnt to respect the journey of recovery. Actually I see that within all that perceived weakness there was a burning sense of strength to carry on, get through and break through to the other side. I feel proud of that process now.
I find that I move both for my mind and my body but in very different ways. When I need to clear my head, my go-to workout is either a run in the countryside where I can breathe the fresh air and focus on my pace and my music or a sweaty weights session with my music blasting and all I’m thinking about are the reps.
If I’m moving for my body, perhaps I’ve been sitting at my mac all day, I love Pilates or Barre. They’re the perfect combination of strength, stretching and endurance.
I am such a sucker for exercise and love everything from weights to running, Pilates to Barrecore, and intense spin to a country walk. I’m not as much of a fan of HIIT but having said that I did have a bit of an obsession with the Psycle spin classes and 1Rebel Reshape sessions! For me movement is really fluid – it’s whatever I fancy that day. I think when your movement regime becomes very set it starts to feel as if you ‘should’ do things whereas moving intuitively I always find more motivating.
I’ve always been fairly active but as I’ve got older, I have realised that exercise is so key to my mental health. As soon as I start a workout, especially a run, I always feel instantly better. Moving is so natural, yet nowadays we all sit still for so much of the day. When I find something where I can just dive into it, focus on it completely and ignore everything else, that’s a winner for me.
I mean I couldn’t not, right?! I genuinely do and my house is full of dumbbells including random samples from over the years as the perfect Etté colours were established. I’m lucky to have a big range and enjoy using a 1kg for a Barre workout as much as a 10KG for a strength session.
I started working out with weights just before I met my husband and the transformation I felt and saw was huge – bigger than any other type of movement in the past. I began to see real definition in my muscles and feel the strength develop. My progress was marked and it’s when my obsession started.
So many! From the big moments such as completing the London Marathon through to those sweaty classes on a spin bike with music so loud, I can feel it in my chest. For me, my favourite moments are all about when I lose myself to the movement and I’m riding along with it, totally absorbed. It’s the best form of escapism and meditation.
]]>Here we take a deep dive into what we consider five of the best ways we can lift ourselves up both physically and emotionally, especially on those days when we need reminding the most, so we can stay strong even during challenging times. That inner strength helps us to be patient. It helps us overcome laziness and control our habits. It boosts self-control and self-esteem. It helps us make important decisions and ultimately, persevere on the right path.
Let’s begin by looking at the definition. Psychologists use the term ‘inner strength’ to refer loosely to a wide range of mental and emotional resources such as behaviours, skills, and attitudes, that keep us stable and adaptable in life. In other words, your inner strength is knowing you have the equipment and tools to handle life's challenges. It’s doing the right thing, the right way. It involves carrying out tasks and making decisions without concern about what people around you think. It is the focus needed in order to achieve your most important goals.
Now we know that the elusive work/life balance doesn't actually exist. But we also know, that by making your well-being your top priority, you will find a life flow that you can control and maintain in a much more efficient way and as a result, harness that inner strength.
Start paying close attention and embracing all the small joys of yourself. When you actively spend time watching yourself make noticeable breakthroughs on goals you’ve set, there is nothing more rewarding. It will give you the strength to do it again and again. You’ll naturally want to keep doing those things that are helping you progress.
Take time to check in and mentally nourish yourself with the power of meditation. Whether that be a walk, or listening to a guided voice, your mind will become mentally clearer to achieve your goals. Your mind and body are much stronger than you think. They will always, always give you what you need, when you need it, but only if have the right, positive mindset. Feeding your mental health is equally as important as your physical, if not more so. Without a strong mindset, you may not want to train physically. It will get you through all of life's demanding times.
What would the most empowered and confident version of yourself do? Panic and fear bombard the mind whilst weakening the soul. Constant preoccupying thoughts are the worst culprits for not letting your inner strength come to the forefront. Choices that are aligned with making the most self-loving actions will in turn, continually strengthen your inner lift. When you feel you’re losing self-control, think about replacing thoughts with calm, controlled perseverance. Have a trigger point to come back to - it will help you achieve whatever you've set out to do.
Everything is created twice. First in the mind, then in reality. Being strong relies on the efficient use of energy. When you create thoughts in your head, decide on them and commit. You will find any indecision just zaps you of all energy. Learning to be decisive is like flexing a muscle. Understand that you’re the curator and architect of your life. Act on your decision and if you’re in limbo, focus in on it more to get to that decision faster.
Fear and doubt will constantly tell you that they’re protecting you, when in fact, all they’re doing is holding you back from achieving all that you want out of life. If you feel something might go wrong, first consider all the pros and cons. Are you identifying true risk or being fearful of the unknown? If fear is keeping you from the next steps in your life, then you are actively allowing it to defeat you. Don’t hinder your growth.
If not now, when?
Inner strength is an important skill. Without it, no one would start anything or dare to get to the finish line.
We’d love to hear your top tips for cultivating it too.
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You won’t find dumbbells more stylish than these rose gold numbers from Etté Athletica. But they’re not all style over substance – the weights have been ergonomically designed for maximum efficiency and comfort, with sizes ranging from one to 10kg.
Read more here: Country and Townhouse
]]>The gym gear you didn’t know you needed, Etté Athletica’s metallic dumbbells are a seriously stylish addition to your home workout space. Forget masculine-looking weights, choose from either gold or rose gold, with smooth handles for a comfortable grip. The lighter weights add gentle resistance to barre routines while the heavier sizes (up to 10kg) are the perfect accompaniment to full-body and arm workouts. Expertly crafted, the dumbbells are scratch resistant and finished with a high-gloss shine for years of use.
Read more here: Sheerluxe
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