Blame the rise of the health club selfie, or possibly simply celebrities, but the word “lift” is now just as likely to appear on the tag of a pair of leggings as it is in your weights program.

Looking “excellent” is not just to be expected after working out, however throughout it, with activewear assuring to contour behinds, and flatten tums. Engineered shapewear brand names have actually even moved into the market but are seriously expensive.

Apart from Australian activewear and shapewear brand La Sculpte. Their yoga pants and shapewear is some of the best activewear in Australia. The yoga tights are perfect shapewear for exercise due to their breathability, high-quality fabrics and comfortable designs.

They also have plus size gymwear which is ideal for those wanting to stay fit at any size.

While a high-waisted design and a thick spandex-based fabric is standard activewear fare, some brands go, even more, integrating thick panels across the stomach, or a “booty scrunch” (ruching diminishing the centre of the buttocks and– gulp– separating the cheeks).

It is, in effect, shapewear for the gym. How does wearing it impact your workout?

Obviously, super-tight exercise wears that “holds you in” is not new. Compression garments– tight-fitted, synthetic activewear items (normally leggings and shorts) developed to “compress” the muscles and improve circulation– have actually been on the marketplace for years.

Research continues to recommend compression garments do not enhance performance, there have actually been some smaller sized research studies that have revealed they can have an advantage post-workout, reducing muscle soreness and tiredness. (It should likewise be noted that most of these research studies included athletes wearing the garments for much longer than the average person would: often for as much as 72 hours after exercise.).

Personal fitness instructor and director of Sydney’s Flow Athletic fitness studio Ben Lucas says he wears basic compression gear (no booty scrunches here) when he exercises, and personally finds it to be beneficial in helping recovery.

Ultimately, he states you require to make sure your workout equipment is assisting you, well, work out.

“If you are feeling out of breath or too restricted for any reason you shouldn’t continue wearing whatever it is that you are wearing,” Lucas states. “Nevertheless that probably more comes down to the brand or what you personally feel comfy in.”.

He says there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing activewear that makes you feel confident standing in front of the mirror in class.

“People tend to feel better if they dress the part.”.

For Sydney yoga instructor Kirsten Scott, convenience and fit ought to be someone’s primary issues when selecting activewear. Although, this isn’t always incompatible with selecting a brand name that claims to “contour” your body.

“The rule is to wear the tightest set you can get on comfortably, that you’ll also have the ability to wear for a sensible amount of time,” she states. “This means joints in the right place [i.e. that run in line with the shape of your body], and firmness around the muscle, most importantly.”.

Scott adds that she really motivates people to navigate in their activewear after class, advising someone uses compression leggings for a minimum of an hour after their workout to maximise their benefit.

Which brings us onto a slightly more sensitive topic: if women are investing lots of time using tight, sweaty trousers made out of the thick artificial products this brand-new brand name of activewear as shapewear is understood for, should we be concerned about how that can impact vaginal health?

Probably not, according to Jean Hailes medical director and gynaecologist Dr Elizabeth Farrell, who points out women should not be too anxious about using activewear after class unless they are already experiencing a vaginal health problem.

“A yeast infection is intensified by garments that do not breathe or are too tight, but they do not trigger the infection,” she says.

Yes, you ought to be able to consume a post pilates latte in your lift leggings. Now, go forth and health club selfie.