Tricks to find (and choose) the sports bra that best suits you
It all depends. The shape of your bust and the exercises you practice. Prevent your chest from being subjected to torture with your 'fitness' routines. Here, the keys to finding the perfect bra
Many of us started to play sports and threw ourselves into the braves, we spent our money on some good shoes to go to the gym, a cute and breathable shirt, and so happy, we got into the bikini operation. But what about the bra? That detail has been overlooked! Well, no problem, we rescue that old man that we no longer use at all and is bored everywhere. The bad news is that this thought, so recurrent among beginners, can have serious consequences on the chest, since the most important function of the sports bra (and that does not fulfill the conventional bra) is to protect the breast and thus avoid the impact.
Where do we start
We speak with Helena Olsson, a graduate in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, to give us the keys to choose the garment that best suits our needs: "It is important to measure the contour, know what our cup size and think what are we going to use it for, since the breasts do not suffer the same impact if we do yoga, than if we go running.
Another aspect to consider is that it is breathable, says the specialist. "It is convenient to look at the type of fabric, which is soft and you don't notice seams, because with sweat and repetitive movement, you could suffer chafing."
How do we know if we have succeeded? "If during training you notice that the chest is firm and subject and, ultimately, you stop thinking that you are wearing a bra, this is a good clue to know that you have been right. It is also important that you do not notice that you have been soaked in sweat, because then this would mean that I could touch you in some area, "notes Olsson.
On the adjustment, he explains, "you should not have the feeling that you are depressing to the point that it is annoying or that it makes breathing difficult, but you should also not feel that it does not hold you or that the movement of the chest becomes untrained during sports."
Sport types and types of impact
Now that you know the importance of wearing a bra designed for sports and that you know what its differential values are compared to a conventional bra, it is convenient to determine what you are going to buy depending on the sport you practice.
The key to this choice is the intensity of the movement you carry out with the exercise, so the following distinction should be made:
- High impact sport: those that normally involve intense and vertical movement of the body, such as running, bodypump, basketball, football, crossfit, etc. They require a great support, so ideally you should look for a bra with reinforced seams and a crossed back.
- Medium impact sport: for example, power walking, outdoor or indoor bike, skating, etc. For this type of sports we ask the bra to be breathable and the cups fit the chest.
- Low impact sport: yoga, pilates, stretching, hypopressive abs, etc. With this type of sports you can wear any type of bra, as long as it has enough elasticity to adapt to the movement and has a minimum of support. In this case you can prioritize aesthetics and design.
These are the basics, from here, the world of sports bras is increasingly wide, varied and feminine. You can choose cups without rings, adjustable straps, U-shaped design to easily put and remove them, crossed backs, mesh details to improve ventilation, side bands that improve lateral support, padding for comfort and support, etc. What is clear is that sensuality is not at odds with the functionality of the garment, so now you can feel attractive while you get all the support you need to exercise.
