“My biggest complaint when it comes to yoga mats is that my naturally clammy hands and feet constantly slip the sweatier I get. It’s been my experience with every single mat I’ve ever used – and I’ve been through a few. But with this one, I felt the difference from my first downward dog. Let’s get the bad news out of the way: it’s £109, which is very steep. But before you dismiss it, it’s also totally bespoke. 

When ordering, you submit your body measurements and the mat is tailor-made to your height with visual markers that act as a guide for hand and foot placement to ensure your alignment is correct – incredibly helpful for moves like warrior and triangle pose. It’s also got a cushiony surface with a strong grip and it sticks to the same place on the floor, no matter how much you move around. Plus, it’s PVC and paraben-free – even biodegradable, since it’s made from natural rubber and Eco-PU. And for the cherry on top, you can personalise it with your name so no one can accidentally nick it. Think of it as a lifetime investment.”
Yogaline Ultimate Yoga Mat, £109 

Find your body struggling to keep up during workouts? Your fitness level might not be to blame. According to a recent study, women – in comparison to men – have thinner lung passages that can make them feel more fatigued from exercise. “Smaller airways can lead to unsmooth or restricted airflow,” explains Stuart Sandeman, founder of Breathpod. This limited respiration reduces the amount of oxygen pumping through our bodies. Not great news given our muscles require higher volumes of oxygen during exercise. “Thinner passageways negatively impact performance and strength, meaning women may experience more muscle fatigue,” says Sandeman. We can’t change the size of our airways, but learning to control breath at rest will allow for better oxygen flow during exercise, suggests Sandeman. He recommends strengthening lungs by breathing in for a count of four (feeling the ribs expand), holding for four, and breathing out for eight. 

It’s official: muscle memory is a thing and can last for a pretty long time. A new study cites participants that took part in a 10-week strength program where they exercised only one of their legs. After taking a 20-week break, researchers tested muscle mass and strength in both legs and found that the trained leg was significantly stronger than the control leg – preserving 50% of its strength. Biopsies also revealed that the cells of the trained leg had strengthened and grown at a genetic level, making it easier to regain the original amount of strength. The takeaway? You won’t lose all your gains from a few weeks of lockdown rest. If you’re still exercising – albeit without dumbbells – your muscles will regain strength from your past lifting days as soon as you return to weight training. So, much like our fridge contents right now, nothing has been wasted.