Bounce back

Welcome back to Wellworthy, your go-to source for what’s new in health and wellness.

This week: 

• A former D1 swimmer and startup founder shares her product picks

• The science behind activity rest, and gear to help you recover right 

• Bala’s new tri-pod-equipped water bottle for workouts and content creation

• Plus, the latest launches from Alo, Bandit, Tracksmith, and more

Let’s go!
- Ash Read and Joe Niehaus

Health Stack: Ann Ragan Kearns

Each week, we tap into its network of health and fitness experts to offer personal insights and recommendations.

This week: Ann Ragan Kearns. The former NCAA Division I swimmer turned beauty founder launched Medalist, a skincare brand for female athletes.

Ann Ragan starts each day with a brisk walk through Central Park before diving into work, saving evenings for Pilates and cycling. "Movement is non-negotiable for my mental and physical well-being," she shares. After a four-year break, she's also excited to add swimming back to her routine.

Here’s Ann Ragan to share her Health Stack:

• ClassPass: “I discovered my love of Pilates through Classpass! I have two torn rotator cuffs from my collegiate swimming days paired with the PCOS diagnosis, and about two years ago, I realized that I was doing high-intensity workouts that no longer work for me. I decided to give Pilates a shot and it has been a game changer to my workout routine!”

• RESTCLOUD Neck & Shoulder Relaxer: “I use this daily to help relieve neck tension and improve posture, especially after long hours at my desk or on calls—it’s a simple but effective way to unwind and reset.”

• Hettas Alma Tempo running shoes: “I met Lindsay, the founder of Hettas, through a female founder communit. I love how she has a running shoe designed specifically for women, addressing the unique needs of female runners while championing sustainability.”

• Nutribullet: “I use my Nutribullet daily to make a quick smoothie for breakfast or afternoon snack.”

• Peloton: “I am lucky that my apartment building has a Peleton. I try to get a few rides in a week as well as take some of their strength classes.”

• CHANI: “The CHANI app offers personalized daily horoscopes and astrology insights based on your birth chart, as well as daily and weekly meditations and journal prompts. I use the app daily for meditations.” 

• Swair Hair: “I love this dry shampoo for women who work out. I use it regularly if I’m on the go after a workout. Plus, Carrie, a Co-Founder of Swair, is also a great female founder in the health and wellness space.”

Check out Ann Ragan’s full Health Stack here.

Take it easy 

New research suggests low-impact movement on non-training days may be more effective than complete rest for improving muscle recovery. 

• Activities like walking, swimming, or yoga helped reduce soreness. 

• Light movement increases blood flow and circulation, promoting muscle repair. 

• Bodyweight and calisthenics exercises can prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Reset. Active recovery benefits regular exercisers, recreational and elite athletes, or anyone seeking consistency in their fitness routine. 

Get it right. The hard part is taking it easy, experts say active recovery sessions shouldn’t feel like work. 

• Limit active recovery sessions to <45 mins, 30 mins is the "sweet spot"

• Maintain a heart rate between 60-70% of max for optimal recovery benefits

• Choosing low-impact activities like walking or cycling at 65-75 rpm

Stay ready. Wearables like WHOOP and Garmin analyze real-time data like HRV, advising you when to push and when to rest. Accelerating recovery, tools from Hyperice and Therabody ensure you never miss a workout. 

Punchline: When it comes to rest days, some movement is often better than none—but intensity matters. The right recovery strategy can help you bounce back faster while maintaining momentum in your fitness journey.

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Just Dropped: Ringo x Bala’s functional water bottle

Reusable bottle brand Ringo partnered with fitness equipment maker Bala for a limited-edition collection that merges style and functionality. 

The collab features Ringo's signature MagSafe-equipped water bottle with a positionable lid that lets users magnetically mount their phones for hands-free workout filming and content creation, now dressed in Bala's distinctive aesthetic colorways. Shop here.

More drops perfect for:

• Smart hydration. Innermost's new zero-sugar Hydrate Blend tackles chronic dehydration with a complete electrolyte formula plus absorption-boosting vitamins and minerals, available in Elderberry, Orange, and Lemon & Mint flavors. Shop now.

• Seasonal hues. Alo rolled out Winter Ivy, a rich forest green colorway now available across its signature collection including the Accolade Hoodie and bestselling leggings. Explore the new colorway here.

• Slope style. SKIMS x The North Face dropped a winter collection blending SKIMS' signature fits with TNF's technical outerwear expertise, featuring cropped puffers, body-hugging ski suits, and cold-weather accessories in neutral tones. Available in sizes XXS-3X, starting at $60 on Skims.com.

• Smart nutrition. Rex.fit unveiled The Drop, a $199 AI-powered wearable that automatically logs your nutrition by capturing and analyzing your meals through a smart 4K camera, requiring zero manual input. Pre-order on Kickstarter.

• Winter warmth. Bandit Running dropped the Iceland Fleece Jacket, a streamlined take on Sherpa featuring a mesh-backed faux wool construction, four zip pockets, and a two-way front zipper, available in two colorways for $198. Pick up now.

• Cold training. Tracksmith unveiled its No Days Off collection, featuring new cold-weather essentials like the insulated Harbor Jacket with PrimaLoft® Gold technology and the Merino-blend NDO Bib for deep-freeze running, starting at $35. Check out the line.

• Court vision. RIA Eyewear launched Tempo, a handcrafted Italian frame featuring ZEISS lenses designed specifically for tennis, pickleball, and golf, offering an enhanced field of view in a classic sports silhouette for $189. Shop now.

• Social sipping. Athletic Brewing and Food52 introduced Host & Toast, a non-alcoholic Belgian-style White. Perfect for solo sipping or NA cocktails. Get a case.

• Culinary craft. Branche launched NO. 3, a medium-intensity olive oil blending smooth and bold Arbequina varieties with notes of almond, green banana, and a peppery finish, joining their single-origin Spanish collection at $44. Try it here.

Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Joe Niehaus and Ash Read.

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