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« Back to blog main page Bronwyn Griffiths

Bronwyn Griffiths

Bronwyn Griffiths (any pronouns) is a writer and editor with considerable experience in lifestyle, health, and wellness content.

They regularly write about sleep, fitness, nutrition, meditation, yoga, relationships, mental health, and personal development.

Related posts

The Female Advantage

Crossfit for Work: on the Job With The Female Advantage Removalists

Removalists Rachel and Hilary from The Female Advantage explain how their passion for CrossFit makes them better at their jobs.
Workout Cross-Training Strength Training Strong Women

How Long Does It Take to See Results From Working Out? 

Getting fit doesn’t happen overnight, but there’s more happening than meets the eye. Use this timeline to understand how your patience and persistence pay off (even if you can’t see the difference).
Workout

Jesse Väänänen: Capturing the Agony and the Ecstasy of Athletic Life 

Olympic skier Jesse Väänänen didn’t set out to become a photographer, but his work will take you right to the heart of an athlete’s journey.

Athletes Elite

The Enduring Journey of Black Girls Do Run

Tasha Thompson wants to close the perception gap at UK marathons with her running club, Black Girls Do Run.
Running Marathon Strong Women

Should I Worry About Overtraining if I’m Not an Elite Athlete?

Overtraining can happen to anyone dedicated to their workouts. Here’s how to spot the signs, monitor your stats and avoid burnout.
Sleep and Recovery Recovery From Exercise

How Many Days a Week Should I Work Out?

Asking yourself how many days a week should you work out? Ask yourself about your fitness level and goals first.
Workout
anxiety and heart rate

Understanding the Connection Between Anxiety and Heart Rate 

They say that anxiety is all in the mind – but it’s in your body too. Here’s how the connection between anxiety and heart rate can affect your everyday life.
Sleep and Recovery Mental Health

The Dreaded Detraining: Why You Shouldn’t Fear It

Detraining is a word that strikes fear into many who are enthusiastic about their workouts. But giving your body a break can be surprisingly beneficial. Here’s how to detrain with intentionality so you can reap the rewards.
Sleep and Recovery Detraining

Can Caffeine Improve Your Athletic Performance?

From quick response times to dopamine stacking, here’s everything you need to know about combining caffeine with your training and performance so you can reap the rewards.
Workout Nutrition

Finding Her Flow: Paralympian Melanie Barratt on the Joys of Open Water Swimming

As she prepares to tackle the English Channel next summer (and become the first blind woman to do so), Melanie Barratt reflects on the stress of being #1 in the pool and facing the challenge of open-water swimming.
Athletes Strong Women Swimming

How Much Rest Should You Take During Your Interval Workouts? 

Training for strength? Muscle growth? Power? Here’s how to adjust your rest time between sets to suit your workout goals.
Workout Strength Training

Keep Your Cool and Learn to Sleep in the Heat

Always struggle to sleep in the summer? Don’t sweat it. Here’s how to prepare for the warm months ahead so rest easy.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep
physical and mental health

Does Happiness Lie in the Connection Between Physical and Mental Health?

Does the Finnish focus on being physically active outdoors give an insight into why they keep topping the World Happiness Report?
Workout Mental Health
Festival workout playlist

2023’s Festival Workout Playlist is Here to Up Your Stamina

Are you ready to handle all the fun that is festival season? Increase your stamina for the good times ahead with this workout playlist, featuring upbeat tracks from artists appearing at festivals in 2023.
Workout Motivation Playlist
Hot yoga

How Hot Yoga Can Elevate the Intensity of Your Workout 

Turn up the heat and intensity of your yogic workouts by exercising at 104 °F (40 °C). Here’s how hot yoga can benefit your heart, bones and flexibility.
Workout yoga

My HRV is Very Low. Can I Increase My Heart Rate Variability?

What should you do when your HRV is suddenly much lower than usual? Should this be cause for concern?

Sleep and Recovery Sleep

Why Training With Altitude Can Give You the Competitive Edge

Many elite athletes head for the mountains to improve their competition times. Here’s the low-down on high-altitude training.
Workout

How to Speed Up Muscle Strain Recovery

The harder you push yourself, the longer your body will need to rest and repair. Here’s why muscle recovery time is essential.
Workout Recovery From Exercise
too much rem sleep

Can You Have Too Much REM Sleep?

Oversleeping, vivid dreams and waking up with a headache or mental fogginess could be signs of too much REM sleep. Here’s what you need to know.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep
sugar before workout

Sugar Before, During, and After Your Workout: How It Can Help Your Training

As a general rule, you should stay away from refined sugar and candy. However, the right type of sugar can fuel the most grueling workouts and aid in muscle recovery afterwards.
Workout Nutrition

Can Technology Help With Managing Your Stress?

Technology is a great tool for understanding how stress is affecting your rest and recovery. Use it with these techniques and tools to enjoy a calmer life.
Sleep and Recovery Mental Health Stress Relief
How to Run Faster and Longer

How to Run Faster and Longer

As runners, we’re always looking for ways to run faster and for longer. Here’s some advice on how to increase your mileage and speed safely.

Running Long Run Speed Work

Is Exercise Snacking With Short Workouts Effective?

Time poor but hungry to improve your fitness? Exercise snacking via some short workouts could work a treat for you.
Workout At-Home Workouts Motivation
Workout Log | Polar Flow

Why It’s Time to Start Keeping a Workout Log

Ready for a fresh perspective? Some new goals or simply best practices for your training? It’s probably time to start keeping a workout log.
Workout Data Motivation

14 Exciting Wellness and Fitness Trends for 2023

From pickleball to probiotics, 2023 looks set to be an interesting year for your health and fitness.
Polar News

Best Running Songs of 2022 

2022 may be running away from us, but you can catch up with these 27 motivating songs guaranteed to get your legs in motion.
Running Playlist

2022: Reflected – Year in Review

2022: Reflected is a unique insight into the year that was. This recap reveals how the Polar community slept and exercised throughout 2022. 
Polar News 2022: Reflected Data Year in Review

Could Alcohol Be the Reason You’re Tired?

Struggling to sleep properly after a few evening drinks? Here’s how alcohol alters your sleep and potentially affects your fitness.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep

Focus, Meditate or Sleep With These Relaxing Songs From Polar

We teamed up with Sunbeam Imperial Studios to create three tranquil tracks to help you find your rhythm and focus, meditate and sleep.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep

Why is Building Muscle So Important as We Age?

Think you can’t build muscle over 50? Think again! Here’s why strength training is vital for a long, healthy, independent life.
Workout Strength Training
Ultra Dad Vincent Viet

Vincent Viet: Ultra Trail-running Dad With a Golden Opportunity

How do you balance being a parent with training for an endurance race like the Western States 100? “Ultra Dad” Vincent Viet takes us on his journey.
Running Active Parents Endurance Sports Polar Athletes Trail Running

20 Wind Down Songs to Help You Prepare for Sleep

Struggling to sleep each night? This playlist featuring 20 dreamy tracks willhelp you wind down and switch off.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep Playlist

Always Sleeping Late on Weekends? You May Have Social Jetlag

Separate weekend and weekdays routines can wreak havoc on your body clock. Here’s what to do if you’re experiencing social jet lag.

Sleep and Recovery
circadian rhythm sleep disorder

What is Your Circadian Rhythm and How Does It Affect Your Sleep?

Struggling to sleep? Feeling low on energy during the day? Discover more about your circadian rhythm and which sleep disorders are affected by it.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep

How Exercising With Others Enhances Your Social Health

Do our relationships with others impact our wellbeing? Discover what your social health is and how to boost it by exercising together.
Workout Mental Health Motivation
sleep and muscle growth

The Best Way to Build Muscle? Sleep

Think rest is for the weak? Working out but not recovering properly is counterproductive. Here’s why sleep and muscle growth go hand in hand.
Sleep and Recovery Sleep Strength Training
gym heart rate

Using Your Heart Rate Monitor at the Gym | Indoor Training

Do you need a chest strap or a sports watch? How can you connect your Polar device to the gym equipment? Which sport profiles are designed for indoor training? Here’s everything you need to know (and more)!
Heart Rate Training
is walking or running better for weight loss

Is Walking or Running Better for Weight Loss?

When trying to reach a fitness goal, it’s understandable that you want to choose the most effective workout. Here are some of the factors (and research) you should consider when comparing running and walking.
Running Fitness Walking

Are There Any Benefits to Having a Cold Shower After a Workout?

What does the science say about adding a chilly blast to your shower after a training session?
Sleep and Recovery Recovery From Exercise Strength Training

Four Different Types of Swimming Strokes

Don’t know your breaststroke from your butterfly? Here are the four main swimming strokes used in all the competitive events.
Workout Swimming

How Social Media and Covid Have Changed Gym Anxiety

How have gyms changed in recent years? And have those changes made some of us more or less anxious about using them?
Workout Mental Health Strength Training
sympathetic nervous system

Understanding Your Sympathetic Nervous System’s Fight or Flight Response

How our bodies respond to situations that are dangerous or scary can also tell us a lot about how we behave when stressed.
Sleep and Recovery Mental Health Stress Relief

Want to Be Flexible After 60? Yoga for Seniors Is the Answer

Discover how a regular yoga practice can enhance your every day life now and improve strength and flexibility as you age.
Workout yoga
why is sleep important

What Is Sleep and Why Is It Important?

We all know that rest and recovery is important – but do you understand why? Here’s why aiming to have a good night’s sleep should be a priority every night.
Sleep and Recovery
stand up paddle boarding

Seven Great Benefits of Stand-up Paddle Boarding

From enhanced balance to a postive mindset, here are some of the reasons you should give stand-up paddle boarding a try.
Workout Outdoor Sports
macros for building muscle - share

How to Start Eating Macros for Building Muscle

Nutritionist Katrina Borg explains the basics for anyone considering macro eating to increase their muscle gain.
Workout Nutrition Strength Training Q&A/FAQ

How to Use Your Sports Watch for Swimming | Essential Metrics in the Water

Don’t know your splits from your SWOLF? Discover why using your sports watch for swimming can provide you essential insights.
Workout Swimming

New Polar Sports Profiles | Update Your Adventures

Taekwondo, electric biking and stand-up paddleboarding are among the many new Polar sports profiles waiting to be added to your device!
Polar News Polar Flow

Can Running Backwards Give You a New Outlook?

Does reverse running have the potential to improve your forward runs? That’s what the studies say. Here’s how (and why) you should give it a go.
Running Marathon Training Plan

Understanding Your Sleep Stages | Deep Sleep Vs. Light Sleep

Dreaming of deeper or longer sleep? Discover what happens while we rest and why each sleep stage is vital for our nightly recovery.
Sleep and Recovery
running economy

How to Enhance Your Running Economy

How effective is your body at powering through long-distance runs? Discover more about running economy, how it is measured and if you can improve yours.
Running

The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors | Our Planet, Our Health

This year, World Health Day is focusing on the vital connection between our planet and our health. So, we looked at what studies highlight the benefit of protecting our planet for both our physical and mental wellbeing.
Workout Mental Health Outdoor Sports Outdoors Research Running Trail Running Walking
body-positive yoga with Donna Noble

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusivity Through Body-positive Yoga With Donna Noble

What is body-positive yoga? We chatted to inclusivity pioneer Donna Noble about how her yogapractice changed her life and why diversity is so important in fitness spaces.
Workout Strong Women yoga Q&A/FAQ
perimenopause diet and exercise

Perimenopause Diet and Exercise: How Fitness and Nutrition Can Boost Your Health and Happiness

Can focusing on your fitness and nutrition during perimenopause help ease symptoms? Women’s coach Hayley Plummer reveals her essential recommendations.
Workout Mental Health Nutrition Strength Training Strong Women Q&A/FAQ
Imo Boddy JOGGLE run

Gearing Up for JOGLE With Ultramarathon Runner Imo Boddy

As she prepares to become the youngest woman to run the length of the UK, we chat all things ultramarathon with Imo Boddy.
Running Endurance Sports Marathon Strong Women Q&A/FAQ
How to start weightlifting with Alice Mastriani

How to Start Weightlifting With Polar Ambassador Alice Mastriani

CrossFit trainer, osteopath and all-round Insta inspiration, Alice Mastriani talks goals, supportive exercises and her 100kg clean and jerk.
Workout Active Parents Cross-Training Polar Athletes Strength Training Strong Women Q&A/FAQ
if your heart isn't in it

What to Do if Your Heart Isn’t in It Anymore | Rediscover Your Passion for Exercise

When your motivation slowly (or suddenly) disappears, here are six questions to ask yourself about your workout and wellness.
Sleep and Recovery Mental Health Motivation Sleep
Dr. Riikka Ahola

Meet Polar’s ‘Heart Hero’, Dr. Riikka Ahola

11 February marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, so we caught up Dr. Riikka Ahola, a senior researcher at Polar Research Center. 
Polar News Q&A/FAQ
Rate of Perceived Exertion

Rate of Perceived Exertion: What the Borg Scale Can Tell You About Your Workouts

Do you ever rate your workout intensity on a scale of 1-10? Turns out, you’re using the Borg scale. So, what exactly is it and how does it relate to heart rate training?
Workout
Fit over 50

Fit Over 50: How to Become Strong, Flexible & Healthy

Even if you already work out regularly, it’s essential to know how your training should evolve once you’re over 50. Here’s everything you need to know.
Workout Nutrition Strength Training Stress Relief Stretching
running too fast CREDIT Calum Neff

Running Too Fast, Too Much, Too Soon: Classic Mistakes Every New Runner Makes

Can too much enthusiasm cause you to end up with an injury? We asked coach Calum Neff for his advice on how you can avoid the common missteps of a new runner.
Running Technique Q&A/FAQ

Doing the Veganuary Challenge? Try These Vegan Nutrition Tips From Olympic Athlete and Chef, Julia Murray

When making big changes to your diet, it’s important to ensure you’re fuelling your body correctly for exercise. We chatted to Olympic skier turned chef, Julia Murray, about vegan nutrition for athletes.
Workout Nutrition Strong Women Q&A/FAQ
Fitness trends 2022 - featured - share CREDIT Polar

New Year, New You: 2022’s Top Fitness Trends Are Here!

When it comes to fitness trends, we’re ready for something fresh – especially at home. Get ready for VR headsets and micro workouts.
Workout At-Home Workouts HIIT
best running songs 2021

21 Best Running Songs 2021 | Your New Power Playlist

Looking for fresh tunes to soundtrack your workouts? Here are the best running songs for 2021, recommended by our Polar Ambassadors.
Running Playlist

Understanding Your Parasympathetic Nervous System for Great Sleep and Less Stress

How exactly does our ‘rest and digest’ system make us more chilled out and improve your ANS Charge? Here’s what you need to know about your parasympathetic nervous system.
Sleep and Recovery
running trails near me

How Do I Find Running Trails Near Me? Try These Apps

Elevate your trail running experience with these incredible apps, designed to enhance your next off-road adventure.
Running Outdoors Trail Running

Aerobic Vs. Anaerobic Training: What’s the Difference?

Are you running at a talking pace – or pushing yourself until your muscles burn? Here’s why you need to know the difference between aerobic vs anaerobic, so you can get the most out of your training.
Workout

Gifts for Runners: GPS Sports Watches to Suit Every Runner

Find the perfect multisport GPS watch for your favourite runner this festive season.
Running
work out and eat well

Work Out and Eat Well to Improve Your Happiness, Says New Study

For the first time, research shows a clear link between healthy lifestyle choices and a positive sense of wellbeing.
Workout Nutrition vegan
You can now edit your sleep data on Polar Flow

You Can Now Edit Your Sleep Data on Polar Flow

Forgot to wear your watch at night? Don’t worry. You can now add, delete or change your sleep data with Polar Flow and stay on track with your sleeping patterns.
Polar News Sleep and Recovery Q&A/FAQ
fun ways to get fit | Polar Unite

Fun Ways to Get Fit Without Working Out | 100% Daily Activity Every Day

Stay active every day with these enjoyable ways to stay fit. From a kitchen disco to an active date night, it’s easy to hit your 100% Daily Activity every day with Polar Unite.
Workout Active Parents Polar Unite
Foods Runners Should Avoid

Are These Foods Making You Run Slower?

You are what you eat – and so are your runs. Here are some of the key foods you should skip if your planning to hit the trails today or tomorrow.
Running Nutrition
boxing yoga

Finding Your Balance With Yoga and Boxing

Yoga-Box teacher Laura Ihatsu explains how this surprising combination makes you mentally and physically stronger.
Workout Boxing Strong Women yoga Q&A/FAQ

Try an Easy Recovery Run to Improve Your Form and Endurance

Pushed yourself to the limit yesterday? Time to relax today – with a recovery run. Here’s how taking it easy means you can reap the benefits.
Running Recovery From Exercise

Autonomic Nervous System | What Is ANS Charge?

You check your ANS charge every morning on Nightly Recharge – but what exactly does it mean? Time to get to know your autonomic nervous system.
Sleep and Recovery Data

How Many Calories Should a Runner Eat Per Day?

You’re running all those miles, but are you fuelling yourself properly to support this?

Running Nutrition
Running club - share CREDIT Onetrack Run Club

Should You Join a Running Club?

Does it enhance your running? Have any other benefits? We asked three running club members why they love it.
Running Q&A/FAQ
Is Skateboarding a Sport IMAGE CREDIT: Justus Hirvi

Lifestyle or Sport? What Skateboarding Means to Those Who Love It

As it becomes an official Olympic sport this summer, we caught up with two skateboarders about why they enjoy this lifestyle.
Workout Q&A/FAQ
Milly Pickles CREDIT Freetrain

How Para-athlete Milly Pickles Came Back Stronger

We caught up with the TikTok star about running blades, visibility and the power of a positive mindset.
Running Strong Women Q&A/FAQ

Meet Polar’s Research and Development Team: Mari Saviaro

We caught up with Polar’s QA Specialist about how her dream internship kickstarted her career.
Polar News Active Parents Q&A/FAQ

Meet Polar’s Research and Development Team: Juha Koskiaho

We caught up with Polar’s Scrum Master and Software Architect about how tracking his heart rate in his teens led to a career-changing opportunity.
Polar News Q&A/FAQ
Riitta Holappa

Meet Polar’s Research and Development Team: Riitta Holappa

We caught up with Polar’s Team Lead & Service Development QA Lead about why she loves helping people’s fitness dreams to come true.
Polar News Q&A/FAQ

14 Essential Toning Exercises for Your Whole Body

Toned body, confident mind? Get ready to enjoy summer with these toning workouts, supported by Polar Ignite 2.
Workout At-Home Workouts
LIIT Low-intensity interval training

Get LIIT With Low-intensity Interval Training

LIIT is a calmer, less sweaty take on HIIT. Here’s the low-down on low-intensity.
Heart Rate Training
how to make exercise a habit

Ask the Experts: How Do You Make Exercise a Habit?

Researcher Dr. Amanda Rebar and performance coach Heikki Huovinen give us their specialist insight into making exercise a habit.
Workout Q&A/FAQ
meditation for strength

Meditation for Strength: How to Build Mental Muscle

Want to get stronger – mentally? Meditation teacher Kelly Smith shows us how to build mental muscle and improve our outlook on life.
Sleep and Recovery Mental Health Q&A/FAQ
mind-body connection

How Mind and Body Are Intertwined

Does exercise (and stress) affect our mind-body connection? Brain health expert Mona Moisala discusses how to reap the benefits without overdoing it.
Sleep and Recovery Q&A/FAQ
Sleep and Mental Health

How Sleep Helps Build Resilience

We spoke with The Sleep Doctor himself, Michael Breus, PhD, about the vital connection between sleep, mental health, and building resilience.
Sleep and Recovery Mental Health Q&A/FAQ

How Exercise Affects the Brain: Does Your Workout Make You Smarter?

What happens to the brain when we exercise? Are we helping or hindering our memory and concentration? We asked Brain Health entrepreneur Teemu Vornanen to give use the scientific low-down.
Workout Motivation Q&A/FAQ
gentle mobility exercises

Gentle Mobility Exercises to Improve Your Strength and Flexibility

Polar master trainer Anniina Ala-Mattinen shows us six essential movements for flexibility and strength. Add them to your workout today!
Workout Recovery From Exercise

Heart Rate During Exercise: What’s Normal, Average, and Target HR?

What can your heart rate tell you about your workout – even while you’re in action? We get to the heart of your training to see what it reveals.
Heart Rate Training

Can Running Help Anxiety?

Have you thought about enhancing your mental fitness? Discover the physical and psychological benefits of regularly going for a run.
Running Mental Health Stress Relief
dance workout

The Benefits of a (Break)dance Workout – for All Athletes and Exercisers

Soon-to-be Olympic breakdancer Hatsolo discusses the demands and benefits of breakdancing and dance workouts in general. Fake it until you can break it!
Workout
breakdancing video

The Making of Polar Verity Sense’s Breakdancing Video

We caught up with the talented director and breakdancer who collaborated on our exciting new video for Polar Verity Sense.
Polar News Videos

Year in Review: How 2020 Changed Our Health

Our Polar Research Centre has had a unique insight into the development of our changes throughout the year. Here are some of their observations on the way this year has changed our approach to wellbeing.
Polar News Data Year in Review Infographics
heart rate training plan

How to Create a Heart Rate Training Plan

Discover how to find the right tech and create a training plan using your heart rate zones, low-heart rate, or HIIT.
Heart Rate Training HIIT
heart rate training

Why Heart Rate Training is the Smart Way to Workout

Want to train smarter, not harder? Of course you do. Here’s everything you need to know about heart rate training.
Heart Rate Training
Runner checking his heart rate data - heart rate data analysis

Q&A With A Coach: Heart Rate Data Analysis For Running And Recovery

You asked and Nick answered! Yes, we challenged running coach Nick Anderson to share his expertise on a selection of your questions about effective ways to use data for running training
Running Data Q&A/FAQ
heart rate Heart-rate-101-small

Heart Rate 101: Your Essential Guide

Stop flexing those biceps and start measuring your heart rate if you want to be truly fit. Here’s why it’s your essential metric.
Heart Rate Training
Two women running.

Tips For New Runners With Coach Nick Anderson

Nick answers questions about his supportive exercises and discusses why new runners shouldn’t skip these essential steps when starting out.
Running