From resistance bands to squat-proof leggings: the pilates kit you need – and what you can do without

Whether you’re practising reformer in a studio or planking in a village hall, here’s the pilates gear that’s actually worth buying, chosen by the experts

Going to the gym gives me so much more than the physique I want, even if body dysmorphia lingers

I feel more focused and energetic than ever before. But as I have changed, so has my algorithm

Wild swimming gave me the courage to write my own rules

Out of his depth and determined to defy stereotypes, one writer discovered his sense of self in a bracing cold dip

Bouldering equipment for beginners: the gear you need to crush it at the climbing wall – and the stuff you don’t

New to bouldering? Here’s what’s actually worth buying, from shoes and finger tape to training aids

‘The bot asked me four times a day how I was feeling’: is tracking everything actually good for us?

Gathering data used to be a fringe pursuit of Silicon Valley nerds. Now we’re all at it, recording everything from menstrual cycles and mobility to toothbrushing and time spent in daylight. Is this just narcissism redesigned for the big tech age?

How I learned to love my alarm clock

This week: mornings made better; affordable jewellery; and the ultimate wild swimming kit list

‘I don’t know whether it’s sustainable’: climate crisis and TikTok change face of mountain rescue work in Lake District

There may be less snow but the number of callouts has surged, and often involve ill-prepared novice hikers

Fun for ever! The simple way to build a fitness habit you’ll actually love

If you can find a workout you always look forward to, you’re far more likely to stick with it and keep fitter for longer. Trainers give their pointers – and pitfalls

The one change that worked: I took up ballet – and learned to live in the moment

Working long days as a corporate lawyer, I needed an exercise regime to get me out of my head. Reviving a childhood passion helped me reconnect with my body

‘We were inspired, recharged and nourished by nature’: readers’ favourite wellness trips

From mindful walking in the Yorkshire Dales to a Buddhist retreat in Japan, our tipsters have found inner peace and rejuvenation all over the world

The fibre phenomenon: 30 easy ways to get your fill of this life-changing nutrient

It reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colon cancer – while boosting the health of our gut microbiome and brain. Yet we all eat far too little fibre. Here is the no-fuss guide to getting your 30g a day

‘If you wee yourself, you just rock on’: is incontinence inevitable for women who lift heavy?

One study found athletes were three times as likely to leak as women who did little or no exercise. But why does this happen – and can you prevent it?

Chocolate biscuits, cosy bedding and moments of calm: a sideways look at self-care

This week: feel-good January fixes; interior designer-approved bed linen; and Grace Dent on the best extra-chocolatey biscuits

From stiff necks to ‘lazy glutes’: why these unloved muscles could prevent injury – and how to train yours

Never heard of your lower trapezius? Don’t know your rotator cuff from your neck flexor? To alleviate common injuries, it’s time to get to know them

Skin is in: as sales of thong bikinis rise, is body confidence also growing?

A Sydney council’s ban on ‘inappropriate’ swimwear stirs a wider debate over complex feelings about women’s bottoms