What’s In My Gym Bag: Bryony Deery

My activewear needs to go the extra mile. I often go from teaching to meetings, so I look for brands that can perform in the gym and look stylish elsewhere, too. My go-to brands are Adanola, Alo, Varley and Year of Ours. I’m always trying new brands and different styles of leggings but can’t get enough of Alo’s Airlift leggings – they’re very soft, have a high waist and an element of compression to shape and flatter. I often team these with a Varley sweater. Year of Ours does gorgeous, ribbed sets which are great for a more elevated look. I like how these brands are both polished and transitional. 

A decent sports bra is hard to find. Pilates isn’t high intensity, but you still want to feel supported and comfortable. I have several pairs of Alo’s Wellness Bra – it’s made from ribbed jersey which is so soft and comfortable, and I love how you can wear it on its own or layered with a vest or T-shirt. For something more supportive, you can’t go wrong with Varley.

Soxygen does the best socks. Don’t underestimate the power of a decent pair of workout socks. I’ve always loved the long socks and trainers look and these socks have fun slogans and are great quality. Plus, they’re made with organic cotton, are naturally processed and free from any artificial chemicals. When it comes to accessories, I rate Slip scrunchies as they don’t damage your hair. You’ll always find one on my wrist. 

APL trainers are a must. They’re super lightweight and great for travel. If I’m heading out for a run, you can’t go wrong with Nike. I live in my black Air Max 270s.

Pilates is something you can do anywhere. Whether it’s in a hotel room or hotel gym, you can get a great workout in with minimal equipment. When I’m travelling, I always take a selection of resistance bands (Bala has a great set that comes with a variety of bands in varying thickness) and light ankle weights, which are compact and lightweight but add a real challenge to lower-body work. 

My mat comes everywhere with me. I’ve tried lots of workout mats over the years, but nothing compares to Alo’s Warrior mat – it’s thick, has a great grip and looks good. It has a stylish matte finish, which I love, and a clever oversized design which helps you stay on the mat. If I have space, I’ll take my Pilates ring, too. It’s an amazing piece of kit to add to a workout – the additional burn you get from the ring is transformative when it comes to sculpting and toning, and it can even correct posture. 

My Apple Watch keeps me on track. I wear it when I teach and film classes and am really into the health app on my phone for tracking my steps – I aim for 10,000 when I can. London is such a beautiful city, so I try to walk as much as possible, ideally with a good podcast on. The Apple Watch has some great features – it can calculate your VO2 max (essentially how fit you are) and prompt you to set aside a few minutes each day to breathe deeply.