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If you’re thinking of getting into mountain biking but don't know how to get started... look no further! We caught up with Jess Strange aka @velomejess to find out her top five tips for getting started. Jess is an excellent MTB guide in our local Afan Valley and is one third of women's mountain biking collective Sisters of Send, who are definitely worth checking out! Peep Jess's top tips below:HAVE A SUITABLE BIKEMountain biking can get a little rough so you need a bike which is built to withstand uneven terrain, technical obstacles and, ideally, have suspension to help absorb some of the bumps...

When we were in the pre-launch phase of VALA I had a lot of questions about how we were going to promote our gels. The options ranged from paid advertorials to influencer marketing and sponsored posts.⁣⁣The truth is... none of these approaches appealed to me. Maybe I’m jaded after a decade of working in advertising, but the thought of paying someone to post about our product when they don’t have any interest in our brand was lost on me. As an independent start-up, it seemed insincere and I’d rather allow people to experience the benefits of natural nutrition first hand...

It’s not hard to see why Wales was selected by @natgeo as one of the ‘Best Trips to Take in 2020’ for its ‘Far-reaching routes that get the blood pumping’. Growing up in South Wales it was easy to be spoilt for choice. As a child, it never occurred to me that not everyone lives a short drive from the sea and the mountains. This is something that I’ve come to love since moving back here after 11 years away.It’s safe to say that the bar for natural beauty was set pretty high (or maybe that’s my patriotism showing). Fast forward a...

Those that know me personally will be already know that I'm a big advocate for a holistic approach to exercise and fitness. You might be thinking "What does holistic health have to do with energy gels?" but at VALA, wellbeing doesn't end at physical health. For us, it incorporates an emotional, nutritional and spiritual aspect that encourages us to take a more balanced approach to lifestyle, diet and exercise.I often talk about the relationship between physical health, mental health and gut health being a large part of VALA's purpose. I strongly believe that we should do as much as possible...

It’s easy to become stuck in an exercise rut and get tired of doing the same activities week in, week out. Whether it's setting the intention to find a new weekly walk with your doggo or trying a different style of yoga, mixing up your routine is a great way to prevent boredom, inject some motivation into your workout and stimulate different muscle groups.⁣⁣It goes without saying that overtraining in one discipline can often lead to overuse injuries from putting your body through the same repetitive motions. Rotating your exercises gives joints, ligaments and muscles the opportunity to recover before...

People often ask me where the name VALA came from and what it means. I’m a proud Welshy (full disclosure: I don’t speak Welsh) and I really wanted my brand to have a Welsh name. I spent a while searching online for a unique word that reflected the ethos of the brand. In the back of my mind were my favourite brands (apple, Nike, LANY) that have memorable one word names and minimal branding.After experimenting with exercise-related translations, I decided to search for Welsh baby names. That’s when I stumbled across VALA - which is a girls name meaning ‘chosen’. Straight...