Asics encourages people to move at sunrise to help maintain a sound mind and sound body

Using sunrise as a symbol of hope, Asics is encouraging people everywhere to kick start the New Year by moving at sunrise to spread positivity, and raise awareness about the transformative power of sport both for the body and mind.

Started in 1949, Asics is an acronym for the latin phrase “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano,” which translates to “a sound mind in a sound body.”

With that motto in mind, the company is funding research into the positive impact of sport on mental well-being. An initial feasibility study by Asics for this research found that even after a short amount of physical activity athletes experience an overall emotional uplift, saw an improvement in their ability to cope with stress and were better able to relax.

This year Asics will continue the research “to capture the true effect of sport on the minds of thousands of participants around the world.”

“We know COVID-19 has put even more pressure on the well-being of millions of people. We also know and believe that sport and movement can lift spirits and help people feel better,” says Asics’ president and chief operating officer Yasuhito Hirota. “For us, 2021 is about unlocking the unique power of sport to uplift our minds. That starts with encouraging people everywhere to move with us at sunrise and will continue throughout the year as we demonstrate our commitments to our founding philosophy of a sound mind, sound body.”

To get involved:

• Get up, get out and move at sunrise by going for a run, walk, or taking part in any sport or activity
• Take your sunrise selfie and upload to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with #SoundMindSoundBody and @asicscanada
• Take part in theSunrise Challengeusing the ASICS Runkeeper™ app
• Nominate up to three others to do the same and continue spreading the word

Sunrise Red Collection

To go along with the program, Asics has released a special Sunrise Red Collection that includes the Gel Nimbus 23, Gel-Kayano 27 and Novablast shoes in the Sunrise Red colourway.

The Gel Nimbus 23 Sunrise Red features a softer engineered mesh design for long runs, with a comfortable upper made with recycled materials and excellent shock absorption thanks to its softer Gel technology cushioning in the heel and gender-specific pillars in the forefoot.

The Novablast Sunrise Red shoe is designed for neutral runners looking for a responsive shoe – the lightweight shoe uses Flytefoam Blast midsole foam for lots energy return that creates a trampoline effect that moves you forward on each stride.

Look for more detailed reviews of these new Sunrise Red edition shoes as we have a chance to spend more time in them.