Rest and relaxation should be a key component in your workout schedule. Too many times people push themselves too hard and that can be very detrimental to your health and stump growth from your workout.
“No pain, no gain.”
“You’re not doing it right if it’s too easy.”
“You’re not exercising if you don’t sweat.”
These statements are not new, but they can make you feel negative about exercising. More people are realizing that progress is not about pushing through pain but about moving every day to feel better and do what you love.
You can achieve optimal health and fitness by moving your body constantly in ways that keep it active, available, and in the game. You can’t push yourself too hard, it can make you get hurt or sick. Another reason why rest and relaxation days are needed.
Don’t worry if you find yourself sweating because you love to sweat. You can do more challenging workouts if you are able to recover more. Active recovery is low-impact and low-to moderate-intensity movement that increases blood flow to muscle tissue. It is an essential part of the healing process. However, it will not happen if you continue to pound the pavement or hit the gym hard every workout. You can speed up your recovery by doing light movements that keep you feeling good so you can push harder the next time.
Are You Feeling Sore? Feeling Sore?
This is what professional athletes such as LeBron James, a NBA star, and Tom Brady (44-year-old multiple Super Bowl champ), know. They don’t need to be pushed. It’s their recovery, rest and relaxation. It’s what they do between games: the ice-baths, massages, and the active, focused “easy” movements.
When you are able to recover and rest, you only get stronger. After a hard workout, your muscles need to recover and rebuild. You should consider the type, frequency, duration, and intensity of the activity. However, proper recovery does not mean just foam rolling and massages. This means getting eight hours of sleep each night, ensuring that you are adequately hydrated, and eating a healthy diet. It is also about managing stress and making time every day to activate your parasympathetic nervous systems.
According to a 2018 Gallup survey, most Americans felt more stressed and worried in the last decade than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic. Stress can lead to weight gain, fatigue, and other problems that could affect your health and fitness. Deep breathing has been proven to be a great way to manage chronic stress levels. Deep breathing will not only calm you, but may also improve your athletic performance. Apex Performance is an advocate for a proper workout schedule which includes rest and relaxation, recovery, and pushing your limits in a healthy way and environment.
At Apex performance we are a community of highly trained experts looking to provide performance enhancement and a permanent lifestyle change for our clients in a fun and interactive environment. Members can take advantage of personal training in Tampa, one-on-one training, small group classes, and specialized courses for a wide variety of athletics, youth sports training, and nutritional guidance! Check out what others are saying about Apex and its trainers and contact us today to get started on your fitness journey!