Rest and Recovery – Why it’s a Huge Key to Your Overall Health Success
Do you workout everyday?
Do you wonder why all the effort you are putting in doesn’t seem to be paying off as much as you would like? Think about how often you let your body have rest and repair days…is it once a week, after each workout (one day on, one day off), maybe it is never? The recommendation is to take a rest day every three to five days. This can vary depending on the type of exercise you are doing, i.e. if you do vigorous cardio, you'll want to take more frequent rest days. You can also have an active rest day by doing a light workout, like walking, gentle stretching or yoga.
Many of us workout to build muscle and strengthen our bodies. Did you know that muscle is developed in the repair phase? Every time you work out you create microscopic tears in your muscle tissues. When you rest, your muscles start to heal and grow back stronger, this means you'll be able to do the same workout with less effort in the future.
Allowing our bodies time to recover and rest, we are also helping prevent injuries and helping to improve our overall performance. Other benefits of rest and repair include: reduced inflammation, supports a healthy immune system, helps manage stress levels and lowers blood pressure, contributing to a healthier heart. It is also important for your brain and mental health. Rest days are extremely important to keep your body running well!
What is the most important part of rest and recovery? Sleep. Not only for exercise, but for our everyday life. Your body needs 7-9 hours of sleep in order for all of the chemical, hormone and anti-inflammatory responses to happen at their peak level and for you to experience all of the benefits that rest and repair have to offer.
Most importantly, listen to your body. If you are feeling low in motivation, a lack of concentration, higher stress levels than usual or are having a hard time falling and staying asleep, you might want to consider taking a rest day.
If you’d like to chat further about improving your health, I’d love to connect over a Free Discovery Call – 250-833-2216.