When you think about taking a rest, you probably picture yourself on the couch, listening to music, or watching TV.
But that’s not the only way to take rest and recover from exercise.
You see, what I described is passive recovery, where you rest and maybe include some light stretching.
Some experts argue for passive recovery because it allows your body to recover more fully.
But others are more inclined to recommend active recovery.
Their main argument is that being actively engaged in low-intensity activities such as jogging or cycling promotes muscle growth and increases endurance.
It does that by jogging your heart rate without wearing you out.
That’s why it’s best to combine both of these methods to get the optimal recovery.
And if you’ve never tried active recovery, here are a few ideas on how to start:
Walking
If you’re looking for a low-intensity activity that won’t strain you, walking is one of the best choices.
You can do it wherever you want and it can be very enjoyable.
I recommend trying different walking routines such as hiking and incline walking for your active recovery.
Since walking is a low-impact activity, you can do it before and after the main workout.
Stretching
Stretching is a must in any kind of recovery routine, be it active or passive.
This is because stretching improves blood flow.
It allows the fresh, oxygenated blood to drive through your muscles and relax the muscle fibers, massively aiding in recovery.
Stretching will also help relax your mind.
So it doesn’t matter if you’re doing a couple of simple stretches in the morning or evening – this habit will do wonders for you.
Manual therapy and massages
If you have spare money to invest in health, manual therapy and sports massages are great ways to boost recovery.
They also reduce muscle tension and improve blood flow.
That’s why professional athletes use them to relieve pain and discomfort caused by overuse or injuries.
So if you overdo your workouts and get injured, look for a massage therapist in the neighborhood.
They can speed up recovery with just a couple of sessions.
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No matter what method of active recovery you choose, you will definitely feel better between your workouts.
Which means you’ll be able to attack the next workout with greater force.
Try this and you’ll see why athletes around the world choose active recovery to keep their performance high.
Stay fit my friend!
Michael
Founder & CEO