October 2021. This article is independently written by Fusion 360. All opinions given are the opinion of Fusion 360
Exercising isn’t only about how many hours you put in at the gym. Burnout and overtraining are common mistakes of people who are either new to exercise or starting to increase the intensity of their workouts. Rest days bring your body back into balance. They relieve pain and soreness, allow your muscles to recover, prevent injury, and support your mental health and wellbeing. However, learning how to plan effective recovery days can be daunting.
Workout fanatics may feel guilty taking a day off and be afraid to lose all of their hard-earned progress.
Those increasing intensity may be wondering exactly how much time between exercises your body needs for optimum muscle gain.
Or maybe you are new to working out, and you may feel like one rest day is the difference between staying consistent and losing steam.
It’s vital for anyone to understand what a recovery day should look like. Once you know your options, you will begin to feel better about the days spent outside the gym. This article explores the best ways to incorporate recovery into your workout routine.
Periodization
An extreme example of periodization is a runner training for a marathon. Over time, the runner will gradually increase the distance that they run. They do not run the equivalent of a marathon every day, but they add miles to their schedule over several weeks until they reach the day of the race. After the race, they take a period of rest before starting to run short distances once more.
Types of Recovery
Passive rest is exactly how it sounds. A day lying on the beach, a rainy day reading on the couch, or a day spent lounging on the couch. While this may seem lazy or unproductive, passive rest can be effective, especially when paired with high-intensity workouts.
Think about a time when you hiked for most of the day, competed in a particularly challenging competition (such as a marathon), or worked a double shift. Your body didn’t ask, it demanded a day of rest.
Making A Plan
If you feel particularly motivated and do three high-intensity days, balance it out with two-low intensity or rest days. On the other hand, maybe you only feel energized enough for one high-intensity day and four medium-intensity days. That’s fine too! Whatever the combination, be sure to listen to your body.
Full Body Balance
Remember to use your Kailo pain patch before or after every workout, and on your recovery days! Patients have reported near-instant pain relief, and pain management experts theorize that Kailo works through your body’s natural electrical systems as it communicates with your brain. Try it and see the results for yourself!
