11/11/2024
Rest & Recovery are often used interchangeably but it’s important to note that they are not the same and not always interchangeable. REST 😴 Resting is giving your body a complete time out.RECOVERY ❤️🩹 Recovery is techniques performed to maximise repair at a low intensity. Eg. myofascial work like stretching and mobility, foam rolling, massage or low impact exercise like going for a walk or swim.“Active recovery” is not resting. WHEN?During a well balanced training week, block and cycle there should be time dedicated to both rest and recovery. Rest days are vital for muscle repair and your overall progress (and avoidance of injury). Recovery sessions could either be their own day in the schedule eg. a long walk or a 15min mobility cool down at the end of a workout. At the end of a training block it is also important to dedicate some time to de-loading your body to give it space to recover from the work of the weeks before, and prepare for the next challenge. It’s also important to manage intensity through your training cycle - you can’t be in an intensification phase for 12 months - thats a sure fire way to burn your body out and get injured. Intensity and intension should undulate throughout the cycle giving your body different stimulus’ to help progress while avoiding injury and physical burnout. Then, you should also be listening to your body!Feel tired, sore and unmotivated? = Its time for R&R 💤Feeling strong and energised in the day/s after a big workout? = go get it! 💥 You don’t need to force yourself to go slow you go slay the day! R&R can be on tomorrow’s to do list. Most of the time your body will let you know what it needs, and regardless of your exercise schedule its also ways important to listen to your body.As we charge forwards into the silly season we want to be full of energy and life, not dragging ourselves across the finish line - so do yourself a favour, allow yourself some grace when you need it.So don’t feel guilty when you take a day off, take a nice day of R&R so you can hit the ground running… once your body is ready.
