avoid injury, target the correct muscle groups, and work more efficiently.
Use Active Recovery Days to Boost Your Results More Isn’t Always More
SO … WHAT SHOULD I DO ALL DAY? You won’t be going full-bore at the gym, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep your body moving. If you’re a CrossFitter, take a yoga class to maintain flexibility. Weightlifters can swap out the heavy weights for bodyweight moves and light cardio. If you’re a runner, reduce your distance and speed by jogging a shorter route at a lower target heart rate. Whatever your typical activity, shoot for about 50 percent effort or less on these days. Active recovery days are also the perfect opportunity to prep food! Spend the afternoon cooking chicken breasts, boiling rice, soaking oats, and chopping veggies, then divide them into enough single-serving containers to last the rest of the week. Most importantly, take advantage of this time to catch up with the important people in your life and the hobbies you love. You can even kill two birds with one stone by playing basketball with friends or going for a walk with the kids. When done properly, active recovery days can recharge your body, your mind, and your life.
WHY SHOULD I BOTHER WITH ACTIVE RECOVERY?
Taking a day off from your workout routine might feel like slacking, but scheduling recovery days into your regimen will actually make the time you spend in the gym more effective. Active recovery days aren’t really days off; you just do less physical work and focus more on the other tasks necessary for reaching your goals. With the holiday craziness kicking into full swing, now is the perfect opportunity to make sure you’re scheduling those active recovery days. You’ll have more time to focus on everything else you love and give your body what it needs to work off those extra Thanksgiving treats!
Heavy exercise “damages” your muscles, and they use this downtime to repair that damage, which causes the cells to enlarge and ultimately results in muscle growth and increased strength. This hypertrophy process can’t happen — at least, not very successfully — unless your muscles have a chance to rest and recover. Reducing your workout intensity also allows you to focus on proper form, whether that’s for lifting, running, CrossFit, or other athletic pursuits. Perfecting your form will help you
Client Testimonial
“I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to the team at ELITE Physical Therapy. Thanks for helping me strengthen my hip. My daily activities have greatly improved, and the long hours at work have become much more tolerable. I appreciate the warm, professional atmosphere.“ ––––– –Michele Snider
2 • www.elitephysicaltherapy.us • Elite PT
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