Rest and Recovery and the Benefits for your Body

Rest and recovery are just as important as training when it comes to achieving peak athletic performance. Your body needs both to recover, rebuild and re-energize. Here’s why:

• Muscle growth and repair: Strength training can cause tiny muscle tears. When you allow your body to rest, it gives your muscles time to repair and grow stronger.
• Injury prevention: Overworking your muscles and joints can lead to strain, fatigue and even serious injuries. Recovery days reduce inflammation and allow for the tissue to heal properly.
• Improved performance: Your energy is replenished during rest, allowing you to perform better in your next session.
• Stronger immune system: Overtraining weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. Rest helps your body fight off infections and helps you stay healthy.
• Nervous system recovery: Heavy lifting and high-intensity workouts stress the central nervous system (CNS). Rest days reset your CNS, which improves your coordination, reaction time and overall strength.

Maximize your recovery by:

• Prioritizing sleep (seven to nine hours per night)
• Hydrating and fueling your body with proteins, healthy fats and carbs
• Engaging in active recovery - light movements, stretching or mobility work to help blood flow
• Listening to your body. If you're overly sore or fatigued, take a break!

Article by Kaila Mason