By Contributing Writer
By Angeliki Mavrantza
Rest is a fundamental element of a successful fitness journey because it is essential for performance. But it’s often overlooked.
Resting doesn’t mean leading a completely sedentary lifestyle on off days. This is known as passive recovery, and it’s only recommended when dealing with a lot of pain or an injury. Rest is about listening to your body and responding to its needs. On regular rest days, try to focus on active recovery: resting from your regular training, but still remaining active throughout the day.
Why is recovery so important after a workout? Research shows that when engaging in any type of intense exercise, the working muscles start to break down, causing microtears in the muscle fibers. By giving your body a break with an active recovery day, the microtears begin to rebuild, and the feeling of soreness and pain will decrease. If your body doesn’t get the break it needs, the microtears won’t have the chance to heal, which can result in overtraining and can increase the likelihood of an injury.
Here are some ways to ensure that you are resting and recovering properly:
Making rest a priority during your fitness journey can have a significant effect on your overall experience with exercise. You’ll feel better physically and mentally, and it can improve your overall training performance. Resting is the key to staying consistent and enjoying your workouts!
The FIU Wellness and Recreation Center is a valuable, on-campus resource that you can utilize to increase your physical activity. For more information about the WRC’s programs and services, please contact WRC@fiu.edu.
Angeliki (Angie) Mavrantza is a certified personal trainer with a bachelor’s degree in public health and kinesiology from the University of Houston. She is currently finishing her master’s degree in exercise science and kinesiology with emphases in neuroscience and psychophysiology at FIU. Mavrantza works as the graduate assistant of fitness and wellness at the FIU Wellness and Recreation Center.
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Rest days are essential to your fitness journey. Here's why. – FIU News
