Let’s talk about rest and recovery, baby

Finding gains together

We know that balance is key. In order to improve flexibility and gain strength, we need to prioritize rest as much as we do our routines around movement. Rest is important in order to grow, recover, and lead an overall healthier life. Unfortunately, a lot of us forget to rest until it is too late and we find ourselves burnt out. Burn out leads to feeling so overwhelmed and tired we may feel the need to cut some things out, and let’s be honest, movement may not always be our favourite thing to do and is vulnerable to being hastily cut out of our day-to-day. We want our work to not only count, but remain a sustainable part of our lives – and rest and recovery creates this sustainability.

Rest and recovery increases blood flow to the muscles and allows our muscles to repair. If we push ourselves too far we will miss out on this crucial rebuild period and risk hurting ourselves. If you’re resistant to resting and losing your momentum, imagine how long you’ll be ‘out’ due to injury. Every day rest and recovery involves a regular sleep routine but does not mean a completely sedentary lifestyle. Do some light stretches or take a nice walk around the block. This switch up in routine is not only good for you physically, but keeps things a little more mentally stimulating as well.

Whatever you do, don’t feel guilty about getting some rest! We have been taught that our worth is based on our productivity, but your journey is meant to be a happy experience, not one that makes you feel bad.