A critical part of any workout routine? NOT working out. Rest is the key to making muscular and cardiovascular gains. Exercise causes tiny tears in your muscles, and your body needs rest to repair them. Plus a well-timed break fights mental burnout.
Get the most out of your rest by:
- Take at least one rest day per week, maybe two.
- Take care of the basics with appropriate sleep, healthy eating, and plenty of hydration.
- Employ "active recovery" - meaning a more mellow activity like yoga, swimming, or walk to help keep blood flowing and flush out waste products that may be built up in muscles.
- Integrate topical pain relief, cooling ice therapy and kinesiology tape to target sore areas.
