How you use the resting period between your workout sets is a key variable that can be gainfully used to get different results from your fitness training or muscle building program. Sometimes referred to as active recovery, active rest can be compared to going for a swim after a tough training session.
Active rest helps in improving your body and in maximizing workout results. The principle behind active rest is that during your workout or training session, instead of sitting down to rest on a bench, you are doing some light physical activity.
Resting certainly gives your muscles a vital break from the beating during a gym session. However, it has been proven that some light movement such as Self-Myofascial Release (SMR), swimming, walking, an easy bike ride, mobility drills, throwing a Frisbee around fosters beneficial recovery outcomes. This is what “active” recovery is all about.
The Types of Active Rest
There are several active recovery methods that are highly convenient which can be adapted to your particular workout session or fitness training program.
Self-Myofascial Release (SMR) – One fine method of Self-Myofascial Release is foam rolling. The objective is to massage your muscles by employing implements such as lacrosse balls, foam rollers, as well as other specialty items.
Walking – This is great for active recovery. It not only burns calories but also boosts your feelings of general well-being.
Riding – Similar to walking, riding can burn a considerable amount of calories. Of course, you need to tailor the ride to match your current level of fitness. Cycling, in particular, is a good active recovery workout as it involves nearly every muscle in your body.
Benefits of Active Rest
Staying active between your sessions also helps in keeping your muscles warm. It is a fact that your muscles will give better outcomes when they are warm. Just remember how stiff your muscles tend to feel when you haven’t warmed up well. Therefore keeping your muscles warm contributes to better overall body functioning during a workout.
Active rest not only helps with cell and muscle recovery during your workout session, but it contributes to the general performance too. By helping you get over plateaus, improving strength and endurance, active rest can be useful in working around the affected muscle while still getting on with the intense workout.
Another advantage of being active between sessions is that you are also burning some extra calories on top of what you accomplished during the main workout. This gains greater significance if your workout objective is to maximize on burning those extra calories. In addition, active rest helps in keeping your heart rate up. This is good as it boosts your workout’s cardiovascular benefits.
Active Rest Can Produce Game-Changing Results
Active recovery assists you to maximize and prepare yourself mentally for the next strenuous or intense workout. Often, you will hear of over-training due to inadequate or improper resting. In many cases more is, in fact, better than less. So rather than take to the bench or mat in between workout sessions, engage in active rest. The above simple methods of active rest can produce game-changing results.
Come train with trainers who train. Visit us at 650 Montgomery street, Jersey City, NJ 07306 or call us at (551) 208-4775
YELP RATED US #1 SINCE 2015.