Day Off or Not?

Many people, including myself, fall prey to overload. Crushing our body day in and day out with rigorous exercise. I tend to tell myself that if I do more, more often, I will get quicker results. In my experience, and yes I continuously have to keep reminding myself, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Over the years I have been taught and have learned the absolute necessity for simply taking a break.

During the process of breaking ones body down, I forget, sometimes, that my body needs to repair itself. If I continue to blast my body every single day I just keep pounding my nervous system and eventually my body hits the ol' brick wall and no matter how much will I have, it just stops.

My nervous system needs time to regenerate and refocus. Time to stimulate the production of hormones and nutrients to repair tissue. The rest periods stimulate the anabolic process for the body to grow stronger.

Rest days for me are equally as important as my workout days. During my rest days I even have a workout plan to help my body relax and recover so as to unwind and stimulate the para-sympathetic branch of my nervous system.

Walk. I simply walk, not power walk, not walking with dumbbells, just, walk. Allowing my mind to drift and meditate on life. No stress, no thinking just allowing my mind to de-stress.

Deep breathing, opening up the chest to encourage thoracic extension and breaking up all of the neurotic holding patterns within extra respiratory muscles from head to toe.

Using a rolling pin to roll out or massage all of the muscles of the body to break up tension reducing stress. Trust me, I look stupid when I do this but it's funny az so I my kids get a good laugh too. All positive.

And finally a deep stretch and limber up session.

Together this entire workout takes me about one and a half hours to complete as I completely give in to every moment.

I invite everyone to take a day or two every week to unwind. Learn to breathe deep into your pelvic floor. Massage your body or, if you're lucky, ask your loved one to do it for you, although i prefer the rolling pin lol. And walk.

I have found my results are quicker the more time I allow my body to properly unwind. And by properly I don't mean just laying around doing nothing at all because that only makes my body feel worse. Sitting down on a couch only creates more tension in my muscles by encouraging tightness my the hip flexors, bad posture and lack of blood flow.

No, I encourage you to workout when you're not working out.

My experience only. We all are different. But perhaps something to consider.

God bless, much love, kia kaha!