3 Tips for Post-Workout Recovery!

Summer is in full swing which means lots of outdoor activities! Swimming, surfing, biking, hiking, sports, running…the list goes on and on! All of this movement, although great for our bodies, also means we need to find time to rest and recharge. Recovery is as equally important as being active. 

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How are you recovering from your workouts? 

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Hydration is absolutely key! Replenishing the electrolytes lost while sweating helps improve your recovery time and get your body back on track. Drinking half your body weight in ounces is the recommended water consumption, but that increases even more when you’re moving! Try adding electrolytes to your water for an extra mineral boost. My personal favorite brand is Ultima! Can be found at Mother’s Market, Whole Foods, or Amazon! 

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Are you stretching? 

Stretching before and after your activity, allows your muscles to properly warm-up and cool down. Without an adequate warm-up, you are risking an injury. Stretching keeps the muscles flexible and strong. We need flexibility in order to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without this, the muscles shorten, become weak, and then an injury can occur. Stretching after your workout reduces the lactic acid build-up, which causes our muscles to cramp and stiffen. Here are some of my fav stretches before and after a workout! 

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1. Deep hip flexor stretch 

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2. Squat to stand 

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3. Thread the needle 

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Are you taking rest days? 

Years ago I thought it was cool to partake in #norestdays…*face palm*. Little did I know, I was constantly building up oxidative stress in my body, which meant increased inflammation and fatigue. It is hard to lose weight, build muscle, and be healthy when your body is in a state of constant fatigue and high inflammation. An increase in oxidative stress after a workout is a normal reaction, especially after high-intensity exercise however, when you are not allowing your body to rest in between these workouts, you are doing more harm than good. Our bodies need time to recover and flush out the toxins. So after a hard workout, take a rest day! However…this doesn’t mean to sit around and do nothing either. Go for a walk, do some gentle stretching, take a restorative yoga class, meditate, etc. Movement is great for the body but it is important that we are balancing out our hard workouts/activities with some restorative ones as well! 

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I hope you have an amazing summer! Stay active, smile often, and rest when you need to!

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xoxo

Coach Tay

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