R&R

Rest and Recovery, or Recuperation.

This is one of the most important acute variables to consider in a workout program.  Just as the rest between sets determines the effect of a particular workout, the rest between workouts will determine the overall training effect.  Too much rest with very little stress, and you won’t see any results.  Too little rest with too much stress, and you’ll suffer from overtraining.

While it’s tough to “overtrain” with bodyweight alone, it is possible.  The 5-minute Burpee Challenge, done several days in a row, is enough to burn out most people quickly.

The key here, is to listen to your body.  It knows when it needs to rest.  Pay attention to nagging aches and pains, and take a day off.  Take a hot bath or get a massage.  Go for peaceful walks in the woods (in a circle).

The muscular system is not the only thing that suffers from too much stress.  The nervous system suffers as well (they’re all really just one system - YOU).  Your brain needs a break from time to time.  I know that tradition is against this, but I really feel like this applies to my Bagua practice as well.  When I practice continually for months, and then take a week off from practice, I come back fresher, and usually with a greater sense of the movements I’m performing.  I feel like the time off gives me perspective on what I’m doing.  I could be wrong, though!  And what works for me isn’t for everyone else…

Anyway, have fun with your training, but listen to your body.  Take the time to rest when you need it.  It will help you in the long run.

This entry was posted on November 29, 2007 at 1:22 pm and is filed under Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.