Rest Day? You serious?

Let’s play a game:
  • True or False: The more you workout the better/faster the results.
  • True or False: A good night’s rest and proper nutrition provides all the recovery you need.
  • True or False: I’m being lazy if I’m not intensely exercising.

Well… we won’t insult your intelligence with the answers. We know you know where this is going. *wink*

Here’s why rest days ARE CRUCIAL to your maintenance, your progress and your overall health and well-being.

When you workout muscle tissue is purposefully damaged, and you get stronger when it repairs. Tissue can only repair with rest. When you workout at high intensity for days on end, your body doesn’t have time to heal and reap the benefits of your training. Too many damaged cells causes “inflammation” that rears its ugly head as an injury, fatigue, and/or slow or no progress.

It’s the rest day that increases your strength, performance, and results. It’s time to build rest days into your routine!

Ok, I’m on board. But HOW often and WHAT should I be doing on REST DAYS?

At Daybreak, we recommend 3 days of work, 1 day of rest, then 2 days of work followed by another day of rest (3/1/2/1). Work being defined as higher intensity exercise as you often do at Daybreak.

Our recommendation isn’t set in stone, and it’s best to listen to your body to figure out the best pattern for you. If that means you’re taking a rest day after two days on, then do it! If something just doesn’t feel right, take an extra day to assess what your body is telling you.

Rest days aren’t spent on the couch, binge watching Netflix and scarfing down some paleo beef jerky. No ma’am. Movement, even on rest days, helps us physically and psychologically feel our best.

Below are some ideas on how to move your body while still getting the benefits of recovery

  • Low intensity workouts
    • Rehabilitative yoga, stretching, mobility
    • A slow walk, hike, run, row or bike
    • A Daybreak workout at half effort and significantly scaled (yes, you can come in and “just move”… it’s okay… and no pre-wod butterfies!)
  • Skill building
    • Work on movements that take practice like; handstands, double unders, toes to bar, pull ups. Our coaches are ready and willing to help you build a plan to attack some of those tricky skills. (PS We are also hosting monthly seminars that will provide you with additional guidance)
  • Technique
    • With a PVC pipe, practice clean and jerks and snatch progressions

Do you have any tried and true “REST DAY” recommendations? Post to comments!