The title says it all — Recovery (yes, rest days) is supporting your strength development not hindering it. Contrary to what hustle culture encourages, having days off will make you feel and look your best. Rest is not only good, but it’s also necessary. At a macro and micro level our bodies take time to recover. In this blog, I will explain why the quality of workouts is better than quantity, and why recovery days will transform your body.
Quality Over Quantity
This is the oldest rule in the book. The three most important layers to a good workout are proper form, proper form, and proper form. All jokes aside, proper form is likely the component of your workout that is lacking thereby delaying your goals and impeding your strength development. It’s nearly impossible to keep good form during the entirety of your workout. That’s why it’s nice to have a personal trainer facilitating the practice and reminding you to keep your shoulders down. I’m sure my clients think of me as a broken record constantly telling them to “breathe”. I gently queue clients so they maintain the quality of their practice to prevent injury and encourage the full use of their muscles. When a client starts to think about the amount of repetitions they’re doing as opposed to how they’re doing it, the benefits of the exercise are lost. It’s more important to be intentional in your practice through slow and controlled movements than to do quick sloppy exercises.
Rest Days
Along with quality over quantity, invest in a good workout a few times a week and give your body a chance to recover. In a recent podcast with Dr. Shannon Ritchey on the Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast, Dr. Ritchey advises listeners to take days off and allow their muscles to recover. She says that “muscles grow in recovery”. Therefore, less is more. I tell my clients that they should do Pilates as much or as little as they want, but stay consistent. I have not yet had a client do Pilates seven days a week, but most of my clients do twice or three times a week for the best results. Between sessions, clients either take advantage of their rest day or delight in a run, an at-home workout, or a round of golf. Rest can look different to everyone, but this is your permission to take a day off.
Isn’t nice to hear you can take a break — and doesn’t that make sense? Life is a balance. Drop the expectation that in order to get the best results you have to workout every single day. Enjoy life by participating and investing in a quality workout that will change your body and make life more fun. Our body needs it and more importantly, so does our mind.
If you’re looking to start quality training, book a Pilates session with me or shoot me an email at info@equipoisellc.com — I’m always happy to answer your questions!
By: Annie Maxwell
BONUS:
It’s vacation season and that likely means less work and more play. If you’re taking a vacation, there’s no pressure to stick to your normal routine. Mix it up. Here’s a list of activities you can enjoy on vacay:
- Paddleboarding
- Surfing
- Playing golf
- Swimming
- Walking, hiking, or running
- Pickleball
- Tennis
- Going for a massage
- Biking
- Kayaking