Importance of Rest

Life: One rep at a time Importance of Rest When I work out, I work out hard. Hopefully you do to. I train 5 days a week and on the 6th day I train, but differently. I train doing strongman exercises and also more functional exercises. I do this so I won’t get bored and to keep my muscles confused. But on the 7th day I rest! And I don’t feel guilty at all! As a professional athlete it can be difficult to take a break. There are always goals to reach, training techniques to try and, for some, competitions to get ready for. I recommend at least one day a week to rest or more. For some, even this may be hard to do. If this describes you, then take a leisurely walk for 30 minutes. But don’t feel guilty about doing nothing. It has many benefits. Adequate rest provides more energy throughout the day. You’ll find you will be able to sleep better. With that good nights sleep brings a more healthy you. Rest also boosts brain function and happiness!. And when you return to the studio, you’ll be ready to hit it hard once again. Also, since we are talking about resting, I want to give you a heads up about how to reduce those muscle aches that you worked so hard to get. That would be a shower, but not just any shower…Contrasting Showers. If you don’t know what this is, it’s hot and cold showers alternately. Alternate between hot water and cold, staying in the hot water at least twice as long as cold water. You might need a watch for this. Try to go at least three rounds of alternations with the hot water lasting three minutes. The benefits of contrasting showers is improved circulation. This can help reduce soreness by moving lactic acid out of the muscle. It’s also extremely invigorating and many claim it to be a stress reliever.. Try it! Robert J. Caltabiano, IFBB Pro Roberts One on One Fitness Studio 17 Ravine Road Malvern, PA 19355 610.296.8505 www.robertsoneonone.com "This is where fit Happens"