It is very important that we all give our bodies time to rest and recover from our physical workout regimen. Depending on how active you are, it is good to have at least one to two rest/recovery days throughout the week. Throughout my experience of working out, I’ve noticed that having that rest day helps my body come back more energized and rejuvenated. We have to remember that we’re not Superman and that our muscles need time to recover, no matter how aggressive our fitness goals may be. In fact that may be the reason why many people don’t make the gains that they wish: because there’s not adequate recovery time. Also with proper rest and recovery I am able to recharge mentally for the next workout instead of going non-stop with the potential of burning out mentally and physically, which can result in injury.
On my rest days I typically like to do a few stretches in the house or at the gym. Doing stretches surely will help with muscle soreness or just keep you loose in general and help with any stiffness in the body. My favorite thing to do on rest/recovery day is definitely sitting in the steam room after I do a few stretches. Why the steam room you may ask? Here are just a few benefits that I’ve experienced from spending some recovery time in the steam room:
One thing to recognize is that the steam room will challenge your breathing, so remember to focus on breathing properly— inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth as much as possible— you will start to be able to breathe a little bit better during your workouts, even when feeling fatigued. As you gain this skill and apply it to your workouts, you will start to feel more in control of your body and mind, allowing you to push through any fatigue you’re experiencing in the moment of your exercise. Sitting in the steam room for 15-20 minutes is sufficient. You may experience dizziness or rapid heartbeat if you stay in any longer due to the heat. Also be sure you hydrate properly before entering and after exiting the steam room to avoid dehydration and facilitate effective muscle recovery. If you can find time to sit in a steam room after your workouts, that’s great! It doesn’t just have to be on a rest/recovery day. The sauna is also a good alternative to the steam room and offers some of the same benefits. The sauna is a dry heat vs. the steam room which is more of a wet heat. Feel free to test them both out to see which environment you prefer; but the steam room is my absolute favorite!