The Benefits of Active Recovery Days

By: OPFHC Staff

August 13, 2024, 10:00 am - Categories: Fitness

Taking a day away from vigorous activity and engaging in light exercise can be highly beneficial for your body. Active recovery days, or days that you perform low-intensity exercises to follow the previous day’s high intensity workouts, allow time for your muscles to recover. Recovery is a necessary part of a fitness routine to allow your body time to rest and recharge to reduce the chances of injury.

Benefits of active recovery:

Reduces lactic acid buildup in the muscles, which leads to muscle soreness

Increases blood flow to muscle tissue

Removes metabolic waste from the muscles

Reduces muscle tears and pain

Active recovery methods:

Walking– Because walking is a rather light activity, it is a great way to stretch your muscles as active recovery. It helps to reduce lactic acid buildup and can help to decrease your muscle soreness.

Yoga– This low-impact exercise is a slow and gentle exercise that still increases your heartrate. Opt for a lighter yoga practice that includes periods of rest, instead of a more intensive practice. Introducing a 30-minute yoga practice into your day can have lasting benefits to your body, including improved posture and reduced muscle pain.

Swimming- One reason swimming is a great activity for active recovery is because water is believed to reduce inflammation. Not only will your muscles thank you for this, but your joints will also appreciate a low-impact exercise to help them recover.

As always, if you are experiencing extreme pain after exercising, reach out to your physician. Interested in learning more about active recovery? Our certified Fitness Specialists are here to help! Explore our variety of fitness offerings and consider trying one of these light exercises on your next recovery day, or incorporate them into the end of your workouts to help your body cool down after exercise.

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