GUEST EDITOR: Olivia Smoliga
Contrast therapy, electrolytes, compression, 8 hours of sleep. Yoga, massage, stretching, mobility. Cupping, PT, KT tape, acupuncture. We recover post-workout to repair, rebuild and adapt our bodies to our ever-changing workload. To be able to handle more stress, more breakdown and more weight. Finding a restorative practice is imperative for getting stronger and building resilience.
But what if recovery isn’t just about your physical body?
According to research from the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, implementing stretching into your recovery routine lowers anxiety and improves overall mental well-being by enhancing blood flow and triggering your parasympathetic nervous system - your body's built-in relaxation response.
Recovery can be a true act of self-love. The ultimate practice to restore our connection to the self. Indulge yourself for a moment and connect – place your hands over your heart and feel your heartbeat. Focus on your breath as you gently direct your energy to your lungs, and breathe in for a count of 4.
Hold it… Exhale.
Hold.
Inhale again for a count of 4, hold it.
Exhale again, this time with a sigh.
Repeat this box breath as many times as you’d like. There is something so special about tapping into this relaxed state - it’s as though you’re telling your body - “I’ve got you, I see you, and I’m going to take care of us so that we can take on tomorrow with even more passion and energy.” Is this not what recovery is all about? Giving yourself a moment to rest not only encourages growth but can also make all the difference in your vitality, mental well-being, and even promote a deeper understanding of self.
Here are some favorite ways to recover, prevent burnout and reduce the risk of injury:
- Yoga — helps to flush out metabolic waste and prevent stiffness.
- Sauna — Increases circulation while simultaneously promoting relaxation.
- Breathwork — helps with stress management and improves mindset and focus
- Massage — reduces inflammation and speeds up muscle recovery
- Grounding (the practice of walking on the Earth with bare feet) — Improves quality of sleep and has been shown to reduce chronic pain.
- Post-practice smoothie — Replenishes glycogen stores for energy and repairs muscle tissues
