Welcome back to this week’s edition of 2-Minute Tuesdays where we are talking about one exercise topic for two minutes and giving you three reasons why you should follow our advice. Now this week, we are talking to those of you who have a big physical event coming up and you are concerned about your body’s ability to recover from the event. What things could you be doing with your exercise now and need to include with your exercise after the event to make sure your body recovers.
1) Do full range of motion resistance training
Tip #1 to help you recover after a big physical event is the do full range of motion resistance training. When you are doing resistance training make sure to do full range of motion to be sure your muscles are active as possible in as many lengths as possible. Using full range of motion will also help you keep mobility as you keep challenging your muscle tissues with your event.
Action Step: Lighten up the weights you are using in the gym to ensure you have proper form and can move with an appropriate amount of motion.
Related: Taking a week off of exercise? Get the most out of it with these tips!
2) Add in recovery days
Tip #2 to help you recover after a big physical event is to add in recovery days now. A lot of times when you have a big physical event coming up we try to push ourselves as much as we can and by the time we get to the event, our bodies are already depleted. Add in strategic recovery days to allow your body to refresh and replenish. By the time your event comes around, not only are you feeling you best, you are functioning our best and you can perform your best, as well.
Action Step: Choose at least one day each week to be your recovery day. Consider getting in a Muscle Activation Techniques® session (see below), or doing light cardio for about 20 minutes keeping your heart rate around 120 BPM.
Related: 4 Early Warning Signs That You Need MAT®
3) Schedule with a MAT® Specialist
Tip #3 to help you recover after a big physical event is to schedule with your local MAT® Specialist. MAT® is designed to find those muscles that are under active and also designed to find those muscles that are being overworked. This is a great addition for leading up to your event, making sure your body is prepared as possible, and it’s also an excellent recovery tool so that after your event you are able to get your body feeling its best after that big exertion.
Action Step: Find a certified MAT® practitioner in your area here! Also, if you would like to learn more about MAT®, download our free 20-page eBook on MAT® at MAS here!