Everything that we do has an impact, leaves a mark, and contributes something towards who we are and what we are becoming. Life has a holistic impact and your body keeps a hold of the experiences you have; Stresses build tension, workouts promote strength, recovery restores balance, learning creates growth, hard times build resilience, and poor sleep promotes fatigue. Often your body can’t separate or distinguish these apart – it is cumulative and it feels the total load you place on it.
In a physical sense, what we do with our body’s, what we put in our body’s, and how we treat our body’s. In a mental and emotional sense; what we watch, hear, experience, who we surround ourselves with, and feed our minds – all leaves a mark.
It is important to be kind to ourselves; we only have one body, and no one else is looking after it except for you. Recognise when fatigue is building; if you have a bad sleep, factor in a recovery day instead of pushing through the workout. If you have a lot of work on; recognize it, learn about it, and adjust your days to make time for the things that matter to you and your body’s needs.
Your body will give you the feedback you need, listen to it. If you have tight hips; you may be sitting too much. If you feel flat in your workout; your nervous system might be fatigued. If you always feel sore; you might not be doing enough recovery work.
Here’s a couple tips on recovery to keep you in the game and balances the score. It is not being weak; it is being intentional.
- Get some sun, go for a walk – for the mind and the body, recirculates blood, fresh air, active recovery and movement.
- Warm-yoga – relax and restore, focussing on breathing, down regulates, improves nervous system fatigue, helps with mobility.
- Pilates/Barre/Warm-pilates – Promotes core stability, mobility, control, alignment. Promotes slow movement and allows focus.
- Cold exposure – whether it’s a cold shower, a plunge in the ice bath, or a dip in the ocean – it promotes being present, focussing on your breathing.
So listen to your body and take note. Make sure you settle the score so you can continue to compete with whatever life throws your way.
This week’s newsletter can be found here
