Friday Workout
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Active recovery is the engagement of low-intensity exercise after completing a heavy workout. As paradoxical as it may seem, the best way to recover is to exercise at a lower intensity rather than remaining still.
Yoga
Yoga can improve your flexibility, balance, and control, while increasing blood flow to your muscles.
Self-myofascial Release
Self-myofascial release consists of massaging the connective tissues of the body using a foam roller, tennis ball, massage stick, hands, or any other tool. It helps reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness, increase blood flow, and increase flexibility and range of motion.
Hiking
Taking your workout to the great outdoors can brighten your mood, while the uneven terrain can lightly challenge different sets of muscles and improve your glutes, core, and ankle strength.
Cycling
This low-impact exercise can improve circulation to the lower body and improve cardiovascular health without great stress to the joints. Try biking outside, or try a stationary bike indoors and pedal to your favorite music.
Lighter weight-lifting
Avoid exerting yourself by lifting weights at or below 30% of your usual weights, and performing one set less. It’s a great way to correct your lifting form and increase blood flow to the muscles.
Rollerblading
This might be a blast to the past, but rollerblading can work your brain and motor skills, challenge different muscle groups, increase blood flow and circulation, and promote heart health.
Swimming
Working out in the water releases joint tension and pressure while promoting circulation in the muscles, heart, and blood vessels.
Remember that your active recovery session is supposed to heal your body, not exert it. Don’t overwork yourself, and enjoy!