• My EVO
  • FAQ
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
evo fitness evolvedevo fitness evolvedevo fitness evolvedevo fitness evolved
  • What is Evo
    • What is Evo
    • Philosophy
    • EVO Manifesto
    • EVOMOVE
    • EVO Academy
  • Training
    • Training
    • Personal Training
  • EVO CLUBS
    • EVO Vienna Berggasse
    • EVO Vienna Mariahilfer Strasse
    • NEW – EVO Vienna Schleifmühlgasse
  • Blog Evo
  • JOIN NOW
  • Free Trial
EN
  • DE
✕

Rest day? Here’s why it should be active rest

4th May 2022
aktive Erholung - active rest - EVO Fitness

Put simply, active rest is when you take a day off working out but still incorporate easy light movement. The sweet spot between kicking up your heels on the sofa all day and overtraining.

Naturally, after a heavy training session the day before, you might feel like saying “I’m not moving a damn inch today – I deserve it!”, before spending eight hours binge-watching Netflix.

But what your body actually deserves is movement. It’s what it was designed for.

Rest without movement (passive recovery) is necessary if you’re feeling completely wiped out, or if a doctor has advised you to limit movement.

Otherwise, always, always, always choose active rest.

WHY ACTIVE REST IS BEST

1.   It helps blood reach sore muscles

If you’re lifting weights or performing intense workouts, you’re going to tear muscles. And if you don’t allow those muscles to fully recover, you might actually see a decrease in their endurance.

Lower intensity activities include yoga, walking, a leisurely jog or a relaxing swim. Each of these increase blood flow around your body, delivering nutrients (from amino acids to oxygen) to your muscles so they can repair themselves more effectively.

EVO Fitness Instagram

2.   It gives faster fitness results

As per our previous point, all that blood flowing to your muscles is not only essential for repair. To get the gains of exercise, you have to create the right conditions for muscles to recover properly. Active rest gives muscles a break while maintaining their power, flexibility and strength – the magic combination.

3.   It keeps momentum

If we spend our rest day lounging for hours, we can end up feeling cranky, sore, and stiff. Which makes us even less inclined to get moving and can even reverse our progress. Staying mobile not only makes you feel better mentally – offering a break from intense physical training – but also makes it easier to return to your regular exercise routine when you’re able to.

4.   It can decrease your chance of injury

FYI: foam rollers are your friend. On active rest days, mindfully roll out exhausted muscles to prevent exercise-related muscle injuries. This is especially important for runners, who often find themselves with shin splints. Never overdo it – it’ll only decrease progress in the long run.

5.   It can help shake up your fitness skills

It’s not unusual to get bored with your workout routine. Your active rest day can be a great way to do something completely different. If you’re a lifter, try some light jogging. Runner? Give yoga a go. If you’re only doing the same exercise you’re used to (but a lighter version), your body and mind won’t benefit from the other workout types that can complement your favourite fitness form.

Please note:

Always listen to your body and trust what it tells you. If it needs a full-on, heels-up, butt-on-sofa day, there’s no harm in it. Fully passive rest days are also needed to replenish nutrient stores.

Share
0

Recent posts

22nd March 2023

5 benefits of weighted vests


Weiterlesen
superset workout
20th March 2023

Workout of the week: 20-min superset workout


Weiterlesen
Mobility Training - EVO Fitness
15th March 2023

What is mobility training & why it should become part of your routine?


Weiterlesen

Recent Posts

  • 5 benefits of weighted vests

    5 benefits of weighted vests

    22nd March 2023
  • Workout of the week: 20-min superset workout

    Workout of the week: 20-min superset workout

    20th March 2023
  • What is mobility training & why it should become part of your routine?

    What is mobility training & why it should become part of your routine?

    15th March 2023
  • Workout of the week: 10-min no-equipment cardio workout

    Workout of the week: 10-min no-equipment cardio workout

    13th March 2023
  • Off with the shoes: barefoot workout benefits

    Off with the shoes: barefoot workout benefits

    8th March 2023

EVO AUSTRIA

Address
Lifestyle Concept Austria GmbH
Wehlistraße 66, 5. OG
1200 Wien

E-Mail address: info@evofitness.at
Telephone (Mo.-Fr. 16:00-20:00): +43 676 844644474

MEMBERS

  • My EVO
  • FAQ
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR NEWS!

Subscribe to EVO's Newsletter full of training tips, workout plans, event invitations and interesting offers.

I agree to the processing and storage of my personal data in order to receive EVO’s communications.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

© EVO Fitness, All Rights Reserved | Datenschutzerklärung und Cookie-Richtlinie
EN
  • EN
  • DE
  • My EVO
  • FAQ
  • Careers
  • Contact Us