RECOVERY RULES
Recovery can change your life… and should be incorporated into every workout program
1. Cycle Your Workouts
You can’t always go hard. It’s a recipe for injury, regression, and pain, which are just a handful of the many agonizing symptoms associated with overtraining. Split up your routine to avoid working the same body parts on consecutive days and be sure you’re mixing in a variety of exercises, modalities and training tools.
2. Commit to Active Recovery
I suggest two active recovery days a week. Now active recovery doesn’t mean complete rest. Instead focus on low-intensity activities like walking, yoga, meditation and stretching. These will encourage repair, regeneration and recovery, without further muscle breakdown and energy expenditure.
3. Take Time Off Each Week
Take one day off from all exercise per week. While active recovery is a great way to initiate recovery, your body does need time off (even if it doesn’t feel like it!) During those rest days, be sure you’re eating right and fueling up on fluids for maximal recovery.
4. Foam Roll Pre-Workout
All it takes is five minutes before your workout to lengthen your fascia and soften hardened tissue. And let’s be honest: No recovery routine is complete without a foam roll. Hit your hips, glutes, IT bands, adductors, chest, lats and back. I assure you, this minor commitment will pay major dividends.
5. Stretch Before Bed
Increase your flexibility and mobility with a short stretch sequence before hitting the hay. There’s no better time to lengthen and strengthen than right before bed. Poses like Down Dog, Up Dog, Pigeon Pose and Savasana (this one may actually put you to bed!) will relax your mind and prep your body for major recovery as you start snoozing.
6. Practice Breathwork and Meditation Daily
There’s nothing better than quieting your mind, listening to your spirit and tapping deep inside your soul. That is why I practice breathwork for three minutes every morning and three minutes every evening—and frankly, that’s all you need for success. *Don’t get hung up on the word “meditation.” Any quiet time with intention qualifies. So whether it’s through prayer, meditation or breathwork, take three minutes minimum (more is better here!) twice a day for deep focus on YOU.
7. Soft Tissue Work Is a Must
I suggest receiving a massage or bodywork at least once a month. When it comes to soft tissue work, the more, the merrier! Heck, my goal is always one massage/bodywork session per week.
8. Use Recovery Hacks & Tools
Other elite recovery tools include infrared saunas, cryotherapy tanks, hyperbaric chambers, NormaTec boots massagers.
9. Sleep Is Crucial
Did you know your phone has an OFF button? Ditch your devices one hour before bed, invest in blackout curtains, find the right room temperature, read and practice gratitude journaling for superior slumber. It’s not about the hours. It’s about the quality.
10. Practice Great Nutrition & Supplementation
Glutamine, protein, fish oil and CarnoSyn® Beta-Alanine are all excellent supplements to expedite recovery and amplify performance. These are the techniques I practice, preach and have endorsed for years. Invest time in recovery and you’ll feel and perform better than ever! #RecoveryRules
You can train hard and eat right, but if you do not recover, you’ll never be your best.
