My season is finally finished (it could have been longer, but wasn’t meant to be). So now the focus for me is starting to prepare for the next season starting today. It’s definitely important to take a well deserved rest after finishing a long season, but many feel guilty when they take a day or week off so they continue to train. Rest is essential to high-level performance. It’s important to let your body repair and strengthen itself after months and months of tearing it down.
My plan of action is taking some time off of no activities at all and then moving into an active rest. This keeps the body still in recovery mode, but ready when it comes time for base training. Be mindful to work hard enough so your body can exercise effectively, but not so hard that you produce lactic acid. If your regular sport is soccer, try swimming. If you play tennis, try spinning class. Usually in the weight room for your workouts, than try some relaxing yoga. The point is to try something new, something that you don’t always get to do. Work muscles that never work during your season and just have fun.
So here are 10 activities that you can do for your active rest, some you can do on your own and others you need a group of friends, but have fun:
1. Pilates/Yoga
- this will be on my list this off season, I’m going to try something new I’ve heard a lot about and never tried…Hot Yoga
2. Swimming
- i hate swimming, so this is off my list (lol), but this is definitely a great activity for others who like to be in the water
3. Biking/Spinning
- I went through some spinning classes last summer, if your looking for a great challenge, spinning can be the way to go
4. Hiking
- take a walk through the forests, enjoy the scenery, the sounds
5. Flag/Touch Football
- hadn’t done this since my freshman year at school, but if you have a good group of guys or gals, playing a game of touch can be really fun
6. Soccer
- still have some FIFA fever?
7. Ultimate Frisbee
- a quickly growing sport, you don’t have to have any skills with this, just a frisbee
8. Beach Volleyball
- play in the sand, makes you work a little harder to get to the ball and gives you a softer landing
9. Golf/Driving Range
- no cheating, without the cart obviously, i love golfing and walking through a whole 18 holes of golf can be exhausting, yet relaxing
(original image by Eric Lon)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have fallen away from my yoga routine and I use to practice it religiously in particular bikram yoga. Since I had children it has been so hard to get back on track. Reading this has motivate to start again and try out something new like pilates. I heard it tones your body much better.
Leslie
That’s awesome Leslie, glad we could help! I’ve been practicing Pilates now for 3 weeks and I feel great. More flexible, more energy, stronger! You should try it, let us know how it works out for you!