Our body’s need time to rest and recover from exercise. Many people opt for 1-2 rest days per week, but what is a rest day?

A rest day might sound like a day where you can lay in bed watching your favourite Harry Potter movie with a bowl of salted popcorn…but that’s not going to deliver the results you’re striving for. Your rest day should still include 30 active minutes, just at a slower tempo than your training days.

Rest day activities include:

  • Walking

Taking a brisk stroll along the Corniche whilst enjoying the city skyline is a great way to find 30 minutes of activity whilst also getting some fresh air and sunshine.

  • Stretching/Yoga

Attending a yoga class is a great way to stretch our your muscles, build strength and even get a little sweaty on your rest day. If you don’t have access to a yoga class, then 30 minutes of stretching at home will certainly have you feeling refreshed and ready to train.

  • Swimming

Stepping into a nice cold pool on a hot day is certainly refreshing! Do 30 minutes of mixed strokes in the pool; freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke…etc. Swimming is a great way to keep stress off your joints and helps maintain a healthy heart and lungs.

  • Cycling

Pump up the wheels on your bike and set out to clock 30 minutes of cycling. We don’t want you to pull up sore from your rest day activities so make sure you cycle around fairly flat terrain and cycle at a moderate pace.

Allowing your body to rest and recover will help you achieve your health and fitness goals more efficiently.

Written by: EmJ Sheldrake, F45 The Pearl, Head Trainer