Do I really need a rest day?

Rest days....do we really need them???

A client recently wrote to me, "Could you recommend a good article on the importance of taking a rest day? A trainer told my dad he didn't need to take a rest day if he worked out different muscles every day. This sounds fishy to me, and I think at one point told me that rest days were important, so I want to debunk this guy's myth so my dad doesn't get hurt or tire himself out and give up. So any articles, blogs, books, websites, etc., that discuss the importance of resting and recovering, --- please lead me to them. Thanks so much!!"

I am a firm believer in a rest day, for myself, for my clients and for you!   I workout 6 days a week and most of DanceFIT's clients do too.

Why?

1. Because you deserve it! You pushed yourself for 6 days, you should give yourself a morning to sleep in or evening to be with your family and plan meals or simply time to sit on your couch and REST. 

2. Resting will actually make you stronger! During our workouts, we create tiny tears in our muscles. When we allow the muscles to rest, the tissue is able to repair itself using proteins and their amino acids. This creates stronger muscles over time, which appear leaner, especially combined with the fat-burning process.

3. Rest prevents burnout & injury! That nagging pain can become a full-blown chronic injury if you refuse to take time off from your intense workout routine. Make sure you ice, foam-roll, and rest your body regularly, but especially when you feel a possible injury creeping on.

Clients have told me they feel guilty on their rest day....

You get 2 thumbs up.  Congratulations, you have reached the point where your rest day is torture. This means you are addicted your DanceFIT classes! Yay!

Sometimes a rest day turns into a chocolate feast and an unhealthy binge. Don't let that happen.  Use your workout hour to chop up fruits & veggies, get a massage, use your foam roller, read, write or just put on some soft classical music on and take a nap.   Ahhh...this is making me wish today was my rest day!

Can I take an active rest day?

I believe in active rest days!  On days I don't take or teach a DanceFIT class you can find me engaging in low impact activity....taking the kids for a walk in the stroller, paddleboarding or taking hikes (easy ones...I stroll at a 2 year old pace).  I am not a couch potato and will stay moving, but it is a wonderful feeling to take 24 hours off of doing planks!

What do you do on your rest day???