It can be hard to know when you need to rest after a workout. Many people push themselves too hard and don’t give their bodies the time they need to recover. This can lead to injuries and decreased performance in future workouts.

In this blog post, we will discuss the tell-tale signs that you need to rest after a workout. We will also talk about the importance of rest recovery and adaptation to exercise. So, if you’re feeling sore or tired after your last workout, it’s probably time for some rest!

 

Rest and Restore

As a Certified Pilates instructor and trained dancer, I know how important it is to listen to your body and take breaks when you need them.

Recently, I started incorporating cross-training into my workouts and suffered a knee injury. I was overworking my body without giving it the chance to recover and adapt. As a result, I had to rest for several weeks before I could start working out again.

I started wondering, what does the “rest up” meaning that people say to you after a workout mean, and did my lack of taking a good rest have anything to do with my injury?

Here Are Some Signs Your Body Needs Rest After A Workout

 

1. You’re feeling unusually sore or tired

The strenuous exercise followed by a recovery period is just what the doctor ordered. It’s important to listen to your body and give it the time it needs to recover.

The only thing that your active body needs is time to repair the microscopic tears in your muscles that occurred during your workout. This is what makes you stronger and helps you avoid injuries in the future.

2. You’re not seeing results

If you’re working out regularly but not seeing any results, it might be because you’re not giving your body enough time to adapt to the exercise. When you first start working out, you will see results quickly because your body is not used to the activity.

However, as you adapt, you will need to increase the intensity or duration of your workouts to see further results. If you don’t give your body time to recover between workouts, you will actually start to see a decrease in performance. Remember to prioritize active recovery!

3. You’re getting injured often

If you find yourself getting injured often, it’s a sign that you’re pushing your body too hard and if you’re feeling sore or tired. You need to rest. The moment I injured my knee, I knew that it happened because I was pushing myself too hard without giving my body time to recover.

If you are someone that gets injured often regardless of a minor or major injury, it’s a sign that you need to rest. The last thing you want is for your injury to progress because you didn’t give your body the time it needed to recover. It’s okay to lay down after a workout to rest your body.

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4. You don’t feel like working out

If you just don’t feel like working out, it might be a mental thing but it also could be a physical issue. In this case, you should listen to your body and take a break if you feel like you need one.

Working out is supposed to make you feel good, so if it’s not doing that anymore, something needs to change. Taking a rest day or two won’t hurt you, trust me.

5. You’re feeling anxious or stressed

If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, it might be because you’re not getting enough rest. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to anxiety and stress.

If you find that you’re regularly feeling anxious or stressed, it’s a good idea to take a break from exercise and focus on getting some rest. Remember, activity and rest go hand in hand.

 

Take A Full Rest

If you’re feeling any of the signs we’ve talked about, it’s important to take a break and let your body recover. Recovery is an important part of the exercise process and without it, you risk injury, motivation, and decreased performance.

So take some time for yourself, relax, and let your body recover. Your body will thank you for it!

Have a good rest of your week 🙂