If you have been hibernating during lockdown, the thought of how to start working out may be daunting for some. And whilst there is no way around it, don’t be deterred from sweating it out and getting back into our normal routines.
There are some things that we highly encourage when you are easing back into your workout routine. Whether you’ve had a break for a couple weeks, months or even years, it is important to keep the following in mind when getting back into the groove of things.
Planning
Before jumping straight into the deep end, let’s take time to plan out what your training routine would look like ideally, and what goals you wish to achieve. When creating a routine, you are able to develop those healthy habits and schedules that will keep you on track for reaching set goals.
We can plan alongside you, set measurable and realistic goals and ensure that you are staying on track in achieving these. We can provide the essential tools to maintain range of motion and reduce the risk of injury when easing back into the gym.
Beginner Exercises
It is important to establish from the beginning of your journey in easing back into the gym that we are starting from the basics. The basics will assure that we are performing all techniques and movements appropriately.
Spend some time building the basics with compound movement, steady-state cardio and mobility work. Gradually, you can increase the volume or intensity as your body adapts to the routine. Feel free to combine your gym workouts with your at home workouts.
Active and Passive Rest Days
Recovery is the best part of being active, as we always say at Kinetic Healthcare, listen to your body when it whispers and not when it screams. Easing back into a workout routine does not entail a six-days-a-week routine. We would encourage you to schedule in rest days and allow your body active and passive rest days.
Active recovery implies when you are using non-strenuous physical activity to stay nimble and keep your body systems flowing. Alternatively, passive recovery is when you give your body a break with as little physical exertion as possible.
Healthy habits
Habits are essential to our health as they guide us in maintaining on track for our health goals. Forming habits like sticking to an eating plan or exercising regularly will increase your quality of life and promote longevity.
To build habits when easing back into working out, we encourage you to have thought out your workout routine and ensure you are motivated and supported on your journey. Once you repeat this habit for a long time, it will automatically become part of your routine.
All in all, easing back into the gym is a lengthy process and should not be rushed. Book in your next appointment with Kinetic Healthcare and we can guide you on what goals and habits to begin to set into place.