Monday, April 30, 2012

May Challenge: Rest and Rejuvenation

Here we are in May, month 5 of our monthly challenge. So far we have learned to listen to our bodies and have made sure we are training at an appropriate intensity. We then set some SMART goals to keep us on task. Last month we learned to make sure we were working our Mind, Body, and Spirit. This month we are going to learn the importance of rest and rejuvenation.

 When you are in optimal health all the systems of your body are in balance. When you experience inflammation, problems losing fat or gaining muscle, moodiness, problems sleeping through the night, or muddled mental clarity, your body is out of balance,

Living in this hectic society, dieting, and adhering to a demanding workout schedule can lead to a body that is out of balance. Do you feel stiff, or have you hit a plateau in your weight loss? There is a good possibility you may be overtraining or simply in the need of some rest. How do you regain your body’s state of balance? One way is rest and rejuvenation.

The first step is to ensure an adequate night’s rest. Optimally, you should have 7 to 9 hours of sleep. If you are sleeping less than that try to get to bed an hour or two earlier than you are now. Next, make sure you are taking rest days from your workouts. Additionally, to aid in rest and rejuvenation, you might participate in relaxation exercises, which can include breathing exercises, meditation and even gentle yoga.

Your challenge this month is to ensure you are getting adequate rest and performing rejuvenating exercise.

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