When it comes to your fitness journey, many of us are itching to work out fast, lift heavier and skip rest days, hoping it will lead to quicker results. However, the truth is, when it comes to working out, quality is more important than quantity. Proper form and adequate recovery time will boost performance, conserve energy and reduce injuries so you can workout harder for longer. So, how does one ensure they’re working out safely and effectively? Bayshore Fit can show you the way!
Proper Form is Key
Just like anything else in life, results are seen when you do it right. And your fitness routine is no exception. After all, it doesn’t matter how long you exercise or how many reps you do if your form is incorrect! Proper form helps to protect your body from sustained injury, allows you to workout more efficiently and see results faster. But, at the same time, improper form may target unintended muscles or muscle groups or cause harm. The better your form, the better your results – run faster, lift heavier and recover faster when you do it right.
Don’t Forget to Breathe
When it comes to strength training and cardio exercises, it’s easy to find yourself holding your breath. However, the more you forget to breathe deeply, the harder your workout will become! Holding your breath can increase blood pressure and dizziness, leading to nausea and full-body stress. Instead, use your exercise as a time to practice deep breathing exercises and reap the benefits inside and outside the gym.
It’s Not a Race
We all know the feeling of wanting to rush through your workout. Whether you have plans afterward, are squeezing in a workout during your lunch break, or just want to get home to watch your show – there are tons of reasons we want to workout faster – but that doesn’t mean we should. Exercising too much and too fast can seriously affect your physical and mental health, such as undoing your progress, damaging your heart and arteries, causing injury, fatigue and leaving you with lower energy. To improve your cardiovascular endurance, increase your tempo slowly and over time. If its muscle mass you’re after, slower lifts will help increase the recruitment of muscle fibers to overcome an external resistance, leaving you with better results.
Recover, Recover, Recover
The final step in ensuring your workout is safe and effective is to take your rest days! While taking a break from your fitness regimen may sound counterintuitive, the benefits of rest days are plentiful. Recovery methods such as a session in the infrared sauna or rapid tension relief, alleviates pain and soreness and repairs damaged muscle tissue so you can push harder the next time you’re in the gym! In addition, active recovery such as walking and yoga helps increase blood flow and circulation without placing a heavy strain on the muscles and joints, so you can move your body without the pain.
Workout the Right Way with Bayshore Fit
When it comes to fitness, finding the perfect balance can be challenging. Whether you’re recovering from an injury and need help finding the proper form and workouts for you, or you’re brand new to the world of fitness, our team at Bayshore Fit is here to help. Schedule an appointment with one of our trainers today and we’ll ensure you’re working out the right way so you can reach your goals. Contact us today to learn more.