It’s finally summer!
We’ve had a long winter this year and spring wasn’t very cooperative. The good news is that the weather is finally getting nicer and more consistent. For many of us here in Chicago, summer is when we get to enjoy our favorite outdoor activities.
It’s common for us to hibernate during the cold and dreary winter months. We tend to stay indoors, sit a lot more and as a whole be way less active. Unfortunately, this leaves us vulnerable to overdoing it when we do start being active again and at a risk for injury.
While injuries can happen to the best of us, at Optimal Performance Massage Therapy, our goal is to keep you moving and doing the things you love pain free as long as possible. With a little bit of planning, getting back into your summer activities can be seamless and fun.
Check out our six quick tips on getting back to being active after an extended break
Ease back into it
It's essential to ease back into any hobby or sport, especially if you've been inactive or away for a while. By gradually increasing your activity, you give your body the chance to reacclimate to the physical stress it will be experiencing.
Starting slowly allows your muscles, tendons, and ligaments to adjust, reducing the risk of injury. Additionally, easing back into your hobby or sport allows you to gauge your current level of fitness and make adjustments as necessary.
By taking the time to ease back into it, you set yourself up for a successful, injury-free return to your favorite physical activity.
Be Consistent
It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of restarting a fitness routine and push ourselves beyond what our bodies are ready for. This can often lead to injury and increased soreness, making it difficult to continue with exercise and ultimately leaving us on the sidelines of our own lives. It's important to give our bodies time to acclimate and adjust to the new expectations we're trying to put them through.
This means picking a routine that is manageable and gradually adding on time or intensity as we become stronger. Starting slow doesn't mean we're not making progress; it means we're setting ourselves up for success and avoiding unnecessary setbacks. So, when embarking on a new fitness journey, remember to listen to your body and take it one step at a time.
Have a plan
Having a plan that we can be consistent with is crucial for achieving success in any activity. Having a structured plan allows us to approach each session with a clear understanding of what we need to do and when we need to do it. With this clarity, we can be more accountable to ourselves and avoid falling into the trap of inconsistency.
By understanding what we need to do, we can avoid the on and off cycle of feeling sore and struggling to maintain the progress we've made. Ultimately, having a plan that is both flexible and consistent is key to achieving success and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.
Seek out coaching or training if you are starting something new
Starting something new can be an exciting but overwhelming task. Whether it's learning a new sport, dance, or even a new job, seeking out coaching or training should be a priority. Gaining a new skill can be difficult, and some activities can even be dangerous without proper guidance. Learning from a professional or more experienced person can be invaluable as they can help you avoid mistakes and pitfalls.
Although it is an additional cost, investing in coaching or training will set you up for continued success in the long run. Preventing the development of faulty habits early on will save time and energy that may have otherwise been spent on unlearning these habits later in your journey.
Build in rest days
At Optimal Performance Massage Therapy, we emphasize the importance of rest and recovery when starting something new. It can be tempting to push ourselves to the limit and jump in headfirst, but it's important to remember that our bodies need time to repair and recover after being challenged.
Taking breaks and allowing ourselves time to rest can help prevent burnout and injuries that can derail our progress. So next time you're starting something new, remember to take it slow and give yourself the time and space you need to recover and grow stronger.
Have a maintenance plan
To maximize the time we can spend doing our favorite activities, implementing a maintenance plan is crucial. A maintenance plan can help prevent injuries and ensure our bodies are functioning at optimal levels so we can do the things we love longer. Neurosomatic Massage Therapy can play a vital role in any comprehensive maintenance plan.
There is a wide range of proven benefits to receiving regular massages from a licensed massage therapist. Neurosomatic massage therapy takes those benefits to a new level by hyper focusing treatment to the specific area of the body that needs it, while also taking the whole structure of your body into account and combining that information with the types of activities you enjoy, your lifestyle, and your history. This allows us to create a specialized maintenance plan to target and support your specific needs and goals. Regular Neurosomatic massage therapy can help enhance your overall quality of life, allowing you to enjoy your favorite activities to the fullest for many years to come.
If you find yourself already experiencing some of the physical strains of starting an activity to quickly or want to set up a maintenance plan to avoid injuries, we are here to help. Contact us to make an appointment or to find out more.
