As I continue my rehab and recovery from knee surgery, I literally make progress every day.
While injuries can slow us down, they are also badges of honor, the inconvenient fruits of a life lived with gusto.
Problem is, these old (and newly) injured areas – and our bodies in general – can make themselves felt more frequently, the older you get. In fact, I can feel a few places whenever the weather changes.
However, you can’t let these aches and pains hold you back. Nope, the key is to keep moving and keep improving.
I’m feeling more enthusiastic than ever these days because I have been able to increase the intensity of my training and do more each week. But I’m also trying to be smart about how I approach my rehab and training. And one key thing has really helped me to recover more quickly than most people would expect: I place so much emphasis in my own health regimen on breathing and dynamic energy exercises.
This type of approach can help you too. It provides you with a springboard, a boost, for getting back into shape – like I’m doing now – or ramping up the intensity of your current fitness program.
I’m pretty young – in body, mind and heart – for my so-called “age”. But I know (from painful experience) that I operate and progress best when I alternate “hard” with “soft” days.
For example, today I did a pretty hardcore workout. High intensity, good tempo, lots of focus. I kicked butt. It felt great!
But I know I will feel this workout a little by tomorow morning. As I get older, I’ve noticed that I can still do just about everything I did before…but the recovery takes longer.
So, tomorrow I will do a “softer” workout. That can mean many things, but for right now in my progression, it means I focus more on flexibility, stretching and breathing.
In fact, I’ll be doing the exact series of mobility and flexibility exercises I teach in “Dynamic Flexibility: The Secret To Healthy, Pain-Free Joints, Limber Muscles and Maximum Mobility”.
The important part about training in a way that helps you recuperate and helps your body improve even more quickly and effortlessly, is knowing how to stretch and rejuvenate the muscles and connective tissues.
For example, using my Dynamic Flexibility method only takes about 15 to 18 minutes to fully, completely stretch your entire body, including all the major joints and muscles. I sometimes take longer, though, because I enjoy the routine so much. It’s a wonderful break from work.
There is a natural cycle of work or struggle followed by rest and reward. You see it throughout nature. For example, the love of my life is the gardener of the family, with some help from our son. The two of them till, plant, fertilize, water and weed for weeks or months. The reward is a beautiful array of flowers and shrubs around our house and back porch, as well as delicious fresh vegetables the entire family can enjoy. They reap….we all sow.
You can see this cycle throughout history, going back to biblical times. The Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the desert before they were allowed into the “promised land”. God worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th.
You may see this in your daily life as well. For example, you work hard on a project, plugging and pushing away. At times you feel like you are making minimal to no progress.
Then, you relax and let up a bit. You put the project aside for a spell. And you suddenly receive the idea or the inspiration that helps you finish the damn thing…without stress, strain or pushing.
Same thing goes for your body – and mind and spirit, for that matter.
Push yourself and really go for it at certain times. But allow yourself to relax and refresh at other times.
You can successfully apply this cycle to exercise, to eating better, or to taking virtually any type of action that will improve your health or your life. So, as you plan your day or week, build in times to work hard and push yourself. Alternate these with times when you relax and reward yourself.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much more quickly and enjoyably you finish those projects and start hitting your goals.
You Can Do It!
“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2012