Workout in Cycles for a Stronger, More Resilient Body and Mind

By Darren Becket, Health and Fitness Expert, Personally Tailored Fitness

Understanding how the body grows is a lot like understanding how a garden bears fruit year after year. At certain times of the year, plants receive continuous sunlight while at other times they don’t. At the end of the harvest season, most plants shed their leaves to prepare for another year of growth. My point is that just as plants follow a natural cycle to grow, be strong, and produce fruit year after year, the same can be said for our bodies.

When we begin a workout regimen, we often forget that we need to work in cycles to maintain our progress. Sometimes we need to push ourselves to the limit, and sometimes we need to rest and recover. In Taoist philosophy, this balance is referred to as yin and yang, stillness and action. Each action phase is followed by a rest phase so that harmony can be maintained. When our bodies are in harmony, we feel more relaxed, heal quicker, live longer and have more strength.

Listed below are some exercise activities that represent the ACTION phase and the REST phase. Listen to your body, alternating phases when you feel that a change is needed.

ACTION:

Weight training
Running and sprinting
Power walking
Power yoga
High-intensity interval training
Kickboxing
Karate
Fast dancing

REST:

Restorative yoga
Tai Chi
Qi Gong
Slow walking/hiking (especially in nature)
Stretching
Pilates
Corrective/mobility exercises
Foam rolling
Slow dancing

Darren Becket is a health and fitness expert who loves helping people step into their potential for greatness. He works closely with clients to create unique programs to meet each individual’s needs.  Personally Tailored Fitness includes personal training, massage therapy, stress management and nutritional services.

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