3 Things I Do Every Day for Recovery

I’m looking at the calendar and this year is winding down quickly. I swear, once we hit September the whole thing just seems to fly by!

And, since this year has been crazy (to say the least) for most of the world, I won’t be sorry to see it go!

But before the year ends, I’ll be turning 49. And, I have to tell you – my training has gotten more intense this year, not less. I feel better and stronger at 49 than I did at 29!

I train hard, but it’s my recovery strategies that I perform every day without fail that allow me to train as hard as I do, and to keep getting stronger (and stay injury free) as I get older!!

I’ve heard it said that if exercise is king, then recovery is queen. However, you want to say it, the key is that your recovery must be equal to, or even greater than, your exercise.

Unless recovery is a priority you will NOT be able to sustain intense training as you get older.

 Here are the 3 things I do every day to keep my body performing optimally…

 

  1. Daily Mobility Training – If you saw my social media posts over the weekend, you know that I highly recommend daily mobility training to keep your body healthy, strong, and injury free. We not only want to have increased range of motion on all our joints as we age, we want to be able to move pain-free as well!

Here is my complete daily mobility routine <<==

 

  1. Daily Breath Work – I’ve been studying breathing exercises for well over 20 years now and it’s something that I do every day to make sure I’m energized and healthy. The one greatest indicator of overall health and longevity is lung function – the greater lung capacity you have, the healthier and stronger you are! Breath is life.

My Evolve Your Breathing Program contains all you need to build lung capacity, increase energy, and create vital health. (also, you can get EYB for free when you pick up a copy of Shadow Strength) My qigong program, Vital Force is also an excellent reference for breath training and energy development.

 

  1. Pine Pollen – I have been adding this to my morning glass of water and it has made a huge difference in aiding my recovery from intense training. While not absolutely necessary, I do find that it helps give me an edge in my training! Get Pine Pollen<<==

Mobility, Mobility, Mobility

What is, hands-down, the most effective, efficient, and time saving daily practice you can adopt for greater health and longevity?

In one word – Mobility, Mobility, Mobility!

I’m sure you are familiar with the phrase, “move it or lose it”, right?  But how seriously do you take it?

A complete mobility practice moves each joint in the body through its complete range of motion bathing it in synovial fluid.  Movement is the only way your joints get nutrition!  Each session can range from a quick 5 minute recharge to a 30 minute in-depth deep practice.  It’s up to you and how your body feels on a particular day.  For example, did you do a ton of heavy lifting or a super intense metabolic conditioning session the day before?  Maybe a longer, deeper mobility session is required to aid in restoration and recovery.  Or, did you just get out of bed and maybe only have 5 minutes before you have to get ready for work?  A 5 minute quick-n-dirty mobility session will charge you up and get your body moving (literally!).

Daily Practice

I have been performing my mobility practice almost every day for over 10 years now.  However, there have been a few times when I decided to forego it for several days in a row just to see if I could notice a difference.  After 3-4 days without it I began to notice.  Muscles were tighter.  Movements were less fluid.  Joints were crunchy.  When I finally stopped my no mobility experiment on day 5, the contrast was amazing!

In my experience, mobility training and breathing exercises are the biggest bang for your buck daily practices that will only reward you more and more with each passing year.

Benefits of Mobility Training

Spine mobilityIn no particular order, here are some of the benefits of mobility training:

  • Lubricates joints and allows them to receive nutrition through synovial fluid
  • Aids in removal of toxins
  • Reduces joint pain and inflammation
  • Increases range of motion (flexibility in motion)
  • Increases energy by reducing unconsciously held tension
  • Prehab for injury prevention
  • Mobility is foundation of all sport, athletic, and martial movement
  • Decreased mobility leads to increased pain and stiffness

Looking for a fantastic resource on mobility?  I would suggest checking out my Martial Power Program or Ninja Missions Program 1.  Both of these courses contain a different, yet highly effective mobility routines that will keep you healthy, active, and pain free for life!

Martial Power Cover1

Ninja Mission Cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter which program you choose, mobility training is the gift that keeps on giving – it literally pays health dividends that increase over time.  Establish a daily practice and keep going!!