Rest, Recovery and Self Love

We all deserve a day for ourselves!

Sunday is my day off, and with Hubby at work, I have the entire day to do what I want. A world full of options in Los Angeles, USA. Rest and recovery is one of the most important factors of what I preach, amongst staying active, hydrated and nourished. We are always so go-go. It is crucial to take a day for recovery.

I’m an active person and an early bird! So what does an Australian girl do on a rainy day in Santa Monica? I started the day with 10 minutes of meditation, followed by a foam rolling session. I made myself a coffee and headed to the beach for a long walk with the dogs. We ended the walk with 30 minutes of yoga and Animal Flow on the beach. I later headed to my favorite grocery store, Rainbow Acres, to buy natural peanut butter, raw vegan cheesecake (why not) and some vegan feta. I have been mostly plant based for the past four months, and this store has the best plant based treats and snacks.

I headed back home to Santa Monica after running a few more errands. I filled up my tub and soaked for 30 minutes in epsom salts. I gave myself a mini facial with a face mask, lit some candles, put on music, grabbed a good book and enjoyed my me time.

This part of my week gets me ready for the week ahead. I feel rested and rejuvenated, and the best part is, after running 10 miles yesterday in preparation for a half marathon in 8 weeks, I’m not sore at all. This wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t take the time for self care.

When it comes to exercise, sometimes less is more. Avoiding rest days can set you up for things like repetitive stress injuries or overtraining, which will eventually force you to take some rest days whether you like it or not. A well-designed exercise program—one that will help you meet your goals—includes adequate rest  to fully recover from the stresses of hard exercise.

I hope everyone is having an amazing Sunday and has a chance to do something good for their souls today. Now, it’s time to prep my meals for the week ahead. See you all in the gym 💪🏾