How long should an active recovery workout be?
Depending on your fitness level and available time, your active recovery session could last anywhere between 15 to 40 minutes. The great thing about active recovery is that it doesn't have to be a structured training session – it's more about making movement a daily, long-term, healthy habit.
Active recovery improves blood circulation that helps with the removal of waste products from muscle breakdown that build up as a result of exercise. Then fresh blood can come in to bring nutrients that help repair and rebuild the muscles. 8 Examples of active recovery exercises include walking, stretching, and yoga.
Active recovery restores your muscles after exercise. It involves low-intensity exercise –– like walking or swimming –– after higher-intensity workouts. With active recovery, you increase blood flow to your muscles and remove toxins from your body that build up during exercise.
WHAT IS A RECOVERY RUN? A recovery run is a form of active recovery. This may sound like a contradiction, but active recovery is essentially the use of light exercise a day or so after an intense workout. By getting the blood flowing to your muscles again, you're aiding your recovery.
Active recovery, also called active rest, is when you do some sort of movement that is less intense than your regular workout days. That can mean anything from yoga or light stretching, a walk, or a leisurely jog. In general, an active recovery day features easy workouts no more than low to moderate intensity.
Walking is one of the best forms of active recovery. If you're a runner, you can also go for a slow jog. Walking or jogging at a leisurely pace can enhance blood flow and help with recovery.
But, we're about to debunk the myth that a once-a-week active recovery day is enough. Get this – we should actually be doing it after every intense workout. Now, this doesn't have to take a half-hour every single time. Even a 15-minute yoga or stretch cool-down is extremely beneficial.
Why is Active Recovery Important? Active recovery can reduce soreness and speed up the muscle-rebuilding process. For example, after five days of solid training, an active recovery session helps your muscle recovery by increasing blood flow without putting a heavy strain on your muscles and joints.
In fact, experts agree that gentle movement or light training to get your heart rate up on rest days, aka active recovery, can help move the blood around and help your body repair itself postworkout.
"Active recovery after strenuous exercise clears accumulated blood lactate faster than passive recovery in an intensity-dependent manner," write the study authors. [Run faster, stronger and longer with this 360-degree training program.] On the other hand, some experts believe passive recovery is the way to go.
What are the three types of recovery?
Name the three types of recovery? Self-recovery, Like-recovery, and Dedicated-recovery.
Studies recommend spending about 6-10 minutes after your workout session performing some active recovery for best results (Ortiz et al. 2018). Light cardio exercise, like walking on a treadmill or cycling at a low intensity, can help you get your heart rate down to recover from your workout.

Active recovery means staying physically active while you recover from higher intensity exercise by using gentle, non-strenuous movements. Walking between sets and gently cycling after a weights class are good examples. Passive recovery, in contrast, requires no movement at all.
Walking is a great active recovery method. Walking three miles is not a “rest day,” but it is an active recovery day. If you feel sore after a long or hard run, going for a walk can help promote blood flow to your legs.
Like yoga, Pilates is an excellent workout to do on active recovery days because it involves both stretching and low-intensity strength exercises. It'll keep your blood circulation—without revving your heart rate—and leave you feeling long and limber.
Active recovery, when done properly, is about facilitating a rest for your body and mind. Yes, you'll be giving yourself some light cardio and mobility work to encourage your joints to stay limber.
- Carbohydrates. Eat complex carbs to restore your glycogen levels. ...
- Water. It's essential to drink enough water, even when you're not working out. ...
- Fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies offer healthy carbs and nutrients that support recovery.
It turns out, exercise experts pretty much agree on the number of rest days people who are in good shape and exercising regularly should take: On average, you should be taking two days per week for rest and active recovery.
But, we're about to debunk the myth that a once-a-week active recovery day is enough. Get this – we should actually be doing it after every intense workout. Now, this doesn't have to take a half-hour every single time. Even a 15-minute yoga or stretch cool-down is extremely beneficial.
People who are fairly active and well conditioned will have a resting heart rate between 50-65 bpm. These individuals need to go above the "20-40 Rule" to get the same physiological effect from active recovery so we'll typically recommend a heart rate zone around 110-130 bpm depending on their fitness level.
What is the 75 soft challenge rules?
- Eat well and only drink on social occasions.
- Train for 45 minutes per day and include one day of active recovery per week.
- Drink 3 liters of water per day.
- Read 10 pages of any book each day.
Rest days are just as important as exercise. In fact, a successful fitness regimen isn't complete without rest days. Taking regular breaks allows your body to recover and repair. It's a critical part of progress, regardless of your fitness level or sport.