Get Your Summer Workouts Right With These 6 Dos And Don'ts

While the sweltering heat of summer looms over your head, don’t let your diet, fitness, or mental health get pushed to the back burner. Instead, actively participate in the #HealthySummerWithActivLiving campaign to thrive in different circumstances and lead a wholesome lifestyle.

To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise. However, simply sweating it out is not equivalent to exercising properly.

Here’s what you need to know:

6 Dos and don’ts of summer fitness

Regular exercise benefits the mind as well as the body. It helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It also helps strengthen the bones and the muscles. Thus, in order to yield the best results of exercise, it is important to do it right. A correct technique is essential while exercising to ensure that your muscles are worked, and not strained.

1. Don’t skip warm-up

If you pull a rubber band when it is cold, it will snap. But when it is heated, it is elastic and flexible. That is how our muscles and connective tissue function. It is imperative to stretch and warm-up before exercising as it prepares your lungs, heart and muscles for physical activity and lowers the risk of injuries. While warming up, the temperature of your muscles and overall body rises, increasing blood flow. This improves blood circulation and elasticity, further enhancing speed, strength and endurance. Jogging on the spot, hip rotation, toe touch, and arm rotation are good effective warm-up exercises, to begin with. Once the warm-up is done, you are all set to start your summer workout.

2. Don’t overlook recovery

Overtraining can often lead to straining your muscles and can cause injury. You should give time for your muscles to grow, repair and recover. Splitting up your workout schedule and focusing on different muscles enhances your performance while giving rest to other muscles.

3. Don’t be inconsistent

Try to include regular workout in your schedule. The summer season should not be an excuse to skip exercising. Create a proper fitness routine to reap its health benefits. Also, choose techniques that complement your fitness level. Shuffle between free-hand days to days using training equipment.

4. End your workouts with cool down

After your workout, your heart rate is elevated. The primary purpose of a cool down is to return your heart rate to the normal pace. Stopping quickly after completing a workout can cause dizziness, light-headedness or fainting, primarily in summers. It also aids your elevated breathing to come to a rest. Thus, yoga as a cool-down activity is immensely beneficial.

5. Avoid working out between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The best time to exercise is either early in the morning or after sunset. The hottest time of the day is between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., especially during summers. If you are not careful, it can lead to a heat stroke or cause dehydration. Look out for warning signs of muscle cramps, nausea or weakness.

6. Drink plenty of water

While working out in the summer season, you should intake plenty of fluids. Hydration lubricates your joints, reducing inflammation that results in an effective workout. Eating fruits that are rich in water, such as cucumber, tomatoes and orange, also help flush out the metabolic waste produced during an intense summer workout.

Don’t push yourself so hard that you can’t recover. Follow these dos and don’ts to lead a healthy standard of life. Get more summer fitness tips on fitness and nutrition on the Activ Living Blog. For Activ Living in Summer, don’t wait for the right time or season to exercise. #ABHIKaro