5 ways to stay young...while still getting those achievements

If you are like my friends, you are constantly testing your strength, endurance, and skills. With the new Strava tool, it is even easier and quicker to see your improvements.  Those PRs, crowns, and trophies feel good; immediate gratification.  But repetitive days of intense exercise can have a toll on your body.

Recently at work, an avid beach volleyball player came into my office to ask information about why his body was starting to hurt and what he could do.  He was in his late 30's and was worried he getting old.  He wanted to keep playing volleyball but wasn't sure if he was wearing down his body.  The grim look on his face was a complicated balance of keeping your body feeling young and healthy while still enjoying your favorite sport and reaching/pushing your goals.

Prasarita Padottanasana D - 
I love this stretch - it opens my hamstrings, inner thighs, calves, and stretches my lower back.

5 simple ways to keeping your body feeling young:

1. REST  - be sure to give your body a break 1-2 days per week.  After an extreme & intense event, you may have to take days or weeks off.

2. NUTRITION - performance is 100% training and 100% diet.  When the body is under extreme stress, it is possible to weaken the digestive organs decreasing the amount of nutrients it can absorb. You may need to take a supplement.  Also, notice how much protein and fat you are eating and the macro-nutrients in your diet.   Taking fish oil or Omega can help reduce inflammation in the joints.  Your nutrition is your medicine.

3. BODY WORK  - have a trusted massage therapist, acupuncturist, and/or chiropractor that can keep your body tuned up like a machine.  Runners and riders will often have tight hips and hamstrings while swimmers and surfers will have tight shoulders and back muscles.    

4. WARM-UP - Take time to stretch and warm-up.  A proper warm up properly can help with performance and studies have shown that a proper warm up can also decrease DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness).  Integrate a yoga practice into your routine.  

5.  CROSS TRAIN  - complement your passion with variety.  Try biking, running, swimming, tennis.  Constant repetitive movement can wear down joints making you more susceptible to injury.   Strength training and core work is a great foundation for any sport.

Off to yoga for some recouping after an intense mountain bike ride yesterday.

Stay young :)

Chi