It’s that time of the year again … And with that, I don’t mean the festive time of the year, but I have in mind the season of viruses, flu … You get the point. If you’re perhaps sick at the moment or have just had a cold, then you might feel a little bit down. You might have no energy, feel sluggish, with a sense that you will never feel like yourself again. We’ve all been there.
This post is especially for those who have just gone through some kind of sickness and want to get back on track with their exercise/pole dancing training. I know it sucked big time when you were sick, but give yourself some more time off before you go all-in with your training routine. I’ve prepared some tips for you so that your transition into full-time pole dancing will be done in a safe and self-caring way.
It’s ok to go slow.
If you suffered some kind of viral infection lately and feel you have no physical strength, then allow yourself to rest a bit more. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, that doesn’t mean that you can go all-in. I would suggest that in the first week after any illness, you should still stay home and maybe take some short walks outside or just dance (gently and mindfully) to your favourite pole dance music. People often think that if we don’t have actual symptoms then we’re good to go. But that’s not entirely true. Take it slow. Listen to your body – if it needs some more rest, give it some. You’re going to thank yourself later, believe me.
When you feel that you can really go back on the pole, go. But take it easy. If you’ve been training three times a week before the illness, then you should consider starting with one class a week and then slowly adding more sessions.
After the workout, you should feel energized. If not, then take one step back. If you give your body enough time to recover, you’re going to make much more significant progress later. It’s common sense.
Disclaimer: If you’re recovering from a prolonged or more severe illness, then you should talk to your doctor about how and when to exercise again.
Give your body what it needs to recover.
It’s vital to give your body all the nutrients it needs to recover and start functioning properly again. Choose foods that give your body the energy it needs, meaning whole and unprocessed foods. Avoid junk food at all costs and instead eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein and healthy fats. Your body will be grateful.
It’s also essential to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water or unsweetened tea is so important when you’re in the recovery process. Water will flush all the toxins out of your body. It will also help your lymphatic system (part of your immune system) to function properly. Just remember,drink lots of fluids, ok?
Don’t forget to take care of your soul too. Usually when we are ill, the last thing we care about is our outlook. Firstly, we don’t have the energy for it, since all we care about is resting. Secondly, as resting means lying in bed or on the sofa, we therefore want to feel comfortable. So, our look pretty much consists of loose cosy pyjamas, dirty greasy hair and a pale face. That’s why pimping our style back can serve as an important contribution to our recovery. When we present ourselves to the world as attractive, we also start feeling better. So, choose comfortable, sensual and daring apparel when coming back to the pole dance studio after a while.
How do you recover from viral (or any other type of) illness? Do you have any special tips or tricks you want to share with me? I’ll be happy (and probably other pole dancers out there, too) to hear from you.
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