When you watch boxing movies and read about your favorite boxer, the one thing you will see constantly is how hard they train and the amount of effort that they put into their form and practice. While that is important and no one can deny the amount of effort that goes into training as a boxer; you cannot deny yourself a rest day. As a boxer your mind and body will work like a machine 24/7 where you think about boxing the entire day and then even dream about boxing when you sleep; this stage can prove to be unhealthy for you and might even negatively tamper with your form and performance.
To be able to train well and execute your moves efficiently, believe it or not, rest days are also very important. You might feel guilty for spending an entire day resting and not working out, but trust us for an optimal level of performance, it is necessary.
Below we have created a list of all the things you can do on your rest day, that will allow you to relax but also help you perform better when you train and play the sport, without feeling guilty. Take off your body-building clothes, relax and just take a day off in your favorite pajamas without feeling bad once in a while.
1. Massage
We all love a day at the spa where we can just relax and get ourselves pampered; the feeling of someone carefully pressing down and massaging our pressure points on the body can send shivers down our body as the blood circulation improves and we get rid of knots in our body. However, massages can be a lot more beneficial for boxers as they spend the most time training and then fighting which can increase anxiety, stress, and congeal their muscles. If anyone deserves a day at the spa it’s boxers because of the high-intensity sport they participate in.
Massages also help stimulate our lymphatic system which increases the productivity and efficiency of our body in fighting diseases and viruses, so our boxers will build a better immune system. Massages also help in reducing stress, reduce anxiety and depression and increase mental alertness; all these are extremely important because this allows the boxer to concentrate on the sport more than ever.
And since injuries are a common part of boxing, getting a massage will help improve blood circulation in the body and heighten soft tissue recovery, allowing the boxers to clap back and perform better.
Massages have a positive effect on the mind and body of an athlete, and on a rest day, it is ideal that a player should do anything that will help them relax to the fullest.
2. Foam Rolling
Foam rolling has the same results as getting a massage, the only difference is that you can do foam rolling at home and get the same results! Although foam rolling can be a little painful, it is a very efficient way of relaxing your muscles, increasing blood circulation, stretching, and increasing muscle recovery.
Think of your body as a vehicle, and when you work out and train very intensely your muscles act the same way as rusty old chains that need to be lubricated, that’s exactly how a foam roller will act on your body; it will allow your muscles to loosen up and decreases their chances of getting damaged, increasing your performance.
Some athletes are also encouraged to use vibrating foam rollers because they help delay muscle soreness after a high-intensity training session, and of course, also help you relax even more.
3. Opportunity for Stretching
There are multiple benefits of stretching and that is why it is crucial to stretch right after working out. Stretching again helps improve blood circulation in the body that allows your muscles to become more flexible and elastic. Stretching also encourages muscle recovery and helps mend any small tissue damage; stretching is also considered ideal for muscle stiffness and pain because it helps to get rid of lactic acid that can get built up after working out. So any soreness that you might feel after training can be taken care of if you take ample time stretching your muscles through various exercises.
Now imagine devoting one entire day to wearing your favorite pair of body-building jogger pants, doing a little cardio so you can warm up your body, and then continuing to stretch, this will help prepare your mind and body for another few days of serious training and working out.
4. Ice Baths
Although these might sound uncomfortable and unpleasant, ice baths are excellent for boxers and athletes that spend a lot of their time training and working their muscles. Ice baths help reduce swelling and muscle inflammation that might occur after small tissue damage; this again helps promote muscle recovery.
Initially, ice baths are considered extremely uncomfortable and many athletes dislike taking them, however, you will get used to them if you make a habit out of it because ice baths can be effective. Even if the water seems too cold to get in, trust us your body will adapt to the temperature after a while, and also 15 minutes in an ice-cold bath are considered enough for optimum results.
5. Sleeping is important
Take up rest days for what they are most important for, sleeping. Catch up on your sleep because a healthy sleep cycle will help you relax mentally. It will allow you to take a break from the constant anxiety of working out and training. Sleep also helps rejuvenate you and helps your body to recover and encourages muscle recovery as well.
Remember being able to focus and concentrate in boxing is very important because this sport is a lot more than just fighting and delivering punches. You also need to learn tricks and stay alert to focus on your opponent and determine their game plan. All of this will only happen if you allow your body and mind to rest, otherwise, you will not be able to focus on the game if your mind is constantly alert and working 24/7.
We seriously suggest using up your rest day to take a day off and catching up on your sleep so your mind and body both can rest and perform at optimum levels the next day.
6. Focus on eating
It cannot be denied that when you have a very busy schedule of training and playing a sport then you can very easily ignore your diet. On your rest day catch up on all the essential vitamin and protein-packed foods that you can eat. We also recommend celebrating a cheat day where you can easily eat all your favorite kinds of foods and junk that you had been avoiding, without feeling any guilt.
Indulging you and eating whatever you want will also encourage you to escape this constant cycle of restraining yourself and controlling your urges. Devouring your favorite cheese burger will allow you to relax, enjoy and release stress more than you can imagine! And trust us; you deserve a day out where you don’t have to worry about your weight or your performance.
7. Decreased chances of getting injured
Let’s be honest, if you’re not working out, training, or playing a sport then you are automatically reducing your chances of getting injured! It is true you should work hard and train as much as possible if you want to excel as a boxer. However, no matter how flexible you think an elastic band is, there will come a time where you won’t be able to stretch it without breaking it; that is the same case with your body and mind, if you push your limits too much, you might break and hurt yourself. If you continue to work your muscles every single day and that too intense levels then you are risking the chances of hurting yourself badly. Your body needs a break every once in a while and you should cater to its every need. Taking a rest day is not something you should feel guilty about, because there is only so much your body can do.
8. Mental break
Boxing is a very stress-inducing game because of the high chances of getting hurt, when you train as a boxer you are constantly working your mind trying not to get hurt, blocking your opponent, and escaping any strong punches that might make your way while also trying to deliver punches yourself. It’s like your mind is constantly working; there might even come a time where you won’t even remember how to take a mental break and switch off your brain from strategizing.
This is an extremely dangerous zone and you should try your best to avoid such a mental stage. For this, it is important to keep taking days off, like using CBD flowers. where you can train your mind to relax and just let go, it will only be healthier for you and also better for your game.
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