Photographed by Erin Yamagata.
When you come down with the flu or a killer case of tendonitis, the first question on your mind probably isn't "When can I go back to spinning class?" While an active life is crucial to your overall well-being, it's even more important to allow your body time to heal when you've been injured or are recovering from an illness. That doesn't mean you have to turn into a couch potato — but it does mean that you have to balance your fitness priorities with a concern for your health. Luckily, the pros over at MindBodyGreen have come up with six handy tips for anyone who's itching to get back to their routines without blowing the recovery process.
The keys to getting it right? First off, take it easy — easier than you think you should initially, to err on the side of caution. Don't dive right back into that hardcore CrossFit class in the first few weeks; instead, aim for low-impact exercises like swimming and walking until your body gets up to speed. And, finally, forget the whole "no pain, no gain" mantra for now. When you're recovering, pain is just that — pain — and should be treated as a signal that you're overdoing it. Click through to read the rest of the tips. (MindBodyGreen)