Rest Cures

Hotels are putting a spotlight on post-workout recovery therapies

- Stephanie Vermillion

WHEN IT COMES to fitness, exercise is only half the equation. Recovery from said activity is just as critical and it's finally getting a spotlight in the wellness world. "Historically, recovery was an afterthought," says wellness advisor Kerry Bray, who runs her own yoga and meditation retreats. Slowly but surely, the conversation's changing, and the past five years have seen a boom in recovery treatments offered at spas. "Today, people are diving deeper into their health and wellness, and including recovery as a critical part of their routines." 

Recovery and cardio have always gone hand in hand: Exercise causes tears in muscles, and during rest and recovery, the muscles build back and become stronger. Forgoing this phase can lead to overtraining a mistake that sparks injuries and fatigue. Rest and recovery don't call for becoming a couch potato, though, and there's more to it than simple stretching and massage. (That said, listen to your body: If you crave couch time, take it.) Experts say the R&R period can include mild exercise with a different movement pattern than your go-to cardio, such as light weight lifting or yoga for runners and swimming or barre for frequent cyclers.