It’s that crazy time of year again when gym sessions can start to slide, thanks to hectic festive schedules. Of course, sticking to your workouts is a great way to relieve seasonal stress and give you energy to juggle. However, if you’re struggling to make it to the gym, don’t fret – there are times when smashing your session can actually be bad for your body, increasing stress, compromising recovery and reducing your body’s ability to deal with what life throws at it. ‘Heavy exercise taxes the body, with very intense exercise causing levels of [stress hormone] cortisol to rise significantly,’ says Tiina Hoffman, exercise physiologist and master trainer for Firstbeat (firstbeat.com), leaders in advanced performance analytics. ‘Your heart will be beating fast, your blood pressure will be elevated and rapid breathing will all tax the cardiovascular system. Normally, with sufficient food, sleep, hydration and rest, these are all fine for most people. However, there are times when this could cause problems to individual well-being,’ she adds. Read on to discover if it’s ok to skip the gym tonight.
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