RECOVERY 101

It's time to stop skipping this essential part of your workout routine

- TRUDIE MCCONNOCHIE

Some days just starting a workout feels hard enough, let alone following through with recovery. However, exercise experts explain that if you don't spend time recovering after physical activity, you might not be getting the best value out of your session.

Essentially, recovery helps you get great results from your exercise, and preps you for an even better session next time which helps you stay on track with your fitness goals. Recovery is also an important way to aid you in strengthening your muscles.

"When we exercise, our body produces lactic acid, which builds up in the muscles, causing muscle fatigue," says accredited exercise physiologist Amy Harding.

"The benefits of recovery include allowing the body to adapt to the exercise, increasing flexibility, being able to increase intensity and duration for the next time you exercise, helping manage exercise-based fatigue and assisting in preventing or the management of injury."

Harding says there are many different ways to recover after exercise, including rest - which might mean taking a day off between exercise sessions or following up with a different activity (for example, running one day and yoga the next).