SHOULD YOU EXERCISE WHEN YOU ARE SICK
When you are feeling out of the blue, should you continue your exercise or sit this one out to rest and relax? You have been very regular and particular about your exercise routine but now suddenly you develop fever or some other illness. What should you do? Should you skip your treadmill or that yoga class for an afternoon nap?
Sweat It Out Or Rest And Recover?
While many say it is ‘okay’ to exercise with a cold or with a headache, the answer depends on what ails you and how you are feeling through that illness. If you exercise with a fever, you end up with a raised internal body temperature which is dangerous and can make you sicker.
Listen to your body
If your symptoms are mild like the sniffles, dry coughing, or just a stomachache, you can try to continue with your daily exercise routine. Start listening to your body, and use your best ability and knowledge, based on the severity of your symptoms to decide your routine.
If you happen to suffer from severe symptoms like nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, then do avoid the gym and any heavy exercise. If you feel the urge and need to exercise, opt for an activity which doesn’t make you feel sicker. A yoga session may help you relax, but the treadmill may make you nauseous. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any decision in case of severe illnesses. Follow a simple rule: Only do what you can, and don’t do what you can’t. If you don’t feel like exercising due to your health, it is absolutely okay and don’t be too harsh on yourself.
Change up your workout
Low-intensity workouts like walking, yoga, swimming, etc. are some great ways to exercise without getting exhausted or worn out. High-intensity training like going to the gym, power lifting, sports activity, and exercising in extreme temperatures of cold and hot are known to push your body to its limits. These may cause more harm than good. Focus on low-impact, shorter workouts not more than 30 minutes.
Be patient
Some illnesses take longer to heal than other conditions. For best recovery and to avoid disrupting your routine, wait out your illness and restart exercising once you are completely alright. Start slow and keep your workouts short, giving yourself enough time to swing back to normal.
Choosing the right kind of exercise is as important as knowing when to exercise and when not to. If you think exercising will make you feel better, choose a lighter form of workout like swimming, walking, yoga, etc.
Move your way into fitness by learning theMOVEtechniques with us. MOVE involves techniques of stretches, exercises and movement patterns that will help release the stress in your tight muscles and push your body to move the way it was meant to. You’ll leave the class with improved flexibility, mobility and a better understanding of your body.
