Questions To Ask Yourself Before, During and After A Workout
Introduction
There is no reason shortage when it comes to explaining why moving our bodies is healthy; Common Sense, as well as multiple scientific studies say the same thing. We all know that exercise does good things for our bodies and minds, from improving our cardiovascular health to improving our mental health. Recent studies also found out that there is a link between improved memory and exercise (which you can find more info here).
In short, it is great and there is nothing wrong in wanting to get the goodness of exercising. In addition to these, we all have our own reasons. Some of us want to lose or gain weight healthily, I want to get stronger, you know the rest, different reasons for different people, all completely valid.
But because the rewards we get by exercising are multiple and so needed, we might rush before we are truly ready, overexercise during our sessions, and get restless and impatient to see some sort of result. In the long term, this might cause a burnout, and the next thing you know, you hate exercise with every cell in your body.
So how do we prevent burnouts, mental and physical injuries? By knowing ourselves. To give a starting idea for you, it occurred to me to interview myself before, during, and after a workout session. I hope asking the right questions and tuning in with your body will benefit you as much as it did me. Without further ado, scroll down to see questions.
Before A Workout
“Have I Eaten and Slept Enough?”
Any type of workout, from paced walking to High-Intensity, means that you will sweat your body, elevate your heart rate, work your muscles, and burn some energy. It is by no means something easy to do, and kindness towards yourself goes a long way, especially if you have just started after working out on and off only to stop altogether mid-way.
Checking whether you have eaten enough is one of the first steps you can take to rebuild the trust between you and your body.
Your body will need nutritious meals to perform complicated moves. Failing to do so will not only result in an overall low performance, but can also cause dizziness.
Sleep is also crucial if you want to get the best out of your exercise. With enough sleep, you perform better, because your body is not actively trying to keep you awake. Your injuries heal faster, all in all, you are giving yourself enough time to rest.
It is worth mentioning that there is a delicate balance between sleep and exercise. Sleep improves your workout performance, and working out can improve sleep quality.
“How Do I Feel?”
While it is important to check how your body feels, it is also equally important to consider your emotional and psychological wellbeing before starting a workout. You might feel you are all ready for today’s session, but your heart might tell a different thing to you.
Moving your body is a good way to be present with the big feelings you are experiencing, and let them go in the end. That being said, if you have recently started again, with all the passion you can put into your session, and you have not taken a break ever since, it might be also a good idea to just skip a day or a week.
Taking breaks and listening to your body and mind does not make you a weak, undisciplined person, it is just how being human is. All valid and all have a purpose in the long term.
It does not matter if you feel like you can rock this workout, or want to stay in bed, by asking the right questions and offering kindness and acceptance towards yourself, you will get stronger for your future sessions.
“Why Do I Do This?”
The novelty of starting a new workout, building a routine, and taking steps to improve your wellness is going to fuel you only up to a certain point. Even then at the beginning as well as after that point you will need to have a purpose. Everyone can start something, but you need to have clear goals if you want to get past that point. I am not the one who should determine your purpose for you, only you can do that. Asking “the why” might lead to some interesting and eye-opening thought processes.
Reasons for choosing movement may vary: losing weight, gaining weight, wanting to get stronger, feeling better—It should be something that makes you not dread the process, but something that keeps you aware and eager. Think about whether the reason why you want to start a new workout routine is something sustainable in the long term. That being said, there is nothing wrong in not feeling like working out that day. You cannot make this sustainable if you do not take occasional breaks.
During A Workout
“How Do I Feel Now?”
No, you did not read this one wrong. It is important to give yourself quick check-ups every once in a while, not only before but also during a workout. Speaking from my experience and what I have seen, people often hold their breath while performing some moves without realizing it. They also tend to push themselves hard in order to do everything perfectly.
Everyone’s bodies and what they are capable of are different. For one thing, people whom we take inspiration from have been doing this for a while. This can look like a deal-breaker if you have just started. Do you feel thirsty? Can you continue? Do you need to take a break? Check-ups offer you great introspection to understand the limits and abilities of your body so you can gradually be as good as your inspirations.
After A Workout
“Have I Cooled Down Enough?”
First off, I am proud of how you managed to complete yet another session at your own pace. That has been an astonishing ride.
That being said, in order to prevent injuries and speed up the recovery process, you need to adequately cool down and stretch. These are often relaxing poses that you can incorporate into your routine, and you do not really have to have finished a workout to stretch. Any time is a good time for a soothing movement.
Your body has been working hard, make sure you drink water to cool it down.
In Summary
Adjusting yourself to a new working out routine is hard enough as it is, and it may be overwhelming with all the information out there. Self-Kindness starts, in my opinion, with asking yourself the right questions. Movement is not something you do only with your body, your mind is, or should be, involved as well. A balance between your mind and heart is necessary because this is likely something you do not do for short-term (and if it is, it is valid too!).
