What is Active Rest?

Active rest is a form of recovery that involves low-intensity exercise or movement that helps the body recover while still moving. It's a way to take a break from intense workouts, while still staying active and burning calories in a less strenuous way. The key is to keep the body moving while engaging in low-impact exercise that feels refreshing rather than exhausting.

Examples of Active Rest

Some examples of active rest include:

• Yoga or stretching
• Walking or hiking
• Swimming or water aerobics
• Cycling at a leisurely pace
• Playing with your kids or pets outdoors
• Gentle bodyweight exercises

Synonyms and Antonyms

Some synonyms for active rest include recovery">active recovery, low-impact exercise, and gentle movement. There are no real antonyms for active rest, but you can contrast it with high-intensity workouts or complete rest days.

Related Terms

Some related terms for active rest include:

• Recovery - any activity that helps the body recover from a workout or injury
• Cooldown - low-intensity exercise or stretching done at the end of a workout to help the body return to a resting state
• Rest Day - a day scheduled in your week with little to no exercise planned

Common Confusions

Active rest is sometimes confused with complete rest or taking a day off from exercise. However, active rest involves some form of movement or low-impact exercise, while complete rest involves no exercise at all.