By: Mia McCarthy
As human beings, it’s so easy to get stuck into a consistent routine. You clock out of work, throw on your running shoes, and hop on the treadmill. You find a form of exercise that you thoroughly enjoy and stick to it for an extended period…which isn’t always a good thing.
If you solely focus on developing a particular range of skills, using the same set of muscles over a long period, injuries will inevitably occur.
Cross-training serves as the ultimate supplement to combat and prevent these injuries. It goes far beyond eating nutrient-rich meals and sleeping 8 hours every night.
Cross-training is an incredibly valuable approach to understanding your body in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
From injury prevention to recovery, it also improves the body’s natural range of motion. The point of cross-training is to enhance one’s current level of fitness without compromising existing flexibility and strength. If done so correctly, this gives individuals an absolute advantage to endure a prolonged, successful, active lifestyle.
Benefits of Cross-Training:
Reduces the risk of injury while conditioning the entire body as opposed to a specific set of muscles.
Develops dynamic flexibility by stretching & strengthening the antagonist/agonist muscles.
Corrects muscle imbalances throughout the body
Speeds up recovery time
Reduces unnecessary stress on joints & muscles
Increases cardiovascular capabilities; stamina, endurance & longevity.
Reduces exercise boredom & helps break fitness habits.
Boosts mental strength.
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