How important is recovery?
Last Updated: January 16, 2009 4:30 PM
Cal Botterill Optimizing Life in Hockey
Most people realize how important it is to train if you are an athlete. You need to develop the 'capacities' to perform well. Equally important, however, is your state of being.
If you are not well nourished, rested and hydrated, most of your 'capacities' will be masked or even lost. So training can be a waste of time if you don't take pride in recovery.
Releasing from worry, stretching properly, massage, hydration, good nutrition, rest, and enjoyable activities are all part of recovery. Take pride in both passive and active recovery activities. It's the only way to make sure your training pays off the way it should.
Remember that recovery is mental and emotional as well as physical. Mental overload will affect your mental capacities, and emotional fatigue can affect everything you do.
So, managing school and relationship demands can really affect your 'state', and therefore your 'capacities'.
Recovery is an important concept--in sport and life. Get good at it early!
