Keeping healthy…. when to exercise and when to rest – Everyone gets sick, but it’s tough to know what to do about it. Should you sweat it out or get some rest instead?

We asked a few of our therapists what they recommend…

“I follow the general rule that if it’s above the neck, it’s ok to train. Anything below the neck stay at home and don’t spread it at the gym, take it easy until you are at the back end of it”

“Let your symptoms be your guide… if you are up for light cardio then go for it, but if you feel like sitting around watching Netflix then stay home – watch comedy laughter is great medicine”

“Unless you feel like a train wreck, try low intensity, for the first few days of sickness. If you keep the heart rate down you’ll end up feeling better during the activity, likely stimulating your immune system and speeding up your recovery”

“Anything contagious stay out of the gym or studio. You are more likely to spread your germs to others. Use anti-bacterial hand wash to keep clean when using weights, mats etc.”

However, the best advice is to use exercise as prevention rather than cure. 

Stay moderately active most days of the week. Mix your gym high impact classes with calmer yoga classes or pilates. 

If you participate in high-intensity workouts, make sure you’re getting enough rest and recovery time. 

Manage extreme variations in stress levels, get plenty of sleep.