I exercise three times a week, and my regiment includes the use of resistance bands. I find that resistance benefits my body by forcing my muscles to stretch, strengthen, and increase flexibility. During this morning’s session, I thought about four things I’ve learned about resistance training that applies to other areas of my life.
- Resistance training increases muscle strength.
By encountering an opposing force or weight, our muscles strengthen. Without this force, our muscles can become flabby and atrophy. The same is true with our minds and spirit.
Do not be discouraged the next time you are up against an opposing force. Instead, look at it as a strength-building exercise.
- Resistance training needs to be consistent.
To maximize the benefits of strength training, experts recommend exercising 3-5 times per week. In addition, creating a life that consistently embraces resistance, like learning new skills, meeting new people, and stepping out of your comfort zone, will develop your strength and stamina.
- Resting in between resistance training is critical.
Most physical fitness experts encourage a resting period between resistance exercises, usually 48 hours, giving the muscles time to recover. The same is true in our lives; being under continual strain can be detrimental; use wisdom and rest.
- In resistance training, it is common to hit a plateau.
Novices often notice massive impact early in their resistance training but will soon hit a plateau as the body adjusts to the resistance. To break through this plateau, one must increase the training frequency or increase the force of resistance. Committing oneself to improvement and experiencing new things will keep us growing and increase our strength.
Conclusion
By applying consistency and rest, all of us can benefit from resistance to increase strength, stamina, and flexibility in all areas of our lives.