CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE FEBRUARY 2019 | Page 76

Being in a sympathetic state is really good when we’re in the gym. This is when we want
the fight or flight response. When you’re going in for the heavy set of squats, or when you
are maximizing those bike sprints on your last round of HIIT. What many people don’t
know is that we actually don’t build any muscle when we’re in the gym. This is why it is
crucial to get out of the sympathetic state as soon as possible after the gym. We only want
to be in this state when we are trying to push our body to its limits and stimulate the signal
for muscle growth.
We actually build muscle and recover when we are able to shift into a parasympathetic
state. This is why many fitness professionals recommend strategies to relax post workout.
For example, Ben Pakulski is a huge proponent of meditation and breathing exercises as
soon as you are done the gym to put the body in a parasympathetic state. I personally like
taking some Magnesium, Ashwaghanda, using lavender oil, meditating and taking a nap
post workout as this helps to put my body in this state of recovery.
Learning to relax and handle stress well is crucial to having a great physique and a healthy
mind. Oftentimes we stress out about situations we cannot control. We are all guilty of it.
But remember, that if you don’t consciously try and relax your body and mind at times
other than when you are in the gym, you could really be cutting your muscle gains short!
Resources:
https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nervedisorders/autonomic-nervous-system-disorders/overview-of-the-autonomic-nervoussystem