The Importance of Cross Training and Your Pelvic Floor

By Marin Cole

Its that time of year again when we all want to make self care a priority and better ourselves. Whether that means you are going to give up sugar, or you’re going to start training for a marathon, or you are going to ride on your NEW peloton 5 times per week, we all want to stick to our New \Year's resolutions. While New Year’s resolutions are a great idea, I want to talk about what a lot of people mistakenly do when they make them. If you, like me, just got a peloton bike and that is going to be your new method of exercise, fantastic, but keep in mind that cross training is essential! 

Cross training refers to the concept of training your muscles in a variety of ways, like cycling, running, or strength training all in the same week instead of only cycling every day. We have different types of muscle fibers in our body, some are used more for strength, some more for endurance, so it is important for us to train the different types of fibers. Functionally, our body moves in all the different planes (up/down/side to side) so it's also important to train our bodies that way too! Lastly, overuse injuries are extremely common, especially for people who start a new exercise routine and do “too much too soon.” 

So, if you, like me, are super motivated to hop on your new bike, don’t forget about stretching before and after, and incorporating strength training into your new exercise routine. 

If you are newly postpartum and you too are excited about starting a new exercise routine, these “rules” are especially important for you! Keep an eye out for another blog that will be released shortly that goes into more detail about cycling and what current research says about the safety of cycling! If you are a c-section postpartum mama, I would consider joining our C-section Group coaching for more tips and recommendations https://empoweryourpelvis.mykajabi.com/offers/JeMHE3oX