Hey there,
Dr. C here.
The most important things you can do right now are dial in your exercise, diet, and sleep routines. I’ve talked a lot about food and diet, but how can you exercise when you have to stay inside and the gyms are closed?
For starters, let’s talk about what an ideal exercise routine looks like. At a bare minimum, you want to include cardiovascular training and strength training. When you can, balance work, agility, and hand-eye coordination are also important for various reasons.
In the past, I also recommended flexibility training but now I’m not so sure. I’ve looked at a fair amount of recent data that suggests that stretching does not help people prevent injury or improve performance.
Done in high amounts it may increase range of motion but that does not seem to prevent falls or injuries. You may need more range of motion if you are a gymnast, dancer, or martial artist. The rest of us may not.
I’d put yoga in a different category because much of its benefits seem to relate to improved mood, relaxation, and reductions in chronic pain.
