The Stress Bucket Model
A Handy Tool To Recover Faster From Hard Training
Are you a fitness enthusiast looking to train hard? Or perhaps if you’ve travelled to Phuket, then maybe it’s not just the beach on your mind. Since you’re in Thailand, want to give Muay Thai a go? A finely chiselled beach body is a great reward for some hard training, isn’t it? Not to curb your enthusiasm, but if you’re not careful, you might end up harming your body instead of making it fitter. The Stress Bucket Model is a vital tool to prevent just that!
“Recovering from training-related stress is just as important as the Training itself!”
Don’t you think you need to worry too much about releasing accumulated stress? Then just a look around the popular Muay Thai Gyms. Even we at Sinbi Muay Thai see our fair share of over-enthusiastic travellers wanting to master Muay Thai in the short time that they are here. Unfortunately, despite their Trainer’s advice, these folks don’t take stress release all that seriously only to end up burnt out and suffer from overtraining.
Of course, like any good gym, we keep a lookout for any Signs and Symptoms of Overtraining. However, stress can be accumulated from multiple sources and not just from training. For example, some of these folks also tend to party hard after training hard! And then there’s the stress from the jet lag, work pressure, domestic issues, girlfriend problems, and so on.
Can Stress Eventually Pile Up?
Is too much stress even a real thing? That’s just for weaklings – It’s all in the head, right? Well, only partly. Firstly, mental stress is a real thing, and it’s not bullshit. And secondly, it’s not just mental stress. With bad lifestyle habits along with hard training, you’ll be collecting plenty of physical stress as well.
Now we understand where you’re coming from. You’ve probably seen all those seasoned Muay Thai boxers on youtube or perhaps at a dojo. You see them go at it like crazy. Training hard all day, 6 or even 7 days a week and yet never breaking down! Just looking at their training is enough to make you feel dizzy. So how come all those Muay Thai fighters are not affected by the stress they accumulate?
While the amateur succumbs after crossing the limit, the professional knows to recover before pushing themselves to their limit. So you see, it’s neither magic nor rocket science. To put it simply, it’s just common sense! Stress Management is the key here. For one, professional boxers don’t just start with an arduous training routine.
It’s a gradual process from simpler to more challenging training as they increase their strength, stamina etc. And second, the professionals know their limits and take measures to recover adequately between training sessions while increasing their stress tolerance levels over time.
Don’t Leave Any Stress Unchecked!
Are you wondering what all this holding back we’re talking about here is? Well, don’t be! Amateurs often tend to make many common fitness mistakes that end up causing them more harm than good from going to the gym. Even if you do perform all exercises correctly, not paying attention to the stress caused can be detrimental to your health in the long run.
And the stress from working out is not the only stress your body has to deal with. In addition to all the other stress you accumulate through your other lifestyle habits such as drinking, smoking, loading up on junk food, not getting proper sleep etc. Even the mental stress from pending dues, office pressure, marital issues etc., eventually cause physical harm. And that is where the Stress Bucket Model can come in handy to keep all your stress in check.
The picture above illustrates how the Stress Bucket Model works. Think of your body as that bucket shown above. All sorts of stress come in from the inlet and slowly starts filling up the bucket. What do you suppose will happen, If nothing is done? That’s right – the bucket will overflow with stress. Think of it overflowing like the bucket bursting. And remember, that bucket represents your body!
The Stress Bucket Model To Recover!
And what do you do when the stress keeps piling up? Well, the answer is there in the Stress Bucket Model. See that little tap on the bucket? The smart move is to open the tap from time to time, releasing some or all of the collected stress. This way, you prevent the bucket, i.e. your body, from bursting while becoming ready again to handle any stress.
When your body deals with stress, it releases cortisol, a catabolic hormone the body uses to go into fight or flight mode. And this is true while training as well. Although it is a necessary and valuable hormone, when too much of it gets accumulated in your body, it can cause serious health issues. And that is why it is just as essential to release excess stress and help your body shift into an anabolic state where it recovers.
Now you don’t need to take the model shown above very literally. We mean that if the situation requires it, you can have more than one tap on your bucket! That means having multiple stress release mechanisms in place. That is, after all, the secret behind the extreme training routine of those Muay Thai boxers you’ve seen. So, if you’re beginning to see the importance of stress release, here are 6 Effective ways to combat excess stress.
Full Recovery Is The Key To Maximising Training Gains!
Now, remember not to get too excited and start a full-blown training session just because you saw the Thai Boxers go at it like crazy. And especially if you’re on vacation here. All those different parties and drinking sessions could be too much for your body to handle, along with tough training sessions.
Use the Stress Bucket Model and employ the smarter way to get fit. Of course, a good trainer will keep an eye on you to make sure you don’t push yourself beyond the limit. They will also help you with recovery techniques such as Foam Rolling. These are, of course, just a few of the reasons that make getting a Personal Trainer worth it!
Now that you have a better understanding of how stress can affect your body and your training results, you can efficiently use the Stress Bucket Model. And if you still have any doubts about getting the max out of your training, then visit us at Sinbi Muay Thai – we’ll be glad to help you get the best training in Thailand.