Returning to Training After a Break

The heaviest thing in the room after a long break is the expectation of what used to be easy.

Coming back to training after a break feels different every time. I didn’t fall off track or lose motivation. Life just happened. One thing led to another, and suddenly a month had passed. Then two months, and finally three months, without me training at all. Well, I guess breaks are a part of life’s ebb and flow.

When I finally walked back into the garage, I noticed something straight away. My heart rate went up just from setting up the space. I was only dusting, moving things around. Nothing strenuous. And yet, my body responded quickly. Which told me exactly where I was starting from…ZERO. You know what they say, breaks, especially from training routines can disrupt the rhythm. There are small shifts in confidence, tolerance, and expectation; they sort of change your relationship with your body. The body remembers patterns, but unfortunately, it also updates them. Movements that once felt familiar and automatic suddenly feel foreign. Phew, don’t even get me started on the breathing; like, where is that sound coming from? Because it sure as hell doesn’t sound normal.

Anyways, I definitely won’t be diving head first into this phase. I think it’s wise to keep things short. Fifteen to twenty minutes tops of kettlebell routine and light weights. Nothing that demands bravado. Simple movements, and no pressure to get back to where I was. Besides, passing out on my garage floor is not in the plan. I just want enough movement to feel my body again, and to leave the session feeling ok. What I want to rebuild right now is trust. Trust that I can move without overdoing it. Oh, and to slowly build consistency.

Have you ever felt that strange mental crevice that shows up after a break? – when you remember what your body used to do?

This phase looks unimpressive… I know, I know. It’s lighter than my past training phases. The pace is slower with fewer sets and less structured, but it feels intentional. The goal is re-establishing a relationship with my body. I’ll be paying attention to how my body responds the next day. Will my body feel resistant, encouraged or reluctant to return? Only almighty DOMs will tell! Those signals matter more to me right now than numbers or progress markers. I know from past experience that if I try to skip this stage, I’ll be training against myself.

From here on, I’ll be showing up, moving a little, and leaving some energy in reserve. I’m letting my body remember what movement feels like. And reminding my nervous system that movement doesn’t equal tigers in the room, no need for flight mode!

There are no timelines at this point. Just the simple act of returning.

Getting back to a training routine can feel like meeting an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a looong time. There’s a bit of catching up to do. If you’ve taken a break recently, how are you approaching your first few sessions back? I’d love to hear your thoughts.