Ep25: Why Inner Work Is as Important as Physical Training for Longevity with Lisa and Neil

Exercise physiologist Neil Wagstaff and Professional Ultra marathon athlete Lisa Tamati talk about why it's important to work "in" and not just work "out".

Working "in" is all about lowering your stress hormones in the body (cortisol and adrenaline) and helping your body get fitter with less stress effects.

If you are struggling with adrenal fatigue, are tired or exhausted and overstressed then piling on HIIT workouts and long cardio sessions can often be more detrimental overall to your health than working on sessions that increase your wellbeing.

Working "in" training means doing exercise and meditation that doesn't raise the heart rate too much but which help release the "good" hormones into the body and help you recover faster and relax. Most of us need to de-stress it's a common complaint in our hectic world so maybe instead of that hard workout you had planned it might be better for your overall health to do yoga, pilates, stretching, a brisk walk or some breathing exercises and meditation.

When you lower stress hormones your body is also more likely to release stored fat and it inihibits storing more fat from the food you eat. So although it might seem counterintuitive to do a gentler workout it might actually over time help you lose more weight, it will definitely help your sense of wellbeing and your ability to train hard on those other days.