5 Best Ways To Improve Your Muay Thai Over The Holidays

For many Muay Thai students and fighters, the winter holidays mean that there is no rest for the weary.  However, training may become logistically and psychologically difficult.  It may be challenging to maintain a consistent training regime and mentality due to holiday travel and festivities, so below are five easy tips to make sure that you enter the new year physically and mentally ready to improve yourself and your craft.

1. Shadow boxing

This is one of the most useful activities you can do almost anywhere.  You don’t need access to a gym or a trainer to shadow box.  You don’t even need a lot of time or space.  Just ten to fifteen minutes in a hotel room or a basement focusing on your technique will ensure that you’ll stay sharp over the holidays regardless of whether you are traveling or staying at home.

2. Work on your strength…

Working on your strength means that you don’t have to subject yourself to winter temperatures running or training outside.  You can do everything indoors, and you don’t even need access to a gym.  The winter holidays are a great time to focus on some muscle groups that you feel need some extra attention.  If you don’t own weights or don’t have access to them, there are plenty of effective body weight exercises that don’t require any equipment at all.

3. …And your flexibility

The holidays are the time to relax with family and friends.  Why not relax and work on your muscle tone and elasticity as well?  Instead of a high-intensity workout, opt for a stretching and flexibility session instead.  Especially if you can’t squeeze a full Muay Thai workout or conditioning into your holiday schedule, doing ten to fifteen minutes of stretching will keep you from stiffening up over the holidays.

4. Everything in moderation

That second slice of pie or that third drink might look very tempting, but take everything in moderation.  Please enjoy yourself and take advantage of some great holiday food!  But remember, overdoing it at night will only make it harder to train the next morning.

5. Set goals

Not only do you need to physically take care of yourself over the holidays, but this is a great opportunity for some mental evaluation and planning as well.  Reflect on the past year and plan for how you can improve your training in the new year.  Make sure that you acknowledge and address what you’ve done well and accomplished as well as what you should improve when envisioning your future in Muay Thai.