One in three fitness-loving Brits slam rest days as ‘lazy’, but experts advise recovery is key to long-term health

• New research by David Lloyd Clubs finds misconceptions around rest and recovery could be holding the nation’s fitness back – and putting health at risk.
• One in four Brits refuse to spend time on recovery after a workout, saying it makes them feel ‘unproductive’.
• Gen Z almost 50% more likely to swerve recovery, thinking only unfit people need it.
• 20% think taking time to recover will hinder fitness progress, despite expert advice.
• Master Trainer, Jack Claxton, warns Brits are at risk of damaging their health by ignoring recovery – but there are easy ways to incorporate it into fitness routines.

Experts have warned millions of Brits are missing out on their full fitness potential by failing to recover properly (or even at all) after a workout. This comes as research has found a quarter of adults refuse to spend time on recovery post-workout as it feels ‘unproductive’, with 15% even saying they don’t know what it is.

David Lloyd Clubs has conducted research to alert Brits to the impact of not allowing their bodies to recover properly, showing that recovery is just as critical as training for building strength, enhancing performance, and supporting long-term health goals. Only 22% of Brits say they feel ‘very confident’ in their knowledge of how to recover properly, with experts warning this widespread lack of knowledge is causing injury and potential health issues later down the line.

In fact, over a third of Brits (36%) think taking rest days is a sign of being less fit than other gym-goers, while nearly 20% worry it will hinder their progress. When it comes to how long we take to recover, 1 in 5 think it takes their body less than 12 hours to recover from an hour of high intensity workout – yet DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness, usually appears 1-2 days post-workout.

Jack Claxton, PT at David Lloyd Clubs says “12 hours for me certainly isn’t enough time to recover. Every programme I put together includes at least one full rest day if not two. I think hitting correct intensity with a structured programme allows you to get results without necessarily having to train seven days a week. Sometimes less is more. One of the key elements for recovery is prioritising sleep. We spend a 1/3rd of our life asleep and it’s something that should be thought about and invested in. Alongside sleep, sauna/steam and plunge pool recovery are all key and have many benefits including improved circulation, reduced inflammation and several well-being studies around improved mental state."

Millions of Brits are completely skipping the recovery techniques that could make the biggest difference. While most stick to simple walks (51%) and stretching (38%), few are embracing additional practices that can significantly improve fitness outcomes like breathwork (15%), foam rolling (11%) or saunas (8%), despite their powerful benefits for recovery, wellbeing and long-term health.

David Lloyd Clubs’ experts are also raising concerns about the long-term impact of intense training paired with a lack of recovery time, particularly amongst younger gym-goers with 37% of 18–24-year-olds more likely to think recovery time will be a setback. Without adequate recovery, repetitive strain on joints, tendons and muscles can lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, and early-onset injuries – problems that may only become apparent later in life. Jack Claxton explains that recovery is not just about short-term performance but protecting the body’s longevity.

He says “As a trainer I often have to convince clients that they need to take recovery seriously. At the end of the day recovery allows us to keep going, there’s no point hitting something at full intensity but burning out after a week, this will push you back further. A sustainable long-term approach is what training for me is all about, it’s not just a phase or a ‘Winter Arc’ it’s an all round Life Arc based around healthy long lasting results.“

Michelle Dand, Head of Product and Programming at David Lloyd Clubs, said: "We’ve all been told that progress comes from pushing harder, but recovery is just as important as training. Taking time to rest isn’t slowing down, it’s how the body adapts, repairs, grows stronger, making you less susceptible to injury and illness.”

David Lloyd Clubs integrates recovery into every aspect of the club experience, ensuring it remains front-of-mind well beyond the workout itself. With dedicated wellness facilities such as Finnish saunas, aromatherapy steam rooms, plunge pools and ice caves, hydrotherapy pools, massage therapies, holistic classes and guided low-intensity fitness sessions, members can balance training and rest seamlessly redefining what it means to stay fit and well. For further information on David Lloyd Clubs and its recovery facilities, visit www.davidlloyd.co.uk.

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Notes to editors:

For further information contact the David Lloyd Clubs Press Team at press@davidlloyd.co.uk

About David Lloyd Leisure Group

David Lloyd Leisure helps members to live life better with a focus on physical and mental wellbeing and a sense of belonging. We are Europe’s leading premium health and wellness group operating 136 clubs – 107 clubs in the UK and a further 29 clubs across mainland Europe, comprising three brands David Lloyd Clubs, Harbour Clubs and David Lloyd Meridian Spa and Fitness in Germany.

David Lloyd Clubs’ premium facilities are unparalleled. We continually innovate to offer the best products and services for families and individuals in welcoming surroundings including state-of-the-art gyms, heated indoor and outdoor pools, well-equipped group exercise studios, luxurious spas, kids club facilities and crèches. We also have the broadest range of racquet sports including tennis, padel, pickleball and badminton. Our Clubrooms offer a place to spend time with friends and family or enjoy a bite to eat. Our clubs also feature large and inviting spaces to work, relax and socialise.

Our 800,000+ members and over 11,500 team members make a positive impact on the communities and environment in which we operate. We pride ourselves in employing the best experts in the industry, including health and wellness specialists, group exercise instructors and PTs, as well as racquets coaches and swim coaches.