In the last several years, there's been a steady evolution in the way coaches, trainers and experts think about health and fitness.

💡 The big picture: The new consensus is that the recovery is as important as the work.

• It's a shift in the exercise industry away from a "no pain, no gain" mentality that once dominated but often led to injury. Instead, the current buzzword in fitness is "recovery," AP's Albert Stumm reports.

💰 The money quote: "If you don't get the recovery and the rest part right, then you're never going to be able to be consistent with the fitness end of things," says Tony Horton, celebrity trainer and creator of the popular P90X workouts, which were all about pushing your limits. "I didn't know then what I know now."

Reality check: Leaving "no pain, no gain" behind doesn't mean we shouldn't push ourselves.

• To get the most from a workout while safeguarding yourself from injury, pursue discomfort, not pain.

🛏️ Zoom in: The focus on recovery has given rise to a whole wellness industry, with bougie gyms adding cold plunges and saunas and businesses offering sleep and nutrition coaching.

• But recovery doesn't have to look fancy. The most important ingredient is free: good sleep.
• During deep sleep, the body repairs muscle tissue, and studies show that well-rested people perform better and are less likely to get injured.

Add to that a few more key habits — like getting a good stretch in before and after workouts, eating food that makes you feel good and energized, and making sure to take days off — and you're crushing recovery!

Check out this stunning view from Many Glacier Hotel inside Glacier National Park, captured by reader Deborah Chaney.