Yoga for stretching sore muscles between full body workouts?

[Muery]

Current Exercise Regiment:

Monday and Wednesday: 1 hour-Step aerobics, total body strength training, followed by a core workout, done in an interval format.

Friday: 45 minutes-High-intensity, full-body interval or circuit workout that targets the major muscle groups of the upper and lower body.

Monday-Friday: 45 minute-Dog walk through the woods over uneven terrain. Not sure how fast I’m going, but my average bpm is 117 with peaks up to 170 bpm.

Saturday and Sunday: 90 minute-Dog walk same terrain as Monday-Friday walks, just different route. Again not sure how fast I’m going, but my average bpm is 117 with peaks up to 170 bpm.

Also very soon (sometime next month) I will begin walking the dogs with a backpacking backpack on with weight starting at 25 pounds and working up to 60 pounds. I’d never carry 60 pounds on the trail, but I like to train with 60 pounds so that when I’m out on the trail my body is used to carrying more weight than it is.

I have been doing the dog walks for several years, the step classes for 3 years and the Friday class for about 2 months now. I am currently a 28 year old 5’2” Female weighing 190ish pounds.

I am wondering if it would be wise to add gentle yoga stretching into my current workout schedule on my days “off” Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday? Something like 5 sets of Sun Salutations, nothing intense, just enough to warm up the muscles that I don’t get to with the dog walks. I completely understand the importance of “Rest Days” but I feel very restless on those days as if I’m not doing anything to reach my goal. In a nutshell I feel like I’m being lazy, and would like the opportunity to gently work and stretch my sore muscles on my days off.

[Esya]

Why not simply give it a try? If your goal is to have a rest day, then maybe focus more on your breath and be mindful about how your body feels in that moment instead of going for "I have to do 5 sets of Sun Salutations". Go easy and slow and it will help your mind to shift from doing to not-doing too. Might be an idea to look for routines for relaxation.

[emili]

Stretching is really important and good for your body. It doesn't have to be yoga, you can do 20 minutes of just stretching every part of you including your toes. I think that would be excellent.

[YoungPadawan13]

I think yoga is perfectly acceptable on rest days, as it's generally pretty low intensity. 

I would recommend the Yoga With Adrienne series on YouTube as a great jumping off point.