Every 8 to 9 weeks I'll take a week off from lifting, however during this "off" week I swim every day, I find this to be very theraputic for my body, the swiming stretches out the muscles real well, keeps me tight, with zero impact on the joints..also I'll hit the jacuzzi for 20 mins a day as well, and I'll get a sports/deep tissue massage during this "off" week too. I've been doing this for a few years, can't recall the last time I took more then maybe a day or two completely void of some kind of physical activity.