We all love the feeling of pushing our bodies to the limit, but that doesn’t mean we enjoy the soreness that comes afterward. Though the pain is a testament to our hard work in the gym, it can make daily tasks uncomfortable. Luckily, there are many relaxing ways to recover from sore muscles that you won’t be able to get enough of on your rest days.
Book a Massage
Massages are not just a luxury—they are a fantastic recovery tool for sore muscles. A professional massage helps increase blood flow, alleviate tension, and reduce inflammation. Specifically, deep-tissue massages are great because they target the deeper layers of muscle and fascia to break down knots and relieve pain.
Plus, massages offer the perfect setting to engage in some mindfulness, which can lower your stress and also contribute to your overall wellness.
Catch Some Z’s
If you’re looking for an excuse to take a nap, this is it! Sleep is one of the most powerful yet underrated recovery tools, and it might be the missing piece to your fitness success. While you sleep, your body repairs itself, including those achy muscles.
If you can, get seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night, especially the nights after intense gym sessions, to maximize your recovery potential. Sleep is a zero-effort way to help your muscles heal, allowing you to get back to crushing your fitness goals.
Unwind in a Sauna
There are many physical health benefits of sauna therapy, and muscle recovery is just one of them. The sauna’s heat can increase your blood circulation. When this happens, your blood delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, helping them heal from soreness much faster. Moreover, sweating helps eliminate toxins from your body, and what’s not to love about that?
Go for a Walk
If you’re someone who enjoys walks, then this could be the perfect relaxing way to recover from sore muscles! It may seem counterintuitive, but gentle movement can make your muscles feel better. It’s a concept called active recovery. A leisurely walk increases your circulation without putting additional stress on your muscles. Walking also helps to gently stretch and ease stiffness. Plus, walking can assist fat loss if that’s a goal of yours. Even just a short 20- to 30-minute walk will do the trick.
If muscle soreness is getting you down, you can heal from it quickly and enjoy some relaxing activities with these suggestions. Pretty much everyone, fitness enthusiast or not, enjoys the activities we suggested, and you can enjoy them with the knowledge that they’re supporting your health goals. Which are you most excited to try?