Exercise is so good for your health and wellbeing. It gives you endorphins, confidence, and improves fitness, not to mention the health benefits that come with all that. However, exercise can also be tiring, painful, and put an unruly strain on your muscles. That is why it is really important to optimize your workouts with great post-workout care. This includes stretching, hydration, rest days, and muscle care. Here are a few tips on the great ways to help your body recover post-workout.
Stretching
When you work out it is vital to warm up and cool down. This will include doing active stretching pre-workout and passive stretching post work out to prevent injury. You may have noticed that sometimes when you stretch you can cause your muscles to strain, thus active stretching is so important. It eliminates force and builds up muscle strength in the areas that you want to increase flexibility. It is best to do this before a workout because it stimulates muscles ready for use.
Post-work-out you can slow it down and let your body cool down. To do this you can move towards longer passive stretches. This is best to do post-workout as it helps flexibility and prevents muscle fatigue. Many athletes, dancers, and swimmers all use both techniques to optimize their workouts.
Muscle Care
After working out you are likely to feel muscle pain from exerting yourself. More often than not this comes in the form of delayed onset muscle soreness, usually 12 to 24 hours after working out. It is because of DOMS that it is so important to stretch and care for your muscles after working out.
Muscle care comes in many forms, it can be taking a hot shower, massaging the overused muscles, and drinking enough water. Many athletes recommend using CBD oil, balm, or cream on muscles after working out. It is known to reduce inflammation and improve recovery time. The cannabidiol in CBD interacts with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system and helps with functions like pain and sleep. So, using CBD after exercising can help massively. Click here for more information on CBD products.
Rest Days
Make sure that you get adequate rest after working out. It is so important to listen to your body’s needs and not over-exert yourself. Taking time for self-care and relaxation can really improve the efficiency of your workout. Pushing yourself too hard will risk injury, bad performance and over-tiredness. Rest comes in many forms, but enough sleep and good food are key ingredients to quality rest days. This does not mean you have to stop moving completely, but just switch to lighter activities that put less strain on your body. For example, taking a walk through nature or doing some simple yoga and stretching.
Our bodies love to move, but just do not overdo it. Make the most of rest days to slow down and take in the day. Breathe in the fresh air and allow yourself to be mindful of your surroundings. You will reap the benefits on your workout days.
