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How — and Why — to Design an Effective Cool-Down Routine
Read More: How — and Why — to Design an Effective Cool-Down RoutineAre you guilty of finishing your run, giving your legs a two-second stretch and dashing inside without a proper cool-down? Here’s why you should think twice about doing that: The calf muscles are like your second heart; they pump blood back up to the heart, where it needs to be. When you suddenly stop exercising,…
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Does Compression Apparel Help Muscles Recover?
Read More: Does Compression Apparel Help Muscles Recover?If you’ve ever had joint pains or muscle aches, you might have experience with compression apparel. Many athletes swear by compression gear for performance and recovery, rocking these elastic garments on their arms, legs, hips, or other spots prone to injury both during and after workouts. The theory is that compression garments work by increasing…
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What Is Inflammation, and How Can You Lower It?
Read More: What Is Inflammation, and How Can You Lower It?Chances are, you’ve heard of inflammation but might not fully understand just what it is or the extent of how it can affect your body and overall health. Quite often, the term gets a bad rap and is thought of as something bad. While inflammation can certainly be negative — causing pain, discomfort and a…
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5 Tried-and-True Ways to Relieve Tight Muscles
Read More: 5 Tried-and-True Ways to Relieve Tight MusclesTight muscles are no fun, but happen to the best of us every now and then — especially after long days sitting stationary in a chair, hard-earned workouts or strenuous activity that’s caused our muscles to be overworked. There are plenty of reasons why our muscles become tight and, most of the time, it’s an…
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7 Ways to Optimize Your Rest Days
Read More: 7 Ways to Optimize Your Rest DaysIf you’re an avid exerciser, a rest day is essential. These “days off,” so to speak, of exercise are hardly a mere reward for all the hard work you put into your fitness routine on the other days of the week. Instead, view rest days as an opportunity to give your body the time to…
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5 Simple Moves to Help Prevent Knee Injuries
Read More: 5 Simple Moves to Help Prevent Knee InjuriesNo matter where you land on the fitness spectrum, there is always risk of a knee injury that will derail your progress. Unfortunately, knee injuries can plague just about anyone — from beginners to seasoned gym-goers and elite runners. Physically active people are at risk for knee injuries mainly resulting from overuse and improper running…
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5 Pigeon Pose Variations to Loosen Up Your Legs
Read More: 5 Pigeon Pose Variations to Loosen Up Your LegsPigeon Pose is a great stretch for your hips and lower back, but not everyone can fold up like origami. And forcing yourself into the pose can put undue strain on your knees, ankles or hips. Use these five variations to increase your range of motion safely and effectively. Choose one and try to hold…
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5 Ways Chiropractic Care Can Boost Your Gym Performance
Read More: 5 Ways Chiropractic Care Can Boost Your Gym PerformanceSnap, crackle and pop — no, we aren’t referring to the jingle of that rice-based cereal, but rather the unmistakable symphony heard in chiropractic offices around the world. Whether you love the sweet sounds of those adjustments or find them a bit intimidating, chiropractic care may be the key to leveling up your gym performance…
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8 Yoga Poses to Stretch Tight Calves
Read More: 8 Yoga Poses to Stretch Tight CalvesIf you’re anything like me, your calves are tight all the time. “But I practice so much yoga!” I say, incredulous at the fact that my calves keep me up at night with cramps, even though I make stretching a priority. So how is this possible? Tight ankles and overuse. Why Do I Get Tight…
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Are These 10 Popular Recovery Methods Effective?
Read More: Are These 10 Popular Recovery Methods Effective?If your idea of recovery consists of a few halfhearted stretches and a hot shower, it’s time to level up. Here are 10 of-the-moment practices to help revamp your recovery routine and speed along your progress. 1. Red light Therapy (aka photobiomodulation) The theory behind this practice is that low-level wavelengths of red light penetrate…
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4 Ways Foam Rolling Helps Workout Recovery
Read More: 4 Ways Foam Rolling Helps Workout RecoveryFoam rolling is a simple, accessible way to warm up and ease muscle tension — if you do it properly. Myofascial release, the technical term for what you’re doing when you foam roll, can be uncomfortable at times, but it’ll do your muscles good if you stick with it. First, let’s go over the basics…
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7 Yoga Poses for Muscle Recovery
Read More: 7 Yoga Poses for Muscle RecoveryFor some athletes, yoga isn’t on the workout roster. In fact, for some, it’s not even on the workout brain. But yoga can be beneficial for every athlete; whether you’re into running, weightlifting, CrossFit, HIIT and more. Regardless of your training, it can assist your breathing control and muscle recovery when practiced regularly. When you…
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4 Active Recovery Strategies for Muscle Growth
Read More: 4 Active Recovery Strategies for Muscle GrowthRest is an important part of recovery, but just because you’ve finished a tough workout doesn’t mean it’s best to be idle. In fact, experts agree that gentle movement or light training to get your heart rate up on rest days, aka active recovery, can help move the blood around and help your body repair…
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The Truth About Rest Days
Read More: The Truth About Rest DaysIt’s time to take a day off — here’s why you need rest days in your training routine. Hey, you. The one who’s training daily. Yes, you. It’s time to take a day off. Seriously. Why? During a workout, you’re busy tearing muscle fibers down. And during periods of rest, your body repairs and grows.…
