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We’ve all been there: You go to the gym, work out a little too hard and wake up barely being able to move. The thought of working out that day seems ludicrous, but could you benefit from it? And how should you go about it?
Ali Cavill, personal trainer and owner of Fit Fantastic recommends that rather than sitting on the couch waiting to recover, the best thing to do is some light movement (even if it’s the last thing you feel like).
1. Light exercise.
“Light stretching and walking are great on these days. It will actually help you to get back into your routine faster,” she explains.
By doing what you can manage, rather than nothing at all, you can ease back into your usual routine faster.
2. Get acquainted with a foam roller.
If you just rolled your eyes, a great option for you could be using a foam roller.
RELATED: How to use the fitness tool everyone’s obsessed with.
“Using a foam roller is a great way to recover – it really helps to release muscle tightness,” Cavill says.
Rolling over the foam (“self-myofascial release”, if you want to get fancy) helps release pressure which builds up in your muscles and fascia, which is the connective tissue.
Working these knots out of your body with a roller helps to prevent injuries and, according to a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning, it can also improve your body’s flexibility. (Post continues after gallery.)