Photo by Cyril Saulnier
Old man winter is upon us and maybe it’s time to talk about muscle care, especially in the winter! When we think about our muscles, we often think that “care” means lifting weights, working out, and “bulking up.” However, it’s important to treat your muscles properly and to make sure that they are capable of the exercise and movement you do on a daily basis. There are a few ways that you can ensure that your muscles stay healthy (with chair massage) and active so that you can continue on your journey toward better health.
First, it’s important that you rest. Sometimes we can get caught up in working out as many days as possible for as long as possible. However, it is pertinent that you take a day of rest and give your body the relaxing time it needs and craves. Believe it or not, the road to strength and health is NOT through putting your body through the wringer at the gym on a daily basis. Make sure that you don’t just focus on one part of the body every day. If you want awesome abs, then do ab exercises every other day. Make sure that you don’t overwork a particular muscle group or your body in general- it needs rest for proper muscle development.
Secondly, always stretch. Stretching before and after your workouts is essential to gaining flexibility and relaxing your hard-worked muscles. Both static stretching (holding a position for about 12 seconds) and dynamic stretching (moving a muscle around) are great ways to get your muscles warmed up before exercising and cooled down after a nice sweat.
Thirdly, get a massage for pain relief. While this has often been seen as a “perk,” it should definitely be added to your essential fitness plan to optimize your results and give you wonderful muscle recovery. Massage removes toxins and harmful waste from your body so that you can have healthier muscles that have great mobility and more flexibility. Corporate Massage Kneads would love to help you out in this regard- bring us to your gym or your office, and we can massage your strained muscles right after your workout or in your office to get your muscles ready for your next exercise!
A fourth recommendation is breathing. This is more of an obligation than a recommendation. Not only is it essential to breathe (as this action is highly advised for survival), but it is also critical that you breathe CORRECTLY. When working out, make sure that you breathe properly and don’t hold your breath. Not exhaling can increase your blood pressure and put your body at risk of straining a blood vessel.
Finally, stay hydrated. Drink lots and lots of water before, during, and after a workout. Water regulates your metabolism and flushes the toxins in your body. Most recommend that the average person drink about 8 glasses of water a day, and you can ensure that you’re staying hydrated by checking the color of your urine. The darker it is, the more dehydrated you are and the more water you need.
This testimonial speaks to the magic mobile chair massage has to offer!
Chair Massage
“The therapist who did my neck massage on (my last visit) was great! Helped to ease off a lot of the neck tightness.”
Don’t take your muscles for granted—take care of them! If your muscles are feeling particularly strained, contact us! Corporate Massage Kneads can jump-start your wellness program!
