Thinking Out Loud

I have been involved in the running community (in one way or another) for over 15 years now and one thing is constantly coming up: how do you recover faster and better? In keeping with the tone of my chosen life path and blog catalog you can probably tell that if there’s a natural “hippy” way to address an issue, I’ll probably try it out.

You’ve probably experience the infamous delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) at least once in your life. It’s that feeling after you’ve cranked out 75 squats, leg lifts and planks and the next morning you’re immediately reminded upon waking you’ve done too much. One of the biggest triggers is muscle inflammation. Here are four natural ways I’ve found really help me when trying to recover after a gnarly workout:

• 
  

  Massage Therapy- If you’re not on a super tight budget, one obvious way to recover after exercise is getting frequent massages. Now I would recommend a sports massage therapist that either IS or HAS BEEN an athlete themselves. They may be able to pin point those “special spots” that only an athlete is aware of.

  
  


• 
  

  Roll Out- You can save some serious buck-a-roos by investing in a foam roller. One of my personal favs is the “Grid” by Trigger Point . It’s not made of the traditional foam so it doesn’t break down nearly as quickly, even when used consistently. To be honest, I’ve had mine for over three years and it still has yet to break down in any way shape or form.

  
  


• 
  

  Epsom salt soak- This seems super simple and it is. Fill up your bath tub, dump about 1-2 cups of Epsom salt in there, let dissolve for about five minutes then give your bod a soak. Magnesium is a major component in Epsom salt and when your body absorbs it in the bath it can help relax the muscles by helping flush the lactic acid out of your muscles.

  
  


• 
  

  Try drinking this crazy tonic – FAIR WARNING: This does NOT taste good. BUT it’s a anti-inflammatory tonic that I’m STOKED about. I’ve been mixing ½ cup water + 1 Tbsp turmeric powder + 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar (*I use Braggs with the mother). I take it every morning and even on mornings when I skip coffee, it gives me a boost! I also believe that there are so many toxins everywhere we turn that it’s important to detox your body whenever you can. Less inflammation = good things.