Imagine you had the time and money to get a massage every day. How amazing would that be?! You’d be able to smooth out any tension you may have built throughout your day, and have a general feeling of relaxation and all over increased well-being.
Well, I am here to tell you that there is no need to imagine this luxury. Your daily massage is only one foam roller away, because it is recognized as just that – a deep tissue massage. The added bonus is that it won’t take up much of your time, or cost you too much money. Check out some of the amazing benefits below, and I bet you’ll be ironing out those sore muscles by the end of the day.
Benefits
- Smooths and lengthens your muscles, tendons and ligaments
- Breaks up scar tissue and releases toxins/metabolic waste from your body
- Helps to relax your stiff muscles, leaving you feeling more relaxed
- Increases blood flow and encourages workout recovery, thus increasing your performance
- Decreases stiffness and chronic pain around problematic areas/trigger points
- Increases mobility in your muscles and joints
- Decreases your potential for using over the counter drugs to combat pain
It looks like the foam roller is the next best thing to your masseuse’s hands, so if you’re looking to reap the benefits of this wonderful cylinder, here is how you can do so.
Exercises
Depending on which tight muscle you’d like to work on, roll the desired area for 1 minute, and then hold it for 15-30 seconds while breathing deep and allowing the muscles to release. Drink lots of water following this to help speed up the release of toxins.
Warning: If your muscles are very tight, this may hurt at first, but keep in mind you’ll feel damn good after.
When you buy a foam roller, often it comes with a small pamphlet book including exercises, and trust me, the list goes on and on! The above exercises are just a start. I’ve found that even just listening to your body while you’re using it is fantastic. I’m just so happy I’ve made the (small) investment.
If you’re interested in receiving a personal massage everyday, you can find foam rollers at Winners, the Running Room, Canadian Tire, and many sports stores. They range from $20-$60, and the density varies depending on how deep you want the massage.
Enjoy!
Showing you the difference between liking and loving your body,
Ashley Dale Roy
