You can work out and eat healthy every day, but you can’t achieve the best version of yourself if you forget one important thing: recovery. And you can achieve that easily by getting a good massage.
Massage should be a priority in your self-care routine. It makes all the difference in the world and lessens your risk of physical injuries. To find out more about how to recover with a massage, continue to read below.
What are the 5 Best Massages for Workout Recovery?
Percussive Massage for At-Home Pain Relief
If your muscles are in pain after working and moving all day long, percussive massage is perfect for you.
Percussive massage is a breakthrough type of massage therapy, where you can do it yourself. You’ll only need a massage gun that operates with deep, repetitive vibrations.
In this way, you don’t have to set up appointments with a massage therapist anymore. The massage gun will do all the work for you. Each vibration from the massage gun targets the pain points in every nook and corner of your body.
Depending on your preferred massage gun brand, you should be able to feel a huge relief in just a few minutes.
The Hydragun, for instance, is guaranteed to reduce your muscle pain in under 10 minutes. You can also customize your experience by trying out its 7 different attachment heads, made for specific muscle groups.
Deep Tissue Massage for Tight Muscles
Deep tissue massage is all about breaking up the tight knots in your body. It’s vigorous, firm, and focused. For first-timers, it might feel a bit uncomfortable, since it aims to reach deep beyond your skin.
If you’re suffering from limited mobility, this type of massage is your best bet. Since it deals with loosening up your body, deep tissue massage helps improve your flexibility and range of motion.
Fans of deep tissue massage usually get it from a specialized massage therapist every month or so, especially if they have recurring chronic pains. It’s also used for patients dealing with sciatica, joint disorders, and repetitive stress injuries.
However, if you don’t have the time to set up a monthly appointment, using a massage gun at medium to high speed for around 10 minutes can give the same effect. It’s also more convenient since you can use it anytime, whether at work or at home.
Swedish Massage for Full Relaxation
So, you’re tired and you just want to chill out. If you’re in the mood for a relaxing weekend, make sure to include a Swedish massage in your schedule.
Swedish massage involves long, kneading strokes applied from head to toe. The massage therapist will also use aromatic oils or lotions to soothe your muscles and allow your senses to relax.
Compared to its deep tissue counterpart, Swedish massage is more gentle. It aims to relieve tension in your body and mind, to the point that you might fall asleep during the hour-long session.
Sports Massage for Fast Muscle Recovery
Have you ever wondered how athletes recover after their training? Are you aiming for an athletic lifestyle, just like them? If the answer’s yes to both, you should look into how sports massage works.
Sports massage is optimized for those who are active every day, such as professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and manual labor workers. It speeds up your recovery time, prevents injuries, and helps you move better than before.
Take note, there are three types of sports massage that you can get:
- Pre-event massage, which usually lasts for 10 to 15 minutes and warms up your muscles before an athletic event.
- Post-event massage, where the goal is to decrease DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness, immediately after physical activity.
- Maintenance massage, to improve your recovery time and performance level in between training sessions.
Rather than soothing all of your muscles from head to toe, a sports massage only targets the problem areas that need quick relief. For instance, if you’re a runner about to compete in a marathon, the sports massage session will focus more on your lower body.
Lymphatic Massage for Improved Immunity
Sometimes, a deep and firm massage isn’t for everyone. You might be more up for a slow, recuperating time, rather than something intense. Plus, tough massage sessions will probably leave you sore afterward.
In that case, a lymphatic massage can be the one for you.
Lymphatic massage relieves muscle inflammation by detoxing your body. How so?
Your body has lymph nodes everywhere, but they have clusters under your arms, neck, and around your groin area. These function as your “drainage ports” for lymphatic fluids, and keep your body free from toxins.
So, a lymphatic massage moves and drains the built-up lymph fluids in your muscles, which can be caused by health conditions like lymphedema and fibromyalgia.
However, even if you don’t have any pre-existing health issues, a lymphatic massage can build up immunity and promote blood circulation. It also helps reduce symptoms of insomnia, stress, and digestive problems.
Among the top 5 list, lymphatic massage is the gentlest of them all. It’s all about soft, constant pressure on the surface of your skin. Also, it will be ideal to drink 2 to 4 glasses of water after this massage, to fully detox the body.
The Takeaway
When it comes to taking care of yourself, you don’t need to tolerate body aches. If there’s one tip any fitness trainer would tell you, it’s to listen to your body.
The muscle soreness might feel like you’re being productive, or you’re doing something right in your workouts, but your body tells a different story. It needs a break.
So, don’t hesitate to treat yourself with a massage. Better yet, check out the Hydragun massage gun today, and see how it can transform your recovery at home. With the Hydragun, you don’t need to pay for a massage therapist to get your well-deserved break.
