Making the time to do a couple of workouts each week is great for both your physical and mental health, which is why it’s so important to make the effort to get some exercise. However, some people can be put off by the high intensity that some workouts require, as well as how long it can take them to recover. You might have experienced this yourself through suffering from sore, aching muscles for days after getting a sweat on. While this is a normal reaction to intensive exercise, there are things you can (and should) do to help your body recover after a workout.
Stretches
Always do stretches before and after your workout! This is such an essential step that should be followed but is often skipped. If you haven’t been doing your stretches pre and post-workout, this is likely to be the reason you’re feeling the aches and pains so much after exercise. To help reduce micro-tears and unnecessary muscle strain, warm your body up with a few stretches and light physical activity to prepare for the more intensive workout you’re about to do.
Cool down
Another mistake a lot of people make after a workout is stopping abruptly when you’ve finished. While you might be keen to stop and catch your breath after pushing yourself, if you don’t give your body a chance to cool down with some gentle exercise, this could be another contributing factor to sore muscles. For at least five minutes after an intense work out, slow the pace down and come to a gradual stop to give your body a chance to adjust to the change of pace.
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