5 Favorite Recovery Tools

Adequate recovery is an essential step after a workout. There are a variety of methods, tools, and techniques that can be used to help restore your muscles and central nervous system so you can perform and feel your best for your next workout. Here are five of our favorite recovery tools.

Foam Roller: This tool not only feels good but is great for pinpointing specific spots or trigger points and applying broad pressure to loosen muscles. It helps relieve buildup of neural tension and increases blood flow to the muscle to promote optimal recovery.

Massage/Lacrosse Ball: Recovery tools don’t have to be expensive to be effective. Use any small, firm ball lying around the house (lacrosse ball, tennis ball etc.) to work out knots, kinks, and tight spots all over your body. Massage balls act similarly to foam rollers, but because they’re smaller, can more directly relieve tight spots. Check out these short videos to learn how to use your massage ball.

Hydromassage: Not only is it relaxing, but hydrotherapy can also help you relieve pain and boost your mood by easing anxiety and stress. Just one or two sessions per week can drastically improve post-workout muscle tension.

Hypervolt: If you’re willing to splurge, handheld massage guns are effective in pinpointing specific muscles that might be tight or sore. Percussive therapy (small impacts from the head of the gun) has been shown to decrease muscle tension, similar to rubbing your elbow after hitting it on something hard. They come with a variety of head attachments and speed options to enhance your recovery and take your fitness to the next level.

Yoga: Yoga can be performed practically anywhere and is the perfect low-intensity recovery method regardless of experience or fitness level. Yoga helps relieve tension specifically in the lower back, hips, thighs, and calves, helping you feel balanced and refreshed. VASA offers a variety of yoga classes at all of its clubs, and for those of you who live in Wisconsin or Colorado, you can check out STUDIO FLOW at the New Berlin, WI and Westminster Federal, CO locations. STUDIO FLOW was designed to help strengthen, restore, and recover your body by using infrared light to increase circulation and reduce inflammation and tension.

For best results, make sure to add stretch-based movements after utilizing any of these tools. Combining massage options with a movement practice like yoga will exponentially enhance your recovery!