Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by RADRoller and Komega6. While YBC was compensated for the post, all opinions are our own. We are committed to working with companies we love whose products we would purchase for ourselves. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support YBC.
In bumping up my workouts for the past three months, I've become quite familiar with the importance of muscle prep and muscle recovery. I was actually just reading that rolling out is a fantastic way to help the body recovery faster. Months ago, the RAD Block and Komega recovery essential oil showed up at the office and I've been using them ever since and love them for post workout body care. In today's post I wanted to share how I use them.
Komega Recovery oil
Komega6 makes wonderful sports essential oils and this Recovery oil has been such a huge help after heavy lifts that leave my muscles all knotted up. You just put a few drops in your palm and rub the oil in wherever you're feeling sore. This oil smells fantastic, with hints of wintergreen and chamomile, and it's nice because it's already got a carrier oil in it so you don't have to play chemist and mix up something that'll be ok on your skin - it's already ready to go. They tell you to massage it into your skin, but I also like using a few drops in my diffuser and in my detox baths just because it smells wonderful.
Pin now! Muscle recovery for neck.
Wearing: Lettuce be friends sweatshirt, candy yum yum lipstick. Using RAD Block and RAD Roller
Another way I like to get at the muscles are with my RAD Block and RAD Roller. For this type of recovery, I like the stiff RAD Roller because it just seems to really attack those knots! There are three must-do's that I'm always sure to hit. The first one is my neck. The RAD Block is pretty cool because it has grooves all along the block where you can pop in the the RAD Roller to keep it static while you lay back on it to hit a pressure point. For my neck, I ease my way down and place my neck - just below the occipital ridge - on the RAD Roller. I take two to three deep breaths (not longer, because you can cut off the muscle's blood supply which can result in soreness) before coming out of it. Resting your entire weight against the very dense RAD Roller offers such a nice release.
Pin now! Muscle recovery for shins.
Wearing: Lettuce be friends sweatshirt, candy yum yum lipstick. Using RAD Block and RAD Roller
The sides of my shins are always sore so I am sure they're hit before and after my workouts when I roll out. I just place the RAD Roller on the side of the block with no ridges so it can move, and then rock and roll for about 10 seconds. This is actually the position as baby grasshopper pose, but if you find it tough to roll on the block due to tight hips, you can bring the RAD Roller to the ground.
Pin now! Muscle recovery for armpits.
Wearing: Lettuce be friends sweatshirt, candy yum yum lipstick. Using RAD Block and RAD Roller
For the first retreat I held in Costa Rica, I had an amazing massage therapist from the South of France join us. During the massage, she dug into my armpit which was simultaneously weird and amazing. I felt SO good afterwards, and while I've never had a therapist do it since, I'm sort of able to recreate it with the use of the RAD Roller on the static side. I just rest the weight of my entire upper body on the block with the RAD Roller in it, and hold for 7 - 10 seconds before taking it to the other side. I know it sounds strange, but it's something you really have to try! The nice thing about having the RAD Roller Block is that it holds the RAD Roller in place so it doesn't slide off, allowing you to completely relax into the release.
I'd love to know how you aid your body in recovery after a strenuous yoga class or workout. Let me know down in the comments below!