6 of the Best Ways to Recover After a Workout
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Traditional Medicinals. As always, all opinions expressed are my own!
Staying active is just one of my self-care goals for this year! I love taking the time to go to the gym, but I hate dealing with fatigue and soreness afterwards. Rest and recovery are an essential part of your healthy lifestyle, so today I’m sharing six ways I like to recover from a workout. Try any one of these tips to support your body!
1. Get a Massage
My local gym carries massage chairs and I use them as often as I can after I’m done exercising. Whether it’s a recovery back rub or a leg rub down, a massage can help your muscles recover faster. Even better if you get a massage while listening to some relaxing tunes.
2. Drink Herbal Tea
Enjoying herbal tea not only supports your health, but it can also work as a booster to your recovery. We all need to take time to recover after a workout, and sitting down with a nice cup of tea can be a soothing way to unwind and take a moment to rest. . One of my favorite plant-powered wellness brands, Traditional Medicinals, has some great teas to drink after a workout. Turmeric with Meadowsweet & Ginger tea supports a healthy response to inflammation associated with an active lifestyle, supporting your recovery while also providing digestive benefits.*
I look forward to this tea post workout because its earthy and savory taste is so light and flavorful. And if I need to grab some after a workout, I can pick it up at almost any grocery store. I also added Red Clover tea to my post-workout beauty routine (which you can view at the end of this post), because of its traditional use in supporting skin health.
3. Use Ice
Exposing your body to cold helps in recovery after a workout by reducing the swelling in your body. I’ve taken icy cold baths and used ice packs after a workout, and both have helped me reduce soreness and relax better after a tiring workout.
4. Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Some workouts cause inflammation and soreness. This can limit your ability to work out the next day. If you want to reduce your inflammation, there are certain foods that you can incorporate in your daily diet. Eating anti-inflammatory foods helps by speeding up your recovery time. Foods that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants are excellent when it comes to reducing inflammation in your body. Anti-inflammatory foods like almonds and apples are great choices.
5. Sleep
Everyone knows that getting enough sleep will help you stay focused, improve your mood and allow your muscles to have much-needed strength. Therefore, getting some zzz’s allows your muscles to rest up, and you will be ready for the next day of activities. Ensure that you always get a good night sleep so that your body muscles quickly recover after a workout. You can also try Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night tea, which uses herbs such as chamomile and passionflower to help promote a good night’s sleep.*
6. Time
You need to respect the fact that your body gets tired and you need time to recover after a workout and recharge. I like to have one day of rest between workouts that involve the same muscle group, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for recovery time. If you try to work out before your body rests, you end up tiring your body. Hence this causes loss of motivation and energy for your next session. Always ensure that you have fully rested before you go on to your next work out session and rebuild your energy.
Post-Workout Beauty Routine
This is my super simple post-workout beauty routine. It’s perfect for days I don’t have any plans to leave the house.
1. Shower
After exercising, I shower either at the gym or at home because my skin is prone to body breakouts. If your skin is like mine, don’t wait a few hours to wash up. Do it right away!
2. Moisturize
I slather on the moisturizer after cleansing especially during the winter when I frequently suffer from dry skin. Moisturizing is one of the best things you can do to keep your skin and complexion happy.
3. Drink Hot Tea
After I’m fully clothed, I head to the kitchen, put the tea kettle on the stove and reach for Traditional Medicinals Red Clover tea. As I mentioned earlier it is traditionally used for supporting skin health and I just love its light fruity and floral taste.* Maintaining healthy skin should start from the inside too, so I’ll have a cup in bed while relaxing to some soothing music.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
What do you to maximize your post-workout recovery? Share your thoughts by commenting below!
