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With all the ads out there for wrinkle-removing eye-cream, life-altering natural mud masks, and a widespread — albeit vague — idea that we can live much longer if we take baby aspirin once a day, it can be easy to forget that we are not entirely in control of what our body does or does not do.
We wrinkle, but the subtext of that is that we age. You can slow it down, but it’s a fact of living in a body that doesn’t regenerate like a salamander.
In the same vein, it can be easy to see our body as an everlasting, unchanging source of energy, power, and safe from serious injury or the many, many ways of experiencing "wear and tear" until they actually happens to us. So, in other words: we are invincible....until we are not.
The irony of this issue, though, is that if we acknowledge the fact that our body needs a little consideration and thought, and that even if we don’t want it to, it is aging and experiencing wear and tear, we can treat it correctly now, and experience comfort and mobility for longer.
We all know we’re supposed to stretch before exercise and probably after, and it’s smart not to do squats with your knees over your toes or some other things like that. But how many of us take it seriously that discomfort — small or big—could happen to us?
For me, it wasn’t until I really started speaking with other people I knew personally who enjoyed working out and realized the scope and frequency of injuries — many of which I simply did not want to have. I’ll ruin the illusion for myself now and admit that I am not an immortal Greek God and invest in practices and products that might make me a super vivacious lady "for my age" at 97.
Having to sit out from a workout plan or hang back from the gym because you’ve pulled a muscle and don’t want to overdo it — or worse, ignoring those signs from your body and going ahead anyway — is not fun or smart for anybody, in the long-term or short-term game.
Taking a few more minutes now to go through the proper motions before a workout (stretching, eating, drinking water, and applying things like anti-chafe cream) will not only help you perform better and for longer, but it will also increase the enjoyability of your fitness regime.
Rolling out muscles, applying heating or cooling packs, and taking a rest day or cross training are some of the ways we can take care of our bodies.
If you’re able to get to the gym and use your body in your exercise regime, you’re probably capable of taking care of it while it takes care of you. Investing in healthy conditions and environment will give back to you today and over time.
DON'T MISS: These workout leggings with resistance bands built into them can help you get better results in less time
A massage cane
Who doesn't love the feeling of sore muscles after an intense workout? Not many people I know.
However, it's important to massage muscles out into a more flexible, comfortable condition after just such activities. This ergonomic, S-shaped cane is made to mimic the feel of a massage therapist's elbows and thumbs and is designed to get to those hard-to-reach places easier. Plus, since you're in control, you can adjust pressure to fit your own comfortability.
Body Back Company’s Trigger Point Therapy Self-Massage Tool, $29.95
A stretch out strap
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Your gym teacher in seventh grade likely told you the same thing, but stretching really is important to get muscles warmed up and loose before and after a workout.
This Stretch Out Strap is the kind of inexpensive tool most of us need to ensure we do the practice and also do it deeper and more correctly than if we just left it up to the moment. Plus, this specific strap comes with a card of instructions on many stretches and how to perform them properly. If you're going to do it, why on earth would you not want to do it right?
OPTP Stretch Out Strap with Stretching Exercise Poster, $15.95
Compression sleeves
Compression sleeves like these help support you and keep you comfortable throughout the entire day, not just at workout time. They are meant to prevent tennis and golf elbow, forearm tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and a few others. The compression (be it sleeve or sock) will target to the problematic area and hopefully help you recover faster if there is an injury there.
Mava Sports Elbow Sleeve Recovery Compression, $14.95
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