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We all know that recovery is just as important as our workouts. While learning about the recovery methods of our favorite athletes is always beneficial, you don’t need to be an athlete to understand how to take care of your body. From rock stars to new moms, here are a few recovery tips that athletes can learn from the non-sporting world.
Recover Right Away. Pop superstar Lady Gaga puts on an athletic-level performance every time she steps on stage, so it’s no wonder that her post-concert recovery routine looks pretty familiar: ice, heat, and compression. Gaga uses the tried-and-true method of switching from an ice bath to a hot bath to reduce swelling, increase circulation, and flush lactic acid out of her system.
The singer's full-body use of a compression suit may look a bit different from what most of us are doing, but it certainly puts a rockstar spin on self-care! Incorporate compression treatments into your recovery routines with the help of compression accessories like socks, sleeves, and gloves.
Recover Every Day. As athletes, we tend to focus all of our attention on the big race. But as any nurse will tell you, you need to take care of yourself (specifically your legs and feet) every day if you want to keep moving without aches and pains that can slow you down.
Add small exercises like rolling, stretching, and strength training to your daily recovery routine so that your body will be ready for those harder efforts. For those who spend a lot of time on their feet, give one of our favorite stretches, Legs Up The Wall, a try.
Make Rest a Priority. There aren’t many activities harder on the human body than giving birth. Athletes can learn a lot from the number one recovery tip given to new moms: make rest a priority. As doula Alasen Zarndt puts it, “most of our healing and recovery is done when we are sleeping, so we need to prioritize getting good, quality sleep to recover quickly.” Always incorporate a rest day.
Listen to Your Grandma. There’s a reason your grandma is always pushing you to “eat, eat, eat!” Even if she’s not an athlete, Grandma knows that your body needs food, especially when you’re recovering from a hard effort. These healthy snacks are not only good for your ear health, they’re also excellent sources of the nutrients your body needs to maximize recovery.
Press Reset. Keynote speaker and Ironman triathlete Peter Shankman knows a thing or two about mental recovery. When something doesn’t go as planned—whether it’s a public speaking gig or a race—he knows how hard it can be to bounce back. His advice? Figure out what you can learn from failure so that you don’t make the same mistake again. What can you do differently or better next time? As Shankman puts it, “It’s over. Learn from it, but don’t wallow in it.”
What does your post-workout recovery routine look like? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
