Are you looking to take your wellness regimen to the next level? Do you struggle to recover after tough workouts? Are you seeking ways to improve not just your physical health but your emotional and mental well-being?
When combined, massage therapy, yoga, and fitness do tremendous things for our overall health and wellness ‒ no matter your personal needs and goals.
So, what are the benefits of combining massage therapy, yoga, and fitness?
Here at Hand In Health, the majority of our massage therapists are dually certified Fitness Professionals with concentrations in personal training, yoga, martial arts, Zumba, and sports nutrition. We’re here to break down everything you need to know about massage therapy, yoga, and fitness, and get you started on your journey to improved health and wellness.
If you’re located in Central New York and are interested in personal training services, we invite you to book a no-charge fitness consultation with a dual certified Massage Therapy and Fitness Professional. You can also book a massage or a one on one personal training or yoga session by reaching out to our Downtown Syracuse or North Syracuse location today.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the powers of massage therapy, fitness, and yoga and how to best combine them!
How Often Should You Work Out?
From promoting a healthy heart and weight to improving sleep, muscle stiffness, and alleviating depression and anxiety, exercise has no shortage of physical and mental benefits.
The CDC recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise and muscle-strengthening activities each week for adults. In essence, the more active you are, the healthier your life will be.
Of course, short-term fatigue and soreness are common after exercise, and it’s important to embrace these side effects as part of your fitness journey. But when overuse injuries occur, or sore muscles, exercise fatigue, and heavy limbs become painful or long-term, massage therapy and yoga can help.
What Are the Benefits of Combining Massage Therapy, Yoga, & Fitness?
Both yoga and massage therapy promote the body’s natural healing process by increasing blood flow and delivering more oxygen to the muscles. Yoga and massage therapy also detoxify the body and strengthen the cardiovascular and immune systems. So in unison with regular fitness, massage therapy and yoga can prevent injuries and illness that would otherwise keep you out of the gym.
That’s not all. Massage therapy and yoga are strikingly similar in their abilities to reduce pain and improve flexibility and range of motion, as well.
When you stretch, bend, twist, and fold your body during yoga, you’re essentially massaging your internal organs. On the flip side, massage therapy targets deep muscle tension that can potentially interfere with your workouts or yoga practice.
In short, the better your flexibility and range of motion, the more you can get out of your yoga and fitness sessions ‒ and massage therapy can enhance this. Not to mention, massage therapy is also great for decompressing the mind and body so you’re more present before and after your workouts or yoga sessions.
What Are the Best Massages for Post-Workout Recovery?
All massages are beneficial for muscle recovery and injury prevention, but deep tissue and sports massages are highly recommended after physical activity, whether you’re a body-builder, a runner, a triathloner, or trying to lose weight and tone your body.
Both types of massage incorporate deep and intense massage strokes to target muscle tension and heal and prevent injuries. Sports massages, in particular, can also include a variety of different stretches.
At Hand In Health, our Personal Trainers are also Corrective Exercise Specialists who rehabilitate injuries and integrate stretching and strengthening activities on the massage table. If you’d like to learn more about our Corrective Exercise services, contact our Downtown Syracuse or North Syracuse location.
What Are the Best Yoga Poses for Muscle Recovery & Injury Prevention?
Practicing yoga can supplement your fitness regimen and help your body bounce back after intense workouts. With hundreds of yoga poses out there, you may not know which are best for muscle recovery and injury prevention. Here are some simple yoga poses to help you get started:
- Child’s Pose
- Straight Leg Forward Bend
- Head-to-Knee Forward Bend
- Pigeon Pose
- Reclining Spinal Twist
It’s most beneficial to work one-on-one with a certified Yoga Instructor who can evaluate your unique needs and help you get the most out of your yoga practice. Hand In Health does not currently offer group yoga classes at this time, but if you would like to schedule a one-on-one yoga session with one of our instructors, reach out to our North Syracuse or Downtown Syracuse location.
Should You Get a Massage Before or After Doing Yoga & Fitness?
The benefits of combining massage therapy, fitness, and yoga are plentiful ‒ but is it better to have a massage before or after exercise or yoga?
There’s no right or wrong time to get a massage, and whether you have one before or after a yoga or workout session entirely depends on your needs and goals!
If your goal is to stretch deeper, or if you’re doing yin-yoga, receiving a massage beforehand can warm your body up and prepare your muscles. Likewise, if you have an intense workout ahead of you, getting a massage before the session can loosen and prepare your body.
Our muscles produce lactic acid when we exercise intensely and our bodies are low in oxygen. They do this to convert glucose into energy. Having a weekly massage after doing yoga or fitness throughout the week can reduce lactic acid buildup and alleviate pain, soreness, and fatigue in the process.
Are You Ready to Combine Massage Therapy, Yoga, & Fitness?
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of combining massage therapy, yoga, and fitness, there’s no better place to start than at Hand In Health.
Serving the Central New York region, we offer a variety of massage services and one-on-one yoga and fitness instruction at our Downtown Syracuse and North Syracuse locations. We also offer monthly massage memberships and fitness packages.
Book a massage appointment or a no-charge fitness consultation today!
