People often ask me what is my favorite piece of exercise equipment.\u00a0 I have so many that I love but I do have my ultimate favorite.\u00a0 If I leave town, it comes with me.\u00a0 I have four different varieties of it, and I use it with all my clients each week.\u00a0 Ready?\u00a0 It is my Foam Roller!<\/p>\n
I know it does not sound all that exciting, and those who have tried it, think\u00a0I am crazy,\u00a0but it is by far the one thing I need to have.\u00a0 I have been using it for over 10 years now.\u00a0 I began using it during physical therapy for a running injury.\u00a0 Since then I have used it for Pilates exercises, core stability exercises, balance work and myofascial release for my muscles.<\/p>\n
There are different densities, shapes, textures and lengths of foam rollers.\u00a0 You can find them everywhere now.\u00a0 My recommendation is to skip all the fads and pick up a classic roller.\u00a0 If you can squeeze it easily with your hand it is too soft.\u00a0 Choose a long, flat, hard surface roller.\u00a0 It will hurt a little in the beginning if you are rolling out, but you will soon adjust and be glad you chose it.<\/p>\n
Here are some great tips for how to use\u00a0a\u00a0foam roller.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Roll out your feet.\u00a0 If you wear heels during the day, have plantar fasciitis, or just have tired feet, this will make them feel better.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Breathe while you are rolling out your muscles.\u00a0 It does hurt a little, but think of it as a deep tissue massage.\u00a0\u00a0When you breathe you will relax and allow a deeper release in the muscle.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Roll out before and after your workout.\u00a0 Before helps to get blood moving in the muscles, and after helps you feel stretched out.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 Be careful to only roll your muscles not your joints or organs.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 No pain no gain.\u00a0 That phrase was never more true than\u00a0\u00a0when it comes to the foam roller.\u00a0 It does hurt rolling out those muscles that are very tight.\u00a0 To me that just means I need to be rolling more.\u00a0 The more you roll the less painful it is.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Rolling less more often is better than spending a long drawn out session once in\u00a0a blue moon.<\/p>\n
The Foam Roller is an inexpensive piece of equipment.\u00a0 There are tons of ways to use it.\u00a0 For me, I always hit my major muscle groups.\u00a0 Hamstrings, IT band, calves and quads.\u00a0 It keeps me pain free to be honest.\u00a0 I am always so pleasantly surprised when I feel so much better right after I use it.\u00a0 That is what has\u00a0made me a fan of it for so many years.\u00a0 If you have been working out regularly, and have not tried it yet, pick one up and give it a go.\u00a0 You won’t regret it.<\/p>\n
Happy Training,<\/p>\n
Dolores<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
People often ask me what is my favorite piece of exercise equipment.\u00a0 I have so many that I love but I do have my ultimate favorite.\u00a0 If I leave town, it comes with me.\u00a0 I have four different varieties of it, and I use it with all my clients each week.\u00a0 Ready?\u00a0 It is my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n