YOGA FOCUS
NEW
YOGA FOCUS TOOLS
FOR RECOVERY
Even yoga instructors and practitioners can injure themselves. YogaFit
founder, Beth Shaw, looks at some tools for assisting recovery.
y life of exercise sometimes leaves
me feeling a little sore, depleted
and, on a few occasions, injured.
Knowing and listening to your
body is crucial and a yoga practice gives us
that gift. What happens though, when we get
to the gym, the lactic acid subsides, and we
overdo it without recovery? You could end
up like me, currently nursing a partial Achilles
tendon tear.
Fortunately, we live in an age in which a
plethora of tools and technology are available
that promote a more active recovery. If you
find yourself injured but needing to fast-track
your recovery, you may want to consider
M
the following.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is any treatment that involves the
use of freezing or near freezing temperatures.
Doctors have long recommended using ice
packs on injured and painful muscles. Blood
circulation is increased after the ice pack is
removed, promoting healing and pain relief.
While stepping into a freezing chamber may
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54 | NETWORK AUTUMN 2019
not sound like your idea of a good time, it can
really speed healing, reduce inflammation
and flush out lactic acid. Cryotherapy can
help with muscle pain, as well as some joint
and muscle disorders, such as arthritis. It
may also promote faster healing of athletic
injuries and reduce pain. For a review of the
research into the efficacy of cryotherapy,
click here.
Compression sleeves
Leg compression sleeves benefit athletic
performance, promote muscle recovery and
can also help reduce swelling and prevent
injury. The more oxygenated blood that the
heart can supply to the muscles, the better the
muscles can function. Wearing compressions
sleeves create arterial dilatation, which
increases the amount of blood flowing to
the muscles, providing more of oxygen and
nutrients. Compression leg sleeves add
gentle, graduated pressure to your calves to
help fight the effects of gravity. The circulation
boost from compression reduces lactic acid,
boosts the lymphatic system and reduces
inflammation. With this increased circulation,
recovery becomes faster from exercise with
less discomfort. For your chance to win a pair
of compression walking and running socks,
check out the competition on page 31 of this
issue of Network.
Red light beds and portable lights
Red light therapy is also known as low-level
laser therapy (LLLT). It uses low-energy
light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lasers as
an alternative therapy for pain relief, or to
promote good cell functions. In contrast
to high power lasers which can damage
tissues, certain wavelengths of lasers
have been reported as being effective in
applications such as speeding up wound
healing, reducing the symptoms of restless
leg syndrome and lowering pain in diseases
such as rheumatoid arthritis. It’s an area
worth doing some of your own research into,
and you can find inexpensive handheld units
to target pain areas.
Weighted blankets
Typically filled with small plastic pellets and
ranging in weight from 2 to 8kg, weighted
blankets reduce stress and tension in
the body and mind. A weighted blanket
is a lot like getting a firm but gentle hug.
Weighted blankets reduce stress, anxiety
and boosts mood through deep touch
pressure stimulation. The result is reduced
cortisol, stress levels, and inflammation.
If you mention YogaFit when ordering at
magicweightedblanket.com you can save
10% on blankets.
When it comes to recovery, of course, light
movement, yoga, stretching and meditation
are also important tools. Studies have shown
active rest to be a key component to flush lactic
acid, speed healing, and aid circulation.
Beth Shaw
Beth is CEO and Founder of YogaFit Training
Systems Worldwide Inc. which has trained more
than 200,000 fitness professionals across six
continents. yogafit.com