Pain? Keep a-Rollin'

When you get to the gym today, check out the corner where the Big Tire and the rowers are parked. You'll find ten foam rollers, which can be used to perform myofascial self-release. No, it's not the kind of thing that'll require a trip to the confessional. To quote Wikipedia, myofascial release is "a form of soft tissue therapy intended for pain relief, increasing range of motion and balancing the body." It's an invaluable tool, along with cryotherapy and PNF stretching, that can help you recover more quickly and more completely between workouts. (If you haven't seen Dr. Kelly Starrett's brilliant series of CF Journal videos on PNF stretching, GET YOURSELF A SUBSCRIPTION TODAY AND WATCH. Best $25 you'll spend all year.) I highly recommend you get to the gym a few minutes early and spend some time on the rollers before class officially begins. There's a TON of resources about MSR techniques on the web; here's a video to get you started:



Ultimately, your recovery, just like your diet, is YOUR responsibility. Get informed, dial it in, make it happen! With all the hard effort you put into your workouts, you owe it to yourself.