Post Workout Considerations
Yet another aspect of weight training is what to do after you finish exercising.
Most people jump in the bath or shower to remove all the sweat builtup on the
body, but taking this further, what else can we do to maximise the health
benefits of this situation? Below are some of the methods you may wish to use,
all of which should be taken about half an hour to an hour after to finish your
fitness activities.
A ShowerThe most common method of cleaning the skin after a workout or fitness sessions
is the shower. The shower is a quick and easy way of getting rid of sweat, dirt
and oder from the body and to refresh the skin for further activities. Although
the water from the shower can invigourate and clean quickly it cannot compete
with the other 'full body' cleaning methods such as the ones listed below; it may
not open the pores in the same way and reach the deep dirt within the skin. In
fact, as we operate the shower, the pores which were open during the wourkout
will close due to the change in temperature and may lock in that you are trying
to wash off.
It is also harder to reach every area of the body with a shower where a total
immersion bath or even a sauna could reach and clean so much easier. On the
other hand, if time is a major factor, consider a shower as a temporary solution
to the cleaning problem and take a bath later on in the week to make sure
everything is washed away. A shower can be taken hot or cold depending on your
preference but I would recommend taking a much hotter shower in the winter to
warm the body and to help prevent any shivering as you dry yourself. A shower
connot be used with aromatherapy.
A BathAnother post-exercise custom is to take a bath, again to make sure the skin is
totally clean and pleasantly refreshed. The two big benefits of taking a bath
instead of a shower are obvious but are overlooked if time is a problem. First
of all, a bath can totally immerse the body in water - reaching all the hard to
reach places and helping to remove invisible oils and oders from the skin without
you having to physically work the skin with a sponge etc. The second benefit is
that a bath sooths and relaxes the muscles and skin, making you more rexaxed in
mind as well as in body. This is a very important factor as it means the muscles
weakened during the workout will be relieved and are forced into their best
recovery state, making the whole rebuilding process easier for your body to
undertake.
Bathing conditioners and treatents are readily available to enhance the action of
the water on the skin, these include cream bath liquids, water softeners and
scent enhancers, all of which having different effects and end results.
Unfortunately, like the shower a bath tends to close up the pores and lock away
some of the sweat buildup you were trying to remove in the first place. It may be
possible to get around this problem by taking an extra hot bath and sitting
upright, allowing the heat to reopen the pores and sweat out all the toxins and
oils of the skin. A really good bath should last no less than half an hour to
give yourself time to relax and clean all the areas of the body completely.
Longer than this is ok but try not to stay in there for hours - about 2 is the
maximum, as the skin will have problems breathing (watch your hands for this as
they need to breath more than most other areas). A bath is also the best way to
expose the body to aromatherapy and other alternative healing methods which all
help the body recover.
A SaunaThe best way of making sure you're skin is in it's best condition and totally
clean is to open the pores and take a sauna. This is quite in-expensive in a
dedicated sauna house and makes your whole body feel fresh and clean afterwards.
If you don't live near one of these places you can substitute some of the effects
by sitting upright in the bath and adding hot water until you feel hot enough to
start sweating. Another way could be to build your own sauna or even convert the
shed into a Swedish style sauna room. The experience is also made more enjoyable
by adding aromatherapy oils to relax the mind at the same time.
A MassageA massage is a great way to loosen up the muscles and relax the whole body, and
are especially useful after a long, stressful workout. Not only will a massage
help you feel better but the working and squeezing of the muscles will also help
them rebuild quicker and feel a lot less tight and strained. Again, a massage
can be fairly in-expensive, especially if combined with a sauna and possibly a
swim if the outlet has pool facilities as well. Unlike a bath or a shower, a
good sauna or massage should last a month before the effects have totally worn
off, making them a luxury you can look forward to as often as you can afford.
Home massage is a good alternative and can have real benefits over a massage
house, especially if you and your partner can massage each other as this adds
more pleasure to the whole experience and makes you more relaxed as well. Again,
rubbing in diluted aromatherapy oils into the skin can help both mind and body, and makes
you smell better after a sweaty training session.
AromatherapyThis very old method of body healing has become fasionable again, is cheap to buy
and can really make improvements to the mind and the condition of the body. The
oil from specialised plants is extracted and condenced into its purest form to
create a pungent smelling solution, which can be diluted into a bowl of hot water
createing a steam which you can breath in. The best way to take aromatherapy is
though the skin as the pores will allow the oil (but not water) to seep in and
work its magic. Ways include adding 3 - 6 drops into a bath of hot water before
bathing, though a sauna or even rubbing very diluted oil into the skin though massage.
Aromatherapy is said to help the body function in many ways and can help the mind
concentrate, feel happy, feel sleepy, stimulate the appitite and generally calm the spirit. Different
oils can have different effects on the body and you may need to select the
appropriate one for your needs. For example, if you are taking a bath before
your retire to bed, you may wish to consider Lavender oil for its pasifying and
sleep enducing effects. I have also compiled a list of the top 30 essential oils
which you can view by Clicking Here .
