After pulling a muscle and enduring more than a week of pain and suffering (and quite a bit of whining), I am back in the saddle. What this means for me is waking up in the morning and feeling like I have been beaten with a baseball bat all night long. Due to my short vacation from working out, during which I tried to rest as much as possible, I am now sore in pretty much every single muscle that I own. Good times.
So today I plan to employ the foam roller. If you don't already own one, you might want to check out the selection on Amazon.com, which is where Mr. Balancing Act purchases just about everything. Need some organic coconut oil? Or a pair of barefoot running shoes (an oxymoron, right?)? Or a foldable bed for your mother-in-law? You can find absolutely anything you need or desire on Amazon. Usually at the best price, too. Anyway, take a look at the foam rollers because they are inexpensive and oh-so-awesome!
In the evening, after vacuuming another pound of dog hair off the rug, I like to spend about an hour on the floor in front of the TV. I had been trying to stretch during that hour. I say "trying" because I have some muscles that are so tight, I can attempt to stretch all day long and not much is achieved. So I have given up on the stretching for now in favor of trying to get those darn tight muscles to relax. The foam roller gives me a fantastic, if occasionally excruciating, massage for most major muscles.
Foam rollers come in several styles. We own 2 different varieties: a plain, smooth one and a Rumble Roller (I think this is its actual name!?!) which Mr. Balancing Act prefers. I cannot use this hideous, black, knobbed device of torture without real tears springing to my eyes. So I am sticking with the original version which is just a fat tube of solid styrofoam.
The idea is pretty simple. You just place your bodypart on top of the tube and then roll back and forth. By adjusting the position of your body, you can alter the amount of weight bearing down against the roller and thus deepen or lighten up the pressure against the muscle. While rolling your legs, front, back and sides, one at a time or both together, you will get a decent upper body and core workout to boot! You can also roll your back, arms, hips, butt, etc. There is really quite a lot to love about this process.
In addition, if you have some tight spots that are not responding to the roller, you might want to try a ball. I have been using a softball because it is less torturous than a lacrosse ball. But a tennis ball is also a good substitute. Same idea: place the ball under your tight hamstring muscles (or wherever) and slowly roll back and forth using as much weight as you choose to release against the ball. Hopefully that tight spot will eventually give up and relax.
After rolling, be sure to drink plenty of water and rest. If you decide to purchase a foam roller and give it a try, let me know how you like it! Happy rolling!
So today I plan to employ the foam roller. If you don't already own one, you might want to check out the selection on Amazon.com, which is where Mr. Balancing Act purchases just about everything. Need some organic coconut oil? Or a pair of barefoot running shoes (an oxymoron, right?)? Or a foldable bed for your mother-in-law? You can find absolutely anything you need or desire on Amazon. Usually at the best price, too. Anyway, take a look at the foam rollers because they are inexpensive and oh-so-awesome!
In the evening, after vacuuming another pound of dog hair off the rug, I like to spend about an hour on the floor in front of the TV. I had been trying to stretch during that hour. I say "trying" because I have some muscles that are so tight, I can attempt to stretch all day long and not much is achieved. So I have given up on the stretching for now in favor of trying to get those darn tight muscles to relax. The foam roller gives me a fantastic, if occasionally excruciating, massage for most major muscles.
Foam rollers come in several styles. We own 2 different varieties: a plain, smooth one and a Rumble Roller (I think this is its actual name!?!) which Mr. Balancing Act prefers. I cannot use this hideous, black, knobbed device of torture without real tears springing to my eyes. So I am sticking with the original version which is just a fat tube of solid styrofoam.
The idea is pretty simple. You just place your bodypart on top of the tube and then roll back and forth. By adjusting the position of your body, you can alter the amount of weight bearing down against the roller and thus deepen or lighten up the pressure against the muscle. While rolling your legs, front, back and sides, one at a time or both together, you will get a decent upper body and core workout to boot! You can also roll your back, arms, hips, butt, etc. There is really quite a lot to love about this process.
In addition, if you have some tight spots that are not responding to the roller, you might want to try a ball. I have been using a softball because it is less torturous than a lacrosse ball. But a tennis ball is also a good substitute. Same idea: place the ball under your tight hamstring muscles (or wherever) and slowly roll back and forth using as much weight as you choose to release against the ball. Hopefully that tight spot will eventually give up and relax.
After rolling, be sure to drink plenty of water and rest. If you decide to purchase a foam roller and give it a try, let me know how you like it! Happy rolling!
I saw your foam roller review and wanted to share my product information with you maybe you can do another review when my product is available to you. My name is Gary Miller and my company is launching its first 5 in 1 home and travel fitness product next month called the ProUnit Performance Trainer. Once the site is up you can find us at www.TheProUnit.com until then find us on Facebook at the ProUnit Performance Trainer.
ReplyDeleteThe ProUnit is a 5 in 1 product...
1) Foam Roller
2) Ab Roller
3) Rotating Push-up handles
4) Ab Wheel
5) Stretch Strap
The other great advantage of the ProUnit is that since the tube is hollow you can put extra fitness products in the tube like fitness bands, jump rope, agility ladder, suspension straps...pretty much you can be creative even a mat wraps around outside for a place to work out on. The ProUnit Performance Trainer is the fitness tool of 2013.
We are planning to launch Feb 1st so hopefully we can share the ProUnit with you then. Until that time please like our ProUnit Performance Trainer Page here on Facebook. We would love to share content as we grow.