Foam Roller Exercises – The Day After Strength Exercises

How do you feel about killing two birds with one stone? Well, as a busy professional, I know I could use all the time I can get, and with foam roller exercises you can do just that!

Foam roller exercises are like a massage and a workout in one.

[Everyone can use a little relief. Why not get some while you exercise?]

Keep reading to find out how to take advantage of this…

Foam roller exercises are a great addition to your workout routine for several reasons.

Foam Roller Exercises for Sore Muscles

Did you get in a really intense weight training day yesterday? Well, today is a really good day to try foam roller exercises.

The great thing about foam roller exercises is the way it just melts your muscles. Yes, you are getting somewhat of a workout because of the imbalance in the body, forcing you to engage your core. Sometimes you have to use your upper body to balance the lower body or vise versa. However, the real goodness from foam roller exercises comes from the release of muscle tension you get by using your own bodyweight against the circular foam piece for a great relaxing massage.

This massage comes at a lot cheaper price than a professional to boot. These foam rollers can be found for less than twenty bucks. Even if you use them once a month on really tiring days, these things are definitely worth the money.

Foam Roller Exercises for Increased Range of Motion

Are you a 9 to 5er? or how about an 8 to 10er?

Sitting at a desk all day or some other tedious work that allows little in the avenue of flexibility, your joints can get so out of practice that they become a little rusty.

Suddenly bending over, reaching for a glass or just getting up from a seating position can become a challenge, and not just for those getting up in years. A loss of range in motion in your joints can become a real problem, literally crimpling you from doing the things you enjoy.

Foam roller exercises can help to increase the circulation in your muscles and joints to help release some of that tension.

Feeling a little stiff? The best thing to do is catch it early. Try a few foam roller exercises and find the ones that you need the most. Maybe you can even keep a foam roller under your desk at work and whip it out on your breaks.

Great Foam Roller Exercises to Try

Here are a few of my favorite exercises that I do when I’m in the mood:

Foam roller straight leg: Releases tension in the quads and works the core.

Foam roller hip release: Releases tension in the hip flexors and works the obliques.

Total Stability: An entire body relaxation and workout.

Tip: The best way to do foam roller exercises is slowly and precisely and use the yoga breathing technique.

Stress and Your Workout

This brings me to a little talk, just you and me, about stress and exercising.

Get in a little closer and listen well…

Why do you workout? Is it just to lose fat or for better health? Good health includes the entire body; physical, mental, and emotional.

Sometimes we can get so wrapped up and passionate about our workouts that we forget to stop and smell the roses. You can’t enjoy your new found good health if you are stressing out about getting healthy.

There have been many studies done on the effects of stress and your health and it isn’t pretty. It can affect you mentally, of course, but it can also affect your immune system, your digestive system, and your nervous system.

There are numerous diseases that are attributed to stress, including IBS, hypertension, chronic fatigue, sexual dysfunction, psychoneuroses. Stress can even affect your skin!

Do you get the severity of this? Stress can be poisonous to your health.

Everyone deals with a little stress but don’t go looking for it. Use some time just for you to go to your happy place and achieve good health, grasshoppa!

[Wax on, wax off, breathe in, breathe out. Don't forget to breathe, that very important!]

If you are looking for a fun workout program that is fun and challenging to do before your foam roller sessions, check out our Turbulence Training Review.