For the past two years, my favorite fitness instructor, Coco, would tell me to use the foam roller to hammer (my word, not hers) out any pain I was experiencing. I’m usually good about stretching for a while after one of her epic rides, but most of the time, I’d pass on the foam roller. It would either hurt too much or I wouldn’t have enough time.
This isn’t the softest one they have, but it’s still tough while being soft enough.
However, after getting so much out of Marisa Merliss’ MELT class, which is hard for me to get to, I decided to do as much of the foam roller as I can. Luckily, they have a few options at my gym.
Now, I’ve got to be honest, it definitely hurts which is why I use one of the least painful ones. The soft one that either look like the treads on tires. Those I can handle.
First, I start with the muscles that hurt the most (on the foam roller, not on a regular basis), my quads and thighs. I roll back and forth over that damn thing a bunch of times. Sometimes I bend my knee to really dig into that muscle, which can be excruciating, but I try to breathe through the pain reminding myself that this is good for me.
That’s a hard sell early in the morning, but the bigger reason is that I know my reward is coming. The motion that will make all of this worthwhile. My free massage.
Yes, when you roll the foam roller up and down your back, it feels like a massage. It can dig in deep and it feels glorious. So good, in fact, that I might have to upgrade to one of the harder foam rollers soon. (I have yet to try them. They scare me a little.)
I usually finish in about 10 minutes, which isn’t bad for a little PT and a free massage. And let’s be honest, who can turn down a free massage?
Are you good about taking care of your body? Have you ever used a foam roller? Did you give up on it or are you still using it? Tell me below.