HOLD THE ICE

How much "recovery" do you reeeally need after exercise?

According to some new research, not much. That means all those sports drinks and ice baths and cupping sessions are quite possibly useless, and the new trend of "recovery" classes might just be a waste of money.

Sports drinks? Really?

Yup, even our beloved electrolyte drinks might be unnecessary. There is some conflicting advice, but recent studies and many experts agree that for most of us, drinking plain water when you're thirsty is really the best way to hydrate the proper amount. If you're an endurance athlete exercising hard for more than an hour, healthy, salty snacks might be necessary to balance the water-to-sodium ratio in your body. But for the most part, sports drinks contain unnecessary carbohydrates and sugar, and don't make a significant difference in performance.

Icing might actually slow recovery, so probably don't do that

Anything from cryotherapy to ice baths to simple ice packs helps reduce pain and inflammation in your tired, sore muscles, but some experts say inflammation is what makes your muscles heal and get stronger. Essentially, you're trading in a speedy recovery for temporary relief.

Of course, Gatorade and an ice pack after a workout aren't going to kill you

So if that's what feels good today, do it. Just don't feel like you need 'em to recover properly—your body will do that mostly on its own.

(Vox)

Try this

Next time you're powering through a HIIT workout, try taking a downward dog stretch in between every few moves. You'll get a full-body stretch throughout the workout and keep your muscles loose (important for preventing injuries!). It's also a great way to catch your breath without completely stopping what you're doing. Greatist

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