How do you relax sore/tight muscles???

[Virtue23]

Hi guys! Recently, I've increased my dance workout intensity, by adding a Thursday class and strectching more. Only thing is... its taking my leg muscles too long to recuperate and get with the program, so to speak. After my first class, I felt fine and didn't feel the muscle stiffness/tightness 'til like 2 days later, which is normal for me. Only my leg muscles are still very stiff and somewhat sore (especially when doing squats)!

Anyway my next class is in 2 days and I wanna make sure I'm not too stiff to follow thru w/ the class, so any suggestions on how to loosen up :p ? I'm thinking a hot bath might work? More stretching? I drink water every day and do have some fruit as well, but if there's a food that helps with this - do let me know.

:help:

[kat]

After we do some intensive stretches in tae kwon do the instructor has told me to take a long hot bath. I never seem to have any bad problems. I usually put some lavender oil in as well. Gentle stretches may help or a massage!

[Virtue23]

Thanks Kat! I'll try the long hot bath. Come to think of it, I do have a full bottle of Avon Apple foam bath (not animal tested, of course :D) that I got for a birthday present.

Hmmmm... yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

[Morticia]

I'll second the vote for a hot bath. I have yoga 3x a week, rock climb 3x a week, and do ballroom dance two times a week. A hot bath and (purely for mental health reasons, of course,) a cup of vegan hot chocolate will work wonders.
I have some jasmine vanilla massage oil that helps me relax. I guess different oils affect different people differently.

[Virtue23]

Thanks Morticia! I did the hot bath last night and it was heavenly :yes: !!

Definitely helped, but I'm still increasing my stretching, as my muscles can get pretty sore when I have to do squats for my warm-up.

:vebo:

[nkuvu]

If I get small muscle aches, I use Tiger Balm. But for general uncramping of things like legs, a hot bath followed by a hot shower. The shower is so I can stand up and stretch while still in the warm water.

[cyk]

Eat some Bananas! Supposedly, they help w/ muscle soreness. :)

[mush]

I don't know if this would help with dancing as well, but when I get sore from running I always take an ice bath and then prop my legs up in a position so they're upside-down for about ten minutes. This always makes me feel so refreshed and the soreness leaves right away. Probably not as lovely sounding as a nice hot bath, though...:)

[Gothic Sponge]

I make a hot bath with some Epsom salts.

[Virtue23]

Ice cold bath?? Yikes - I would be freezing! Brrr. But if the aches got that bad, I would definitely try it. Thanks.

So far, the hot bath and the stretching has been helping tho.

[Morticia]

Ice cold would be good if you have some inflammation. If you pulled a muscle, or something, and your body was freaking out trying to fix it. For injuries, ice is definitly better.

For soreness, I'll stick with the hot bath. I've had several this week...it has been a very busy week for me.