How to Recover From a Pilates Session in Philadelphia
Posted By: Pamela Toy
Pilates workouts can leave you very sore the next day. Giving your body the proper time to recover is important. This is a really important topic to me because it comes up a lot in my personal discussions with clients.
However, some people may want to train multiple times a week, which can be difficult if your body is fatigued. I always recommend doing different workouts each time (if you are doing multiple workouts in a week).
While varying your workouts can be helpful, your body still needs to recover to avoid injury. I decided to come up with a list of supplemental things you can do to recover.
Keep in mind, this list is not exclusive to people in Philadelphia, but you may or may not have access to some of the activities if you live elsewhere.
Many of these options are a bit on the pricier side but I still recommend incorporating them on occasion especially if you are working out multiple times a week.
Let’s go ahead and jump in.
1. Cryotherapy in Philadelphia
You may be wondering what the heck is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, sometimes known as cold therapy, is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy.
If you are familiar with ice packs or ice baths, the concept is very similar, except you typically only have to stay in a chamber for a few minutes.
Cryotherapy can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain, joint, and muscle disorders. (1)
It’s also worth mentioning that you need to be a little bit careful when entering a chamber to avoid frostbite. This is why it’s important to receive service from a reputable company.
There are a couple of great companies in Philadelphia like CRYO Philadelphia and Konect that offer really high-quality Cryo Service.
I have personally used Cryotherapy in the past and really enjoyed the benefits as I was noticeably less sore the following day.
In terms of price in Philadelphia, Cryotherapy can range anywhere from $35-80 a session.
While definitely on the pricier side, I still recommend incorporating it on occasion.
2. Massage Therapy After Training
Another great way to relax and recover is through massage therapy. If you’re having back pain or tightness in the body from overtraining, massage therapy can be a great way to loosen things up.
According to Heathline, you will recover much quicker in between workouts by incorporating massage therapy. (2)
I enjoy getting a massage every once in a while when I am feeling really sore. This can be helpful especially if I plan to work out the following day because the massage is able to flush out a lot of lactic acids.
Just make sure you drink a lot of water afterward for the full benefit :).
There are also a lot of massage therapists in the Philadelphia area that are worth checking out. Prices are generally $50-100 depending on the type of massage you get.
Although massage therapy is a little bit pricier especially in a city like Philly, it can be helpful to get one here and there to prevent injury.
3. Acupuncture in Philadelphia
Acupuncture is a holistic healing treatment type. According to Healthline, there are claims that acupuncture can help with chronic pain, hypertension, and sprains. (3)
If you are opposed to needles, I would skip this one. However, I have used acupuncture in the past for chronic pain in my neck and noticed a significant difference.
This is a treatment I would use if you are feeling pain, but it still may be worth exploring even for soreness.
There are plenty of great acupuncturists in Philadelphia as well, so you can’t really go wrong. I would read up some reviews on Google to determine which is right for you.
4. Sauna After Pilates Training
According to Medical News Today, Sauna’s can potentially ease pain by increasing circulation. This can help to reduce muscle soreness and improve joint movement overall. (4)
I know a lot of people who are really high on using a Sauna for active recovery.
In terms of accessibility, there are plenty of spas and gyms in the city that have a Sauna. No need to make a huge investment to have one installed in your apartment :).
As far as I know, gyms like City Fitness provide access to their Sauna if you’re a full-time member. I am sure there are other cheaper alternatives gyms that also contain one as well.
5. Chiropractors in Philadelphia
According to Web MD, Chiropractic Care can be effective in alleviating neck and acute lower back pain. (5)
I used to see a Chiropractor consistently because of my lower back pain and always felt better afterward. If you are feeling stiff or sore after a hard Pilates session, seeing a chiropractor in between workouts may be a good option.
There are plenty of Chiropractors in PA, so we went ahead and reviewed the best Chiropractors in Philadelphia.
I would also check with your insurance company to see which practice is compatible with your insurance policy.
6. Eating Healthy
Eating clean is really important for recovery. However, if you are used to eating poorly, it can be tough to break out of. Professional help can really aid in this department, so we recently reviewed the best nutritionists in Philadelphia.
I believe everyone should strive to improve their diet regardless of how often they do Pilates.
There you have it, those are 6 ways you can recover from an intense Pilates workout. Again, some of the recommendations are specific to Philadelphia, but most of these services are accessible in most other cities.
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References
1. What are the benefits of cryotherapy?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319740.
2. 4 Ways Massage Can Boost the Effectiveness of Your Workouts. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/massage-can-boost-effectiveness-of-workouts.
3. Is Acupuncture the Miracle Remedy for Everything?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/acupuncture-how-does-it-work-scientifically.
4. What are the benefits and risks of a sauna?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313109.
5. Chiropractic Care for Back Pain. Web MD. https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/chiropractic-pain-relief.