Resources
This page contains links and information that I find myself regularly sharing with my clients. As always, remember to listen to your body, and consult your physician before use if you have any reservations.
Thumbby soft massage cone There are a million self-massage tools on the market, but this one is my personal favorite. Excellent for hard-to-reach places like your lower back or lateral rotator muscles of the shoulder. Stick it to a wall and you can do some great self-massage with it. (Favorite for: trigger point work on infraspinatus.)
Foam roller A foam roller can be great for your lower body especially. Gently "rolling" out your quads, hamstrings, IT band and other muscles can help relieve muscle tension and treat and prevent fascial restrictions. There are many sizes and densities, so don't hesitate to try them out in the store. You can purchase on Amazon.com or from a sports equipment store. (Favorite for: quads, IT band.)
Doorway pec stretches video Pretty much every one of us has a rounded posture these days, thanks to sitting at the computer, sitting in a car, etc. This creates adaptively shortened musculature in the chest and "stretch weakened" musculature in the upper back. This stretch is chef's kiss to help counteract rounding.
Hip stretches to help you sleep Whether you're a 9-5 desk jockey or a weekend warrior on the road bike, there's a good chance you're working with some hip mobility restriction. These gentle hip stretches can help release restriction and support quality sleep.
