That One time I Massaged my Calf (and Totally Regretted not doing both)

Disclaimer: I have never been a big gym-goer (though recently, I've made it a goal to push myself and get to the gym a few times a week.. everyone starts somewhere!). STORY TIME. A few years ago, my husband invited me to go to our tiny apartment gym. He had been working out for years, and I hesitantly agreed - I didn't know how to workout, and lifting made me feel like I didn't know what I was doing.

Not knowing what to do, I decided to opt for the treadmill... Throughout the run, my shins and gastrocs (aka, calf muscles) were feeling it, but I pushed through. After the workout and shower, I rubbed some lotion on my legs. For whatever reason, I casually rubbed lotion on one leg... and then massaged the other one. I kid you not, I only massaged it for maybe one minute... or until the lotion was rubbed in. The next day-

I was SORE in the leg that I did not massage, but had no soreness in the leg that I had massaged... even though I had only massaged it for one to two minutes, tops! I had a similar experience recently. Same scenario (workout... and post-workout self massage) with the same results. I secretly cursed myself for not taking the extra 1-2 minutes to massage the other leg and prevent the post-workout soreness altogether.

It baffles me that massage works, at times... I mean, I KNOW it does, but sometimes I forget just how amazing it is, and how helpful it can be to the body to aid in recovery. Next time you workout, I challenge you to massage the muscles you worked that day (the ones you anticipate to be sore in the following days), and feel the magic happen- no post-workout soreness... or at least, lessened from what it would have been! Even better though? Book a post-gym massage and let a trained massage therapist handle the soreness like a pro.