So, you had the time of your life on the slopes, and now you and your body are downright exhausted. After a long day of skiing or snowboarding, many people are so busy or tired that they tend to overlook the process to recover, ultimately making it difficult for their muscles and body to properly recuperate.
Unfortunately, not taking the time to recover can lead to physical and mental burnout and can also put you at risk for an injury. When you are skiing or snowboarding, you are using parts of your body that you do not use in your everyday life; therefore, you must take care of your body so you can get the most out of your skiing or snowboarding trip.
Check out some of the best ways that you can recover after a day out on the slopes:
Warm yourself up.
After you are exercising for a long period of time, it is helpful to warm up your muscles to help ease any pain or soreness. When it comes to warming yourself up, you have several different options depending on your circumstances! If you have a bathtub in your hotel room, take advantage and draw yourself a nice bubble bath. In addition, you can usually find a hot tub or sauna at a ski resort, which is the perfect relaxing activity to partake in after a day out on the slopes. When you are warming up your body, you are helping to increase blood flow, ultimately allowing more oxygen to your muscles, and speeding up the process to recover. However, before doing so, make sure that you are hydrated.
Bring on the Epsom salt.
If you have access to Epsom salt, use it! Epsom salt is known for helping to remove toxins from the body through osmosis and is perfect to sprinkle into a bathtub. Not only will this help to relieve muscles, but it can also help to heal any minor injuries or strained muscles that you have after a day out on the slopes. Epsom salt is super easy to access, as it is sold at most grocery stores! It is always a good idea to bring some along on your trip.
Stretch, stretch, stretch!
Any time you exercise, stretching before and after is a must! Especially after a day of skiing or snowboarding, stretching will help you to avoid having extremely sore muscles the next day. If you find that you often forget to stretch, or have trouble making the time for it, try to set aside between 10-30 minutes a day, even if broken up, to stretch your muscles. Over time, you will notice that you will become more flexible and stronger – simply from stretching! When you are stretching, especially after a day out on the slopes, focus on your glutes, legs, as well as your back, especially your lower back.
Book yourself a massage.
Treat yourself! Booking a massage is definitely a luxury activity, but also something that can help you to greatly recover while on a ski or snowboarding trip. Having your body looked at and massaged out by a professional can help loosen your up and help you and your muscles to relax.
Incorporate foam rollers.
Foam rollers are a must-have for everyone! Foam rollers are a great and easy way to relieve any tension in your muscles in an extremely low-impact fashion. Not only are they easy to use, but they are convenient to travel with and extremely functional. When using a foam roller, in addition to targeting your back, focus on other parts of your body such as your quads and your hips.
