Exercise Your Aches Away
Sore? Cramped? Exercise can actually make you feel better.
Your back is killing you. Your neck and shoulders are tense from a stressful day at work. All you want to do is go home and relax on the couch. But before you kick off your shoes, know this: Often, everyday aches and pains can be whisked away with moderate exercise.
"There's so much you can do therapeutically to help yourself feel better," says Lisa Matkin, co-founder of Matkin Yoga and a senior teacher at Yoga Works in New York. After a moderate workout, most people feel great. That's because after we exercise (and this includes everything from biking, running, and walking to hiking, swimming and even sex) our bodies produce endorphins, hormones that give us a natural high.
Granted, going for a two-mile sprint or adding more sets to your strength-training routine isn't the right move when your body feels achy. But gentle exercise might be just the ticket. Two exceptions: When you have a cold that's accompanied by a fever and exhaustion, or if you experience pain that is sharp, quick, burning, or tingling, you should check with your doctor before pushing ahead, adds Matkin. Otherwise, "start with breathing, work gently, and see what your body tells you."