(image via www.dailytelegraph.com.au)
So at last night's NYE party, after a few drinks, I decided to have some go's at my friend's foam roller..
There may have been better / safer situations in which I could have discovered foam rollering.
But, it was
AMAZING!
Basically, the foam roller can be used to massage your muscles that you can't get to / massage strong enough to get to.
You do this by rolling your muscle over the top of it and using your body weight to push your muscles against the roller.
Example:
This and more exercises at http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/injury-prevention/quads.
Here's a good picture that demonstrates what it feels like - sort of a happy grimace..
(image via runningtowardssuccess.wordpress.com)
From dancing, I'm pretty good at knowing stretches for various muscles.
However, the side thigh (specific to cycling) had alluded me for a while.
I think it's called the ITB (ilotibial band) -
(image via defygravityfitness.com)
However, I am pretty coordinated, so I can manipulate my body into different positions, so this might work for me.
I just had a look online and you can get rollers for $30..
(image via www.ebay.com.au)
I had a friend who had spoken of the amazingness of the foam roller before, but it's hard to imagine what to use it for without actually trying it / have someone showing you.
There you go.
It is a little bit funny that I'm slowly discovering lots of things that friends had spoken quite highly of before but I didn't believe them, eg. lycra padded cycling pants.
I'm sure I'm going to be that person for others. :) Friends will come to me 10 years later and say, "hey, you were right about that thing!".
It's all just a giant cycle of "I told you so". :p
(image via www.someecards.com)
