My 3 Favorite Ways to Relieve Muscular Aches + Pains

I've always been an active person. I started playing sports in elementary school and continued through high school. When I stopped playing team sports, I moved on to running, working out at the gym, group exercise classes, and as you know by now, eventually found yoga after suffering a running injury.

While yoga was a HUGE help in relieving much of my discomfort and addressing the muscular imbalances in my body, it didn't magically get rid of all of my aches and pains; it's an amazing, healing practice, but it's not a miracle cure for everything. 

Similarly, while practicing yoga regularly can really help relieve pain, I've found that teaching yoga can be hard on your body. Of course if you do everything right--stretch before you teach, make sure you don't demonstrate challenging poses unless you're completely warmed-up, stay aware of your posture as you assist people--it isn't as hard on your body, but no one is perfect and almost every teacher I know has hurt themselves teaching in one way or another.

So, despite being a yogi and yoga teacher for many years now, I've continued to have sore muscles, aches and pains, and especially lower back pain, which is my trouble spot.

And then I had Charlie Mae. My fellow mamas will know that having a baby does a number on your body in many ways. Not only have I been practicing yoga way less since having Charlie Mae, but I'm also always bending over in strange shapes in order to pick her up and often wearing her in a baby carrier, so my lower back has started to get really achy again (as has my entire body, really). 

But guess what? I've been able to find great relief from my muscular aches and pains in 3 simple, natural ways. Here are my 3 favorite methods for fast-acting pain relief: 

1. Targeted Strengthening Exercises + Targeted Stretching/Yoga Poses: I've mentioned Momma Strong here before, but I think it's worth mentioning again. The amazing trainer behind this program, Courtney Wycoff, is a mom herself and knows all about how pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing can affect the body. If you sign up for her program you get access to great videos on how to target your trouble areas and build strength/adjust your posture in order to find pain relief. It's such a great tool for sore mommas! I also use targeted yoga poses, of course, which have always been my favorite way to release tension in my body (check out my lower back release routine here). 

2. Biofreeze® Pain Reliever Products: When my low back is hurting, Biofreeze® Pain Reliever is my go-to. It provides immediate relief and I love the menthol scent, feel, and effect. Biofreeze® products contain United States Pharmacopeia (USP) grade menthol, are free of parabens and propylene glycol, are produced here in the US, and are never tested on animals (phew!). I like using the roll-on applicator when I don't have much time (and don't want to get it all over my hands) and the gel when I can take a few minutes and really massage it into my muscles (or have Ben do it for me!). I've loved Biofreeze®  ever since my old Chiropractor started using it on me every week because I find that it's just as effective as ice but not as cold or wet/messy. 

3. Hot Baths: Um, is there anything more relaxing than a hot bath? I don't think so. When my muscles are sore--particularly when my entire body feels achy as opposed to just one specific area--taking a hot bath is another one of my favorite things to do. It's been harder to find the time for baths these days, but the few times that I have found the time, it's been *totally* worth it. 

So there you have it! Great ways to feel better fast when you're a mom and/or yogi on-the-go.

Want to learn more about Biofreeze® Pain Reliever products? You can visit their website or store locator to find a retailer near you (good news: it's now available for purchase at major retail locations, as opposed to just through your healthcare provider!).

Thanks to Biofreeze®  for sponsoring this post + keeping me feeling good, and shout-out to Dr. Moses for introducing me to Biofreeze® waaaayyyyy back in 2011 ;) 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.