I love going to the gym. I know that sounds corny, but I mean it! There’s something about the atmosphere there that makes me want to really lean into a workout. I love the idea of working out at home, but I just find too many things to distract me. So, I love the gym and try to go often. The one thing I don’t love is the post-gym time. I’m always sore, stiff, and sweaty, and those are three “S” words that add up to discomfort. But I can’t live my life that way, so I’ve made it my mission to figure out the best way to incorporate some self-love and relaxation into my post-gym routine.
I’ve collected some of my new favorite post-gym goodies here on this list. You’ll find products to take care of your muscles, tools for great post-workout meditation, and a great water bottle for all the hydration you need to get your body ready to go on with your day after the gym.
A Better Way to Recover
Don’t just scrub down after your workout; scrub down with something designed to help you recover better and faster, all while you’re enjoying a relaxing shower. This body wash feels amazing, energizing and hydrating your skin as it goes, leaving you feeling smooth, soft, and rejuvinated.
Get Deeper Tension Release
With this handy, peanut-shaped massager, you’re getting deep into the muscle and into those myofascial trigger points to relieve post-workout pain and help you recover faster and more fully. It’s a must-have in your gym bag.
Acupressure for Days
Use this handy massaging tool to get all around your muscles and deep into knots and sore spots. The three acupressure balls help to relieve stiffness and ease the tension that your muscles collect post-workout.
Stretch it Out
This stretching strap will help you loosen up any of those sore muscles you may be contending with after your workout. You can adjust this strap to get a deep stretch in any muscle group you need to target, and the handles allow you to stretch without hurting yourself by going too deep.
Shake and Go
This amazing handheld blender allows you to blend up your post-workout smoothie, complete with your protein or supplement, in seconds. It even comes with its own ice tray for just the right size cubes and a handy funnel for mess-free supplement inclusion.
Release Your Back
Back wheels are a terrific way to stretch out the muscles in your back, or get a deeper stretch during yoga or pilates. They also function as a great physical therapy tool for those times when you’re healing spines or backs that need a little help.
Stretch and Relax in Comfort
Stretching is a must post-workout, but stretching is not easy to do when all you have is the cold, hard floor. This extra-thick mat is the perfect way to stretch out your muscles in extreme comfort. The padding is half an inch thick so you can lay out and stretch to your heart’s content.
Get a Deep Tissue Massage for a Fraction of the Cost
Deep tissue massages are such a good way to recover from a tough workout, and from injured muscles in general, but they’re not cheap. This tool allows you to get a deep tissue massage without paying that expensive tag. It gets deep into the sore muscles to really work them out easily and effectively.
Meditate Comfortably
Meditation is a terrific post-workout activity. It allows you to rest, reflect on yourself, and find a little peace and quiet. This bench is a preferred way to meditate by professionals and a great tool for you to use to get deeper into it.
This Cushion Offers Incredible Relaxation
Meditation is one of my favorite ways to relax and recuperate after a workout. I love to sit and let the effects of my workout really work through my body and give my mind a bit of a break. I love using these cushions because I can rest my glutes comfortably while I rest my brain.
This Yoga Bolster is a Must-Have
Bolsters are my favorite yoga tool. They can be used throughout your yoga routines, but they can also be used for your post-routine as a way to relax and allow your muscles to recover. Lay across the bolster and let your muscles loosen until you feel restored and recovered.
Save Your Abs for Home
I don’t know about you, but I hate working out my abs in the gym. There’s just something about laying on the gym floor that isn’t for me. This ab pillow allows you to complete your workout on your own clean floors as soon as you get home from the gym.
Stay Hydrated
Hydration is key to recovery! And the key to hydration is a great water bottle. This water bottle gives you a sipping option and a straw option and a free-pour option. It’s double-wall insulated for the ultimate cool freshness no matter how long you spend at the gym.
The Ultimate Recovery Kit
Recovery isn’t easy, but this kit makes it seem like it is! This has everything you need to work out just about any muscle group you can think of. The largest roller is perfect for your back and thighs and the spiky ball is ideal for those hardworking feet muscles that so rarely receive a spa treatment.
Get Your Protein Any and Everywhere
This foldable funnel allows you to get your protein or post-workout recovery smoothie in anywhere you are. Never let the mixing process stop you or slow you down. This folds up and clips onto your gym bag for easy on-the-go usage.
Cool Recovery for Aches and Pains
Torn muscles? Aching backs? Muscle pains? This jumbo ice pack will give you the best opportunity to cool and chill your muscles. You can give those aches and pains a rest and the chance to truly relax and recover from whatever workout you’ve gotten through.
Get Quick Relief
Applying lotion is such a great way to get relief and hydration to your muscles and skin, respectively. This lotion has so many nutrients that are terrific for your skin and the arnica works to get deep into the muscles for ultimate relaxation and rest for that post-workout recovery.
Shower Without the Shower
Wet wipes are an underrated post-gym tool. Not everyone has the time to take a full shower after working out, but no one wants to be stinky and sweaty. These wipes are great to keep in your gym bag for a quick wipe down on the go.
Get the Most Hydration Possible
Don’t mess around with hydration! It’s the best way to get yourself recovered from a workout. But sometimes you need a little extra help, and that’s where this hydration multiplier comes in. It’s chock full of electrolytes so you can recover from your workout quickly and get hydrated with ease.
Keep Your Face Clean and Clear
I’ve never thought about my face post-workout, but it’s the sweatiest part of my body, so it should get far more attention than I currently give it. I’m trying out this post-workout facial cleanser and it’s terrific because it keeps acne at bay, but doesn’t dry out my skin as some cleansers do.
Reduce Pain and Swelling with These Socks
Plantar fasciitis can really slow you down when you’re working out, but these compression socks and just the right pressure and relief so you can work out pain-free. These socks reduce swelling and pain so you can get through an entire workout without needing to stop and prop your feet up.
Apply Heat Where You Need
Heating pads are so good for injured muscles, and it’s so easy to injure a muscle when you’re working out — especially if you’re into lifting weights. This bad boy can go right in the microwave for quick warming so you can get relief as soon as possible.
The Best Acupressure Set
Acupressure is such a great way to relieve pain from workouts. It hits the spots that really need the relief so you can use it and know you’re using an effective product that will get right to the core of the pain or discomfort you may be experiencing.
Easily Blend Your Shakes
Post-workout supplements are a great way to get your recovery on, but they can be a little challenging to put together. Powder can get clumpy if you don’t shake it well enough, which is why I’ve got this great shaker bottle. It has a metal ball in there to break apart any clumps so you can drink without worries.
Take a Load Off
It’s important to add a little self-care and relaxation to your post-workout routine. These bath salts give you something beautifully soothing to slide down into. You’ll love taking a load off with your feet up after your workout’s over. Or any other time of day, really.
Microwaveable Heat
This heating pad is designed to fit around your forehead in case you’re one of those people that get post-workout headaches. It could probably also work around a foot or hand in case you’ve got cramps there. This heating pad can go straight in the microwave for quick heat that gives you easy relief.
Keep Your Injuries Cared For
Just because you have an injury doesn’t mean you should sit out on your beloved workouts. This compression brace allows you to work out your muscles without worrying about pain or your muscles giving out on you unexpectedly. It’s easy on, easy off so it can go right in your gym bag for everyday use.
Target Sore Muscles with This Massage Gun
Massage guns may seem a little hardcore, but they’re a wonderful way to get deep into the afflicted tissue. You can use this for any muscle group, post- or pre-workout. It’s not too big, so you can easily pack this with you and take it on the go.
This Specialized Ice Pack
It’s not easy to apply ice to shoulders; they’re at an awkward angle, to be sure. This ice pack straps onto your shoulder and across your chest so you can get hands-free relief for pained muscles, even if those muscles are in hard-to-reach places, like the shoulder.
Keep an Eye on Your Growing Muscles
Scales aren’t just important for weight loss! I’m not a proponent of constantly checking how much weight you’ve lost, but scales are a great way to keep an eye on muscle growth, which can be important if you’re trying to bulk up at the gym. This scale is easy to read and easy to use and has a high-quality design.
Roll Out the Fascia
Your fascia is an important part of your anatomy. It’s full of nerves and it keeps your muscles where they belong. You should use a roller like this one on it whenever you can in order to get the muscles loosened up and keep them moving, working, and recovering, no matter how hard you work out.
Get Physical Therapy at Home
Physical therapy can be expensive, but this set allows you to get the benefits of physical therapy massage from the comfort of home. You should always consult a doctor if you feel you’ve damaged something, but these rollers soothe sore muscles when you need some extra help outside of the doctor’s office.
This is the Ultimate Leg Stretcher
It’s not easy to stretch out your feet and calves! But it’s crucial. These rockers allow you to work out the muscles of your feet and calves from anywhere, so you can truly get deep into them after you spend your time working away in the gym.
Roll Out Those Muscles
This muscle roller is even more hardcore than the others. The balls on this roller allow you to get deeper into your muscles to really roll out any kinks or knots. It’s great for physical therapy or for post-gym when you’ve hit those weights a little too hard.
Keep Your Knee Safe
This brace is great for keeping your knee safe and secure during your workout. If you’ve got knee pain or have torn a muscle in your knee before, you know how important it is to support it during your run or tough workouts, and this brace is perfect for just that!
Not the Edible Sort of Peanut
This is a “peanut” roller. It makes sense because it’s shaped like a peanut, but it’s definitely not edible. This particular peanut relieves your soreness, helps with post-workout recovery, increases your circulation, and enhances your range of motion so you can keep your body moving and working efficiently.
Target Your Lower Back
The lower back isn’t an easy area to target. It’s hard to keep an ice pack or heating pad where it needs to be, which is why I love this pack. It can be hot or cold and it sits right on your lower back, securing itself to you with velcro, so you can get the best relief possible.
Get a Deep Stretch with This Band
I use bands like this in my personal yoga practice so I can go deeper into a pose, but this is also a terrific option for getting deeper into a post-workout stretch. It gets the muscles loose and limber so you can allow them room to breathe and recover.
Keep Yourself Cool
This towel is a cooling towel, so it can be used during your workout, or after. I like to keep this in my gym bag so I can wet it post-workout and wear it out of the gym and all the way home. It keeps me cool and happy after I’ve moved so much.
Get Your Heart Pumping
Cardio can sometimes be the most dreaded part of a gym trip, and I totally get that. There’s just something about getting that red-faced around people that I don’t love. That’s why I have this awesome jump rope at home — I can get into my cardio in the comfort of my own home.
