Percussive Therapy for Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is one of the oldest physical disciplines ever known to man. Massage therapy is one of the most efficient and productive therapies ever known to man. The combination of both therapies is immensely beneficial to man and all great value to the general well-being of all and sundry.
Yoga is a growing practice all over the world. In 2016, the IDEA Health and Fitness Association reports that over 36.7 million adults in the U.S alone practice yoga. According to this report, Yogis and Yoginis are taught by over 52,000 teachers in the U.S alone, across over 18,000 schools. This clearly shows the increase in the popularity of yoga.
Yoga has been found to improve brain health, as well as significantly reduce age-related atrophy. Although yoga is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), a review of numerous studies has shown it may not be used as a stand-alone treatment, at least not yet, but it is even more complementary to the body. A survey by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) also showed yoga to be the most practiced CAM among children with mental and psychological challenges.
“Yoga means addition – addition of energy, strength, and beauty to body, mind, and soul.”
– Dr. Amit Ray
Percussive Therapy
Percussive therapy is also a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is administered by a percussive device (massage gun) which brings epic relief to the body by delivering vigorous but gentle pulsating strokes, creating a surging wave and vibration that travels deep into the muscles to relax stiff muscles, that current pain increases blood circulation to that body area amongst several benefits.
“Using the percussive therapy to ease the muscle out of tension helps us to address the muscle in a more comprehensive way by providing relief with both superficial and deep muscle fibers.”
– Jeff Brannigan
The benefits of massage therapy include an increase in the blood circulation rate of the body, reduction in anxiety and hypertension by stimulating certain feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins which conditions the mood and emotions of the body, speed up the recovery rate of injured muscles, make scar tissues disappear after deep tissue massages.
Almost every athlete can attest to the psychological trauma that comes when having that acute muscle soreness during workouts and the DOMS that sets in a couple of hours after working out. It deprives one of the senses of peace, relaxation, and comfort. Although this traumatic experience lasts only as long as the muscle soreness, it can however be frustrating. The seemingly arrogant and angry reply we give (out of misery) can do the job and even worse things than these.
Yet, the works of a percussive massager (massage gun) not only helps your body recover quickly but also plays a good role in achieving that soothing feeling of comfort and relaxation. This further enables you to get good sleep.
Percussive Massage Therapy & Yoga
You simply cannot go wrong with a combination of percussive therapy and yoga. Having both therapies in your workout routine increases muscle recovery rates. One common similarity between yoga and percussive massage therapy through massage guns is the increase in blood flow which facilitates the exit of metabolites and toxins from the muscle and the influx of oxygen in the muscles that are essential for muscle recovery.
Also, percussive massage therapy and yoga are self-administered. Although percussive therapy was once administered by others, with the invention and advent of massage guns, one can easily offer self-recovery to the muscles at any time of need. These methods allow you to be more aware of yourself and your environment, as they both allow you to take deep breaths and bring you into a mindful mental state.
One common question many may have is: should you get a massage before or after doing yoga? By improving the flow of blood in and out of the muscles, percussive massage therapy allows more stretches during yoga. Yoga after a massage i.e. getting a percussive massage before doing yoga can greatly increase your flexibility as massage guns are designed to improve the range of motion for the joints and improve the flexibility of the muscles which are very essential in doing yoga. That is the muscles can stretch faster and stay in postures for longer periods without spasms or stiffness.
Having a percussive massage after doing yoga can help you to relax after a yoga class, it can also reduce the soreness of muscles or lactic acid build up in the muscles after yoga. The thumps of the massage gun can penetrate deep into the tissues and keep the muscles fresh as with doing yoga. Also, people tend to value relaxation doing yoga, a percussive massage therapy can prove very helpful to this effect.
Whether we are office workers or gym rats or athletes or social workers, stress is an inevitable part of our everyday routine. With yoga and percussive therapy blend, as research has shown, we can experience improved mental health, better sleep, improved physical performance, and all-around health.
It is important to note that persons with medical implants or devices should not use massage guns. Also, if you have any muscular disease or condition, you should see your doctor or a licensed medical professional before use.
Yoga is extremely beneficial to man, and it would be quite impossible to list all the combined effects that yoga and percussive massage therapy users may experience. Ranging from improved muscle strength, body flexibility and health to muscle recovery, the improved quality of life with these two cannot be emphasized as studies have shown.