How to Get Warmed Up Before a Workout

For most people, athlete or not, stretching is something that you’ve heard the benefits of. Increased flexibility, range of motion, and lower chance of injury are all important in the world of fitness, which are all things stretching can provide. What is relatively unknown however, is that there are two types of stretching, dynamic and active, and that doing one before the other may actually be harmful to your health rather than beneficial.

         Dynamic stretching, the more unknown of the two, encourages active movement, rotating your joints through their full range of motion and engaging your muscles by moving and stretching at the same time. This type of stretch is encouraged to be used before an athletic event or workout since these types of movements increase muscle temperature and decrease muscle stiffness. Oppositely static stretching requires you to stay in place, moving a muscle as far as you can go and then holding it for anywhere between fifteen seconds and a minute. These stretches are to be repeated, about two or three times, and aim to improve your flexibility. Static stretching is more beneficial post-workout since they prevent injury but limit the muscles ability to perform at its peak potential. Getting a massage is also very beneficial following a hard workout. Book with us today!

Open Daily 10am-9pm

423 N Azusa Ave, West Covina, CA 91791

Hot & Cold Ways to Combat Muscle Soreness

For quite a while now it has been common knowledge that hot and cold therapy can be used to treat swelling, inflammation, and soreness. Knowing which treatment to use in certain situations, however, can be where some people get confused. With the boom of fitness culture, people across the world are looking for more efficient ways to not only workout but recover as well. In fact, the most recent academic articles regarding muscle growth state that recovery is essential to make progress in the gym. With this newfound knowledge, athletes and influencers alike have both been searching for ways to rest properly, using both hot and cold therapy to repair muscle tissue and grow muscles faster.

         Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, simply refers to the application of something cold to a targeted area. This could include something as simple as a cold compress or ice bath, or the more complex, newer treatment of nitrogen gas chambers. The idea behind these types of treatments is to slow the blood flow, reducing pain and inflammation in the targeted areas. Conversely, heat therapy improves blood flow, aiming to reduce pain, relieve muscle tightness, and improve mobility. Applications of this method include saunas, warm compresses, and steamed towels. Cupping and hot stones are also forms of heat therapy we offer here at Serenity Zen. Coupled with a massage, this is a great way to relieve any tension or muscle soreness you are experiencing from the gym, work, or anything giving you stress. Book with us today!

Why CBD Balm?

CBD oil gets a bad rep. Oftentimes people misconstrue topical CBD oil with marijuana, leading them to associate the negative aspects of marijuana with the oil. This, however, is inaccurate and studies go on to show the positive effects of its use by people around the globe. Although hemp plants and cannabis are similar in looks and smell, the level of THC, the psychoactive element, is drastically lower in hemp plants.  Experts are able to draw out the health benefits of CBD oil without affecting the clients mental state.

         With this relatively recent discovery, there has been a boom in the industry, with oils, creams, and lotions flooding the shelves and being more accessible for the average person to purchase. More and more people have been experiencing the benefits CBD oil has to offer; some of which include reduction in anxiety and depression, pain relief, and better heart health. Holistic pain treatments have been very common since humans first discovered medicinal treatments thousands of years ago. Some of which include the application of eucalyptus and lavender oils or the consumption of ginger and turmeric to aid pain relief or improve wellness in general. CBD oil is much like this in the sense that it is a natural element aiming to be a remedy for pain or anxiety. This has become a good alternative for people when their medication fails to do the very things mentioned above. This is not to say that you should do this spontaneously, and as always get approval from your doctor before trying a new product on yourself.

         Here at Serenity Zen, we offer a topical-CBD oil cream as an enhancement to your experience. Follow your body massage or foot reflexology service, with some of the topical cream, and find yourself relaxed and relieved. Book with us today!

Open Daily 10am-9pm

423 N Azusa Ave, West Covina, CA 91791

Relax and Unwind

Back to school season is a time of excitement for many kids and young adults across the globe. The opportunity to make new friends and create memories, however, can be overshadowed by the stress and anxiety of family and personal expectations to perform well in the classroom or in sports. The culture surrounding education, especially those in or applying to colleges, puts a tremendous amount of pressure on these students to do well.

         Being put under stress due to workload isn’t something only experienced by students of course, and ways to destress should be used by anyone facing any pressure that they feel is affecting their livelihood. One of the first, and easiest ways, to alleviate anxiety is to declutter your desk or workstation. With a clean and organized place to work, your thoughts will be less jumbled and more focused on one task at a time. Another way to help with stress is meditation. Taking five to ten minutes to relax and clear your mind can do wonders for your mental health, especially if you are facing an upcoming deadline or assignment. Sleep, an often overlooked method of stress relief, is very important as well. Make sure that you are getting about seven to eight hours of sleep at night to ensure that your body and mind are properly rested. Lastly, treat yourself by booking a massage here at Serenity Zen. Working all day, whether it be for your job or school, can create a lot of tension in your muscles, especially in your back and neck. Our service will make you feel relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on any task you face. Book with us today!

Hours of Operation: Open Daily 10am-9pm

(626) 915-8889

423 N Azusa Ave, West Covina, CA 91791