Introduction

You may have heard that you should foam roll, but why? A process also known as self-myofascial release, foam rolling is a form of massage you can do at home. The best part? It’s essential for creating a healthy body and feeling your best. In this guide, we’ll go over what exactly foam rolling is, why it’s so important for your health and well-being, and how to get started doing it yourself.

What is foam rolling?

Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release (SMR), which means it helps to decrease muscle tension and improve flexibility. It can also increase blood flow to soft tissues and reduce pain.

Foam rolling should not be confused with massage therapy, though some people who practice foam rolling may also offer massage services as well. While both involve the use of your body weight or external force to generate pressure on soft tissue in order to improve tissue health, there are some notable differences between these two disciplines:

• Massage therapy involves direct manipulation by an expert therapist (usually with their hands), whereas foam rolling is done by yourself using a cylindrically shaped roller that you roll across your own body

Why should you foam roll?

Foam rolling is a great way to help you reduce muscle pain and soreness, improve mobility, recover from workouts faster and prevent injuries. It can even help with improving your posture!

If you’re new to foam rolling or need a refresher, here are some of the top reasons why it’s worth giving it a try:

• Foam rolling can help loosen stiff muscles that have been tight for long periods of time (or continually). This will also lead to less aches and pains during movements like walking up stairs or sitting down for long periods of time at work.
• Foam rolling will increase blood flow throughout the body which helps bring nutrients through the bloodstream faster than normal—this means those sore muscles recover quicker after exercising!
• Foam rolling stretches out any tight muscles in the body by applying pressure onto them with the roller until they relax their tension on their own accord over time. This leads us into our next point…

How does it work?

Foam rolling works by increasing blood flow to the muscles. This helps flush waste products out of your body, improving how well they recover and repair. And while foam rolling isn’t technically exercise, foam rolling can help you perform better during a workout by reducing muscle tension and improving flexibility.

To use it, you’ll want to start with a simple cross-body roll: lie on your side with one leg on top of the other, then roll back and forth along each side in turn (you can do this lying down or seated). As you discover tender spots along either side of your body—usually around bony protrusions like ribs or hips—stop there for about 30 seconds before continuing on through all the way up one leg then down again until both sides are done once more! If this doesn’t feel good at first don’t worry; stick with it! You might be surprised how quickly those sore spots go away! Do what feels best for you but keep in mind that if something hurts too much stop doing it immediately.”

You need to foam roll.

Foam rolling is a great way to increase flexibility and mobility. Whether you’re trying to recover from an injury or just want to loosen up your muscles after a workout, foam rolling is an excellent tool that can help. If you are suffering from pain or soreness in any part of your body, foam rolling is a fantastic way to treat it!

It’s easy for most people to see why foam rolling is beneficial for improving recovery time following intense exercise sessions, but there are also many other reasons why it’s important (and more than just because “it looks cool”). Foam rolling has been shown in studies again and again as being effective at treating common injuries such as lower back pain, neck stiffness & headaches caused by muscle spasms which all arise directly from poor posture habits like sitting at computers all day long without getting up once during work hours – not even once!

Conclusion

Now that we’ve learned what foam rolling is and why it’s good for you, it’s time to get rolling. Try starting with a few minutes of light rolling on your favorite area of the body, then progress to more intense techniques as needed. The key is to listen to your body!