Treat Your Muscles to a Little Theragun TLC
The rhythmic “da, da, da, da, da” of two hands karate chop massaging my back is a blissful sensation. And that’s why I was thrilled to try the Theragun Elite.
The funny thing is that I discovered the device in sort of a two-for-one deal. At the time I purchased my SoulCycle at-home bike, there was a special where I got a complimentary Theragun Elite. Since I’d been curious about the hype around Theraguns, I was pretty excited to finally get my hands on my own.
The company that makes Theraguns is Therabody, and you can find a variety of makes of the device at different price points and sizes. (For example, there is a mini version that’s good for travel.) What makes these recovery tools effective is that they use percussive therapy (that repetitive motion against the muscle that I described earlier) to help melt away tension and soreness. Plus, Therabody has come out with research that using the device before bed can also improve sleep.
At the end of the day — especially if I’m dealing with tightness in a particular area — I love to use the Theragun on my major muscle groups for about 20-30 seconds in each spot. The other cool thing about the tool is that it’s connected by Bluetooth to its own app on my iPhone. This means that I can choose a specific program, whether it’s for recovering from a hike or a cycling class, and I’m guided through where to hold the Theragun, while the app dictates things like the timing of the Theragun.
I haven’t played with the app very much, but the number of program options are dazzling. There are programs for warming your muscles up for activities like skiing or recovering from sitting at the computer for too long. I also like that the Theragun I have includes a variety of attachments that you can change out on the portion of the gun that does the massaging (think a cone shape for pinpointing small muscle groups and a wedge that is better for shoulder blades and IT bands).
Although I know there’s no substitute for seeing a massage therapist on a regular basis, this recovery tool has become a go-to for day-to-day maintenance of my muscles. I’ve just scratched the surface on discovering all of the ways I can use my Theragun — and I can’t wait to continue my education!
Whether you’re looking for a morning filled with fitness; healthy food; and an IV therapy, or an indulgent afternoon that includes a massage; pedicure; and glass of bubbly, I’m here to make your personalized wellness dream a reality.