Why Couch Potato Mode Makes Sore Muscles Miserable

We’ve all been there—plopped on the couch after a killer workout, thinking, “I’ll just rest… I deserve it!” And sure, a little chill time is great, but staying still can actually make your sore muscles even more grumpy. When you don’t move, blood flow slows down, which means your body isn’t clearing out all the waste that makes your muscles ache (looking at you, lactic acid!). Your muscles can tighten, joints feel stiff, and suddenly that post-workout glow turns into a why-do-my-legs-hate-me situation, and I see you canceling classes because you over did it 👀

The good news? You don’t need to run a marathon to feel better. A chill yoga class, low impact Pilates or even just pacing while making tea can boost circulation, loosen tight muscles, and speed up recovery. Add a warm Epsom salt bath, and you’ve got the ultimate muscle-soothing combo: heat relaxes tension, the magnesium can help calm sore spots, and your body feels ready to move again.

Treat your recovery as a non negotiable to your workouts, you literally can't have one without the other. A rest day doesn't have to mean becoming one with your couch, it can be a multitude of our chiller classes. I've said it before, I'll say it again for the people in the back, 📣 not every workout needs to kick your ass, gentler movement classes in between heavier days actually aids in recovery, and without recovery you're living in high cortisol, adrenaline spiked chaos and that definitely doesn't contribute to your goals.

So next time your muscles are screaming at you, remember: a little movement goes a long way (it's 100% of the reason we have such a diverse schedule, it's not an accident, it's science.)

Save your couch-rot guilt for later, just Move. 🛋️🥔