Navigating through woodlands. Climbing over sand dunes. Scaling the rolling hills that surround your home town. Discovering the local, natural beauty around us is something that has become even more prominent this year. With restrictions preventing us from taking part in many activities, we’ve donned our walking boots and taken to the roads - reaching our step count with ease and discovering a new kind of physical joy. The kind where our muscles warm, our skin tingles against the brisk wind and we return home in need of warmth.
Benefits of a post-walk shower
Stepping back inside, perhaps you make a cup of tea or coffee. Perhaps you reach for your slippers and dressing gown. Or perhaps, like us, you navigate for the bathroom in search of a hot, relaxing shower. There’s something invigorating about stepping under steaming water and allowing the pressure to wash away aches and grumbles.
Showering after exercise can:
Help to re-regulate heart rate
Prevent a build-up of lactic acid
Remove bacteria from the skin’s surface
Create a moment just for you
The perfect post-walk shower
We each have our own preference when it comes to how we like to shower. Some enjoy the chill of an ice-cold blast to wake them up and ensure they can get on with the day’s tasks. Some see showering as a moment to relax before bed, enjoying the warmth in the evening. There is no right or wrong but what we’ve done is bring together all of the suggestions from experts and our team here at TSL to give you, what we think, is the perfect post-walk shower.
Turn on your shower head, making sure it faces away from the shower screen to prevent leaking, and allow the water to warm up. You want to aim for a temperature around 40°C to avoid drying out your skin or causing burns.
Choose a tea-tree based shower gel for an invigorating boost. The natural antiseptic is ideal for aiding with skin ailments while the uplifting scent will help with the flow of endorphins.
Alternatively, if you’re showering before bed, choose a lavender or sleep-inducing shower gel. The aromatherapy benefits will help to relax muscles, preventing pain or discomfort after exercise.
Massage the shower gel into your skin, paying attention to any areas where you may feel discomfort or tightness. The warm water in your shower will help to loosen up muscles, making it easier to work through knots and tightness.
We love a rainfall shower head for the feeling. Close your eyes, step underneath and allow the warm water to engulf your entire body. There really is nothing like this feeling.
Try and avoid showering for more than 10 minutes. After this time, you may notice your skin begins to wrinkle which can be a sign of dehydration. But during those 10 minutes, close your eyes and pay attention to every sense. Breathe in deep and enjoy this moment of calm.
Once you’re done, wrap up in your finest towel and simply savour this time. Walking and showering won’t change the world. But, what they will do is give you an outlet and a vice to clear your head and find your very own happy space.