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Photo Credit: Sunrise Specialty
Do you love wearing Latin dance shoes with high heels? We all love our social dance shoes but let’s face it; high heels make dancing a literal pain. Unless you’re wearing your Yami dance shoes, your feet will feel like they’re on fire after dancing for an hour or two.
If you are prone to muscle soreness and stiffness after a night of social dancing, we highly suggest jumping to a warm bath to soothe the back, legs, and feet after. Yes, it’s an extra step to your nighttime routine, but trust us, once you’ve made the habit out of drawing a bath post-dancing, you’ll never look back. Muscle pain, we don’t know her!
Just to make the experience extra special, we’re dishing out post-recovery soak recipes that you need to try:
Some Important Tips to Remember
Stock up on huge bags of Epsom salt if you love your daily soaks. Get the plain one so you can whip up different bath soak recipes. It’s equally important to choose essential oils known to soothe tired, aching muscles and feet.
Essential oils are quite potent, so a little goes a long way. You’ll need to use a carrier oil to minimize the risk of skin irritation. A carrier oil is an oil that neutralizes the potency of essential oil, which is often concentrated. Coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil make terrific carrier oils because they're perfectly mild and hydrating.
Add a few drops of essential oils to a handful of Epsom salt, sprinkle all over the warm bathwater, and you’re ready for a relaxing soak. And if you love being extra, light a couple of scented candles and prepare a cup of tea to take your bath time to a whole new level.
If you don’t have a bathtub at home, you can add the essential oils (mixed with a carrier oil) to hot and cold compresses.
Recovery Soak Recipes
Recipe 1: Recovery Soak Recipe for Muscle Stiffness
Half a cup of Epsom salt + 10 drops of ginger oil, black pepper oil, clove oil, or peppermint essential oil.
If your muscles and feet feel painful or stiff, try combining plain Epsom salt with ginger oil, black pepper oil, clove oil, or peppermint oil. Ginger oil and black pepper oil warms up sore muscles and soothes pain while clove oil minimizes stiffness. Peppermint cools the muscles and perks up the senses with its refreshing scent.
Recipe 2: Recovery Soak Recipe for Tension Relief
Half a cup of Epsom salt + 10 drops of clary sage oil, juniper oil, chamomile oil, or rosemary oil.
An essential oil known to soothe painful muscle spasms and tension is best after hours of dancing. Clary sage alleviates muscle tension while enhancing relaxation. Juniper oil prevents muscle spasms, soothing tired, aching muscles. Chamomile is a soothing oil known to ease inflammation and reduce muscle spasms. Rosemary oil is best for relieving muscle pain and reducing inflammation.
Recipe 3: Recovery Soak Recipe for Swelling
Half a cup of Epsom salt + 10 drops of eucalyptus oil, lemongrass, or grapefruit oil.
Eucalyptus oil relieves muscle pains while reducing swelling. Lemongrass oil helps reduce inflammation and swelling. Grapefruit essential oil contains potent anti-inflammatory properties that reduce muscle pain.
Recipe 4: Recovery Soak Recipe for Relaxation
Half a cup of Epsom salt + 10 drops of chamomile oil, lavender oil, grapefruit, lemon, bergamot oil, peppermint, or eucalyptus oil.
Essential oils that have soothing, relaxing, or zesty scents are perfect for relaxing in the tub! Chamomile oil and lavender oil are perfect for nighttime soaks because of the soothing scent - they’ll lull you to sleep. Essential oils with cooling effects like peppermint and eucalyptus are great for perking up the senses. The same thing goes for essential oils with citrusy fragrances like grapefruit and lemon oil.
The best thing about making your own recovery soak recipes is that you can get as creative as you like, trying different essential oil blends every bath time. If you want to apply the oil topically, you can. Just make sure to mix it with a carrier oil. Once you’ve learned which recipe works the best with your needs, you can draw a bath every time your legs and muscles feel achy, swollen, or stiff.
Finally and most importantly, invest in comfortable social dance shoes to prevent the problem from happening in the first place. We offer a range of Latin dance shoes fitted with soft cushions to reduce forefoot pain. Don’t go for second best; choose a Latin dance shoe brand that prioritizes comfort and style - feel the Yami difference!
