Stretching and yoga are two completely different disciplines, despite looking and feeling very similar. Yoga and stretching both have advantages, including increased athletic performance and flexibility. But how do the two differ from one another? Find out by reading on.   What Is Yoga?   Credit: Envato Elements/ Chayantorn   Yoga is an age-old practice that is believed to be up to 10,000 years old. It incorporates different breathing techniques, meditation, physical activity, and the usage of postures with varying degrees of difficulty. It benefits both your physical and mental health, calms the nervous system, and provides flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular conditioning. Yoga can be practiced in a variety of ways, including yin, flow, vinyasa, Hatha, ashtanga, and others. The yoga poses are similar, yet they are performed in somewhat different ways. Vinyasa, for instance, is a quick-moving, vigorous form of yoga where different positions are linked together in...

  Experiencing post-massage soreness is normal, especially if it's been a while since you've last had a massage or if you've never gotten one before. To find out more about why you experience massage soreness and how to reduce any discomfort it can cause, continue reading.   Why Does Your Body Feel Sore After a Massage?   Credit: Envato Elements/ DragonImages   During a deep tissue massage, massage therapists stretch your muscles using several deep pressure techniques. Some frequently used methods to stimulate muscle relaxation include trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and cross-fiber friction. When you receive a deep tissue massage, your muscles experience microscopic tears. As a result of these tears, fluids begin to build up to give the blood and lymph fluid the nutrition and oxygen they need to repair themselves. This can cause delayed onset muscle soreness and you might experience it if you haven't been getting...

  By this point, you've undoubtedly gotten bored of performing the same workout routine at home. If you want to try something new or just mix things up, you don't need pricey equipment or a gym. You can get a wonderful workout with something you probably already have in your home: a deck of playing cards. Your card deck can be used for more than just card games and magic tricks. This quick guide has all the information you require about using a deck of cards during your workouts.   What Is a Deck of Cards Workout?   Credit: Envato Elements/ twenty20photos   The deck of cards workout is a high-intensity workout that uses a deck of playing cards to randomly serve out different movements and rep counts. Each card has its own workout, and the card number indicates how many repetitions are needed. The benefit of this workout is...

  You've probably experienced a muscle knot at some point in your life. Everyone is susceptible to these annoying knots, regardless of the cause, whether you got them from working out or from spending a lot of time sitting in front of a computer. This guide will cover whatever you need to understand about muscle knots and how to manage them yourself.   What Are Muscle Knots?   Credit: Envato Element/ twenty20photos   A muscle knot, also known as a myofascial trigger point, is a region of contraction in a particular muscle fiber. These knots can form anywhere, although they are most often located in the back, shoulders, neck, and even the gluteal muscles. They may feel large or stiff to the touch. They can also cause soreness in your muscles and joints and be sensitive or unpleasant to the touch. Myofascial trigger points shouldn't be mistaken with myofascial pain syndrome. Although...