Moving as slowly as a Walking Dead zombie the day after CrossFit is (mostly) a good thing. Those achy limbs – known as “delayed-onset muscle soreness” – are the body “adapting to a new type or intensity of exercise, which can lead to gains in strength, provided you allow time to heal,” says Scott Allen, a physiotherapist at Cleveland Clinic Canada in Toronto. Sleep and proper nutrition are the best ways to recover, but if your whining about your aches is getting on friends’ nerves, “many people feel that taking ibuprofen and using topical creams, massage or heat create some relief in the soft tissue,” says Allen.

Saje Muscle Melt Comforting Mango & Shea Body Butter contains soothing eucalyptus, ($19.95, at saje.ca).

 

 

 

Merrithew Large and Small Massage Ball 2-Pack stimulates circulation ($18, at merrithew.com).

 

 

Origins Warm Down Warming Lava Scrub ($45.69, at origins.com) heats up on skin.