Many people — especially those experiencing adrenal fatigue and despite their best intentions and proper preparation (both physical and nutritional) — experience some soreness and muscle fatigue after their workouts. “Some” is a very gentle term; soreness may be severe. Here are two ways to work out those body kinks.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used for centuries. (In China, it may go back to Neolithic times, about 8500 BCE). Yes, this is the therapy where the provider sticks thin little needles in you. The body contains many energy pathways (meridians); this is how your energy (qi) flows throughout your body. Along the pathways are many pressure points that can be accessed to bring energy and healing to afflicted areas.
Acupuncture is great for muscle, joint, and nerve pain. It can be beneficial in treating adrenal fatigue by reducing pain and inflammation and improving muscle flexibility and range of motion.
You want to go to someone who is a trained practitioner in acupuncture. In most states in the United States, acupuncturists are licensed (you'll likely see the abbreviation L.Ac. after the acupuncturist's name). You can go to the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to find a licensed acupuncturist near you.
Some people are hesitant to use acupuncture because of the needles. Honest, the needles aren't a big deal (in fact, they're as thin as a hair), but if you want to avoid needles, acupressure engages those same pressure points without them. Some acupuncturists perform acupressure, but not all do.
You can also look to National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to find a practitioner of acupressure (when searching for a practitioner, check the box next to “Asian Bodywork Therapy”). Word of mouth is also a great way to find a good practitioner near you. Don't forget to ask your holistic health practitioner, who will likely be aware of good practitioners as well.
Reflexology
Your feet are much more than the two appendages you place your shoes on. Think of the soles of the feet as the place where the energy pathways of many areas of the body come together.
The foot is a mini map that can provide a trained practitioner of reflexology with a snapshot of the health of the organs of your body. Each area of the foot represents a specific zone of a particular organ's energy pathway.
When the reflexology therapist presses on certain areas of your feet (zones), he or she taps into a particular organ pathway and helps optimize its function (or correct a dysfunction). Reflexology therapy is invaluable not only after a workout but also for adrenal fatigue in general. It can boost organ functioning, including the adrenal glands.
There's some evidence that therapists have been doing reflexology since Egypt's Sixth Dynasty (about 2450 BCE).
This form of therapy is performed by trained reflexologists, who are generally licensed by states or cities as massage therapists or “somatic practitioners.” To find a licensed reflexologist near you, visit the American Reflexology Certification Board and click on “Referral to a National Certificant.”