// HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY

By Thomas Taylor Edited by Kevin Rudulph

Look, no matter how old you are, at some point after playing paintball you're going to feel like someone beat your legs with a closed fits and we're here to help to with some recovery tips to get you feeling refreshed and playing at 100%!

Thomas Taylor has been playing this game for a long time. Putting his body through the ringer point after point and he's boarder line old enough to play in the senior division! ;) Below are some recovery tips from one of the best snake players in the game! 

Warm Up & Down: Warming up with a light jog and stretching is very important. The worst thing you can do is step on the field cold. With a heavy pack full of paint strapped to your lower back followed by a sprint somewhere, is a recipe for disaster. Chances are you and your body aren't even in the right place mentally to play the game. Warm Down is just as important for your body after playing such a high action game your body needs to know, "ok it's time to chill."

The Evening After Practice:Ice Bath & Stretch. Load up the bath tub with as much ice and cold water as possible and soak for about 15 minutes. 

Each Day at a Tournament: 15 minute Ice Bath followed by 20 min Epson Salt Bath. Stretch...always!

After Activity:Foam Roll out the extra tight areas.

Every Morning After Playing Paintball: Warm shower after rolling out of bed coupled with a light stretch to loosen up those tight areas. Sometimes stretching out in the shower is best move for those that are extra stiff or didn't take the proper action before and after playing.

The Week After A Tournament: Depending on how beat up you might be after the event a couple days of rest are required but a 15 min Ice Bath followed by 20 min Epson Salt Bath couldn't hurt. Light workouts for about a week but keeping active are ideal. Biking and using an elliptical are great and easy on the joints. 

"Reboot/recharge the body. Feel fresh and new each day to take that snake off the break! 15 ice 20 Epsom salt bath, I like to face time the family, cry a little bit, watch go sports and make my own bubbles" - Thomas Taylor #77 

For those that want to take it to the next level, look at options to keep the blood flowing and swelling down with compression tights. If you don't want to spend thousands of dollars but are ok with spending a hundred or so, check out the Nike Recovery Tights. A lot of guys on the team rock these at night while they are sleeping or on the airplane ride home to keep the blood flowing and swelling down.