A huge part of your fitness routine is your recovery. Aside from proper nutrition, supplementation, and sleep, these tools can help aid your recovery through self-myofascial release (or SMR). SMR is essentially massages done by you using tools to help with muscular and joint pain. A common example is foam rolling. Recovery can be achieved by using any of these tools listed as my recommended gym essentials.

I believe in the all-around approach when it comes to fitness. So, I’ve put together a list of all the gym essentials that will aid in your recovery. If you suffer from muscle and joint pain and stiffness, try incorporating self-myofascial release into your fitness routine.

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Rollga

Rollga is my go-to foam roller, in fact, I own two of the high-density Rollga. They offer different density levels for your specific needs from low to high. I find it the most effective foam roller, especially for your upper & mid-back. The way the Rollga is shaped avoids the boney prominences of your back which allows for a more effective trigger point release. It’s no question why this foam roller is on the top of my list of gym essentials.

Tiger Tail is a massage stick that is used as a handheld foam roller. It’s easy to use and can fit in most gym bags.

Thera Cane Massager is an amazing trigger point release tool for removing knots, especially on your shoulders where you mostly carry your stress. You can easily use the Thera Cane while watching TV seating down or standing up.

If you love deep tissue massages, this might be the foam roller for you. It is not for the faint of hearts though. If you currently don’t get enough pressure from your current foam roller, you can try this Rumble Roller .

Hyperice Products

Hypervolt is a product of Hyperice. It is a handheld massage gun that is very convenient to use. It’s known for its effectiveness in relieving sore and stiff muscles for improved mobility and flexibility. I have clients that look forward to this after their workout sessions. It will leave you feeling so much better after each use! Easily one of my favorite gym essentials.

Hypersphere another Hyperice product. It’s a vibrating massage ball that helps with muscle recovery. However, it’s not as easy to use as the handheld Hypervolt.

The Hypersphere Mini is another Hyperice product. It’s comparable to a lacrosse ball but instead, it vibrates to help massage and loosen up stiff muscles. It’s a trigger point tool used to release muscle knots.

Vyper  is another Hyperice product. I know, I’m a huge fan. I’m not sponsored by them but I spent years as a personal trainer using their products on my clients and myself. Vyper is a foam roller that vibrates to help massage out sore and stiff muscles.

Trigger Point Products Gym Essentials

The Trigger Point foam roller is a good quality foam roller. This company is well-known in the fitness industry and I like all their products.

Trigger Point Grid Vibe Plus

Trigger Point also has a vibrating foam roller called Grid Vibe Plus which is more affordable than Hyperice’s Vyper. I personally only used it once so I can only speak from that experience and it worked just fine for me.

The Charge Vibe is a portable vibrating roller that’s great on your thoracic spine, calves, and biceps to name a few.

The AcuCurve Massage Cane works great for your muscle knots and it gives you an easy way to work the knots out without struggling so much. Most people find it hard to get into a comfortable position using the trigger point balls on the floor or against a wall, as opposed, to using this cane.

Try this performance set for your trigger point needs.

I personally love this Foam Massage Ball for doing trigger point releases on my hamstring and glute muscles. It’s much easier than balancing yourself on the foam roller, and it digs deeps enough for self-myofascial release.

Now that you have a long list of all the gym essentials to help you with your recovery, I hope it can simplify the process of determining what works best for you. I cannot wait for you to try them! Share your experiences with me by leaving a comment below.

You can find more gym equipment recommendations at my Amazon Storefront.