Navigating the morning after a tough workout can be a rollercoaster. One moment, you’re lying in bed, feeling smug about the session you smashed yesterday, and the next, you’re crab-walking down the stairs and struggling to sit down on the toilet.

Dealing with this kind of delayed-onset muscle soreness (also known as DOMS) can feel like both a blessing and a curse. While it’s a sign that you’ve made your muscles work hard, it can also make moving around a little tricky.

However, disrupting the inflammatory healing response that causes DOMS by taking medications like ibuprofen can delay the healing process and limit the impact of your training – which nobody wants. So, how can you manage DOMS without reaching for pain meds?

DOMS relief: 5 pilates moves to relieve muscle soreness the day after a tough workout