Inflammation Explained: The Hidden Fire Slowing Your Recovery
Welcome back to the Strength & Motion Academy blog – where we take the biggest lessons from our podcast and break them into practical strategies for real people who want to move, lift, and live better.
This week, our coaches Josh and Nav unpacked a topic that’s hotter than it sounds (literally): inflammation – what it is, why it matters, and how you can actually take control of it to recover faster and perform better.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDa9xBoaTwE
What Is Inflammation, Really?
Inflammation literally means “to set on fire.” Sounds dramatic, right? But it’s just your body’s built-in defence system.
There are two main types:
Acute inflammation – the obvious kind. Twist an ankle, it swells up. Do a heavy leg day, and you feel sore the next morning (that’s DOMS). This is your body healing and adapting.
Chronic inflammation – the sneaky kind. Low-grade, constant stress on your body from poor food, lack of sleep, too much stress, or training without recovery. It doesn’t scream at you like a sprained ankle, but it slowly drags you down – think brain fog, stiff joints, low energy, and even long-term health risks like heart disease or diabetes.
Why You Might Be Inflamed Without Realizing It
At our Midvale gym, we see it all the time. Clients show up tired, sore, struggling to make progress – and it’s not just their training plan.
Common signs of chronic inflammation include:
Constant fatigue even after sleep
Stubborn soreness that doesn’t go away
Digestive issues or “gut drama”
Brain fog or mood swings
Poor skin, hair, or nail health
The truth? If your routine is built on coffee, processed foods, and stress, you’re likely living with inflammation every day.
How to Reduce Chronic Inflammation (Without Going Extreme)
You don’t need to live on raw veggies or give up coffee forever. Small, consistent changes make the biggest difference:
✅ Prioritize sleep – the #1 recovery tool.
✅ Stay hydrated – and yes, water before meals helps digestion.
✅ Balance your training – push hard some days, recover on others.
✅ Manage stress – through walks, journaling, or breathwork.
✅ Supplement smart – magnesium, omega-3s, and a quality multivitamin can help fill the gaps.
Final Word: Support the Fire, Don’t Fight It
Inflammation isn’t the enemy. Acute inflammation builds strength. Chronic inflammation, though, is like a silent anchor holding you back.
At Strength & Motion Academy, we teach our members how to spot it, manage it, and recover smarter – so they can train harder, feel better, and live stronger.
If you’re in Midvale, WA and want to move beyond the “sore and stuck” cycle, drop by our 24/7 functional fitness gym. No ego. No BS. Just real coaching, real community, and strategies that actually work.
🎧 Catch the full episode on YouTube, and subscribe so you never miss a new one.