Whether your neck and shoulders are sore from an intense workout or from slumping over your laptop all day (or, if you’re like me, some combination of the two), all you need to melt that tension is a nice little stretch session. So do yourself a favor and take 9 minutes (that’s it!) out of your day for some tension-relieving upper body stretches—I promise, your muscles will thank you for it.
Follow along with the video above as fitness expert and trainer Ashley Joi takes you through a series of active recovery moves that will help you untangle any knots in your upper body. One pro tip for getting the most out of the process? Hold each stretch for at least thirty seconds. “It takes that long for your muscles to realize: Oh! We’re stretching!” says Joi. Just like how we set aside time for ourselves to relax our minds (see: meditation), we have to do the same for our muscles. So give yourself permission to do some serious relaxing, and let’s get stretching.
6 tension-relieving upper-body stretches
1. Cat cow: Get ready to feel good all over with a classic upper-body tension-reliever. Set yourself up on all fours, and place a towel under your knees if you need some extra cushioning. On your inhale, bring your head down, and lift your upper back up towards the sky. With your exhale, tilt your chin up and bring your belly down to the ground. Take your time with this one—it should feel super yummy.
2. Child’s pose with shoulder stretch: Say “thank you” to your shoulders with this variation on a classic child’s pose. Sink your hips back into your heels, reach your arms out in front of you, and bring your chest to the ground. One side at a time, thread one arm under the other to give that shoulder blade an extra stretch. Make sure to stay on each side for a few luxurious breaths to really reap the benefits of the move.
3. Chest opener: Standing up nice and tall, bring your arms out wide like you’re about to give someone a big hug, and then—plot twist—hug yourself. Extend your arms back out and repeat, making sure to alternate which arm lands on top.
4. Standing tricep stretch: Time to stretch the back of those arms, aka your triceps. Still standing, reach your right arm up over your head and bend it backwards. Next, bring your left hand to meet your right elbow, gently pulling it backwards until you feel a stretch. Make sure to keep your ribcage down as you hold the pose for a few deep breaths, then switch sides.
5. Standing shoulder stretch: Next up, an oldie but a goodie. Take one arm across your body, cradling your elbow in your other hand, and gently pull. Remember to keep your shoulder down away from your ear and look over the shoulder you’re stretching for an extra release in your neck.
6. Neck rolls + neck stretch: Stretching the muscles in your neck is a great way to counteract the effects of staring down at your phone all day. Start by drawing slow circles with your nose for a 360 stretch, do a few clockwise and a few counterclockwise. For the grand finale, tilt your head over to the left, using your left hand to gently bring your ear to touch the top of your shoulder. Make sure to hit the right side, and you’re all done.
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Thanks to innovations in health and wellness tech, you don’t have to book an expensive lymphatic drainage massage to give your system a boost. Dry brushes, gua sha tools, foam rollers—they’re all readily available and more accessible than the cost of manual lymph work. And now, apparently, we can add “lymphatic drainage onesie” to the list of recovery tools out there that can potentially give your lymph nodes some love.
bioregulator medical expert at the BioMed Center in Scottsdale
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I was skeptical when I first heard about Heat Healer’s Activated Lymphatic Onesie ($200), a one-piece jumpsuit that claims to reduce bloating, improve recovery, and increase circulation just by wearing it. It sounded too good to be true. But as someone training for a 10k and traveling frequently for work, I decided to try it for 30 days—couldn’t hurt, right?
The timing was spot on—I was about to head to Mexico City for Marriott’s Masters of the Craft, a culinary competition where I’d be eating and drinking my days away watching a cook-off between Marriott’s top talent. If there was ever a time to test a garment promising to reduce bloating and improve recovery, this was it.
About the Heat Healer Activated Lymphatic Onesie
Heat Healer’s Activated Lymphatic Onesie is effectively a compression suit that amplifies your body’s natural detox system. Using what the brand calls “Antigravity Technology,” this onesie combines strategic compression and raised fabric patterns to stimulate lymphatic flow, helping your system clear excess fluid and waste while boosting circulation and oxygenation. Think of it as a wearable self-care tool for optimizing your body’s drainage network.
“Moving lymph allows your cells to breathe ‘freely’ and is akin to doing a biological oil change,” explains Jeoff Drobot, NMD, a bioregulator medical expert in Scottsdale. He adds we filter about 5 liters of lymph daily—equivalent to our total blood volume. When this system isn’t flowing efficiently, it can leave us feeling bloated, fatigued, and sluggish. However, with proper stimulation, like that provided by lymphatic drainage techniques (or in this case, the Activated Lymphatic Onesie), people often report improved energy levels, digestion, and even better sleep.
“Lymphatic onesies can be helpful after workouts to support recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and minimize swelling,” says Carrie Riley, lymphatic massage specialist and founder of Cincinnati Massage for Mental Health. “They’re also a great option for long flights, as they can help counteract fluid retention and improve circulation during extended periods of sitting. The same is also true for someone with long hours at a desk job.”
My review
What I love
Feeling better just by wearing a jumpsuit sounded great, but could it really deliver on its claims? I was determined to find out.
I can confirm that the onesie—a short-sleeved jumpsuit with leggings—provided immediate relief, starting from the very first wear; my body felt light and floaty as if I’d somehow shed fatigue buried in my bones. During my time in Mexico City, where I sampled everything from tequila to Michelin-star tacos, the onesie was a lifesaver. Between the elevation and rich meals, my body was working overtime, but slipping this suit over my skin back at my hotel brought me a sense of recovery I didn’t expect.
Photo: Author
Its benefits were even more apparent after an especially enthusiastic evening at Handshake Speakeasy (currently ranked as the World’s Best Bar). Normally, cocktails leave me bloated and shaky the next day. But, waking up in the middle of the night with the sense of an oncoming hangover, I crawled into the onesie and collapsed back into bed, hoping for the best. By morning, I was shocked by how much better I felt—so much so that I even took a class at a local fitness studio. During my 10K training, it became an essential part of my recovery routine, easing post-run fatigue and helping me bounce back faster—I like to think that it helped me hit my personal record on race day.
I found the onesie was also a game-changer for long flights. While bathroom breaks were challenging (airplane gymnastics, anyone?), its ability to counter travel-related gastro-stress made them worth it. Over 30 days, I wore it on eight flights and experienced a level of comfort I’ve never had before. It helps that the onesie is fashionable and easy to pair with sweats or oversized button-downs. While Dr. Drobot says that the lymphatic onesies such as Heat Healer’s pale in comparison to manual lymphatic drainage from a highly-trained practitioner, I appreciated that I could take it on the go with me.
What I don’t love
Getting into the onesie requires dedication, especially that first time. I followed the recommendation to size down, and although it wasn’t as tight as shapewear, I still performed an interpretive dance just to shimmy it on. Once it was on, the effort felt worth it, but the process was still tedious.
As mentioned, bathroom breaks presented another challenge, only from a logistics standpoint. Wrestling with the onesie in an airplane bathroom felt like an Olympic event. But as soon as I stepped out of the stall and felt its effects, I forgot the inconvenience.
Final thoughts
After 30 days of testing—from excessive evenings in Mexico City to 10K training and long-haul flights—I’m convinced it’s worth a spot in your recovery routine. While it’s not a miracle solution, the lymphatic onesie supported me through bloating, recovery, and even hangovers.
Riley offers some perspective for anyone considering a lymphatic drainage onesie, “Think of the onesie as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for professional care.” That said, while lymphatic drainage has anecdotal support and some research backing, the science around wearable tools like this isn’t yet conclusive. As always, consult your doctor before trying new wellness products, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or concerns. In the meantime, while I don’t foresee myself wearing my onesie every day, I will definitely be pulling it out on days I need a little pick-me-up.
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