I'm at a point where I've got a pretty sharp sense of the difference, so I can push things in certain ways because I know I can tell what's "good discomfort" versus what's "bad discomfort".
I expect you'll find that you develop your own sense of this and how they feel for you over time.
And there are some useful rules of thumb -- as they're usually given, "good discomfort" or "good pain" is generalized (over a fairly wide area), has a more dull/achy quality to it, comes on slowly, and goes away once you stop the exercise/stretch. It often has the "hurts so good" quality of a deep massage.
"Bad pain" tends to come on suddenly, be sharp and /or localized, and/or hangs around once you're finished.
I'd add that in my experience "good pain" tends to be felt in muscles, "bad pain" in joints.
But if you know you don't have your own sense of it developed yet, best to be cautious, as you're being. And trust any little "uh-oh, this doesn't feel quite right" hunches.
no subject
It's very good that you know that you don't know!
I'm at a point where I've got a pretty sharp sense of the difference, so I can push things in certain ways because I know I can tell what's "good discomfort" versus what's "bad discomfort".
I expect you'll find that you develop your own sense of this and how they feel for you over time.
And there are some useful rules of thumb -- as they're usually given, "good discomfort" or "good pain" is generalized (over a fairly wide area), has a more dull/achy quality to it, comes on slowly, and goes away once you stop the exercise/stretch. It often has the "hurts so good" quality of a deep massage.
"Bad pain" tends to come on suddenly, be sharp and /or localized, and/or hangs around once you're finished.
I'd add that in my experience "good pain" tends to be felt in muscles, "bad pain" in joints.
But if you know you don't have your own sense of it developed yet, best to be cautious, as you're being. And trust any little "uh-oh, this doesn't feel quite right" hunches.