http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/injuries/a/doms.htm
I hope this article is helpful, I listen to my body. Most time I perfer an "active recovery" sometime scaling back on intensity and other push hard, as mentioned earilier seeing gains during this period, but occasionally stretching is all. Sometime "rest and recover" is the road I take if I'm feeling sharp pains around joints: tendon insetion, bursa, enter joint,.... Really you know your body best and are still learning it so try different approachs as no single one will be the best for every situation or maybe for you there is a perfect one. Yes, I do yoga from time to time but usually to get laid
Make sure your diet is on point or that can lead to problems.