There are enormous losses to your health if you don’t cool down after exercise. You will not be able to do a workout on the next day of your routine and many more. In a health forum, I got a question What are the benefits of the cool-down period following exercise? So, in this article, we’ll talk about this. In today’s world, everyone loves fitness, everyone loves to exercise, jog, run, etc. Today everyone wants to build their physique in the best possible way.
They do a workout, run, and jog, to tone up their body to look impressive in front of others. But nowadays I see many people don’t concentrate on cooling down their bodies. This is why they get injuries and can’t get full growth in their body.
Why is it important to cool down after exercise?
I see many people doing warm-ups in gyms or in parks but I rarely see people doing a cool-down just after their exercise. They rather drink their proteins but no one bothers to cool down, which is equally important. Cooling down after exercise is also important because it will cause the risk of gaining weight. Maybe you will do a workout the next day in less time.
What happens if you don’t cool down after exercise?
There are enormous losses to your health if you don’t cool down after exercise. Let me tell you in points.
- You will not be able to do a workout on the next day of your routine.
- Blood can easily be pooled in the exercise part of your body and it will reduce the arrival of blood to the heart.
- It will lead to the risk of gaining weight.
- It will start reducing your workout time.
11 Essential Cool Down Exercises after a workout
Yes, I know you are thinking about ways to cool down your body after an intense workout or cardio session so if you are doing a body workout you lift weights that burn calories and make your heart beat fast, this also includes continuous tension in the muscles.
After completing an intense workout, it’s essential to take some time to cool down properly. This helps your body gradually return to its normal state and reduces the risk of injury or muscle soreness.
Here are 11 essential cool-down exercises to do after your workout:
- SHOULDER STRETCH: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and bring your right arm across your chest, using your left hand to hold it. Hold the stretch for 15-20 seconds and repeat on the other side.
- TRICEPS STRETCH: Raise your right arm above your head, bend your elbow, and bring your right hand to your left shoulder blade. Use your left hand to gently pull your elbow towards your head. Hold for 15-20 seconds and repeat on the other side.
- HIP FLEXOR STRETCH: Kneel down on one knee and place your other foot in front of you with your knee bent. Gently lean forward, keeping your back straight, to stretch your hip flexor. Hold for 15-20 seconds and repeat on the other side.
- OVERHEAD STRETCH: Reach your arms above your head, and interlock your fingers. Gently pull your arms towards the ceiling to stretch your shoulders and upper back. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
- CHEST STRETCH: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms behind your back. Clasp your hands together, and gently lift your arms up, stretching your chest muscles. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
- FORWARD BEND: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and fold forward at the waist, letting your arms and head hang down. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
- TOES TOUCH: From the forward bend position, slowly straighten your legs, and try to touch your toes with your fingertips. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
- CHILD’S POSE: Kneel down with your buttocks resting on your heels and stretch your arms forward. Rest your forehead on the ground to stretch your spine and shoulders. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
- QUADRICEPS STRETCH: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and lift your right foot off the ground, bending your knee. Hold your right ankle with your right hand and pull your foot towards your buttocks, stretching your quadriceps. Hold for 15-20 seconds and repeat on the other side.
- COBRA POSE: Lie down on your stomach and place your hands next to your shoulders. Push up through your hands, straightening your arms, and lift your chest off the ground to stretch your abs and spine. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
- THIGH HUG: Lie down on your back, and hug your knees towards your chest. Gently rock from side to side to massage your lower back muscles. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
Cooling down is an essential part of any workout routine. Incorporate these 11 essential cool-down exercises into your post-workout routine to help your body recover and reduce the risk of injury or muscle soreness.
Importance of warm up and cool down
Cooling down has many benefits as it helps to reduce lactic acid in our body which helps us not have any kind of stiffness or cramps. Cooling down is as important as warming up. The difference is warming up at the beginning of the workout and cooling down after the workout. Both are important to reduce the risk of having an injury or any stiffness in the body.
Psychological benefits of a cool-down
The Psychological Benefits of cooling downplay play a major role in making the blood flow and heart rate to be normal. For eg., if your workout was off running do a simple jog and then walk for 5- 10 minutes to make your heart rate normal if your workout was of any particular muscle then after the workout stretch those muscles to prevent them from building lactic acid in your muscles. Cooling down will make your heartbeat to the normal rate, the rate at which you started the workout. It gives your body relaxation, and I have realized that cooling down your body gives you motivation it sends a signal to your mind that you have completed your workout.
So after finishing your workout, you can stretch the muscles that were involved in that workout. Stretch for about 5 to 10 minutes. Straight your arms and touching your toes without bending your knees will stretch your back and hamstring which will give you relief and prevent your body from any type of stiffness. If your workout is a cardio session then gradually your heartbeat will rise up and you will breathe heavily, so make sure that you make your body cool down by doing a slow jog or by walking for 5 to 10 minutes so that your heartbeat gets normal, and your blood flow gets normal from where you started your cardio.
It also helps to stop building lactic acid in your body, and it is important to stop building lactic acid because it can create stiffness, and cramps, and can cause you injury. So one should always cool down their body.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Cool Down Exercises
Q. What are cool-down exercises?
Ans. Cool-down exercises are exercises performed at the end of a workout session to reduce your heart rate and help your muscles recover gradually. The exercises aim to return your body to a resting state, stretch and relax the muscles, and prevent injury.
Q. How long should cool-down exercises last?
Ans. Cool-down exercises should last for around 5-10 minutes. This is enough time to bring your heart rate down gradually and stretch your muscles properly.
Q. What are the benefits of cool-down exercises?
Ans. Cool-down exercises help to prevent muscle stiffness and soreness, reduce the risk of injury, and improve flexibility. They also help to reduce your heart rate gradually, which is essential for cardiovascular health.
Q. Can I skip cool-down exercises?
Ans. Skipping cool-down exercises is not recommended as they can lead to muscle stiffness, soreness, and injury. Cool-down exercises help to bring your body back to a resting state and reduce the risk of muscle soreness and injury.
Q. Can I perform any type of exercise during the cool down?
Ans. Cool-down exercises should be low-impact and aim to stretch and relax your muscles. You can perform exercises such as stretching, walking, or yoga during cool down.
Q. When should I perform cool-down exercises?
Ans. Cool-down exercises should be performed immediately after your workout session. This helps to bring your body back to a resting state and reduces the risk of injury or muscle soreness.
Q. Do cool-down exercises vary according to the type of workout?
Ans. Yes, cool-down exercises can vary according to the type of workout you have performed. For instance, if you have performed a running workout, you may focus more on stretching your lower body muscles, while if you have performed a weightlifting workout, you may focus more on stretching your upper body muscles.
