Benefits Of A Post-Workout Cool Down

There’s no doubt that a post-workout cool down routine is not only extremely important but also beneficial. A proper cool-down routine allows your heart rate to return to normal and promotes relaxation. Cooling down after a workout could last anywhere from 5–10 minutes and should include some kind of stretch with gentle movements. These stretches and movements are key to getting all of the benefits out of your workout. 

Don’t Skip Your Post-Workout Routine

You would be surprised how many people actually skip out on the post workout routine. Let’s dive into the reasons you shouldn’t skip out on it, and the benefits you may be missing out on if you do. 

Slow Heart Rate & Breathing

After an intense workout or a game practice, your heart should really be pumping. At the end of your workout, it’s important to slowly bring your heart rate back to normal. Slowly coming back to a normal heart rate helps to avoid lightheadedness and muscle cramps. It’s also important to pay attention to your breathing which becomes deeper. A cool down routine allows your breath to gradually return to the same rhythm it had before you started your workout.

VAAY Cool Down Routine

Ideal Cool down time: Depending on your needs, cool down routines can vary in time. 10 minutes could be a good start.

Our suggested routine has 2 main parts:

• Body: Start with very light cardio to bring down the heart rate (5 minutes)
• Mind: Simple yoga pose to breathe and relax the mind while stretching a wide variety of muscles. (5 minutes)

How To Do The Routine:

Step 1: Start by applying a pea-sized amount of VAAY Active gel to your arms, legs, and shoulders. *For optimal results, try rubbing some of the gel to the back of your neck, to give your neck muscles much needed love and care.

Step 2: Massage the gel gently into the skin. After a few seconds, the muscles experience a warmth that gives out a soothing feel.

Step 3: Breathe. No… seriously! BREATHE! Take a deep breath and appreciate the work your body just did. Continuous breathing (time of inhale is the same as the time of exhale) is shown to reliably reduce heart-rate. The cooling scent of the active gel will ease you as the power of our special VAAY blend of essential oils begin to take over.

Step 4: We recommend cooling down by doing some light yoga**, particularly we recommend the Adho mukha svanasana (A-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAS-anna) posture as an excellent cool-down. You can find a great video for how to get into Adho mukha svanasana posture here.

Benefits of Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward facing dog pose) For Cooling Down

We break our cool-down routine into two parts: body & mind. This pose is perfect for a cool-down after a long gym session because it rejuvenates the body by lengthening the spine and increasing lung capacity with breathing. It also brings a satisfying full body strength (especially for the arms, shoulders, legs, feet). This posture helps to tone muscles, increase circulation to the brain, and calms the mind.

❗Important

You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this (or any) fitness program to determine if it is right for your needs. This is particularly true if you have a bone or joint problem that could be made worse by a change in physical activity. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain or shortness of breath at any time you should stop immediately. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. 

Why You Should Follow A Post-Workout Routine Every Time

We can’t stress the importance of a post-workout routine enough, especially if you want to avoid any muscle cramps the next day. But that’s not the only reason. If you want to get the most benefits from your workout, it’s important to nourish your body by following a post-workout routine. Think of it as rewarding your body and mind after all that hard work and focus you put in. That’s the reason we recommend a full mind and body cool-down. Practicing a cool-down routine allows your body to stay both physically and mentally healthy. It also helps you to stick to your workout routine by avoiding injury or burnout. Of course when life gets busy, there may be times when you forget to stick to the pre- and post workout routines, but overall you should do it as often as possible.