A workout cool-down can often feel like a real downer. You’ve just had a fantastic workout, it lasted just under an hour and now you’re ready to go home, shower, and get on with your day. But then you look at your training app and your trainer has put in those two little words “Cool down.” Reluctantly you go through the motions of your cool down quickly to take as little time as possible.
This is incredibly relatable. Workout cool-downs can feel pointless; like a ploy to grab a few extra steps or stretch out the muscle groups you just worked so hard to pump up!
But workout cool-downs can be an important part of your fitness routine but maybe not for the reasons you think.
What Is a Workout Cool Down?
Workout cool-downs are a period of lower-intensity exercise following a workout.
A cool-down from a jog might be a brisk walk that eases into a stroll over 5-10 minutes.
A cool-down from a swim could look like 5-10 minutes of slower swimming than your workout demanded.
And cool-down from leg day might look like 5-10 minutes of walking on an incline or 5-10 minutes of a mobility flow to reach those end range of motion spots.
Cool-downs don’t need to be complicated, just an intentional interval of time that tells your body it can come out of stress mode and signal your heart rate to return to normal.
Why Is It Important?
A workout cool-down is an opportunity for you to signal to your body that you are coming out of this dedicated time of stress and returning to life as usual.
Contrary to popular belief, warm-ups, not cool-downs are what help prevent muscle soreness over the days post-exercise.
Rather, workout cool-downs are important because they allow your blood pressure to recover slowly to pre-workout levels. This is especially important after cardiovascular and endurance exercises (I’m looking at you, dance class, rehearsals, and shows!)
Why is it important to bring our heart rate back down after rigorous exercise?
After rigorous exercise your heart rate is faster than normal, your body temperature is elevated and your blood vessels are widened. Stopping too abruptly can lead to that post-workout nausea or even passing out.
Bringing your heart rate back to normal allows your body to re-regulate, come out of stress mode, and into a state of normalcy again.
Post-workout cool-downs are also an excellent time to work on stretching and mobility. Because your muscles are warm, they are primed to slowly work through their full range of motion.
So bonus! Not only are you bringing your heart rate and body temperature back to normal, but you’re also training your mobility – and all in just 5-10 minutes!
So, next time you roll your eyes at a post-workout cool-down, stop take a deep breath, and remind yourself that your body needs time to transition.
Honor your body by giving it the 5-10 minutes it needs to do so!
Want more tips for optimizing your fitness as a dancer?
Give these blogs a read: 10 Exercises For Dancers That Will Transform Your Technique, Is Static Stretching Canceled?: Busting Myths and Revealing Facts on Stretching for Dancers, In and Out Fully Body Workout For Dancers
