Science Saturday: Cool Downs

How many times do you walk into EHP and immediately start the workout without a warm up? NEVER. (Even if you're late, you're still getting a warm up with those burpees we all love).

Do you have a few extra minutes to spare post workout? If you do, don't rush out the door so quickly and consider a 5-10 minute cool down.

Here are a few reasons why...

When we exercise, our heart rates increase and our blood is being forced into different areas of the body, where it is going depends on what movements we are doing. When we don't cool down properly, you may feel a little dizzy after suddenly stopping from the intense workout. When we DO cool down, our goal is to continue moving so our heart rate and breathing can return to its normal rate and new blood can continue to be pushed and cycled throughout the body. When new blood is introduced to the muscles, it allows waste to be flushed out, aiding in recovery.

A few options for cooling down can be as simple as walking, an easy pace on the lovely assault bike, or a nice slow jog for 400m or so. There is no need for the cool down to be excessive, simple movements are all that is needed, and stretching after the heart rate and breathing are under control will help improve flexibility and also aid in helping the muscles relax (hold for about 30 sec).

1. WARM UP

2. WORKOUT

3.COOL DOWN

4.FEEL GREAT