Many tend to skip cooldown post the workout session. This might seem a convenient thing to do as cooldown exercises don’t appear to add any value to the overall workout. However, cooling down your body after a grilling workout session is an extremely important thing to do. When you exercise, your heart rate increases and you start breathing deeply. Cooling down brings your heart rate down and you start breathing at a normal pace. It also relaxes your body and helps with any muscular strains. For cooling down, you can stretch or do the lighter version of the workout. For example, if you jogged, you can just walk at a slow pace. Another great option is Yoga. There are several poses you can do to cool yourself down. Here are seven such poses:
1# Cat & Cow Pose (Marjaryasana, Bitilasana)
- Come on your all fours with knees under your hips and palms under your shoulders.
- Inhale and lift your sit bones up, your chest forward, while allowing your belly to drop down. This is the cow pose.
- Next, do the opposite by tucking your tailbone in, your chest curled inwards and your abdomen tucked in and extending upwards. Your spine should be curled inwards and gently exhale. This is the cat pose.
- Alternate between these two at the pace of your breath.
- Repeat this 5-6 times.
2# Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
- Come on your all fours with palms under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
- Bring your palms a few inches forward and tuck your toes in.
- Gently rise with your hands and legs strong and your tailbone reaching upwards.
- Stay in this pose for a couple of breaths.
- Thread The Needle
- Come in the tabletop position with knees under your hips and palms under your shoulders.
- Extend your right hand upwards and turn your neck so that your gaze is set on the extended palm.
- Gently bring your right hand down and thread it beneath the left arm.
- Bring your chest down close to the ground, while your hips should stay the same. Turn your neck towards the right hand and let your head rest on the floor. You can extend your left arm forward.
- Stay in this pose for some breaths and repeat the same on the opposite side.
3# Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana)
- From the downward dog position, bring your right feet in between your palms.
- Bring your left knee to rest on the floor, while that leg extends backward.
- Next, bring the top of your left knee to the floor.
- Either keep your hands as they are or extend them upwards for an upper-body stretch.
- Stay in this pose for a couple of breaths and repeat the same on the other side.
4# Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)
- From the downward dog position, bring your right light forward as if you are about to step into a lunge.
- But instead of a lunge, bend the knee and bring the leg to the floor so that the right knee is near the right palm and the right foot is near the left palm. There should be about a 90° angle between the right thigh and the lower leg.
- Next, bring your left leg down and extend it backward.
- Either stay in this position or bring your upper body down. You can bring your forehead to the floor or let it rest on your palms.
- Stay in this pose for a couple of breaths and repeat the same on the other side.
5# Sphinx Pose (Salamba Bhujangasana)
- Lay on your stomach with the top of the toes resting on the floor
- Extend your arms forward with your lower arms touching the ground and your palms flat on the floor.
- Take a deep breath and rise up.
- With a gentle bend in your spine, stay in this pose for a few breaths.
6# Child’s Pose (Balasana)
- Come on your all fours.
- Next, take your knees as far apart as you can and bring your toes to touch one another.
- Extend your arms forward and bring your upper body down so that your belly rests between your thighs and your forehead on the floor.
- Stay in this pose for a couple of breaths.
You should always close your Yoga practice with a few minutes of corpse pose or savasana. To do this, lie flat back on the floor. Keep your feet apart and your arms on the sides. Gently relax your whole body from your head to your toes. Stop your mind’s chatter by bringing your focus to your breath. You can stay in savasana for as long as you want.
