Tips for Cooling Down
Just as you should set aside time for warming up prior to doing any kind of exercise, making sure you cool down is also as important. Cooling down after exercise can help return your breathing and heart rate to normal levels. It can also limit feelings of light headedness that you may get when quickly stopping after exercising at a challenging level, and it'll decrease the chance of stiffness or soreness.
- To cool down from a good cardio workout, gradually lower your heart rate to between approximately 85 to 95 beats per minute (which is approaching normal resting levels).
- If you are exercising with weights, cooling down can be as simple as doing your last set at a very light weight, followed by 5 to 10 minutes of very light cardio. Use the heart rate noted above as a gauge.
- After your breathing and/or heart rate have returned to near-normal levels, you should perform the appropriate stretches.
