How to Cool Down After Fitness Training

Although most people know to warm up before exercising, it's also important to cool down properly after fitness training. Cooling down helps improve your flexibility as well as bring your body temperature and heart rate back down before moving on with the rest of your day.

• Do the reverse of your warm-up exercise. Whether you do jumping jacks, lunges, walking or jogging around the track, most people have a preferred way of warming up for the workout. The simplest way to cool down after fitness exercise is to use the same routine that you did at the beginning of your exercise routine to warm up. If you don't have a set warm-up routine, then try riding a stationary bike at low speed or walking around a track to cool down.


• Perform activities in an area conducive to getting your body temperature back to normal. Part of cooling down is to get your heart rate and body temperature to drop back to normal after finishing your exercise routine. If you exercise in a hot room, find out whether there is a cooler area where you can perform your cool down routine.


• Select an exercise that you know how to do, but perform it at a slower pace or at a reduced intensity. Any exercise can function as a good cool down routine. If, for example, you like to do hamstring curls, simply reduce the weight that you would normally use, and do the exercise.


• Perform stretches to cool down. By doing stretches, you can help your entire body relax before leaving the gym. This also helps improve your flexibility. Make sure to stretch all the muscles that you've taxed during your exercise session.