After a tough cardio session, be it on the treadmill or cycling, taking time for a proper cooldown helps regulate blood flow, prevent injury, and improve flexibility. Take advantage of your supple, post-workout muscles and stretch! Here are some essential stretches for your post-cardio cooldown.
This stretch does double duty by opening up your chest and stretching out your hamstrings.
Lengthen tight IT bands, the fascia which runs down the outside of your thighs, with this stretch.
This position will stretch out your quads as well as the front of your hip flexors.
Lengthen your piriformis, a deep muscle in the glute region, with this stretch simple but effective stretch.
Focus on lengthening your torso, so your hips and lower back get the stretch they deserve. You might even feel this stretching your inner thigh, too.
Give your hamstrings a little more love by focusing on them one at a time with this stretch.
Twisting is a great release for the lower back, and if your glutes or IT band are really tight this position will help lengthen them too.