You have burnt your calories after sweating out at the gym and now is the time to get back to the hustle and bustle of the day. But, not without doing some final steps to close your workout. We are talking about stretching after an extensive workout through Yoga poses.
Yoga has been a way of healthy life for many people and they incorporate it in their routine in one way or another. You can add a few stretching yoga poses after a traditional workout as it is known to be highly effective for supercharging your body and relieving unwanted stress. This article covers ten simple yoga poses to try after your workout session.
What are the Benefits of Yoga Stretching after a Workout?
Stretching after a workout has a multitude of benefits, such as the following:
- Yoga poses are more varied than regular athletic stretches, targeting each muscle group from any angle.
- When you perform yoga, you not only focus on stretching your body but also on your breath, which relaxes the muscles and allows for a deeper tension release.
- Yoga stretches help you pay attention to your alignment by maximising efficiency. You can incorporate different types of poses to witness great results.
- When you work on your breath, it helps you avoid the temptation to force your muscles to lengthen.
- Your body becomes flexible, which helps you avoid unwanted injuries.
Ten Yoga Stretches to Try after a Workout
Legs-Up
One of the easiest poses, it is also great for after cardio and strength-training fitness sessions. The restorative pose promotes quicker recovery while helping you quiet your mind. All you need to do is lie on your back, shimmy your bum close to a wall, and rest your legs on it.
Pigeon Pose
A pigeon pose is the perfect glute stretching pose. Glutes are the largest and the most used muscle in sprinting and if you don’t take care of it, it might lead to unwanted injuries. A pigeon pose offers deep stretch as you take the support of your legs while stretching this group of muscles.
Downdog
Downdog helps relieve tightness in the upper bag, shoulders, lower back, hamstrings, and calves. It is the best counter to everything taking place while running or sprinting when your muscles are contracting.
Hamstring Stretch
A hamstring stretch involves stretching your leg muscles and relieving tension from them. You must try it after long cardio sessions and even after kickboxing classes. Stretching the areas such as your legs and lower back offers relief of flare and has also proven to be relieving for sciatic nerve.
Child’s Pose
No post-workout stretching should be complete without doing a child’s pose. It is one of the best stretches to try immediately after any type of workout. It helps relax and calm the muscles of your body as well as your brain. A child’s pose also helps increase flexibility by decompressing the spine, core, hips, and ankles while offering relief to the neck and back.
Seated Spinal Twist
It is yet another glute stretching pose that you must try to support spine mobility. Besides this, yoga stretching helps in digestion. As per experts, it helps lengthen the spine that decompresses the vertebrae, offering you an instant energy lift while you stretch your hip and glute. You can try this pose after extensive workout sessions like cardio, kickboxing, HIIT, and boot camp-style workouts.
Wheel Pose
Wheel pose has been a part of many yoga practices for a long time. It targets your quads, shoulders, and neck, relieving stress. It also opens your chest when you crouch in spin claspses and balances your body. You can lie down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat near the butt. Clasp your hands under the pelvis by bringing the shoulder blades together. Lift your hips off the floor, and you are done.
Butterfly
This pose is considered one of the most beneficial stretches you can perform for the adductor muscles of the inner thigh. It also serves as a great hip opener and helps relieve muscle tightness after long periods of sitting.
Cobra Pose
The cobra pose is an excellent yoga stretch of the back and core that helps stretch the spine and adds strength. This pose also gives your shoulders, arms, abs, and glutes a chance for additional toning.
Arm and Wrist Stretch
Your arms and wrists are often overlooked during your workout routine, but they are important joints that allow a wide range of movement, especially for bodyweight and upper body exercises and movements. You must stretch both these areas especially if you perform movements like push-ups, planks, circuit training, boot camp exercises, mountain climbers, and more.
Takeaway
You must include the above-listed yoga poses in your post-workout routine to release tension from your body and to feel rejuvenated. They are easy to try and have many benefits for overall health and fitness.
