5 Reasons Why I Should Stretch After a Workout

Okay you hardcore exercisers, we know it’s tempting to not stretch after your workout. It’s actually just as important as the warm up and actual workout though. Don’t believe us? We’re sharing 5 reasons to stretch after your workout. It’s going to make your normal exercises even better and keep you from cussing leg day!

5 Reasons to Stretch After Your Workout

1. The Mind Body Connection – After a hard workout, stretching allows you focus in on your breath and let your mind realize all of the hardwork you just put in. It’s also been shown people that take a moment after a workout to breathe and recover burn more fat than those that don’t.
2. Can Improve Your Form – Working on  cardio or yoga? Taking time to stretch after your workout will help you improve your range of motion. So that the next time you workout your form and ability to do every move will continue to get better!
3. Flexibility – Flexibility is just a key to well-rounded fitness along with agility, strength and endurance. Just adding in a 5-10 minute stretch routine focused on the muscles that were just worked or feel “tight” can help improve this key!
4. Can Reduce Muscle Soreness  -When we workout, our muscles build up lactic acid which causes muscle fatigue and soreness. Stretching can help break that lactic acid up; however, some soreness may still happen since we’re breaking down muscle fibers when stretch training.
5. Gradually Lets the Heart Rate Return to Normal Better – Just like anything, it’s best to make gradual changes. After a workout, your heart is probably pounding and your muscles are warm. Stretching allows your heart rate to gradually return to normal, and since your muscles are warm you’re going to get a deeper stretch.

If you hate stretching, start with a light walk or foam rolling after your workout. Then add on 1 to 2 stretches on your worked muscles. Even just 5 minutes of stretching can benefit your body!

What kind of stretching should you do?

Before your workout – you’ll want to do dynamic stretching. Dynamic stretching is the best for warming up your muscles versus static stretching. Dynamic stretches have you doing controlled movements (not bouncing or jumping) through the movements to warm up the muscles you’re about to use.

After your workout, you can do more static based stretches to lengthen the muscles out that you just worked.

We also love practicing these 15 hip opening stretches through out the week! They feel so good and help with mobility!

Are you still sore? Check out our other tips to cut down on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) here.

Do you stretch after your workout?