When exercising, many people know that it is very important to stretch before working the muscles. However, it’s often overlooked that it’s just as important to stretch your muscles after your workout to ensure they don’t tense up in the hours afterward. Here is a list of 3 important cool down stretches to complete after every ab workout.
(1) Lying Neck Pull: Lie on your back with both legs bent and feet firmly on the floor. Support the back of your head with your fingers, resting your palms on the top of your head. Exhale and slowly lower your chin toward your chest, aiming to keep your upper back in contact with the floor. This will help loosen all the abdominal muscles to prevent them from tightening.
(2) Interlocking Hands Over Head: Interlock your fingers over your head, palms facing up. Exhale and push your hands higher than your head. You should also feel this stretch in your shoulders and back, which is important because often during an ab workout, these muscles are worked in the same way.
(3) Facing the ceiling: Begin the stretch by kneeling on the floor, holding your heels with both hands. Breathe out slowly, lifting your buttocks up and forward as you bring your head back. This will arch your back. Once again, this not only stretches your abs, but also your back.
Every good workout ends with some good cool down stretches that hit all the muscles used. By using these cool-down stretches, you’ll ensure your abdominal muscles are less sore the next day, allowing you to work them even harder the next day.
