Since walking engages your glutes and leg muscles, make sure those are the areas you are primarily working while warming up. Experts suggest that by taking even five to10 minutes to walk slowly or complete some exercises, you'll have a better workout and prevent injuries. Cooling down Cooling down is for the end of workout what warming up is for the beginning of one. It is important to allow your body to cool down, slow blood flow and resume regular functions. To cool down after your walk, you can slow your walking pace for five to10 minutes, or perform the same exercises that work your main walking muscle groups as your warm-up did.
Many walkers like to follow their cooldown with a stretching routine.
Stretching is an important end to any workout as it helps to develop your flexibility, which in turn will allow you to complete better workouts. The only time to really derive the benefits of stretching is after your cooldown, when your body is still warm, pliable and begging for a good stretch. If you run to the fridge, the TV or the locker room without stretching, you're not only wasting a great opportunity in your program, you're also more likely to wake up stiff and pained the next day. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Nutricise.