For these reasons, you won't want to miss a hitch after a workout.
To get the most out of a workout, it's important to end it with a hitch. Learn more about the benefits of a short recovery period and how to incorporate it into your next workout.Important advantages of a hitch
You may be tempted to skip a hitch after a workout, but there are several reasons why a hitch is important.
Allows you to normalize your heart rate
Most types of exercise cause an increase in heart rate. Cardiovascular exercise, also called aerobic exercise, can significantly increase your heart rate.
At the end of a workout, you need your heart rate to slowly return to normal, especially if you have been doing high loads for a long period of time. By slowly finishing your workout and cooling down for a few minutes, you will help your body avoid dizziness or feeling weak.
Slows down breathing
When your heart rate increases during exercise, your breathing also gets deeper. This is a sign that you are working hard and burning more calories through exercise. The hitch allows your breathing to gradually return to the same rhythm that it was before the start of the workout.
Improves relaxation
One of the most important benefits of exercise is to increase self-confidence. A hitch is a great opportunity for you to reflect on your achievements and give yourself credit for the hard work you've done during your workout. This can contribute to a feeling of relaxation and well-being, as well as increase your motivation.
Risks of abandoning the hitch
If you decide to skip the hitch and finish your workout with the last rep or sprint, you may face some potential drawbacks.
Dizziness
When you exercise, the heart pumps blood to your legs and arms at an increased rate before it circulates back to the heart. With a sudden stop of training without a hitch, blood can accumulate in the extremities, and its return to the heart and brain slows down. This can cause dizziness or fainting.
Lactic acid accumulation
Throughout your workout, you accumulate lactic acid, especially when doing high-intensity exercises. By participating in a short restorative hitch, you can help to slowly "wash out" lactic acid from your body. Studies have shown that active recovery helps to delay muscle fatigue and increase the effectiveness of training.
How to make a hitch
How you perform the hitch often depends on the type of exercises you performed during the workout. Most hitches last 3-10 minutes and involve slower, softer movements and stretching exercises.
For example, to cool down after a jog, you can take a quick walk for 2-3 minutes, and then gradually reduce the pace to walking. At the end of the walk, you can do a standing stretch to increase the range of movement of the leg muscles that you have just worked out.
Complete the hitch with a sitting stretch to improve the flexibility of the whole body and promote relaxation.
If your workout included more strength exercises, your hitch may involve stretching your entire body to increase the range of motion in the joints you just worked out. You should be especially careful when stretching the joints you've just been working on. Therefore, if you have been doing exercises to strengthen biceps and triceps, your hitch may include stretching biceps and triceps.
It is also useful to include relaxing exercises in the hitch. This may include a few minutes of deep breathing or yoga elements. These mind and body exercises, along with smooth movements and stretching, will help you cool down and keep your body healthy.
Result
Get the most out of your workout by completing it with a short recovery period. A hitch can help in your body's transition from a rapid to a normal heart rate and can lead you to the next part of your day.
Even a short 3-10-minute hitch can provide relaxation benefits and increase the physical and mental benefits of exercise. Many types of relaxing exercises — light walking, stretching, or yoga — can be a form of hitch, so find the one that works best for you.
