When crunched for time, the post-workout cool-down is the first thing many of us skip. We aim to get the heart pumping and blood flowing during exercise. It’s just as important to intentionally bring the body back to baseline. A post-workout cool-down helps bring your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing to a more normal range. It also helps deregulate your nervous system, says Matthew Sacco , a health and sports-performance psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

---

Persons: crunched, Matthew Sacco Organizations: Cleveland Clinic Locations: Ohio