Best Post-Workout Stretches

Tired of waking up with sore muscles after working out? It’s important to take care of your body and help it recover after putting it through intense exercises. A huge part of this is ensuring that you’re stretching your muscles properly after you exercise; this not only helps boost your flexibility, but will also relieve some of the tension in your muscles and reduce your risk of injury. Here are a few useful stretches to try after your next workout: 

Child’s Pose

Child’s pose is a common yoga position, but it’s also a great way to stretch your back and your hip muscles. To do this stretch, start by kneeling on the ground and sitting on your heels. Then, lean forward and rest your forehead on the floor, folding your arms in front of you as they rest on the ground as well. 

Hamstring Stretch

Stretching your hamstrings is always important after going for a long run or completing another leg-heavy workout, like cycling or kickboxing. This will help to relieve any tight leg muscles, and, in turn, can help your lower back feel a lot better too. There are several ways to stretch your hamstrings; one of the easiest ways is to sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you and reach your arms as far forward as you can (to your toes if possible) without bending your knees. 

Seated Spinal Twist

A seated spinal twist is a great stretch to try after any intense cardio workout. For this one, start seated on the floor with your legs in front of you. Then, bend your left knee and cross it over your right leg, resting your left foot flat on the floor beside your right knee. Lift your right arm and bring it to the outside of your left leg. Rotate your upper body to the left before turning your head and then your chest back to center. Then, repeat on the other side. 

Side Stretch

If you tend to work your core a lot, side stretches are definitely something you should be incorporating into your cool-down. This will help stretch the muscles between your ribs and abdomen. It’s about as simple as it gets: Just raise one arm up and pull it sideways over your head, bending your upper body to the other side as well. Then, switch sides. 

Barker Wellness Products for Post-Workout Recovery

Sometimes your body needs a little extra help when it comes to post-workout recovery. That’s where Barker Wellness hemp products come into play. Our Recovery Tincture is made with soothing, anti-inflammatory CBC to help relax your muscles and relieve pain. It’s part of a whole line of all-natural products we’ve created using hemp extract and broad spectrum CBD. A range of cannabinoids like CBG and CBN can help target a number of needs, whether you’re looking for a better night’s sleep or relief from muscle pain. So next time you’re getting your stretches in, try including a few drops of the Recovery Tincture into your post-workout routine--you may be surprised by how much relief it can bring!