A yoga or pilates class can do wonders for the dexterity, agility and overall poise of a class member.  These traditional arts can lower blood pressure, strengthen joints and bones, and tone muscles, but one good element of a class can get lost in the shuffle.

Basically, the end of a class is a perfect time for getting into a more relaxed state before leaving the gym or health club.  It’s not just yoga and pilates students who can benefit from a relaxation “cool-down”: those who practice the traditional “power workout” (ex: cardio training plus weight lifting) can also use a brief relaxation finish to get into a more tranquil state of mind when checking out and returning to the “everyday world”.

Fitness participants can do cool-down relaxation themselves or find it as part of a group class routine.  Either way, it can be a powerful way to resolve a workout.

The common cool-down begins with deep breathing.  Trainers can get into a comfortable position in a quiet space and let themselves rest in a natural, soft pose, while focusing on taking deep breaths and exhaling them slowly.

The next step consists of focusing on specific groups of muscles.  It’s common to start with the lower body, with the feet and toes.  Trainers can get all of those muscles into the tightest position possible, hold them, and then slowly release, until the muscles are completely relaxed.

This activity should then progress to the upper body, and then to the jaw.  Users can take advantage of any mental pattern association or “mantras” to familiarize the experience.  It’s up to the individual to take groups of muscles in sequence.

Tightening the facial muscles involves “scrunching up” the face, with the scalp moved into a tight position, before releasing the muscles and relaxing the face just as was done before with the other muscle groups.

In the relaxed portions of the exercise, users should take time to “feel” their existence passively, focusing on the way their body feels when it is at rest.  This helps the mind to associate a specific physical feeling with restful, relaxing states.  The user should consider the floor beneath them, and the air around them, as a positive environment for contemplation.

This is where the trainer “drifts” into meditative spaces, by closing their eyes and contemplating visual associations that help the body to relax further.
After an appropriate period of time, the trainer can “bring back” the body gradually, back into an attentive state that anticipates the return from the meditation to the gym, and from the gym to the “outside world”.  Participants can do this by gradually “drifting” back into their physical environment, opening their eyes, and then taking a series of positions (like sitting up, crouching, and standing up) that complete the process.
If your fitness routine lacks a meditative center, try something like this to bring more relaxation into your day.