I am wondering how many of you take the time to warm down with an easy swim after a workout. I always feel rushed for time and usually end up skipping most or all of the warmdown, feeling that it is a better use of time to workout right up till the time I need to get out.
I know the conventional wisdom is that warmdowns are important- I just wonder how many actually do more than an easy 50 or 100 before hitting the showers.
I may be the only person who likes to warm down this way, but you might want to try it.
Do 4-6 very slow 50s freestyle. During the first 25, hold your breath while peacefully chanting the word "OM" or "peace" to yourself. Do an open turn and breathe all you want on the wall before pushing off. Then paddle back the second 25 breathing as much as you want.
There's a deeply relaxing meditative quality for me to this, and I think the deep breath-hold 25 reinforces it. I should say that it's easy for me to swim a 25 without breathing, and this might not be the case with everyone. The goal is not to feel hypoxic at all--just relaxed, smooth, peaceful. If you feel the urge to take a breath, by all means do so.
Anyhow, I don't know if this has any positive effects for swimming per se, but I do find it is stress relieving for the mind!
I may be the only person who likes to warm down this way, but you might want to try it.
Do 4-6 very slow 50s freestyle. During the first 25, hold your breath while peacefully chanting the word "OM" or "peace" to yourself. Do an open turn and breathe all you want on the wall before pushing off. Then paddle back the second 25 breathing as much as you want.
There's a deeply relaxing meditative quality for me to this, and I think the deep breath-hold 25 reinforces it. I should say that it's easy for me to swim a 25 without breathing, and this might not be the case with everyone. The goal is not to feel hypoxic at all--just relaxed, smooth, peaceful. If you feel the urge to take a breath, by all means do so.
Anyhow, I don't know if this has any positive effects for swimming per se, but I do find it is stress relieving for the mind!
