Hip-Opening Cardio Cooldown
Post-sweat, calm your muscles and your mind with this sequence by Bethany Lyons, Baptiste Yoga Teacher and SoulCycle Master Instructor.
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Yoga is a great cross-training complement to cardio. After a run, spin or swim, a good hip-opening series can work wonders to calm and cool you down. The body is warm and ready to receive the poses, and staying in a hip opener for a longer stretch allows both the heart rate and breathing to slow. So post-sweat, stretch out with this cardio cool-down sequence by Bethany Lyons, Baptiste Yoga Teacher and SoulCycle Master Instructor.
Half Pigeon Pose, Right Leg
Bring your right leg forward and take 15 slow, deep breaths in this forward fold variation of One-Legged King Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana),
Double Pigeon Pose
Sit up and stack your left leg on top of your right for Fire Log Pose (Agnistambhasana), aka Double Pigeon. Stay here for 10 slow, deep breaths.
Downward-Facing Dog Pose
Plant your hands at the front of your mat and slowly step back into Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana).
Half Pigeon Pose, Left Leg
Bring your left leg forward and take 15 slow, deep breaths in this forward fold variation of One-Legged King Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana),
Double Pigeon Pose
Sit up and stack your right leg on top of your left for Fire Log Pose (Agnistambhasana), aka Double Pigeon. Stay here for 10 slow, deep breaths.
Downward-Facing Dog Pose
Plant your hands at the front of your mat and slowly step back into Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana).
Frog Pose
From Down Dog, then drop onto your hands and knees and turn sideways on your mat for
Frog Pose (Bhekasana). Stay here, breathing deeply for 2–5 minutes.
Reclining Bound Angle Pose
From Frog Pose, slowly come onto your back and hug your knees into your chest. Then prepare for Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana). If you need props like a bolster or blanket under your spine or blocks under your knees, take the time to set those up now. Then relax here for at least 10 slow deep breaths.