Where should I go to stretch after swimming?

October 16, 2013 9:59 AM

I'm having a terrible time figuring out where to do my 10-15 minute full-body stretch after swimming. I feel like an alien visitor to Planet Gym, and I have been trying determine where it is culturally acceptable to do this activity, but remain unsure.

I don't see anyone else stretching after they swim, but I see relatively few people stretching after they do cardio or weight lifting, either, so I assume most people just aren't doing it. I, however, am a total fanatic about stretching, and am in the midst of a full-on campaign called Operation Hamstrings-Make-Longer, so this is a non-negotiable part of my workout.

This is a list of all the places I can think of that might possibly work:

1. On the pool deck. Upsides: It's right there when I get out of the pool, and it seems reasonable because the pool area is an area where people are exercising (albeit in the water). Downsides: I never see anyone else stretching there, there isn't a whole lot of room and it's often wet (though usually I can find an out-of-the-way dry spot to put down a towel to do the stretches best accomplished on the floor).
2. In the area by the whirlpool / sauna / steam room. Upsides: it's a quieter area where I usually don't see any other gym patrons, and the tile floor is usually dry. (I put a towel on the floor for seated stretches.) Downsides: An alarmed custodian saw me sitting on the floor and asked if I was okay, so I take it to mean this is not a place where people are expected to be exercising/stretching.
3. In the locker room? Upsides: It's a very nice locker room, and the floor is carpeted, and there is usually some area where I will be out of the way of the other patrons. Downsides: I never see anyone else stretching in the locker room, and it is not an "exercise area" so it seems inappropriate.
4. Shower, dry off, put on gym clothes, and go up to the exercise floor. Upsides: This is a normal and accepted place to stretch. Downsides: I have to bring gym clothes on a day when I normally just bring my swimsuit, I have to change twice (from swim suit to gym clothes, then gym clothes to street clothes), my muscles won't be as warm because of the delay after exercising, and I'd be stretching out with wet hair, which I've never seen anyone else do, which might be an indicator that this is not the done thing, either.

If you stretch after you swim, where do you do it? If you don't stretch after swimming, where do you observe patrons stretching after swimming at your pool?

posted by BrashTech to Health & Fitness (16 answers total)

Post-swimming stretching is uncommon, so anywhere you do it is going to be somewhere that nobody else is doing post-swimming stretching. However, nobody else actually cares about your workout and if they see you sitting and stretching next to the pool, they won't actually care one way or another. If you do it in the locker room you're in the way.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 10:02 AM on October 16, 2013 [13 favorites]

In the locker room is fine, I often see people in the locker room stretching a bit post-swim. As long as you're not blocking a highly-trafficked area or doing weird slow-mo nude lunges atop a bench, no one can really complain.
posted by elizardbits at 10:06 AM on October 16, 2013 [2 favorites]

Best answer: As an ex-competitive swimmer, I assure you in no uncertain terms that stretching at any time on the pool deck is perfectly acceptable.
posted by lstanley at 10:07 AM on October 16, 2013 [12 favorites]

Honestly I stretch in the steam room... It's so steamy in there that it feels a little private, there's an unofficial code of silence/no eye contact, and the warmth helps me stretch. But if that's weird to you, it's perfectly legit to grab an extra towel and use it to sit on while you stretch in a corner of the pool deck.

With all the bizarre visuals in the pool area at my gym (speedos.. snorkels...) nobody would even notice someone stretching quietly in the corner.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:10 AM on October 16, 2013

Best answer: Pool deck is fine for this. Most of us don't stretch after coming out of the water. The water is sort of cool and stretching doesn't feel as effective at that time as it does after a run. However, if you're a person who likes a post-swim stretch then the pool deck is the spot.

A big no on the locker area.
posted by 26.2 at 10:20 AM on October 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'd stretch in the steam room or sauna!

Don't be self-conscious about your stretching! It's a gym, people may be curious, but at most they'll think THEY'RE doing it wrong.

So stretch away! Wherever you can do it!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:21 AM on October 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I usually adjust on the cooldown, or we play swim-golf, but if you want to actually stretch I would say do it right there on the deck.

My home YMCA has warnings about no exercising/stretching in the showers or the locker room. I suspect there were some complaints.
posted by 99percentfake at 10:27 AM on October 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

I stretch in the steam room too. My muscles are usually really cold after swimming and I can't ever get a good stretch unless my muscles are really warm.
posted by joan_holloway at 10:31 AM on October 16, 2013

Any reason you can't stretch in your lane?

Part of my cool-down routine after laps is to do 100 kick with the kick board. At one end of my lap lane is the deep end and I pause at that end, put my kick board on the edge and do some hamstring stretches by holding the edge and planting 1 foot at a time on the side of the wall, as high as is comfortable. 10 seconds each leg, 3 reps.

I also stretch after my warm-up. Always good to be warmed up before stretching. My warm-up right now is 50 free, 50 pull, 50 kick, 50 free. Then I do arm/shoulder stretches. Stretch out my calves, etc. I like to do some IT band stretches at the shallow end, too.

After I swim, I sometimes hit the hot tub and do gentle stretches while I warm. I never see people stretching in the locker area (that would be annoying) and I rarely see (or notice, at least) people stretching on the deck though I certainly wouldn't care if they were.

Actually, there's one guy who swims, gets out and does crunches, swims some more. Whatever works, man!
posted by amanda at 10:32 AM on October 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

Why not just ask the gym where they recommend you stretch?
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:51 AM on October 16, 2013

Honestly, it's entirely culturally acceptable to do it wherever you want. It's a gym after all! I also had similar problems when I started working out, I felt weird and self conscious doing just about anything. Also stretching before and during jogging outside seemed odd, but at one point, you just have to do it (because, well you want to!).

Really, nobody cares, just get over it and start doing it. After a few times it won't be as awkward.

(Doing it in the locker room would seem odd though. I don't know how you locker room is, but they tend to be kinda tight, and I imagine you'd just stand in the way.)
posted by ahtlast93 at 12:59 PM on October 16, 2013

Best answer: I'm another swimmer who stretches in the pool. I have arthritis, and for me swimming is largely about increasing my joint range of motion. I generally stretch multiple times throughout my workout and then a good long time at the end in my lane (assuming I'm not sharing). Sometimes, if my ITB is really tight, I'll spread out my towel and do some pigeon poses on the pool deck. Nobody has ever said a word to me about it.
posted by hydropsyche at 2:34 PM on October 16, 2013

Best answer: Someone stretching in the steam room or sauna bothers me, since it's usually impractical for anyone else and the noises aren't exactly pleasant ones. Another former competitive swimmer recommending the pool deck.
posted by kcm at 5:04 PM on October 16, 2013

Response by poster: Your varied suggestions have reassured me that I'm not crazy, there just aren't hard-and-fast rules. I'm going to keep taking a towel in to use on the pool deck unless and until someone yells at me not to do that. Thanks!
posted by BrashTech at 5:27 PM on October 16, 2013

Pool deck is fine, but I usually stretch in/around the whirlpool/sauna because the heat helps me stretch. (I only do basic sit-and-hold stretches in the quiet areas, but I'll do more complicated stuff by the whirlpool.)

The custodian only asked if you were OK because people getting light headed from the heat is a thing. After people get used to the idea that you stretch they won't be bothered. (Downside: If you do get lightheaded, they may think you're just stretching.)
posted by anaelith at 8:12 PM on October 16, 2013

Google stretching in the pool. There are some great, pool-specific cooldown stretches that use the pool walls as the anchor, and are super effective.
posted by Miko at 9:48 PM on October 16, 2013 [2 favorites]