Think back to your PE days. (Sorry, I don’t mean to bring up bad memories but…..)
Was there a single day that you didn’t warm up?
I remember my gym teacher always having us run a few laps around the gym or do some high energy jumpy routine. It got our hearts pumping and muscles warm.
But why is warming up important?
How to warm someone up is one of the first things you learn when training to be a personal trainer and we all seem to intrinsically know it’s a good thing to do.
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t actually warm up before heading out the door for a run. Like ever.
Stretching afterward? Yes. Warming up? Ehhhh….
Stretching and warming up are actually quite different (and you should technically never stretch when you’re cold #oops). Warming up has a bunch of advantageous and important effects:
+ it loosens joints and improves circulation (more blood = better recovery)
+ injury prevention (the less stiff you are, the less your chance of messing something up is)
+ there’s a psychological effect too; it gives you time to mentally prepare (like visualising reaching the top of your hike or that game winning goal)
Warming up is all about easing your body into the idea of, well, moving.
Even just 5 to 20 minutes of a brisk walk can be a great warm-up. If you’re on a treadmill, you can also raise the incline to get a bit of variety (you should also never be running on a flat treadmill but that’s for another post…).
Do you take time to warm up? What’s your routine?
I am so guilty of not warming up, I’m not sure why I guess sometimes I’m just eager to hop in and get started. And you’re right I always remember to stretch but skip warming up, I need to remedy that! Thank you for this post dear! xxxxx
http://www.romantiquely.com
I hardly do any exercise lately, however when I do I make sure to do it. I hurt myself badly long time ago because of that so I don’t want that to happen again 🙂 Stretching is kinda painful after being inactive for a long time 🙂 x
http://www.elabellaworld.com
I’m guilty of never warming up either… oops haha!
I always thought it was a little bit too much and unnecessary, but I guess that mindset should change, eh?
Thanks for sharing!
http://www.lindseyginge.com
I am so guilty of not warming up! I always stretch.. I should proabably start warming up too 🙂
http://www.thesparklingdarling.com
I usually do YouTube workout videos & they always have some element of a warm-up. Thanks for this information guide; now I’ll make sure that I always do it. :]
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I want to walk first to get myself warm up before hitting an intense workout
I love to do boxing as well
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I always stop after warming up – that’s my exercise :D:D
What I usually do is just some stretches and small exercises to loosen up the muscles. It’s important because this way you don’t strain your muscles I think.
http://www.theavantguardian.com
Aww, you are probably right…I usually want my workout to be done as fast as possible, so I rarely take time for a warm-up. But I try to take your words by heart now 😉
x Stefanie
http://www.thefashionrose.com
I don’t warm up when I start my gym session but I think now I have to. 🙂 Thanks to this 😀
Dice, wildest-heart.net
[…] nicer to not be freezing your butt off, but it’s also important for your muscles. Similar to why it’s important to warm up before working out in general, you muscles will just generally respond better to exercise if you’re warmed […]