D o you warm up before your workout session? If you do, then good on you! You’re doing things the right way then. If you don’t then please do start! ASAP! Because warming up is an important part of your overall workout routine.
Did you know that if you don’t warm up your muscles properly before you begin your exercise session you could risk injuring them? Just like starting up the engine of a car, your body needs to get heated up and loosened up properly before you can begin your workout.
And it doesn’t even take long to do it, so why skip it? You just need to spend 5 minutes warming up your major muscles groups and it doesn’t even take very long. Plus it gets you limber and pumped up ready to start your routine.
Here are some basic warm up moves you should incorporate into your workout regiment to risk avoiding any injury:
- Stretching Arms & Legs: Stand on the tips of your toes and stretch your arms above your head, elongating your body as much as possible. This really gives you a good stretch from your toes right to the tips of your fingers.
- Hamstring Stretch: Remember how we said your legs are the biggest and most used muscle group in your body? Which is why you need to stretch them out properly because you depend on your legs to do your exercises. Stretch one leg out, keep the other one bent, and sit back. This really stretches out your hamstring and calf muscles, getting your legs ready for a warm up.
- Quad Stretch: Now that you’ve warmed up the back of your legs, it is time for the front. Stand on one leg, bend the other one back and grab your foot with your hand. You should feel a fantastic stretch right along the front of your legs.
- Light Aerobics: Do some light jogging in place, jumping jacks, or bounce from one foot to the other for about a minute. This gets your heart pumping slightly, preparing it for your workout.
- Hand & Back Stretch: Stretch both your arms in front of you and clasp your hands together. Pull forward and you should feel a stretch all along the arms and at your shoulders too.
- Neck Circles: Just roll your head around slowly from side to side or up and down for a couple of seconds to get your neck loosened up. Your neck muscles need to be stretched out too, even though they may be a small muscle group you’re working compared to the rest.
And you’re all set and ready to start your workout routine!
Image credits: ehow.com, runtheline.com, styleandfocuspr.blogspot.com, optimumfitness.co, exercise.about.com, setonspineandscoliosis.com, spinecenteronline.com
