I understand you might be pressed for time and want to skip your warm-up and jump right into your workout. It sounds like a great idea but is it? No, a warm up won't get you flat abs but it has a very important place in your workout routine.
Why warm up? Here are a few good reasons.
Warming up before you work out will..
- Increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, which prevents you from getting out of breath to early or too easily
- Improve coordination and reaction times
- Reduce the chance of injury by allowing your muscles and joints to move through a greater range of motion easily (and safely)
- Lubricate your joints for easier (and less painful) movement
- Help mentally prepare you for the workout ahead, giving you a few minutes to get "pumped up" for a great workout!
I suggest you warm up before EVERY workout. Yes, even yoga! I'm not saying you have to spend 20 minutes rolling out and preparing your body for exercise. It doesn't have to take a lot of time since 5-10 minutes is typically all you need to get your body ready for working out. You should spend more time warming up for very intense workouts though.
What should I do to warm up? A warm up can be a lower intensity version of the activity you're about to do, or it can be something different. A proper warm up gradually raises your heart rate and gets your muscles primed for activity. Want a quick video to help you warm up? Check out this Easy 5-Minute Mobilty Warm-Up from WebMD
Do you ever skimp on your warm-up? If so, why?
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No, i never skip my warm up before starting exercise. I knew that it lowers the chances of muscle injury but good to know other benefits of it as well. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so smart to never skip! I'm so happy to hear this! Your body 100% thanks you!
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