Warming up before exercise is important. Jumping straight into a workout without warming up can lead to injury. However, it’s just as important to make sure the warm up is done properly. Improper or ineffective warm ups can still put a person at risk for injury. Below are some general rules to follow.
Start your warm up with some cardio: This can range from walking to some light jogging. This will help warm up the body and its muscles.
Do some dynamic stretching: Dynamic stretches simulate the kinds of movements one would do during a workout. These include walking lunges, squats, arm circles, and torso rotations. Be sure your stretches work out all the areas you plan on using during your workout.
Save the static stretches: Static stretches are stretches where you stand in place and hold the stretch. These are better for cool downs rather than for a warm up.
Make sure the warm up properly warms you up: A good rule of thumb is to take 10-15 minutes. You should also aim to break a sweat if you can.
Warming up can help save oneself from potential injury. Injury can lead to not being able to exercise for long periods of time. Thus, for people who want to exercise, a proper warm up is very much recommended.
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