Warming up before you exercise is important for many reasons. A good warm up, consisting of light cardiovascular exercise combined with stretches, will physically and mentally prepare you for the workout ahead.
In order to physically prepare your body for the demands of a strenuous workout it is important to by gradually increase your heart rate and increase circulation to your muscles, tendons and ligaments. Stretching the muscles also prepares them for physical activity and prevents injuries. Good warm up sessions should last between 20 minutes and half an hour.
It is also important to differentiate between warming up and stretching, and recognise the importance of both. Jumping right into stretching without first warming up and raising body temperature can cause injury because your muscles need warmth to achieve optimal stretch. Warming up and skipping stretching can also lead to injury.
Check out these exercises and stretches you can use in your warm up sessions this Winter to help you Move Well.
1. The Lunge Stretch
2. High Knees
3. Star Jumps
4. Push-up to Cat Pose
5. Windmill Turns
