The Best Warm-Up Exercises Before A Workout
Before beginning any exercise regime, you should visit a doctor to get a healthy start. The doctor can then suggest what exercises are beneficial, as well as how to begin.
Someone beginning an exercise regimen for the first time might consider a simple walking program. It is inexpensive and can be done without any equipment at all. In any case, warming up is just as important as doing the exercise itself. In fact, warming up should become a lifelong habit, to make sure that there is no damage to muscles, bones and joints!
The Basics
Warm-up exercises can be done in a variety of ways. One of the best ways is a timed short walk at a moderate pace. Walking as a warm-up is effective because it regulates breathing and gets your legs accustomed to walking, without exerting too much energy. Walking at a leisurely tempo is a good way to warm-up for almost any beginner.
Stretching
Another method of warming up is to do stretches. Arm and leg stretches, either standing or lying down, gently stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons, so that there is minimal risk of injury while doing more strenuous exercises later on.
It is also important to breathe properly while doing warm-up exercises as oxygen is essential to muscle function and making sure that the body can perform at its optimum. The more oxygen you have, the better you’ll perform.
Other ways to warm-up before exercising would be to swim a few laps or 10-20 minutes of yoga or pilates. If done gently, these movements can really open up your body and prepare yourself for harder impact that’s coming from running, Zumba, lifting, etc.
Think About It
Warm-ups might also include resting before beginning exercise as well. It is suggested that most people should wait thirty minutes after eating before engaging in any exercise. They should also drink enough fluids before, during, and after exercise to make sure that they are well hydrated.
For those engaged in weight training, circuit training, or other muscle building endeavors, it might be wise to drink supplemental drinks that provide vitamins, minerals, and a good balance of electrolytes to deter hydration and deficiency issues later on.
Never Forget
Warm-up exercises are just as important as the actual physical activity. Even if you don’t have time to work out (say you’re going on vacation for a couple weeks), a warm up routine can be done once or twice throughout the day to get some minimal health benefits.
Also, not warming up before exercise increases the opportunity that an injury can occur and that the very thing exercise is designed to do can be negated! This is because injury usually means taking time off. That means a lot of missed workouts.
by Tyler Tillman who writes about health, finance & frequenting www.healthinsurancequotes.org.
