Just like you might prepare for your next road trip, a meeting with your boss, or a big presentation, you should also prepare your body for activities and workouts.
Warming up before physical exertion provides protective benefits and helps make the most of your efforts, too. Still, many people skip this important step of their routine.
When you’re about to work out, your body is at a resting temperature – your workout is likely to raise that temperature at its core and in its muscles, too. When you first increase body and muscle temperature (aka: warm up), things get a bit looser and more pliable. You also increase blood flow, which brings oxygen and other nutrients to your muscles as they work.
All this is going to happen when you get into the main portion of your workout, but easing in with a warm-up gets the process started sooner, and helps avoid injuries in certain areas that tend to be more vulnerable, such as stiffer joints and tighter tendons.
A warm-up provides mental and functional preparation as well. You can bring increasing energy, or calm focus, to your starting moments of exercise. And you can work on controlled versions of motions you will be performing when you hit your full stride.
No matter what type of exercise you’re about to do, allowing up to 15 minutes to warm up before getting into your full routine is an excellent idea. This timing is often built into a group fitness class, but if you’re on your own, here are some guidelines for three main elements to include:
When you’re done with your warm up, you should feel more prepared to stay in top form as you get fit!