Whether you’re hitting the weights or getting ready for a cardio session, make sure you spend at least five to ten minutes warming up those muscles. Warming up properly can help you to prevent injuries and to push yourself a little harder in your workouts.
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Five Reasons to Warm Up Before Training
1. Increase body temperature
Raising your core temperature before an intense workout can improve performance and reduce the risk of injury to the muscles and connective tissues. Simple exercises such as a series of jumping jacks, jump roping, jogging in place, or a few laps of speed walking will be enough to increase your core temperature.
2. Boosts blood flow to the muscles
You need blood circulating throughout the body to push out those reps and get the most out of your workouts. Warming up before your training session will increase blood flow to all major muscle groups so you can get the most out of your workout.
3. Puts you in the right frame of mind
When it’s time to train hard and really push yourself, you need to get your head in the game. Warming up can help to clear your mind and help you to focus on what’s important in the gym – getting the job done! Try warming up to songs which get you amped up to help you tune out everything but your workout.
4. Increases flexibility
If you lift weights regularly, you may have developed some habits which limit your range of motion. This can have a negative effect on flexibility, which is why it’s so important to change up your routine frequently and warm up correctly. Warming up can increase flexibility by forcing your body through a range of motion that you wouldn’t normally utilise during your workout. Warm up with a variety of stretches and breathe deeply as you execute each stretch to increase oxygen flow.
5. Improves reflex times
Your reflex times will be faster when your muscles are warmer. If your goal is to increase speed and endurance, you’ll want to focus on increasing your reflex times. Warming up before your workout can help to sharpen your reflexes and help you get into your optimal training zone.
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Conclusion
A quick warm up routine before training can improve performance and ward off injuries. What’s you’re favorite warmup exercise? Share your tips in the comments below!