Q: Why is it so important to warm up before exercising, and which is the best warm up to do?
A: It’s very tempting to launch straight into a workout, particularly if it’s taken a lot of willpower to get moving in the first place, but cold muscles can strain and tear and you are unlikely to get the best out of your workout without an adequate warm-up.
Warm-up exercises prepare the body for more vigorous activity, and are designed to increase blood supply to your working muscles –including your heart. Ideally, you should warm up for about five minutes before launching into an energetic workout.
This should result in an increase in heart rate and light sweating. Try brisk walking, slow jogging or easy cycling as warm-up activities. Remember to stretch after your warm-up or at the end of your training session when muscles are warm.
A: It’s very tempting to launch straight into a workout, particularly if it’s taken a lot of willpower to get moving in the first place, but cold muscles can strain and tear and you are unlikely to get the best out of your workout without an adequate warm-up.
Warm-up exercises prepare the body for more vigorous activity, and are designed to increase blood supply to your working muscles –including your heart. Ideally, you should warm up for about five minutes before launching into an energetic workout.
This should result in an increase in heart rate and light sweating. Try brisk walking, slow jogging or easy cycling as warm-up activities. Remember to stretch after your warm-up or at the end of your training session when muscles are warm.
