Are you one of the many who believe you have to sweat and lift heavy weights to really get an effective workout? If so, you may be missing out on one of the most important components of reaching your fitness and wellness goals.
It’s time to include stretching and warming up into your routine!
5 Reasons Warm-Up and Stretch Routines are Important
When you don’t have much time, you may feel tempted to skip a warm-up and jump right into your workout. However, ignoring pre-workout preparation can have unwanted consequences.
Having a warm-up routine is crucial to the success of any workout. Doing a few stretches and completing a warm-up is beneficial before you even think about running, taking a fitness class, or using the machines at the gym.
Here are some critical reasons to stretch and warm up before any physical program.
Boosts body and muscle temperature
A dynamic warm-up with active stretching can raise your body temperature, which research confirms is extremely helpful to your muscles, even your heart muscle.
As your body temperature increases, oxygen then becomes more available to your muscles. This allows them to contract more efficiently. The result is that you are able to perform more strenuous tasks with less effort.
Increases flexibility
Since stretching increases blood flow to your muscles, it allows your body to increase its flexibility in both the long and short term. In addition, it allows for a greater range of motion and eases the stress on your joints and tendons.
As an added benefit, stretching may also help delay the reduced mobility that can come with aging.
It’s best to add stretching after you’ve already completed your warm-up. That’s because stretching before your muscles are properly warm can lead to injury.
Lower your risk of injury
The last thing you need when you’ve been so committed to attending boot camp sessions and working out at the gym is to become injured. Warming up and stretching can improve muscle elasticity, so you have less chance of hurting yourself or overheating during your workout.
A published study suggested that warming up your muscles can help them relax, which can lead to less injury. This is especially true when a coach leads the stretching.
For example, before you join a fitness class, check to see if there will be a guided stretch, such as a boot camp warm-up, before the intense exercises begin.
Improved performance
Studies show that warmed-up muscles can support your work out more effectively. Science leaves no doubt that preparing your muscles for exercise boosts your performance across all routines.
Supports your mindset
If you exercise regularly, take a boot camp class, or work with a trainer, you know that jumping straight into a workout without the right frame of mind makes it even more challenging. However, by stretching and warming up, you can better prepare for your activity and take time to get focused.
Best Exercises to Prepare
- Fitness professionals suggest that you warm up and stretch for 5 to 10 minutes prior to exercise.
- You can do a slower-paced version of whatever your training involves, such as walking, if you plan on going for a long run.
- Squats target many of the muscles in your lower body. Start by going down halfway and then slowly increase the difficulty.
- For the upper body, pushups are popular. To make it less challenging, begin by doing the pushups on your knees.
A Final Word
Although often overlooked, stretching and warm-up exercises are crucial to any training routine. Your body needs some sort of exercise to get your muscles ready before you launch your workout.
Once you’ve prepared your body and mind, you’ll be even more ready to make the most of your workout.
It’s clear that gymgoers at any level should not overlook warm-up exercises. That’s why at Fit Body Boot Camp (FBBC), our certified fitness coaches are trained to understand the importance of boot camp stretches. In fact, at FBBC, a certified coach leads every session to give you the best workout, build muscle, burn fat, and stay injury free.
Our supportive and motivating small group workout classes will inspire you. In addition, you’ll get loads of positive support from your others in the classes that will keep you coming back.
We provide 30-minute classes that deliver results. Our signature “Afterburn Effect” keeps the body burning extra calories for up to 36 hours after each workout.
Join us today at Fit Body Boot Camp and begin your journey to optimum health.
