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Why warm up?
 When
you're tight for time, why waste it warming up
before you exercise? Warming up gives your body a chance to deliver
nutrient rich blood to areas about to be exercised, which warms the
muscles and lubricates the joints. If you are running short on time
-- and who isn't? -- Nutrio says
shorten your workout, not the time
you spend warming up.
WARMUP
Warm
up before any physical activity to prepare your body for the workout. Warming up
gives your body a chance to deliver plenty of nutrient-rich blood to areas about
to be exercised, which warms the muscles and lubricates the joints. By
warming-up, not only can you improve your performance, you also reduce the risk
of injury.
Follow
these simple warmup steps:
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Start your workout session by doing a light form of exercise (walking) for
about 5 - 10 minutes.
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Target the major muscle groups (especially the ones you will be using during
your workout) with stretching exercises after this 5 - 10 minute warmup.
COOLDOWN
After
your workout, spend another 5 - 10 minutes cooling down to lower your heart
rate. Your cooldown should include 5 minutes of cardio exercise (walking or
biking) at a slower pace, and 5 minutes of gentle stretching, once your
breathing returns to normal. By cooling down, you can help to reduce the risk of
injuries and muscle soreness from your workout.
Click here to view stretching exercises for your different body parts.
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