Every exercise session should consist of four elements:
- warm Up
- stretch
- work out
- cool down
So, let’s break it down to take a closer look at each element individually to assist your work-outs.
Warming Up – raising your body temperature and warming up your muscles. This can be accomplished with a few light exercies gradually increasing the blood flow and it also assists in the reduction of injuries.
Stretching – once the muscles are warmed up, you are ready to stretch. In a nutshell, stretching is exercise that increases the range of motion for a muscle or joint. It can also prevent some post-workout soreness because strong, flexible, stretched muscles recover better than strong, unstretched muscles.
Work-Out – Aerobic, conditioning and strength training are great work-outs but so is fast walking or yoga. One of the most important things to remember is to listen to your body during any work-out to avoid injury.
Cool-Down – slowing down and gradually lowering your heart rate. This prevents after-workout stiffness and soreness. Most exercise machines have an automatic cool down for a minute or two but this can easily be done by slowing the body down and regulating your breathing.
So, there you go! You now know what you have to do when beginning and ending your exercise routines. When working out at the gym or within your own home, by incorporating these 4 elements you will not only feel great during your work-outs, but will also feel sensational after.
And, if you want to think in food terms, the warm-up is the “soup”, the stretch is the “appetizer”, the work-out is the “main meal” and the cool down is the “dessert”! Go ahead, enjoy your work-out feast!
