Why Is It Important to Warm Up and Cool Down?
Chris FreytagDescription
“Why is it important to warm up and cool down?” Have you ever asked yourself this question? Maybe you’ve considered skipping either part when you’re pressed for time but want to get a quick workout in. In this short video, Chris breaks down why is it important to warm up and cool down after your workouts and guides you through the difference between these two bookends.
For starters, you’ll learn that the warm up is similar to the “dress rehearsal” to whatever workout you’re doing. Whatever exercise you’re attempting, your warm-up should mirror, but in a lesser amount. For example, if you’re going jogging, you might start with a quick power walk. If you’re going to bike, start a little slower and then pick up your pace. In a group fitness workout or circuit workout, make sure you’re mobilizing your joints and activating your muscles. Chris will demonstrate several helpful warm ups that utilize specific muscle groups, preparing you for various workouts in your everyday life to lubricate your joints and get your heart rate up and ready for exercise.
Next, she’ll explain the importance of cooling down to bring your heart rate back to a normal level and stretch your muscles. Since your muscles are warmed up after a workout, Chris will explain the benefits of “static stretching,” which means holding certain poses to lengthen the muscles and help you recover while gently bringing your heart rate down.
Don’t miss this video full of expert tips on how to get the most out of your exercise routine. You’ll never ask: “why is it important to warm up and cool down?” again after you learn what each is designed to do and the best way to do it!
All exercises you perform are your own responsibility and you perform them at your own risk. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider before starting any physical exercise, fitness or wellness regiments of any kind.
Hi, I'm Chris Freytag. Let's talk about warm ups and cool downs. People always ask me first of all, are they important? And then what's the difference between the warm up and the cool down? So the warm up, I want you to think of that as your dress rehearsal.
Whatever it is you're about to do for exercise do it in a lesser amount. For instance, if you are going out jogging you might start with a quick power walk. If you're going to bike, start a little slower and then pick up your pace. In a group fitness workout or in an interval workout, or circuit workout, you just want to make sure that you are mobilizing your joints and activating your muscles. So for instance your hips, you might warm them up with hip circles.
You want to be moving in the warm up. It's all about preparing the body for exercise. You also want to get your heart rate up a little bit and that's a part of the warm up. Now the cool down, on the other side, is where you bring your heart rate down and that's where you stretch your muscles. Your muscles are now warm so you can do what we call static stretching or holding the stretch.
So for the example of your hips, when you're done exercising a nice runner's lunge. Coming down and opening that hip flexor and stretching, maybe all the way down to the ground. It's going to feel really good and you will benefit from that at the end of your work out when the muscles are warm. Always make sure to stretch on both sides of your body. You want to get both sides of your body.
And you want to return your heart rate down. So to recap that, the warm up is the dress rehearsal you want to get your body moving, activate your muscles, mobilize your joints and prepare your body for what's to come. The cool down is all about bringing the heart rate down and holding those stretches to lengthen your muscles and help you recover at a faster rate.
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