Some people walk into the gym and head straight for the weights.
Whereas, others head for a cardio machine or a mat to do some stretches and a warm-up before lifting.
A question we have been asked many times is what is a good way to warm-up before lifting?
And, is it essential to warm-up before lifting?
A warm-up holds many benefits before a workout session, depending on what kind of workout you are going for will depend on the type of warm-up you need to do.
Find out the importance of a warm-up here and the best warm-up to do before lifting.
We are going to break it down for you.
The warm-up should gently get the Body ready for exercise by gradually increasing the heart rate and circulation. Joints will be loosened and blood flow increased to the muscles.
Stretching muscles can help to prepare them for the exercise and prevent injuries.
Warming up, stretching and cooling down are all essential but are often overlooked. All three are very basic in terms of training.
Warming up has many positive physical and mental benefits, it will help bodybuilders as their strength and focus should peak.
The Importance of a Warm-up
Warming up before physical activity has many benefits.
It not only prepares your body for the strenuous activity it is going to encounter, but it prepares your mind too.
It helps your body’s core temperature to increase, as well as the body’s muscle temperature.
Your body will be prepared for exercise as you have increased your heart rate and respiratory rate.
Not only this, but your blood flow will increase which in turn, promotes the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles being worked.
Your muscles and joints become loosened, which helps them to benefit from the increased blood flow.
So, a warm-up helps to prepare the body, muscles and tendons for more strenuous activity.
Best Way to Warm-up Before Lifting
You want to start with the easiest and lightest activity first, building each part with more energetic activities.
Cardio is perfect for warming up, around 10 – 20 minutes of light activity (enough to get sweat on the brow!) is ideal.
Something to get your heart rate up and your body warm.
Any type of cardio is fine, as long as you get your body moving.
After cardio, it would be perfect to stretch, loosen the muscles to help with lifting.
Stretching is ideal to avoid injuries and risk of strains.
Other ways to warm-up can involve light weights, so you could do medicine ball throws.
There are two types of warm-ups, one for general activity and one for a specific sport.
If you are warming up for a specific sport you are playing then you want to focus on a warm-up that will get you ready for that sport.
Cool Downs
After exercise, a cool-down can help your body to recover.
They help to reduce the heart rate and stretch muscles. A cool-down is not far from a warm-up in terms of it being a lighter, slower paced exercise.
Your muscles are already warm from the exercise, stretching warm muscles helps to improve flexibility and range of motion.
Stretching is essential during a cool-down session as it increases blood flow your muscles and reduces muscle stiffness and soreness.
If you have been running, a good cool-down would be to slow down into a brisk walk, or from a brisk walk to a slow leisurely pace.
Cool-downs should typically last between 5 – 10 minutes, they should be followed by stretches targeted at muscle groups to help to relax the muscles.
Let’s Cool Down Together…
A warm-up and cool-down don’t really last long, but the benefits are huge if you incorporate them into your workout routines.
They help to prevent injuries and stretch muscles to help them relax.
They help for a speedy recovery on muscles and get your body ready.
We hope you will now incorporate both into your sessions, and we hope your body feels the benefits.
Remember to stretch before and after a workout to help relax those muscles.
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