A Proper Fitness Warm Up Should Get You Ready For Your Workout And Help Prevent Injury

The most important part of your exercise routine should be your fitness warm up. Do not rush into your workout. I know you came here to work hard, but you cannot perform properly if you have sprains and pulls.

Warming up will make your workouts safer, improve your stamina, increase your physical and mental awareness, and reduce your chances of having an injury.

I know people think of warming up as boring. But the good thing is that your warm up exercises do not have to take a lot of time - only 5-10 minutes. What they do have to do is prep your body for a workout by getting your heart rate up, and by stretching and warming up the proper muscles.

• Increase you heart rate and get your blood flowing

  A proper warm up should:

• Mentally and chemically prep your body for your workout

• Losen your muscles through stretching

• Stretch and relax your ligaments and tendons to prevent injury

I have pulled quite a few hamstrings, quads, even biceps by improperly warming up. Trust me. Save yourself the time and aggrivation of having to baby an injury. Take the steps to prevent them from happening in the first place.

I like starting my warm up by doing some jumping jacks and/or jumping some rope to get my heart rate up. Then, I will select some streches for the muscles I plan on working that day.

Your body will thank you for taking 5-10 minutes to warm it up.

If you don't know how to jump rope and would like to learn, find out here.

Remember, it's much easier to take 10 minutes to warm up, than lose a week every other month or so to an injury. Be smart, warm up properly.

Find The Correct Fitness Warm Up For Your Workout