Stretching exercises are recognized as a necessary part of any fitness training and physical activity, many muscle and joint injuries have been prevented this way. But to help further with your workout there are some other things you may wish to do to make it more enjoyable. You are less likely to strain or pull a warm muscle than a cold one but it is just as beneficial to have a cool down exercise period after a workout has been completed. Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries, but only a few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.
For instance, stretching movements for a warm up only have to last a third of the time that the same movements do when you are doing a cool-down, so they need to last for about a minute. When carrying out these warm-up stretches, perform them slowly and gently, returning to the starting position in the same way as this will provide the greatest benefit. At the point of greatest stretch, hold the position before you slowly release, this avoids any potential strain or the possibility of injury from jerking your joints. Do not jump from an easy stretching exercise to a hard one, but complete the easiest first and do the hardest last as by this time most of your muscles will be warm and it will make the difficult exercise easier.
A commonly forgotten area of the body to warm up, and one that is easy to injure, is the neck so make sure that the neck is warmed up by applying pressure to the head at the front, back and sides using pressure from the palm of your hand. If you carry out regular stretching prior to fitness training you will be surprised just how flexible your body becomes and it will increase your ability to perform certain training. Workout only to your capabilities and not that of others so do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it, increase your limits slowly and listen to your body. Always exercise to limits of your body on the day, just because a few days earlier you could carry out an exercise does not mean that it will be possible all the time so expect this to happen and do not over-exert yourself.
Every athlete knows that muscles need to heal and grow from physical exertion so give yourself a day off between fitness training and exercising, your body will appreciate it. Aerobic exercises are very good for the health of your heart and improve lung capacity and lower the heart rate, look to carry out rowing, running, skipping for example before you start attacking the weight machines. Music is great to workout with as a regular beat helps when you are doing cardiovascular exercises and with the range of small, lightweight mp3 players available these days you do not have to worry about damaging them. Just make sure that you take your headset with you so you will not disturb people who may prefer not to listen to your music while exercising. Stretching your body is a form of exercise in itself and a pleasant way to relax at the end of a hard day so it is worth doing regularly even if you do not want to workout.
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