Though we may skip the warm up and jump straight in to the regular exercise, especially if time is an issue, this is not a smart idea, in terms of physical safety. It is a natural desire to start something right away, but we must pace ourselves.

Warming up raises the flexibility of muscles, which reduces the likelihood of straining or tearing something during the workout. During a warm up, the goal is to increase core body temperature. As a result, metabolism and blood flow increase. This work gets your body prepared for an intense workout. A warm up improves performance, as your muscles operate more efficiently. With limited time, it is crucial to maximize your workout.

For the best warm up, engage in your activity at a reduced pace. An example of this is running. Begin with five minutes at a relatively slow speed, increase to a moderate speed for another five minutes, and finally increase to your top speed for the duration of the exercising. For sports, light jogging or slow drills will help prepare for the competition.

Before science was applied, stretching for the purpose of flexibility and avoiding injury was taught. This is correct, but before, static stretches were mostly encouraged. Static stretches are stretches that involve little movement, and they provide minimal help before a workout. Dynamic stretches are more effective, as they include movement and better prepare your muscles. Even if not working out, stretching should be done daily.

A cool down is just as important as a warm up. It is the opposite idea of a warm up, gradually slowing your body from the high intensity activity. For a cool down, stretch and continue doing your workout at a slower rate.

Though you may often skip the warm up, your workout could greatly benefit from it. It is greatly beneficial in the injuries it prevents, in addition to the increased effectiveness of the actual workout. Warming up is the smart decision to make when exercising.