We know it’s easy to give warm-up a miss when you are short on time, and keen to get the heart pumping and the calories burning. BUT…warm-up is super important in avoiding injury, and preparing our muscles and nervous system so they can work optimally during your workout.
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Here are some great ways to get warm before your workout:
- Jogging on the spot – spend a minute or two lightly jogging on one spot
- Arm stretches – fold one arm across your body, and fold the other arm up around it vertically and pull gently. Hold for twenty seconds, then swap and do the other arm
- Jumping Jacks – 30 seconds of jumping jacks will have the blood moving and the heart pumping ready for the main event
- Touch your toes, and hold this stretch gently for ten seconds. Do it three times in total
- Leg Swings – kick your leg gently forward away from your body, and then back in the other direction. Keep your leg gently swinging for 5 movements, then swap and do the other leg
- Arm swings – Roll your arms around creating circles. Do this gently for 10 movements.
- Squat – gently and slowly 10 times
- Ankle turns – if you are planning to run or jump, then rotating your angles around 5 times one way, and back the other way, will have them feeling nice and prepared for what’s ahead
- Neck stretches – gently moving your head from side to side, and rolling your head around
- Back – raise your elbows to a right angle and with your feet glued to the floor, gently rotate your torso to give your back a nice stretch