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Those early morning workout sessions can put the body in complete shock, more especially if you haven’t warmed up prior to your session. Group and personal trainer Renché Seyffert from FIT BEST Training tells Women’s Health why warming up is vital.
“Warming up is an essential part of your workout regime, that often gets overlooked. The purpose of a warm-up is to prepare the body for the workout that’s to follow, ” says Renché. She went on to say that warm-ups prevent injuries. “Warm-ups gradually warm the body’s temperature, while loosening the muscles,” she says.
Did you know that warm muscles increase the rate of energy production? “This means that your body’s reaction time improves and muscles contract faster. The warm-up thus increases blood circulation, to provide oxygen and energy, helping the muscles perform better,” she concludes. This warm-up routine is recommended before you start any workout. Get your blood circulation going and whip your body into shape this summer season.
Tip: Perform 20 reps of each exercise (20 right and 20 left where applicable) before moving onto the next move.
Annnnd action…
1. Neck rolls
How to: Keep your spine elongated and relax the neck and shoulders. (Gently rotate the neck to the left before returning to the centre to repeat on the other side.
2. Shoulder rolls backwards
How to: Keeping your body straight, roll your shoulders backwards.
3. Shoulder rolls forward
How to: Keeping your body straight, roll your shoulders forward.
Read more: The 12 best chest exercises to add to your workout ASAP
4. Slow high knees
How to: Stretch arms out straight in front of you. Lift your legs up to a 90 degree angle, for the knee to touch the palm of your hands. Alternate legs and repeat.
5. Slow extended high knees
How to: Extend arms straight ahead. Kick legs out straight in front of you, as you touch your toes. Alternate legs.
6. Slow extended high knees with torso twist
Extend arms straight ahead. Kick legs out straight in front of you, as you touch your toes. Rotate torso from side to side as you touch your toes.
Read more: 9 best calf exercises to give you toned legs like no other
7. Side lunges with arm openers
Lunge to right side, ensuring your knee doesn’t pass your toes. Extend arms out straight to each side, before bringing arms back to centre. Repeat on the left leg.
8. Static side lunge
Lunge to left side, ensuring your knee doesn’t pass your toes. Repeat on right leg.
9. Lunges with arm circles
Take a deep lunge alternating from side to side. Lift arms to create a circle and alternate arms. This move is done in unison.
Read more: The 15 inner thigh exercises your workout needs
10. Squat with elbows on knees
Get into a squat position. Squat and place your elbows on your knees.
11. Squats with elbows on knee pulses
Get into a squat position. Squat and place your elbows on your knees. Do a 20 reps of pulses.
12. Squats with elbows on knee hold
Get into a squat position. Squat and place your elbows on your knees. Hold for 20 seconds or more.
Read more: 5 quick exercises that’ll beat every post-holiday bulge on your body
End off with…
Skipping for one minute
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za
Image credit: iStock
