It’s tempting to immediately hit the ground running – literally. While you may be tempted to start or end your workout without much thought, it’s important to take the time to properly warm up and cool down your body. Whether you’re exercising at home or practicing safe physical distancing while working out with a friend, taking a few extra minutes before and after your workout may help increase your stamina and prevent soreness and injuries. Warming up and cooling down is beneficial to any fitness routine even if you aren’t using equipment to exercise, but is especially important during aerobic exercise.
Check out these ideas on how to effectively make the most of your fitness routine:
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, U.S. Health and Human Services
- Dynamic Warm-up Exercises: Quick Reference Guide, Navy Physical Readiness
- Virtual Trainer, Navy Operational Fitness & Fueling System
- Active Living, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center
- Flexibility Exercises, National Institute on Aging
Getting ready to move doesn’t have to just include physical preparedness – you can also gear up your mind in tandem with your body. Starting off your fitness routine in a positive headspace may help those endorphins last the extra mile. While setting an intention or goal before exercising is commonly practiced in mindfulness-oriented exercises like yoga, it can be used in any fitness environment.
Review our other blogs on physical fitness:
- Exercising in Small or Confined Spaces
- Think You Need Equipment to Exercise? Think again!
- 5 Benefits of Working Out with a Buddy
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