Wow, do you remember the song “Rubber band man”?!
Before stretching, take a few minutes to warm up, as stretching cold muscles may increase your chances for injury. Sometimes even a super busy coach like me can be tempted to skip warming up and cooling down, but that’s when it’s time to get creative. If you walk to a fitness facility, use the trip there and back to warm up and cool down.
photo courtesy of pink-apron.com
Begin with a simple, low-intensity warm-up, such as easy walking while swinging the arms in a wide circle. Spend at least five minutes warming up prior to stretching. The general recommendation for people starting an exercise program is to perform gentle, dynamic-type stretches before a workout and static stretches after exercise. But jumping into a workout without preparing your body can actually lead to setbacks, like muscle strain or even injury. Remember, the time you spend preparing for exercise and cooling down afterward may be as important as the exercise itself. Give your body the help and time it needs to adjust to the demands of your workout.