As the weather warms, getting outside and being more active can be a great way to combat the damaging effects of sitting at a desk for countless hours each week. Exercise or activity in the form of running or strength training workouts can be a great way to get your body moving and improve your overall fitness levels! A proper warmup and cooldown are essential components of a workout and can help safely ease your body in and out of exercise and ultimately help reduce the risk of injury.

A warmup brings blood flow to your muscles, elevates your heart rate, increases mental focus, lubricates your joints, and primes your nervous system. A good warmup is specific to the movement you are about to perform! Common components of a warmup are walking, dynamic stretches, and low-intensity running or drills.  

Cooldowns work to perform the opposite of a warmup. The goal is to ease your body out of exercise so you can resume other activities. Cooldowns work to decrease your heart rate, slow your breathing, and stretch out muscles that have just been worked. Common components of a cooldown include walking, static stretching, and foam rolling.

Check out THESE VIDEOS for great examples of an active or dynamic warmup and cooldown, what to do for recovery, days off or lighter days, and a more in-depth demonstration of foam rolling. 

If you are thinking of getting into an exercise routine or already have a routine, consider adding a warmup and cooldown before and after your workout. You may find you perform better during the workout and feel better after completing it!

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