If there is one thing that I have learned from CrossFit its that stretching, warming up and a cool down are important!
Warm-up:
There are a group of warm-ups that we do every day including rowing or going for a little 400m run. None of the stretches and warm-ups are long maybe four reps with each arm, leg, neck, etc. The reason these moves are important though is because they get your body moving which makes your sore legs/arms go away and it also helps your body with flexibility.
Here is a video of just some of the warm-ups we do everyday:
Cool Down:
The cool down is probably the one part of exercise that people may skip the most. They either don’t have the time or they just finished a hard workout and thinking about moving anymore is out of the question.
When running I always set my distance a little further than what I want to run that way I can walk the rest of the way just to cool down.
At CrossFit it is extremely important to stretch the body parts that you used during the skill/WOD. It pushes your muscles a little more but in a slow/stretching way than a move fast way. It also helps with recovery and if you ever took a CrossFit class you know that is extremely important because you are usually sore the next day.
Do you think you need an extra push to make sure you are warming up and cooling down? Well why not join a discussion with people that are working on the same thing? I find that helps me push myself if I have to stay accountable for it. So join this Tribesports group and get warming up and cooling down.
Some other great reads from Tribesports on this topic:
Aerobic Warm Up
Dynamic Stretching
Cool Down
Questions: Do you warm up and cool down? What is your favorite stretch before a workout?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I NEVER EVER DID.
I turned 42
It alll caught up with me.
DONT BE ME
It is so important!
I do both but probably not as well as I should. I notice that if I skip a cool down, I am often more sore the next day. Mental? Perhaps, but it makes me not skip it the next time!
same thing! I hate feeling so awful the next day but then I’m like if I would’ve stretched I definitely wouldn’t have been feeling that bad!
I definitely need to do some warm up exercises before I run. Thanks for the post!
Seriously … such important aspects of a workout that so many people skip!
I am in a new workout program and a part of it is dynamic stretching and foam rolling at the start. My runner’s legs love to hate it, but it is so good for me.
I know.. foam rolling hurts so good. If that makes sense!
I love dynamic stretching before a workout because it gets my blood pumping too.
agreed. I’m actually tired sometimes after them lol
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