Warming Up…You’re Doing It WRONG

Warm up? Sure, I walked on the treadmill for 5 minutes before I started squatting. I did a few weighted shoulder circles and that arm across the body static shoulder stretch before my heavy bench press day…I’m warmed up right? There is A LOT more to warming up than simply getting warmer, or stretching some muscles. If you do not have a specific rationale behind your warm up, and the movements selected are not in a specific sequence, all with the goal of preparing your body for the work you are about to do…you are completely missing the boat. Not only are your risks for injury skyrocketing, but you are leaving serious potential gains in muscle, strength, power, speed, endurance (the list is endless) on the table. Luckily I’m going to give you a very simple structure to follow, so you can create your own warm ups before your training sessions. This 5 step warm-up is exactly how I prepare every warm-up for my athletes, large group trainings, or my own workouts. Stop “warming up” and start specifically prepping your body and mind for the workout ahead. Your joints and your gains will thank you later. Sample exercises: Thermogenic- Jump rope, Jumping Jax, Jogging, Cardio, Shadow Boxing, Just Moving Mobility- Squats, Lunges, Spider Lunges, Leg Swings, Hip & Shoulder Circles Mindset- Breathing, Mindfulness, Visualization, Affirmations Activation- Muscle or Joint Specific, Nervous System Specific (Jumps & Throws) Specificity- Planned movements