More people are discovering the benefits of working out at the gym each week. It gives us an excellent opportunity to de-stress and work on losing weight. Plus, it’s a brilliant way to socialize with others and meet new and fascinating people.
When you go to the gym, you are usually left to your own devices. As you might expect, you’re free to choose what equipment to use and for how long. And, of course, you decide how often you visit the gym each week. Many of us go at least twice a week, even if we have a busy home and work schedule. However, you can increase the number of times you workout by enrolling in a 24 hour Glen Waverley gym near me.
When you head to the gym, are you doing enough warming up and cooling down exercises? If not, or you have no idea what they are, today’s blog post is for you!
The science behind warming up and cooling down
You might have some particular gym goals in mind, but you won’t complete any of them if you injure yourself. Yet, that’s exactly what many gym-goers do because they aren’t warming up or cooling down!
Before you start any kind of exercise for a period of time, you first need to “warm up” your body. In a nutshell, you are carrying out some gentle exercises at a slower pace than usual. Why is that important, you might be wondering? Well, the answer is simple: it helps prepare your body for aerobic activity.
Warming your body up helps to engage your cardiovascular system for exercise. For a start, it increases your body temperature – perfect for a cold winter’s morning! Warm ups also increase the flow of blood to your muscles. Another advantage is that it decreases the risk of muscle injury or strain.
As you may have guessed, cooling down is something you do when you’ve finished exercising. It helps to regulate your body’s blood flow and eases your body back to a “normal” rhythm.
Will you still feel pain when doing a lot of exercising?
The thing about warming up and cooling down your body is that it can’t guarantee no pain. Everyone will feel some muscle pain, especially when weightlifting or running.
Still, the news isn’t all bad because it’s quite easy to manage any painful gym sessions! For a start, reduce the workouts you do into shorter sessions. And when you are in pain, you can use a topical spray that calms the painful area on your body almost immediately. Click here to find out more about how those sprays work and what they could do for you.
You should also consider taking a bath or shower when you get home from any gym session. That way, you can help your body to relax from your workout routine.
Gentle gym routines
Are you new to the world of gyms or haven’t done any exercise in a while? If so, it’s crucial that you take it easy for your first few gym sessions. You don’t need to run a marathon on the treadmill! Nor do you have to “prove” anything to other gym users.
It might be to your advantage to hire a personal trainer. They can help you devise a workout plan that suits your needs and fitness goals. Plus, they can give you pointers on warming up and cooling down techniques!
Good luck!