What is done in warm up exercise

Is stretching given in warm up exercises??

Generally warm up exercises include stretching in addition to mild aerobic exercise to raise your heart rate. This gets the bloody pumping throughout the body and raises the overall body temperature. This helps to prevent against tearing of the muscles during exercise.

Yoga is a great way to warm up for any further exercise. Yoga helps to stretch the muscles and increase the heart rate and body temperature. The best style of yoga for a warm up is simple Hatha yoga, which focuses on specific asanas in a pre-determined series. It is not overly strenuous and therefore will not tire you out before you begin your activity. It will however increase your breathing rate and will certainly get the blood pumping. Of particular interest is the basic Sun Salutation A, which (in Hatha yoga) is a slow series of asanas that are connected. Within the series is the forward bend, upward and downward facing dog as well as Warrior A and B.

It is also important to use similar warm up techniques to warm down from any strenuous activity. Hatha yoga is a great way to warm down from exercise as well. Remember to end any warm down with Shivasana and meditation.

Submitted by R W on November 14, 2007 at 02:59

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