Injury Prevention

Warming up gradually raises body temperature, improves blood circulation, muscle elasticity, and oxygen supply, thereby reducing the risk of injury. Suddenly applying heavy loads to cold muscles can lead to injuries such as muscle strains, sprains, or even joint damage.

Performance Improvement

Warming up also helps with mental focus, preparing the body and mind for the workout. This allows you to concentrate better on the movements and execute the exercises more effectively.

More Enjoyable Workout Experience

During the warm-up, the heart rate gradually increases, which makes you feel more energetic and enhances the workout experience. Exercising with cold muscles is not only less effective but can also be more tiring.

Warm-up Duration and Types

The duration of a warm-up generally depends on the intensity of the workout, fitness level, and ambient temperature, but it is generally accepted that a 5-10 minute warm-up is sufficient for most workouts.

A general warm-up includes exercises that move the entire body, such as arm and leg circles, jogging in place, and dynamic stretching. In contrast, a specific warm-up involves movements and exercises related to the particular sport or activity.

In the case of my Dance Workout classes, the warm-up is a 9-10 minute specific warm-up. From the very beginning, we intersperse dynamic stretching with dance elements and isolations, starting with two warm-up exercise choreographies/trainings, followed by another exercise choreography that gradually increases the heart rate.

Try my warm-up exercise choreographies:

Try it in the Online Fitness Video Library

It is important to note that warming up is not the same as stretching. Stretching should be done after the workout; the purpose of the warm-up is to prepare the body for the load.

Warming up is an essential part of any workout. It helps prevent injuries, improves performance, and makes the exercise experience more pleasant. Whatever your workout is, don't forget to warm up beforehand so your body can perform at its best!