Fitness is an important part of living a healthy and happy life. At minimum, you need to get twenty minutes of exercise at least five days a week. This should include some cardio exercise in which you get your pulse up and your heart pumping. Cardio, whether it’s from dancing or speed walking, is not just great for weight loss and toning your body, but it’s also the best way to be happy. Exercise helps your brain release the hormones known as endorphins, which make you feel emotionally stable and give you a boost of energy.
While exercise is important, there are certain things you should include in your fitness routine and post-workout regimen, that can help keep you dramatically. Fitness is about more than just exercising, it’s about your overall health and wellness, too.
Include these two things with your workout routine
Always warm up before you start your fitness routine and then cool down at the end. It doesn’t matter if you are just going for a walk or planning to do some Zumba, warm up is important. Not only does it start to get your blood flowing and increase your oxygen levels, it also helps you loosen up. Do some stretching, some light walking in place. Make sure you hit each of the muscle groups you’ll be using so they can all be warmed up.
Not only will all of this get you ready for a jog, or whatever, it also helps keep you from getting sprains, strains and other injuries common with fitness and sports. A strained or sprained muscle can make it hard to continue your workouts and may bench you from sports activities. Why risk it?
Doing a cool down after your workout helps you bring your heart rate back down to normal so that you can actually be in a relaxed state. By doing some after routine stretches you also help loosen your muscles back up again to prevent charlie horses and other annoying things.
Do this after you work out
Just like the cool down, getting a post workout massage can do wonders for your muscles and bones. It helps keep your circulation going and even cleans out the lymphatic system. Massage can be perfect for working out tight muscles or getting rid of strains you may get if you didn’t warm up properly.
You don’t need to go to a clinic to get a massage. You can find many freelance massage therapists who will come to your home with portable massage tables and provide wonderful service.
Make sure you stay hydrated
Last, when it comes to sports and fitness, it is important to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your fitness routine. Sports drinks can help replenish some electrolytes, but you still want to get fresh, cool water too.
Your workout should be safe, so follow these great tips to help you recover better and faster post workout. Not only are these good pieces of advice simply for fitness, but also if you do any regular sports, for fun or profession.