Who needs a warm-up? Athletes, dancers, gym rats, and yoga followers should warm-up, and most of them shop for the right clothing. And, with that appropriate clothing, they can shop, run errands, and even work some jobs.
The question may be why do you need a warm-up and what clothing should you buy?
Why warm up?
Gale Bernhardt, writing for Active.com, claims, “A warm-up activity serves two major purposes—to enhance performance and prevent injury. Consequently, a warm-up is both physical and mental.”
If you move from sitting in your car to an intense physical workout in the gym or on the field, you may be asking for trouble. You are pressing your circulation to move without notice from a 20% blood flow to the muscles to a high demand 75% blood flow. At the same time, you increase the oxygen available to the muscles.
The increased body temperature associated with these changes contracts and relaxes muscles and activates nerves. That’s a positive when it happens over time. The problem is that, when this happens too fast, you risk muscle cramps and tears. So, while you do want blood and oxygen flow to the muscles, you’re better off pacing it.
The warm-up session also lets you get your head around your planned exercise. It becomes a ritual to get you mentally and emotionally ready for the game.
How to warm up?
Anyone who has suffered from muscle cramps understands the wisdom of warming up to avoid stress and injury. Research has also shown significant stresses on the heart when participants entered high stress exercise without warming up.
The pre-workout need to last about 10 to 20 minutes, but it should have some discipline or plan to it. If 20 minutes is the target, you should increase the time in proportion to the intensity of your following exercise routine. For instance, if you are about to enter a walkathon, you may not need the warm-up required for a 100 meter sprint.
In addition, many gym machines have warm-ups built into their computer operations. The machines are even smart enough to select the program for your eventual workout.
What to wear?
The neighborhood fitness club is a fashion center with one member competing with another for the best and most flattering look. They’re the ones who tend to work out facing the mirrors.
What they really need is fit and comfort. Leanne Beattie, speaking for SparkPeople, says, “Wearing the right clothing can make the difference between an enjoyable workout and an hour of misery.”
The clothing must be appropriate to the climate and occasion. Simple cotton shorts and shirts may be comfortable, but they will let you down in a marathon that takes you through several temperature changes during the long day.
You want something that lets you move without constriction or chafing. And, that includes underwear, socks, and sports bras.
Wicking fabrics combine polyester and Lycra blends to draw the sweat away to evaporate instead of trapping near your skin. They also keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.
Workout wear like MoveU’s customizable warm-ups offers a range of products for everything from gymnastics to cheerleading. Heavyweight brushed polyester Tricot jackets, lightweight 100% Birds-Eye Mesh breathable polyester reversible tee-shirts, and high-waisted leggings in a patented flex fiber fabric, and much more help to look good, feel comfortable, and work out great.