WARM-UP/COOL-DOWN
"BioFitness always Works Right because the Science is already Built Right in...so You Don't Have to Know It!"
The Warm-Up is the preparation phase before any
strenuous exercise. Its purpose is to prepare you psychologically
and physically at the beginning of your workout. The BioFitness
Institute will always remind you in the plans it creates for you
to do a warm-up. This makes you ready for that days
effort and helps to keep your body safe from injury during
moments of stress. You start by applying a mild
heat formula to the muscles and joints to be exercised.
Next, do a short aerobic activity followed by a stretching
routine. This increases the amount of blood available to the
working muscles and enhances joint mobility in the range of motion.
The stretches should be done in a static fashion,
not ballistic, holding each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.
Finally, the Warm-Up ends with mild and light activity in the
technique of the exercise itself. For anaerobic weight
exercise this means a gradual increase in the resistance used
(progressive resistance), so that your body has a chance to
adapt to the demands being placed on it.
For aerobics, you would do stretches first. Then start
with an easy pace that slowly builds up to the
"aerobic steady state" of heart rate to be maintained through
the remainder of the activity.
After exercising, it is vital that you take the time to
cool down. If you abruptly stop exercising without a Cool-
Down, you are opening yourself up for severe consequences.
An abundance of blood still remains in your legs. This could
cause an inadequate return of blood to your heart (Blood
Pooling.) Blood Pooling can leave too much carbon dioxide
and too little oxygen in your blood. A lack of oxygen for
your heart can lead to passing out, faintness, dizziness,
heart arrhythmia, and even a heart attack.
To cool down, you should walk around for five to ten
minutes. Then do some mild stretching to relax the muscles.
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© Copyright Steven R. Zeigman 1994-2019