Warming up is often overlooked and underrated, but it is an essential part of any workout routine. Keep reading for to learn more about two approaches to warming up and why it’s crucial to include warm-ups in your routine.
The first approach is a rapid approach to warming-up. This technique is ideal if you are short on time. The speed warm-up involves doing one set with increasing weight and decreasing reps. For example, if you’re training quads, you’ll start with a weight that you can do 15 reps with. Then you’ll increase the weight and do another 15 reps. After that, you’ll decrease the reps to six and do a couple of sets. Finally, you’ll do sets of four and three reps. This technique will warm you up quickly and effectively.
The second approach is similar to the speed warm-up in terms of the rep scheme. However, instead of using machines, you’ll use compound movements like squats or barbell presses. You’ll start with 15 reps with light weight and gradually increase the weight while decreasing the reps. This technique is slower than the speed warm-up but still effective. It’s best to use this technique for exercises that involve free weights rather than machines.
It’s essential to warm up before working out to prevent fatigue and potential injuries. A proper warm-up should involve flexing and squeezing the muscles you’re warming up. It’s essential to make sure that you’re not just going through the motions.
