If you're planning on doing an upper body workout, it's essential to make sure you warm up properly first. A warmup helps to prepare your muscles for the workout ahead, which can help you perform better and reduce the risk of injury.
So what are the benefits of doing a proper warmup before an upper body workout? Here are just a few:
Improved performance: A warmup helps to elevate your heart rate and improve blood flow to your muscles, which can help you perform better during your actual workout.
Reduced risk of injury: Warming up helps to loosen up your muscles and improve your flexibility, which can help to reduce the risk of injury during your workout.
Improved muscle activation: A warmup can also help to "activate" your muscles, which means that they'll be more prepared to work hard when it's time to start lifting weights or doing other exercises.
So what should an upper body warmup include? A good upper body warmup should start with some light cardio to get your heart rate up, followed by dynamic stretches to loosen up your upper body muscles. From there, you can do a series of bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, and shoulder presses to get your muscles pumped and ready for action.
Here are a few sample upper body warmup exercises to get you started:
Jumping jacks: This classic cardio exercise is a great way to get your heart rate up and warm up your upper body muscles.
Arm circles: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and extend your arms out to the sides. Slowly make small circles with your arms, gradually increasing the size of the circles as you go.
Shoulder shrugs: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and raise your shoulders up towards your ears, then release. Repeat for several reps.
Chest stretches: Stand with your arms behind your back and interlace your fingers. Lift your arms up and back, stretching your chest muscles.
By including these exercises in your upper body warmup, you'll be well on your way to a successful workout. So don't skip the warmup – it's an essential part of any upper body workout routine!
LFG
Coach Kiki McClellan
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