Fitness Training Tips

By Assam on June 13, 2008

It is a well known fact that before any type of fitness training it is necessary to carry out some simple warm up moves so there is less chance of injury. But to help further with your workout there are some other things you may wish to do to make it more enjoyable.

Many people consider it unnecessary but people who do not perform stretching movements before and after a workout are more likely to hurt themselves. Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries, but only a few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.

For most warm-ups it is quite acceptable to hold a stretching position for twenty seconds but to really extend the muscles groups and joint flexibility, this should be lengthened to one minute. The best method to achieve this is to stretch slowly and return to your original position slowly as this will prevent any jerking movements which could cause injury. Ideally the stretch should last a few seconds then a slow return because it is easy to damage joints or even pull muscles when this is not done correctly.

Do not jump from an easy stretching exercise to a hard one, but complete the easiest first and do the hardest last as by this time most of your muscles will be warm and it will make the difficult exercise easier.

For some people, even if they have strong bodies, they tend to neglect the neck when working out because stretching the neck muscles can be as simple as placing the palm of one’s hand against the front of the head and pushing it; then, do the same to the sides and the back of the head. It is always a good idea to continue with this stretching at certain points in the fitness training workout particularly if a difficult exercise is about to be performed as it will help make the routine easier.

Workout only to your capabilities and not that of others so do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it; increase your limits slowly and listen to your body. Remember there will be days when your body will perform better than others; this is quite normal and should be expected as even top sportsmen have good and bad days so why should you be any different.

Fitness training everyday can be punishing for the muscles and does not allow them to heal and grow so try to leave a day between workouts. The best exercises you can perform at the gym are those that will help your heart, lungs and stamina; called aerobic exercises they can include a whole host of regimes including running, stepping, rowing plus many more, all of which need large amounts of oxygen in the blood.

Music may help you when you want to train for longer periods or to increase your intensity and the latest lightweight portable mp3 players are ideal for this. Make sure you get a decent pair of headphones though because you will probably want your music loud but not everyone else will want to listen to it. Stretching is good for you even if you are not performing it before exercise and many people use it for relaxation purposes prior to sleep.

Readers Comments