Read…Part 1
The Purpose of the Long Warm Up – The longer warm up needs to be for those times when there are things inhibiting you from feeling ready to compete at the level needed for that day. It is as simple as that. If you are saying you do not feel good yet than extend your warm up. At the same time if your body is feeling in such a way that no amount of warm up will make it feel better than do not waste the time and do the quick warm up.
Reasons to extend warm up longer
1.) Cold Weather
- The human body works better when warm, cold weather goes against this.
- Where long sweat pants throughout the warm up to keep warm
2.) Body Feeling Tight
- If another exercise or drill is needed to help you loosen up to feel good always go for it
- For example if your hips are tight and you think some lunges will help, go ahead and do those
3.) Coming off of an Injury
- Being back from any injury for the first couple weeks means take extra caution
4.) Kill Time
- If your workout depends on other people that take a long time to warm up you better become good at stalling your warm up
- Walk back slower between drills if you have too
Play around with your warm ups. Understand the point of the warm up is just that to get your body warm, and ready to compete. Remember to evaluate all the circumstances of that day than do what you need to. If all the circumstances are right than a quicker warm up is probably in store for you.
(original image by Lil [Kristen Elsby])
