Warming up: Threat or menace?

John R - 2017-06-17 19:41:25 UTC #

Warming up: Threat or menace?

Personally I do warm up, but I don't stretch - warming up is just what it says, physically raising the temperature of the large and small muscles by increasing blood flow. Most recently I've been skipping rope for 5 minutes before juggling. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warming_up

Stretching, for me, is an activity in itself - that is, maintaining and increasing flexibility and range of motion is an exercise goal in itself. Although in the long run it's got benefits for my posture, core strength, and therefore for good form, at the daily level it's pretty much irrelevant to a juggling session for me.

Best advice seems to be a ten to fifteen minute stretching session every day, while already warmed up. "Always warm up before stretching exercises. Stretch after endurance or strength exercises. If you are doing only stretching exercises, warm up with a few minutes of easy walking first. Stretching your muscles before they are warmed up may result in injury." - https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/exercise-physical-activity/sample-exercises-flexibility