Stretching Exercises

The warm-up is the essential and inseparable part of any physical training, whatever the sport or physical activity practiced. Start an intensive training without warming up properly, it's like going to the cinema to see a film of 3 hours in 3D without glasses adapted: you will still see the film (without appreciating it and really enjoying it) but you will risk yourself to damage the eyes and certainly to have a headache. In fact, the warm-up is the "warm-up lap" of formula 1 before the race.

Before training, you make sure you are in the best possible condition by warming your body, your joints, your muscles and your heart rate. The warm-up makes it possible to put the body in optimal state to train in complete safety. There are usually three signs that tell you that you have warmed up properly, it is a [mild] sweat and a [slight] acceleration of your heart rate and breathing.

Stretching correctly will increase your flexibility and reduce the risk of injuries caused by lesions of the connective tissues (such as the periosteum) and other nasty things. This guide shows a variety of techniques with the goal of revamping or establishing your stretching routine. Use the tips that suit your needs for the activities you do. If you are injured, do not stretch without the help of a physical therapist. Doing so may result in further injury.