The absolutely first thing you should EVER do before working out or doing a sport or anything that makes you sweat in the ending result is to stretch! I don’t even know how hard I can stress the importance of stretching. You just got to do it and if you don’t, shame on you! Stretching your muscles gets them prepared for what you are about to do and can prevent an injury.

Stretching your muscles warms them up; it’s kind of like a “heads up” for them. Stretching also helps your performance in whatever you are doing because you can use them at a greater intensity because they are already to work. Take me for example, I do a ten-minute stretch before I workout. Then when I get on that elliptical or treadmill I am ready to go ahead and start running or jogging at a fast pace. Therefore I am burning more calories because I am working harder in a span of let’s say 30 minutes.

If I didn’t stretch I would have had to walk for a while on the treadmill, start slow, and run at a slower pace in the end. I’m not improving or building up endurance when I go the gym and do that. I’m also not burning off as many calories as I would have done if I had stretched prior to my workout.

When I stretch I generally do some of the classics: the “v” sit (but I go out into a medium obtuse angle), the butterfly sit, put my leg on a counter of some form and lean over, the one where you pull your foot to your butt and it stretches out your thigh, and then the back and arm stretches everybody is familiar with. My favorite stretch of all time is one that I learned from dance. It stretches the outer side of your but and your lower butt. What you do is you stand and cross your legs tightly. Then you just lean to one side and just hold that for a while and then do the same to the other side.

There is a reason why we have to stretch so if you’re doing it, please continue. If you’re not, just do it!