STRETCH FIRST! – All too often, clients come to me with pain that was caused by over doing an exercise regimen. Listen up. If you haven’t been working out regularly, or even if you have, your ligaments and tendons will be tight. When you jump into a strenuous exercise routine, without warming up first, you can cause your body some serious damage. 

So, before you hit those weights, or that stair stepper or begin a run, take a moment. Slowly stretch your body. Give it a chance to warm up. And please, if you are getting fatigued or something starts to hurt, slow down, or perhaps sit down. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Yes, it’s good for us to push ourselves, but push too hard and you can cause an injury, and that defeats the whole purpose of exercising.

I would even suggest that before you begin a new training regimen, come get a few massages. I can help you warm up muscles that haven’t been used for a while. Warm muscles are much happier than cold brittle ones.

 

Valentina Boonstra

massage therapist, trainer.