I was recently talking on UK national radio discoursing the benefits of positive living and spoke with some of the UK’s leading radio presenters about health, exercise and modern life; one of the presenters joked that his “Wii-injury” had laid him off from any exercise until his pulled hamstring heals. My initial laughter quickly abated as I suggested that preventative measures from injury can be easily attained by regular stretching and warming up before you slog it out with the Wii board.
The competition is tough out there, just when I thought I had a stronghold on my fellow colleagues in the world of health and fitness another competitor came along, the fun and living room bound Wii Instructor. A client cheekily asked me several years ago if I felt threatened by the Wii personal trainer, tennis or dance? My retort at the time was a clear and simple “there can be no substitute for human interaction”, on this technological subject I may be fooling my Luddite self, but what I can say with confidence is that there’s nothing quite like a personal and effective warm up before one embarks upon their exercise routine.
The primary reason for warming up before exercise is to create increased blood flow to your muscles and tendons, this enables the tissues to expand and if any areas are especially tight the heat and expansion will loosen their tension. Create a routine that replicates the movement patterns that you are about to perform in your chosen sport or exercise plan. For example all runners should stretch their quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and gluteal muscles by slowly squatting, lunging and kick backs(alternating kicking the heel up to buttocks), knee lifts with a rear lunge are a great heart starter and will pump sufficient blood into your legs, as will 5 minutes of skipping rope.
Swimmers should stretch their backs and chests, the main muscles to focus on being the latissimus dorsi and pectoral major/minor, your legs and triceps will also need particular stretches before you plunge into the depths of your workout.
If you are an office worker you must consider that your daily sustained posture is often seated with a “computer keyboard posture”, this shortens and tightens your chest, back, neck, hip flexors and calves too. Always warm up with some light cardiovascular work such as power-walking, stationary cycle or active stretches; feel free to check out my stretch video for some hints and tips on effective self stretching.
It is up to the individual to develop an understanding of their body, take some time out to observe your unique physical attributes, including your tight and shortened bits as well as the very flexible and loosened areas, both of these very opposite and separate issues could be aggravated by jumping straight on to the Wii game board without a considered stretching routine before hand.
Exercise, movement, sport and your Wii games will be even more enhanced with a regular stretch. Try increasing your talent and form by a regular strength training routine and eating a healthy, balanced diet too.
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OK Guys and Gals, it’s 2012 and most of us have a little dream about being leaner, stronger, healthier, sexier and ‘all round’ better than we were as the last year drew to its credit crunched close. So, let’s get your exercise and food plan on track and have you abdominal crunching like a mad bargain hunter at that Harrods sale. To get your body healthier and stronger you are going to need the following:
It’s taken a month of painting, clearing out, wallpaper hunting and fabric gathering, alas we’ve finally completed the Gym Down Under: Private Personal Training Studio and Massage Treatment Room. After spending the past 3 years travelling the globe for a rock super star and then traversing London’s busy streets as a home service personal wellness coach, I’m looking forward to developing a friendly, successful and fun-loving fitness business.
