This is the time of year that most people start some sort of exercise routine. Whether it is at home or in the gym remember to always add in a warm up and cool down session. It can seem convenient to omit these steps because they add to your overall time. However, including them will save you time and money in the long run by reducing injury risks and decreasing recovery time if you do get hurt. To start out with, you should get your heart rate up and get your arms and legs moving. The best activity for this is jumping jacks. You can make this a low impact activity by removing the jump and just going from a narrow to wide stance with your arms at your side and above your head, respectively.
Many of us suffer from back and neck pain from time to time. A great way to relieve some of that tension is to stretch and loosen when it starts to tighten up. Try these activities the next time your having problems. Four-Way Neck Stretch: Sit in a chair and sit on your right hand. Gently grasp the right side of your head with your left hand and tilt your head in the following directions—hold each position for 8 seconds before moving to the next position: 1. Forward and a little to the left. 2. Forward and a little more to the left. 3. Left (ear towards your shoulder). 4. Back and left about 45 degrees behind your shoulder. Repeat this on the other side. Doorway Chest Stretch: Stand in front
