Yes to Warm Ups!

There is no doubt that warming up can make all the difference in a workout. I use warm-up time to get centered in my body, get my breath going, and loosen up my spine and muscles. A good class will include a warm-up. However some of us like a little more warm up, and many of us are working out at home, so we need to plan for our warm-ups.

If you get to class a little early, or you want to round out your home workout, take a look at the Pilates Warm-Up Exercises section and include those exercises in your routine. Also, About's guide to Yoga, Ann Pizer has put together a Daily Stretch Routine that includes great warm-up exercises. Several of the exercises, like pelvic tilt, cat-cow, and lunge are popular in Pilates classes as well. By the way, if you use this routine as a warm up, Savasana, corpse pose, goes at the END of your routine (I know you knew that!).