Warm Up For Cardiovascular Exercise
The General Warm-Up
The initial phase of the warm-up routine consists of 5 to 15 minutes of light physical activity, which may include walking, jogging, swimming, stationary biking, and aerobics. Whichever activity you choose, be sure to start at a very easy pace and work your way up to a light sweat. Personal fitness levels can determine both the intensity and length of the general warm up.
Basically, the purpose of the general warm up is to raise the heart rate and respiratory rate. The result increases the blood flow and assists with the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles. The general warm-up also increases muscle temperature, which is recommended for an effective static stretch.
Following the general warm-up phase, stretches like these seen in this video will help you limber up:
