A Full-Body Warm-Up for Before Walking

By: Pete Egoscue

Improve the efficiency of your workout and prevent pain and injury with this 15-minute warm-up routine for before your next walk.

When you engage in any form of exercise you want your body to be as balanced as possible. When your body is in balance it can move evenly and symmetrically. Symmetrical movement ensures that your weight is distributed evenly and makes it less likely that you'll become injured or plagued by pain. Balanced movement also makes you more efficient when you walk, meaning your energy is used optimally to get you from point A to point B, and you'll reap the most physical benefits from your efforts.

Related: An Alignment Sequence for Before and After Yoga

While you may think your body is already in balance, the truth is that anyone who spends most of their time sitting at a desk or in a car is going to have some physical imbalances. This 15-minute warm-up is designed to put your body in a neutral position by targeting common areas of weakness and tightness that lead to asymmetrical movement. Spending just a few minutes creating openness and mobility in key areas such as the ankles, feet, and hips will allow you to make the most of your walk and enjoy yourself even more while you're out there.

To follow along in a video or download a PDF of these exercises with step-by-step directions, view the original article on Sonima.com.

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