Warming up is an important part of any workout, and it’s well worth the extra few minutes.

The American Heart Association recommends:

• Warming up for five minutes to 10 minutes. If you’re planning for a long, intense workout, increase warm up time.
• Start warming up with the activity you plan to do during your workout. Just do it at a lower intensity and slower pace.
• Make sure to warm up your entire body, not just the muscles you’ll use during exercise.

Source: HealthDay