When people take on a new exercise program, they often push their bodies too far in the beginning. This can result in burnout or injury. Of course, the purpose of your fitness journey is to challenge and change your overall well-being.

But you must recognize when you overdo it and what to do to transform those detrimental habits. That said, here are four safe workout practices you don’t want to ignore the next time you’re breaking a sweat.

Use Proper Equipment

Whether running, performing cardio, or doing strength training, you should always prioritize your attire based on what's on the agenda. For example, it helps to have comfortable, moisture-wicking sneakers when you run.

You might also want to sport sweat-wicking garments since they breathe better and absorb moisture better than other materials. Consider using flat trainers to promote stability and balance during squats and deadlift movements for strength training.

Warm Up and Cool Down

What a world it would be if we were instantly ready to work out at all times. Unfortunately, your body needs time to adapt to physical activity. You loosen muscles and facilitate blood flow when you warm up before exercising.

On a separate note, cooling down is the final phase of your workout that brings more oxygen into the body parts you’ve used and lessens the intensity of your movements. Cooldowns allow your heart rate to go back to normal levels.

Take Your Time

Avoid rushing a workout for the sake of time. This is especially true in strength training, as it’s vital to take your time through every set and rep using a full range of motion. Additionally, it helps to breathe regularly during your rest to lower your heart rate and blood pressure and increase blood flow to the brain.

Drink Water

Drinking water is crucial inside and outside of the gym. It prevents dehydration, heatstroke, and heat exhaustion. Remember to drink at least 16 ounces of water 15 minutes before exercise and another pint after cooling down. Don’t forget to hydrate every 20 minutes or so during your session!

Exercise is challenging, but it shouldn’t be extremely painful. You don’t want to ignore safe workout practices, as following them can make all difference between a successful and injury-inducing session. Remember that all safe exercise programs should begin slowly and gradually increase intensity and duration as you become comfortable.

At American Home Fitness, our goal is to make exercise more manageable and convenient for you. We have many showrooms in the Michigan area, with one of our locations supplying exercise equipment in Novi, MI. Feel free to visit us or browse our selection of quality equipment here on our website.