In colder weather, muscles lose more heat and contract, causing tightness throughout the body. They are forced to work much harder to complete the same exercise they completed in warmer weather. It causes more damage to the muscle tissue and can increase the soreness. Less blood flow makes areas in the body colder and stiffer, which can cause discomfort and pain. Sometimes when it's damp out, changes in barometric pressure can cause an inflammatory response in the joints. Remember to put your layers on; wearing layers of thin clothes keeps you warmer, as they trap the body heat. When your core is warm it releases blood to the extremities. When your core is cold, your body's natural defense is to stop sending blood to the extremities. Before your workout warm up first! The perfect exercise in Pilates to accomplish that is the hundred, as pumping your arms gets your blood flowing throughout the body and warms your muscles before you begin your workout. Stretching is great, but you shouldn't hold the stretch until your muscles are really warmed up, so save the deep stretching for the end of your workout. Stay hydrated, it's so important! If your class is in the morning, make sure you take a shower and warm up your body prior to working out. Not only will you be energized, but your flexibility level will increase, allowing you to work deeper. It's important to prepare your body to get the most out of your workout. Check out my Blog and join my Pilates mat class on Saturday 8:30 a.m. for a great workout.
