You may have noticed how before you start your workouts, depending on how high impact it is, trainers and fitness professionals often urge people to do stretches. These may seem unnecessary, but they play an important role in ensuring your body does not get injured. While there are many stretches you can do, doing yoga may be the best way to ensure your whole body is relaxed and ready for the intense workout, whether it is strength training, running, martial arts etc. Many people do yoga before these sports. It is a great routine, not just to ensure you don't experience things like muscle spasms, cramps or pulled muscles, but many people also use this time to prepare themselves mentally as well. Yoga helps them focus and redirect their energies properly. These poses can warm up your muscles, increase your flexibility, and prepare your body for the intense movements to come. This can lead to a more effective workout and may help prevent injuries. Why Yoga Helps Before Intense Exercise Workouts like running or jumping are tough on your joints and muscles. Yoga helps by gently stretching and strengthening your body. This makes it more prepared for those tough moves. Yoga also helps your joints move more easily and wakes up important muscles, giving you a better base for your workout. Here are some poses you can do as a pre-workout session. Downward-Facing Dog This pose stretches your entire body, from your hands to your feet. It's especially good for lengthening the back of your legs (hamstrings) and your calves. It helps wake up your whole body and get it ready for movement. Low Lunge This pose is excellent for opening up your hips. It also provides a deep stretch to the front of your thighs and hip flexors. Doing this helps improve flexibility in areas often tight from sitting, preparing you for dynamic movements. Cat-Cow Pose This gentle movement is fantastic for warming up your spine. It involves arching and rounding your back, which makes your spine more flexible and gets blood flowing. This helps prepare your back for any impacts during your workout. Plank Pose This pose is all about building strength in your core muscles. A strong core is super important for keeping your body stable and balanced, especially during tough, high-impact moves like jumping or running. It helps you stay steady and powerful. Warrior II This pose helps make your legs and core stronger while also opening your hips. It improves your balance, which is key for many high-impact activities. Standing strong in this pose builds stability and confidence for your workout. Triangle Pose This pose stretches the back of your legs (hamstrings) and your inner thighs (groin). At the same time, it helps strengthen your legs and core. It's great for improving flexibility and stability before demanding exercises. Bridge Pose This pose works on strengthening your back muscles, your glutes (butt muscles), and the back of your thighs (hamstrings). It also helps open up your chest, making it easier to breathe deeply during your workout. Reclined Spinal Twist This pose is a gentle way to stretch your spine and release any tension in your back. It helps loosen up your core and hips. Doing this can improve your body's overall readiness and comfort for exercise.