Remember being a kid in gym class, and having to stretch before running the field? How about in high school sports, when "warming up" consisted of stretching before practice? Remember how much it hurt to stretch your cold muscles?

Apparently, and thankfully, this is no longer in vogue. The new way to warm up recommends actually warming up the muscles before stretching, with a few minutes of walking or light exercise. This makes the muscles more pliable and less apt to tear.

I tried it, and it feels much better, too. Come to think of it, the progression of yoga classes build in that warm-up before the super-stretchy poses. Smart!

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