Practice
Do You Need to Warm Up Before Yoga?
Yes — a short warm-up makes yoga safer and more comfortable, especially before stronger poses. Gentle movements like cat-cow, neck and shoulder rolls, and a few
Yes — a short warm-up makes yoga safer and more comfortable, especially before stronger poses. Gentle movements like cat-cow, neck and shoulder rolls, and a few easy stretches wake up the joints and muscles. Many classes build the warm-up in (that's what the early poses do), so you don't always need a separate one.
Cold muscles and joints don't move as freely, so easing in reduces the risk of strain and helps you get more from the practice. Cat-cow, gentle twists, shoulder and neck circles and a few Sun Salutation rounds all work well.
Most well-sequenced classes warm you up as they go, starting gently before anything demanding — so listen to how your body feels rather than jumping straight into deep poses.
Frequently asked questions
- What are good warm-up poses?
- Cat-cow, gentle twists, neck and shoulder rolls, and slow Sun Salutations ease the body in nicely.
- Can I skip the warm-up?
- For a gentle practice you can start slowly, but before strong or deep poses a short warm-up is worth it.
Related reading
- What Are the Benefits of Sun Salutation?Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) is a flowing sequence that warms up and works the whole body. It builds strength, flexib…
- What Are the Benefits of Cat-Cow?Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) gently mobilises the whole spine by alternating between rounding (cat) and arching (co…
- Yoga for Beginners: Your Complete Start-Here GuideThe front door for anyone new to yoga — what you need, what to expect, how often to practise, the first poses to learn, …