Im an Exercise PhysiologistHeres Why You Shouldnt Worry About Cortisol Spikes When You Do HIIT Workouts.

Elliptical vs Treadmill: Which Cardio Machine Is Right For You?

Does Rowing Count as Strength Training?

alt

But what exactly is muscle activation?

And how in the heck do you know if youre actually doing it?

Heres what you should probably know.

woman sweating in the gym

head personal trainer atBlink Fitnessin New York City

What does it mean to activate muscles?

Muscle activation is about waking up your muscles, saysEllen Thompson, a head personal trainer atBlink Fitness.

A few things are going on here.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Then, activity in the muscle sends the resources your body needs to complete that movement.

Namely, increased blood flow and oxygen, says Thompson.

Think about doing a weighted squat.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Muscle activation warm-ups can help prevent injury and also improve stamina, Thompson says.

Does Dancing Count as Cardio?

Heres What Experts Say

Glute Bridge vs Hip Thrust: Which Is The Better Booty Booster?

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

head personal trainer atBlink Fitnessin New York City

Im a Master TrainerHeres Why You Shouldnt Skip Your Post-Run Stretches.

Why is muscle activation important?

Or zero in on gently engaging the muscles you know youll be working.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

What I find works best for my clients is to think about sending energy to the muscle and contracting.

Thompson says that if youre not sure whether youre activating your muscles, youre probably not.

you’ve got the option to also watch for muscle definition or movement in the target muscle group.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

…

Got it, you’ve been added to our email list.