One of the guys I play basketball with is the type who pretty much walks into the gym, dribbles and shoots a few times, and then steps into full court, full speed games.
He’s been out for a few months because of a calf injury—which likely resulted from his above “warm-up” routine.
Today, when he came back for the first time, what did he do?
…Walked into the gym, dribbled and shot a few times, and stepped into our full court, full speed game. Not a stretch in sight.
The thing you have to understand about your body is that it doesn’t communicate with you via words—it communicates with you via aches, pains, injuries, and every other unpleasant (and pleasant) type feeling.
If you don’t listen to your body, you’re bound for much more of the unpleasant than pleasant.
If you pay attention, however, and really listen… and build habits around pains… routines in repeatedly targeted areas… and rituals for when communication happens… you’d be surprised how much more pleasant it’ll be to be in your body.