A proper warm-up helps: prepare your joints for the ranges of motion you’re about to ask of them; wake up stabilizing muscles that protect your knees, hips, shoulders, and spine; improve coordination, balance, and reaction time; reduce injury risk and post-workout soreness; and help you move better, not just harder. In other words, it sets your nervous system up for success. And that matters whether you’re lifting heavy, taking a Pilates Reformer class, or heading out for a r