Originally Posted by
Phantoj
Why warm-up and cool-down? What will happen to me if I don't do it?
You will hurt yourself. Maybe not immediately, but, you will most likely hurt yourself. Most likely soft-tissue damage. Gets your body ready for exercise.
A warm-up will help get the blood flowing (increase heart rate and hence increases oxygen flow to your muscles), stretch the muscles, all sorts of stuff (I don't know the exact things that happen). Cool down will help flush toxins from the body.