Moving Better, Feeling Better – A recap of my Mobility Workshop
By Nolwenn (Noels)
Hey Team,
A huge thanks to those who joined my mobility workshop a few weeks ago! It was such a good session and a good reminder of how even a little bit of movement can change how our bodies feel day to day. We focused on hips, shoulders and spine, three areas that make a big difference in how we move, how we train and just how we feel in general.
Weak hips can lead to back and knee pain, tight shoulders affect your posture and your lifts, and a stiff spine can make everyday movements feel awkward and uncomfortable. But there are some simple exercises that you can do at home that will help you move freely and feel better in your body, if you do them consistently.
First, let’s clear up the difference between mobility and flexibility. Flexibility is about how far a muscle can lengthen, like touching your toes in a hamstring stretch for example. Mobility is about how well a joint can move through its full range of motion with control. For example, flexibility might let you drop into a deep squat, but mobility is what allows you to control that squat and to stay strong in the position.
So, how do we improve our mobility? In the session we discussed some simple drills that you can do at home in 5-10 minutes a day. That’s really all it takes. No matter where you are in your journey right now, each exercise is easy to adapt and can make a difference. A couple minutes a day will always be more beneficial than one long session every couple of weeks.
Here’s a few of the exercises we explored with videos on how to do them:
- Hips/Shoulders/Spine – Worlds Greatest Stretch
- Hips – 90/90 Hip Lift Off
- Hips – 90/90 internal rotation
- Hips – Seated Leg Raises
- Spine – T-Spine Windmills
- Spine – Deadhang
- Shoulders – Shoulder Pass Overs (you can use a band, broom, or towel for this one)
- Shoulders – Thread the Needle
Here are a few things I hope you take away from this:
- Mobility is for everyone, and it’s for feeling good everyday. It’s not just for athletes and it’s about being able to move freely and enjoy your body.
- 5 minutes a day is better than an hour every couple of weeks.
- You don’t need fancy equipment. A few basic exercises can make a huge difference.
- Keeping your joints moving now, will help prevent pain and keep your body strong and independent as you get older.
If you’ve been feeling stiff, sore, or just not moving as well as you’d like, start small. Five minutes a day is all it takes to feel better and move better. If you don’t know how to start, come and talk to one of the trainers, we’d be more than happy to try and help you.
See you at the studio,
Nolwenn (Noels)
