Why Focus on Mobility?

Happy Summer everyone!  I hope you are having a fun summer soaking up the sun, and cooling off at the beach. Some of you may have found that walking on an uneven surface like sand can be tough to navigate, especially when dragging a cooler, carrying chairs and bags.  This is one of the many reasons why doing mobility and balance work is beneficial and is a great compliment to a strength training program.

I have taken a deep dive and really focused on mobility, balance and how it can benefit people of all ages. 

This past year I have learned a lot about why barefoot training is so valuable, and how “grabbing the ground with your feet” can really help with not only balance, but also activates the glutes, quads and core so you can use your body more effectively. Using different pieces of equipment can go a long way to help further advance mobility, but also changes things up and makes workouts challenging but fun.  I find the use of foam rollers, mobility balls, sandbags, the TRX Suspension Trainer, and kettlebells very helpful in giving “feedback” to the body, meaning helping to engage the core, glute and muscles of the feet.  Now the body can be fully engaged and several muscle groups are activated at once, making a particular exercise or movement more effective.

By training the body this way, balance will also improve.  Balance is essential in daily life for people off all ages.  Poor balance can lead to falls and injuries, so doing accessory work in either a warm up or cooldown should be a non-negotiable in any workout program. If you find that your balance is off and you aren’t as mobile or flexible as you once were, let’s work together and figure out a solid plan that can set you up for success!