Why Mobility Training Is The Missing Link in Your Workout (Especially for Seniors!)
When most people think about fitness, they are typically focusing on strength training, weight loss or cardio. All three of these are great reasons to go to the gym. But one thing we are noticing is that ONE critical component of fitness often gets overlooked. At Connection Wellness Center, we believe that mobility training is an important pillar to your overall fitness routine. It is the key to moving well, staying pain-free and enjoying an active lifestyle at any age.
Most of our clients are 50+ years of age and this is especially true for this population. Mobility, the ability to move a joint through a particular range of motion with control, is a key factor for helping seniors not only prevent injuries but also in helping them maintain their independence. Whether the goal is to move without stiffness, lift grandbabies, or be able to get in and out of the car easily, mobility should be at the forefront.
What is mobility training anyway?
Everyone seems to have their own definition of mobility. For our purposes, it is the ability to move a joint through a particular range of motion with control. The “with control” part is especially important because our joints need to be both mobile AND stable for optimal health. Stable joints leads to optimal health and joint mechanics. For example, you probably don’t want your knee to be so mobile that it goes in and out of place.
I also like to make the distinction that mobility is not stretching! Stretching typically refers to an action (the lengthening) of the muscle itself. Remember, mobility implies joints. That doesn’t mean when you perform mobility exercises that your muscles aren’t being stretched too. It just means that your joints will be moving as opposed to staying still like in a static stretch.
How We Incorporate Mobility At CWC
As we age, our joints naturally lose some flexibility and we may feel stiffer than we used to. Can I get an amen??? But that doesn’t mean we have to accept limited movement! I’m a big believer that age is just a fact, not the whole story.
At Connection Wellness center, we include mobility training in personal training sessions and in our group classes. Our motto is “move better and then move better more often.” If you have pain or want to prevent it, mobility training is for you. Here’s how you’ll see it incorporated into our programs:
Mobility focused warm-ups before our personal training sessions
We use mobility exercises as active rest breaks in between strength training sets
We offer a 45 min Mobility Class on Saturdays at 9:30 AM
Ready to Move Better and Feel Better?
If you’re in the Annandale/Falls Church area and want to improve your mobility, we would love to help! Come check out our mobility class on Saturdays or get a personalized mobility program just for you.
Stop by CWC or send me an email to book a session today! Let’s keep you moving for life!
Rachel Martin
Certified Personal TrainerOwner, Connection Wellness Center