Our bodies are constantly working for us - every movement, every step.  Mobility & flexibility is what makes this possible. We don’t always take into account how our mobility & flexibility can affect our daily lives.  Our physical well-being, our posture, walking, moving furniture & all the other challenges that your life may bring.  Working with our mobility & flexibility will help our journey to a healthier & more fulfilling life. They will help our ability to bend, twist & move freely as we age, preventing stiffness in your joints & allowing us to stay active & independent in our daily activities.

First off, let’s discuss what flexibility & mobility are & how they show up in your daily life. 

Flexibility - the ability of a joint or series of joints to move through a full, unrestricted range of motion.  It involves the stretching of muscles, tendons & ligaments to maintain or improve suppleness & elasticity. It’s a temporary elongation.  Think about picking your kids’ toys off the floor, checking your blind spots  or getting your wine glass off the top shelf of your cabinet :) 

Mobility - the ability of a joint to move actively through a range of motion.  It involves the coordination of muscles, tendons & ligaments to produce controlled movements.  This is more passive than flexibility & requires strength & control in the given range.  It’s important in our functional daily movement giving us better posture, balance or reaching into the backseat of the car.

Both flexibility & mobility offer so many benefits to your life.  

• Improved posture - When our back is flexible & full of mobility we are able to stand up straight, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal issues.  We want to keep standing straight as we get older & not hunched over.  Plus, the straighter we stand, the thinner we look :)  

• Enhanced range of motion - Your range of motion will allow everyday tasks to be easier.  Things like reaching around to put on your seat belt or the dog pulling on her leash while going for a walk. 

• Injury prevention - When your body is able to move more fluidly, then there is less of a chance of injury.  Your body will be able to adapt to what’s thrown your way 

• Joint health - When your joint has full range of motion, it is healthier.  There’s less stiffness & better joint function all around. 

• Stress relief - Take long, deep, meditative inhales & exhales during your stretches. This helps to reduce tension & stress in your body.  

• Mind-body connection - By connecting your breath to your movement you will promote mindfulness & a stronger mind-body connection. By tapping into your mind-body connection you get to know your body better and know when you can give more & when you need to let up. 

So basically, better flexibility & range of motion can improve every quality of your life, in the gym, at work, at home.  Your activities will be easier & more efficient - leading to them being more enjoyable!

What are some ways you can work on your flexibility & range of motion? 

• Yoga 

• Taking breaks at work to stand up, move around & stretch your upper body in ways that feel good to you. 

• Doing a mini stretch or yoga session right when you get out of bed

• Stretch when you’re watching Netflix

• Take your joints through their full range of motion using props, body weight or a friend to help you reach your end comfort range. 

• Foam rolling, massage balls or bolsters

• Find out more about myofascial release or try a course like this one to help you get started. 

Keep in mind that you should try to balance both sides of your body.  Some examples…If your right side has less flexibility & mobility than your left, then work on your right side for a longer period of time.  This is totally normal!  And you may find your left upper body has more flexibility but your right lower body has more flexibility.  Again, totally normal! 

As a bonus, when we start to unlock our muscles & joints, we often begin to unlock our stuck emotions & stress.  If you’re working on your flexibility & mobility & start to cry, it’s ok.  It happens, you’re just releasing some emotions.  You can read more about that here. 

Flexibility & mobility offer us a healthier, more easeful life.  Supple movements & limber joints allow full, expressive motion with our body.  We have less pain & more joy.  We are healthier, more agile & better able to take on our day!

If you know someone who would benefit from this, please share the love with them! 

May you always stay true in your intentions, true to your hearts’ desires & speak loving truth to those around you.  Love ya!

Jennifer