Ask yourself, and be honest, when is the last time you’ve performed a mobility workout?
We’re asking because we’ve found that the typical answer is either “Never” or “I can’t even remember.”
Mobility training should be part of any healthy lifestyle. Just as you might have strength training or a cardio routine, you also need a mobility routine—especially for women.
Now, when we say mobility, we’re referring to how your joints move within their sockets. The goal is to ensure that your joints can move freely and smoothly within the surrounding tissue.
Mobility is related to flexibility but not synonymous. Flexibility is the ability to lengthen or hold a muscle in a stretch. Mobility focuses on the range of motion within your joints. When you perform exercises to improve mobility, they tend to be more dynamic.
But while flexibility and mobility are not synonymous, they do work together and are critical for us to have healthy, vibrant lives.
Without flexibility or mobility, everyday tasks become more difficult, like getting in and out of the car, tying your shoes, and climbing stairs. Plus, it puts you at a higher risk of injury during exercise.
But here’s the good news: like flexibility exercises, mobility exercises are simple, and you’re never too young or old to start. Plus, there is no specific rule to abide by. Generally speaking, the more you perform them, the more you’ll get from them.
Ideally, you’d perform each exercise daily. This becomes even more essential for women as they get older. With age, women often see a decrease in bone density. When combined with a lack of mobility, you start seeing women who shuffle their feet to walk and have a hunched-over appearance. But daily mobility exercises can help counteract that.
You can do them in small doses throughout the day, first thing in the morning, before bed, however you want, and with what works best for your schedule. The main thing is just to do them and do them regularly.
Now, for the exercises! Here are our five favorite mobility exercises to help keep you active and vital for years to come.