January 30th, 2019
Fitness is a huge part of your world. Not only is it a way to improve your health, but it’s a way of life. However, those countless hours of working out can start to take a toll on your body, which is why you want to exercise smarter, not harder. That’s why you should also pay attention to your mobility and recovery. Keep reading for tips on how to improve both mobility and recovery.
Mobility is making sure your body can move in all the different ways it has to in order to follow proper technique. Recovery is giving your body what it needs after an intense workout so that it can bounce back and prevent injury.
Without mobility, you’re not going to have proper technique. So, before you start putting a workout regimen together, it’s important to assess your mobility. Here are some mobility tests you can do on your own or with our South Tampa personal trainers….
Ankle Squat
A great test for runners, ankle squats will determine whether or not your ankles have a full range of motion. As you squat, see if you can keep your feet flat on the ground. If you have to lift your heel, you are not as mobile as you should be. If this is the case, you need to work on pivoting your ankles to get a fuller range of motion.
Couch Stretch
This is another great test for runners which helps determine how loose and flexible you are with your legs. To practice this stretch, stand against the wall with your back, butt, and one leg pressed to it. The back of your knee should also be touching. Then take your other leg (bent at the knee) and lift it up. If your other leg shifts or bends and you can’t straighten it out, then you are not as mobile as you should be. If this is the case, you need to start stretching your legs to get them looser!
Front Squat
This test will assess your mobility in terms of weight training. With squats, your feet should be planted on the ground and your back straight. If you are arching or lifting your heels or arching your back, then you are not doing squats correctly and not getting the full range of motion. If this is the case, squat with light weights and practice until you have the proper technique.
Overhead Squat
Take two dumbbells above your head with your arms straight and grip relaxed. If you can hold the dumbbells straight up for a couple of minutes without your elbows buckling or your back hurting, then you are good to go. If you’re struggling, then you need to work on your mobility.
Mobility is making sure your body can move in all the different ways it has to in order to follow proper technique.
Avoid Static Stretching. Turns out that stretching before a workout can have an adverse impact on your body and can lead to a decrease in overall mobility. Instead, try doing a dynamic warmup that includes lunges and squats. This will get your blood pumping and prepare your body for a cardio and/ or weight training workout.
Improve Your Stance. Form and technique are essential when exercising, so make sure to perfect your stance! If it means you have to lift lighter weights to have better form, then do it! You will get more from your workout by doing so.
Focus on Recovery. This is an extremely important component to your workout routine and should be taken seriously in order to keep your body healthy and to prevent injury. Here are great ways to aid in recovery.
At Driven Fit, we can help you get your body in tip top shape for your training regimen! If you would like more information on mobility and recovery or would like to schedule a recovery massage treatment in South Tampa, please give us a call at (813) 440-3016.
Categories: Rejuvenation