Post #3304: Mobility work

Each time I take a “break” from working out—as I did for most of October—I’m reminded how much stiffer my body feels without daily movement. It’s not just a minor twinge here and there, but a deeper problem: sitting at my desk all day leaves my hips so tight that I can barely walk properly for a minute or two after standing up. And don’t get me started on my hips being so sore at night I can barely sleep!

When I’m getting to the gym three or four times a week, with a walk or two thrown in, those problems pretty much disappear. I’m still young enough at 52 (and lucky not to have any chronic pain conditions) that a little maintenance goes a long way when it comes to keeping my body moving well. What that does mean is working out isn’t *optional* any longer, without a good routine I feel every one of my years!

I’ve decided to add a bit more mobility work on a consistent basis to see if that also helps keep things limber–starting with this most excellent book on biomechanics Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett. I’ve had it in my home gym for awhile, and I consult it regularly when form-checking my major lifts – but I’ve never run one of the programs in the back which gives an outline for incorporating about 15 minutes of mobility work into one’s day.

I’m currently on day two of exercises, so I can’t say much about the overall benefits of this approach, but it did remind me to get the lacrosse ball out and roll my feet while resting in between weight lifting sets – and that alone is a great way to open up the foot and ankle mobility. I’m also practicing sitting in a deep squat every other day to work on the hips (the hip thing is also related to perimenopause, but HRT hasn’t knocked it back completely – hence the stretching).

I’ve never been a person with great flexibility, so I have no designs on being able to do impossible yoga poses or anything – but as retirement looms on the horizon, I’d like to be able to glide there rather than limp. A small goal really, but also one that has an everyday quality of life aspect to it.