Earlier today, I heard that we all need mobility and stability as we age.
Mobility is our range of motion and flexibility allowing fluid movement.
Stability is our ability to maintain balance during movement allowing us to move with control.
They provided the example that yoga gives us mobility and strength training give us stability.
The challenge is that most of us lean toward one over the other.
And, to prevent injury we need them both.
My Perspective
I see how my focus on both mobility and stability have changed over the years.
No more school sports.
Replacing daily runs with walks.
A yoga practice falling off the schedule when life gets busy.
Recently (very recently), I set a challenge to “get back in shape”.
The Challenge
The goal was vague, but I wanted more intentional movement back in my life.
I’ve taken on two challenges:
First, I’m doing 10 minutes of wall Pilates each day. I read something about this and wanted to try. So, I’ve taken a 60-day challenge…I’m about 15 days in.
Second, I saw Peloton had a 100-day summer challenge. One Peloton workout per day for 100 days. I decided to do 2 rides a week and on the other 5 days do a 10-minute strength or yoga session. I’m on day 10 of this one.
In parallel to this, I’ve been doing A LOT of yardwork.
The Results
While it hasn’t even been a month, I can see the change. Exercises that were hard on Day 1 are becoming more natural. I realized how stiff and weak my muscles had become.
They had gotten there over a long time, and it will take time to get mobility & stability back.
Yet I’m on the journey.
Day by day.
Step by step.
Your Turn
Are you focused on both mobility and stability or does one win out over the other?
Have you ever taken on a challenge to improve your fitness?
How could you start working on one or the other (or both) today?