Your warm-up is more powerful than you realize
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Mobility Warm-Up?
Have you noticed yet the benefits you’re gaining from the mobility warm-up in each ThriveFit class?
Recently, I attended a yoga class filled with dedicated, self-described yogis. While moving through poses that felt relatively easy for me, I noticed many others struggling—despite their experience. In a simple squat, the heels were lifted off the ground. In the 90/90 position, knees hovered several inches above the mat.
It was a clear reminder: mobility matters. And more importantly, it’s something we’re already training—if we’re doing it right.
Don’t Just Go Through the Motions
The mobility warm-up isn’t just a checkbox at the beginning of class. It’s a powerful tool—if you approach it intentionally. So the next time you're working through it:
Slow down.
Engage your muscles.
Focus on your breathing.
Maximize every rep and position.
This short warm-up can lead to long-term gains in movement quality, strength, and injury prevention—but only if you’re deliberate with it.
How Else Can You Train Mobility?
It’s not just about warm-ups. You build mobility every time you train through full range of motion. Here’s what that looks like:
Squats: Get to 90 degrees (or lower), bringing thigh to hip. Then fully extend at the top—knees straight, glutes engaged, hamstrings lengthened.
Bench Press: Don’t stop short. Lower the dumbbell as far as a barbell would go—close to your chest. Then press up powerfully, locking out at the top with full arm extension.
Training through full range with control reinforces your joints’ ability to move better—and your muscles’ ability to support that movement.
Mobility vs. Flexibility: What’s the Difference?
Here’s a simple analogy:
Flexibility is the length of the leash.
Mobility is how well you can walk the dog on that leash—without tripping, pulling, or losing control.
A flexible person might have long muscles, but if they can’t control them through a full range of motion, that flexibility is limited in its usefulness. A mobile person, on the other hand, has both the range and the control to use it effectively.
Bottom line: Don’t underestimate your mobility work. It’s not flashy, but it’s foundational. Keep showing up. Stay intentional. And over time, you’ll see your strength, performance, and movement quality all level up.