We all know that strength training is about lifting heavy and pushing our limits, but do you know the roles that flexibility and mobility play in maximizing those gains and keeping you injury-free? This week, we’re taking a look at why you should make stretching and mobility exercises a non-negotiable part of your strength training routine.
Why Flexibility and Mobility Matter
1. Improved Range of Motion Imagine trying to squat deeply without flexible hips or hamstrings – it’s not going to be pretty, and it might even hurt! Flexibility helps you move your joints through their full range of motion. This means deeper squats, better form on deadlifts, and more powerful lifts overall.
2. Enhanced Performance When your muscles and joints can move freely, you can lift heavier and perform better. Flexibility and mobility exercises help you achieve the proper alignment and technique, which is so important for maximizing your lifts and avoiding those frustrating plateaus that none of us want to be stuck in.
3. Injury Prevention Tight muscles and stiff joints are a recipe for injuries. Incorporating flexibility and mobility work into your routine helps keep your body balanced and resilient. This reduces the risk of strains, sprains, and other common gym injuries.
4. Faster Recovery Ever feel sore for days after a tough workout? Flexibility and mobility exercises can help speed up your recovery by increasing blood flow to your muscles and reducing muscle tension.
How to Incorporate Flexibility and Mobility into Your Routine
Warm-Up with Dynamic Stretching Luckily for you, we’ve got this covered at Elevate. Before we hit each workout, you’ll notice that the stretches we do are specifically geared for the lifts/work you’ll be doing that day.
Cool Down with Static Stretching After your workout, take a few minutes to cool down with static stretches. Ask your coach for a good suggestion and they’ll never let you down! Holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds and focusing on the muscles you worked helps to lengthen and relax your muscles, reducing soreness and improving flexibility over time.
Dedicated Mobility Sessions Consider adding dedicated mobility sessions to your weekly routine. Use tools like foam rollers, tennis balls, and resistance bands to target tight spots and improve joint mobility. This is something else you can ask our coaches for pointers on!!
Remember, strength training isn’t just about how much you can lift. It’s about building a balanced, resilient body. So the next time you’re tempted to skip the stretch at the end of your workout, think about all the benefits you’ll be missing out on…and then get to it!
