Why Stretching Isn’t Always the Answer to Better Mobility
Back at my old job, I used to take yoga classes. One instructor said something that stuck with me: despite years of yoga, he could never seem to make his hamstrings more flexible.
At the time, that sounded strange. Like most people, I had been taught that if a muscle feels tight, the answer is to stretch it more. But what if there is more to flexibility than stretching?
The training that changed how I coach
In 2010, I was introduced to Z-Health, a brain-based approach to movement. Some of the drills looked almost too simple, yet I saw people move better after doing them. I enrolled in two certification courses, and what I learned changed how I program workouts and help clients.
The idea that stayed with me was that movement depends on communication between the brain and the body. When a joint feels uncomfortable or a movement feels threatening, people may tense up or guard that area. Repeating a stretch alone may not address what is limiting the movement.
Today, I look beyond the spot that feels tight. I pay attention to how the joints move, how a client responds to a drill, and whether that drill helps them feel and move better. What works for one person may not work for another.
Here are four lessons I use in my coaching:
- A tight muscle may be doing more than resisting a stretch. Discomfort or a sense of instability can change how a person moves and recruits muscles.
- Joint movement matters. Improving how a joint moves can sometimes make an exercise feel stronger or more comfortable.
- The nervous system is part of flexibility. How safe and controlled a movement feels may affect how much range of motion a person can use.
- Test, then retest. We try an appropriate drill, check how the movement feels afterward, and adjust the plan based on the response.
Stretching can still be useful. I simply don’t assume it is the only answer every time someone feels stiff.
What this looks like in a session
Just today, I worked with a woman who came in dealing with a significant low back issue. We used gentle movement drills rather than stretching her back. By the end of the session, her range of motion had improved, and she said she felt and moved better than when she arrived.
That is one person’s experience, not a promise that the same drills will resolve every back problem. It is a reminder of why I assess each client and pay attention to their response instead of handing everyone the same flexibility routine.
The transformation closest to my heart
My dad showed me what better movement can mean outside the gym. At 80, he had back surgery and became so weak afterward that he needed a walker. Hunting was one of his passions, and it looked as though he might lose the independence to do it.
We worked on rebuilding his movement and strength using the principles I had learned. That October, he was walking with a walker. By April, he was hiking in the Black Hills, where he shot a wild turkey and even crawled under a fence to retrieve it.
You can watch my dad’s story here.
Mobility is about living your life
At Puravida Fitness, our tagline is “Transforming Bodies and Lives.” Sometimes that means losing weight or building muscle. Sometimes it means having the strength, flexibility, and mobility to keep doing the things you love.
Those are some of my favorite transformations. Helping someone move with more confidence, regain independence, or return to a favorite activity is about quality of life and longevity. To me, that is priceless.
If you’re looking for a personal trainer who considers the whole person, we’d love to help. Puravida Fitness is a gym and health club in Lakeville focused on fitness and wellness for real life. We work with people from Farmington, Prior Lake, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Savage, New Market, and Elko. Learn more about Puravida Fitness.
