Why Increasing Mobility is Important For Your Workouts

Why mobility matters

In the fitness landscape, mobility translates to true health. Why? It’s not enough to be just strong or flexible. These two elements are interdependent and incomplete without each other — you need both, aka mobility, to unlock your fitness potential. Essentially, focusing on mobility equates to striving for pain-free movement and the liberty to utilize your body’s full range of motion.

How to build mobility

So, how do you enhance your mobility? The Kettlebell Kickboxing workout, rich in drills designed to boost mobility, is an excellent starting point. Almost every kick and swing in this routine aids in developing mobility. Additionally, don’t overlook the importance of warm-ups and cool-downs in your mobility journey to enhance your workout routine.

Flexibility training: a balanced approach

While flexibility is beneficial, overemphasis on it, especially before a workout, can be counterproductive. How come? Your body retains motor patterns for efficiency, and excessive pre-workout flexibility training can impact your performance in sports or lifting. Instead, you should reserve serious flexibility training for separate sessions, which are distinct from your regular workouts, runs, or lifting routines.

Your go-to mobility workout

For a quick, effective routine, try this 6-minute, anytime, anywhere workout above.

Implementing it 2-3 times a week can significantly enhance your mobility.

The takeaway is that mobility is the cornerstone of fitness. Remember that integrating strength with flexibility unlocks your body’s full potential, leading to a healthier, more balanced fitness journey (and you!).

Dasha L. Anderson is a celebrated trainer and fitness expert in New York City, with a master’s degree in exercise science and sports nutrition and a specialty in performance enhancement and injury prevention. She is also the founder and head certifying instructor of Kettlebell Kickboxing and has contributed to Self, Shape, Fitness Rx, and Epoch Times.