If you have every seen a baby/toddler move then you have no doubt been in awe of how much flexibility and mobility they have. They can move into, sit and hold some very interesting positions without ever thinking twice about how tough it was to actually get there. They can hold the deepest of squats while playing with a toy and get up and move just as freely as ever.
Unfortunately, for so many of us old people that just isn’t an option. Yes, we are usually born with great flexibility and mobility but unless we maintain it then it is slowly lost to father time. Having flexibility and mobility is like credit…
- If you have poor flexibility/mobility, then you will be fighting your body to get going
- If you have below average flexibility/mobility, then you can get by
- If you have a good flexibility/mobility, then life is pretty good
- If you have great flexibility/mobility, then you start to think that you can do damned near anything!
As kids we move about in ways that are not bogged down by thoughts of getting hurt or worrying about what others may think of us. We cash in on this ability to move with ease by performing so many physical activities with great ease and little injury…Life is good! But then that thing called life happens and we grow up. Some people grow up and stay active enough to maintain a large portion of this flexibility and mobility but most do not. We get older and thus become LESS active on a regular basis. We take sedentary jobs and lead primarily sedentary lifestyles. On rare occasions we think that we still “have it” and attempt to defy physical logic only to be reminded that we are not as “young” as we used to be.
The good news is that this does not have to be the case for the rest of your life. Whether it is through yoga, pilates, strength training or simply getting a massage on a regular basis your flexibility and mobility can be saved. The key to maintaining or even regaining good movement is to adopt a consistent routine. Just like you cannot expect to have well cared for teeth if you only brush or floss every so often your flexibility and mobility are the same. Start small to build a routine that you can stick to and remember that yes, if you no longer use it you WILL lose it!
