Taking Your Life Back With Mobility Training
Mobility and activity go hand-in-hand and can help people lead adventurous, independent, and enriching lives. But as you gain more life experience, your strength and mobility can diminish. However, certain fitness methods may be the key to improving your physical health, turning back time, and taking back your life.
On the Ingrained & Balanced podcast about practicing a well-balanced lifestyle, hosts Lonnie and Marty discuss exercise methods that can help people to maintain and improve their physical health as they age. On season 1, episode 14, they are joined by Bobby Aldridge, the founder of BAMmetrics, to discuss how mobility and strength training can help people alleviate pain, improve performance, and achieve fulfillment through an active lifestyle.
Why Mobility Exercises Are the Answer
As a physiotherapist, educator of physical movement, and 53-year-old father, Bobby has first-hand experience with the impact of mobility exercise for people of all ages. After sustaining an injury in college that impacted his athletic success, he valued mobility training for rehabilitation and overall physical wellness.
"Mobility is key to improving performance, reducing pain, and letting you do what you love to do."
Today, he shares his expertise with others through his program BAMmetrics, a proprietary exercise system that helps people improve their mobility and strength. On the podcast, Bobby explains how mobility training can enable people to move with ease, eliminate their pain, reduce their chance of injury, and maximize their performance.
Pain Reduction
According to Bobby, one tried and true practice for pain reduction and ease of movement throughout the day is stretching. He shares how he practices runners stretches for mobility each morning and has adopted this activity as a habitual lifestyle for the long run.
When it comes to reducing pain at the end of the day, Bobby turns to mobility exercises. He explains how doing mobility exercises in the evening can help with pain reduction, allowing for better rest and relaxation.
"When your body feels good, you will maximize what you're doing."
Of course, sometimes exercise itself can feel painful. Experiencing some discomfort is expected during exercises, especially for beginners. However, physical activity and exercises are necessary for building strength. Bobby recommends powerlifting and practices like foam rolling and stretching to alleviate the involved discomfort.
Injury Avoidance
Stretching is also essential for avoiding injuries during workout sessions. In addition, soft tissue work is another excellent way to prepare the body for exercise so that it does not sustain injuries as a result.
"The better you move, the better your performance and the less pain you will have."
Of course, Bobby explains that there is a fine line to walk when it comes to treating muscle tension before a workout and maintaining peak physical performance. More tension can provide more strength during your workout but could lead to pulled muscles. Less tension will allow for better mobility but may limit performance.
For this reason, Bobby recommends staying mindful of muscle tension when performing soft tissue work, so that you can be primed and ready for your workouts. Achieving the right muscle tension will allow your body to achieve optimal mobility, while avoiding pulling muscles.
Improved Performance
Over the 30 years of experience Bobby has gained as an athlete, student, and educator of physical movement, he learned that mobility is critical to improving performance. While it is natural for people to perceive their physical limits, Bobby believes that mobility training can help people push past these beliefs and discover their true physical potential.
Bobby's mobility training involves a strategic approach to working out, which he calls The Magnificent Seven. This is the sequence of performing soft tissue work, stretching, and strength exercises that people can follow to see better results from their workouts.
For Bobby, practicing mobility exercises and following The Magnificent Seven has enabled him to increase his functionality and push past what he once believed to be his physical limits. And if this feat is possible for him, it is also possible for you.
"You're actually making your body better – and that's why I made these tools."
Through the BAMmetrics program, Bobby is pursuing his mission to teach people how to regain active lifestyles by practicing the right exercises. By incorporating these exercises into their workouts, participants learn to build their strength and improve their mobility so they can get up, get in shape, and get back to doing the activities they love.
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To learn more about BAMmetrics and Bobby Aldridge's expertise in maximizing mobility and performance, tune in to the Ingrained & Balanced Podcast.