Welcome to DAY 6

Core Stability Workout of the Day: 

• High Plank Hovers
• Forearm Plank Pulses
• Side Plank Pulses

Mobility Flow of the Day: 

• Wrist Extension Stretch
• Median Nerve Glides
• Prone Pec Stretch
• Active Hamstring Stretch

Mobility is necessary throughout our entire bodies, not only our joints! It is needed for blood to pass through vessels, for efficiency in our intestines to create bowel movements and across our nerves, fascia and other connective tissues within our bodies.

It is often forgotten how big of a role nerves play into our overall body mobility. Nerves fibers are needed to transmit messages out to our body and back to our brain. They can also become inflammed and lose their mobility through tissue. When a nerve becomes inflammed it can effect soft tissue mobility, blood vessel mobility, and cause symptoms of pain, numbness, burning or weakness.

For a healthy nervous system and overall body, it is wise to keep both the neural tension and muscle tension mobile and free within the body. Because nerves are highly sensitive, it is important that we do not hold this tension for long periods of time or attempt to “push harder” to feel more sensation. Therefore, it is important to treat nerves with gentle care and use the breath to guide movement and assist in relaxing neural tension as well.

Today, I request that you focus on the breath. Stop at the FIRST sensation of tension with the stretches and release them quickly. Practice using the breath to guide the movement and relax the body. Feel the tension release as you move back and forth through the movements and know that you are improving the mobility of your overall neural tension. 

Be on the look out for verbal and visual cues, as well as modications and progressions throughout the core workout and mobility flow! Remember, it is ALWAYS best to listen to your OWN body’s needs. The intention is function. So, let’s make this body as functional as possible and MOVE!

Don’t Forget To Check In!

• Snap a photo or video of what came up for you throughout today! (ex: photo or video of the functional HIIT or CORE workout or just any photo discussing something that came up for you throughout the workout)
• Upload it to Instagram (for prizes)
• Tag (and follow!) @docjenfit and @theoptimalbody and use #move2improve and #docjenfit (make sure your profile is public so I can see it!)
• Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s video!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram & Facebook to keep up with all things mobility, pain and injury!