There’s no question that we’ve all been through a lot in the last few years. The pandemic highlighted the importance of taking care of our physical and mental well-being and led to some innovations.
One of those is a new way of looking at fitness called Flexercise.
Here at StrongTek, we love the idea of Flexercise because it incorporates two essential elements often missing from fitness programs – flexibility and balance.
What is Flexercise?
As the name implies, Flexercise focuses on flexibility in exercise.
Flexercise trades high-impact training for low-impact movement to move the body more mellowly than HIIT or intense cardio workouts.
Some examples of Flexercise activities include:
- Taking a walk in nature
- Dancing in your living room
- Going for a swim at the local pool or lake
- Doing gentle stretches upon waking or before going to bed
- Practicing balance exercises using a balance board or balance pods
These ideas only scratch the surface of what Flexercise can mean to you. There’s no need to overthink it. So, instead of worrying about trying to hit a specific calorie burn or getting in a set amount of walking steps in your day, focus on finding enjoyable ways to move your body.
Benefits of Low Impact Exercises
Just because you’re going low impact doesn’t mean you won’t see results. There are many benefits of low-impact exercises for everyone, from elite athletes to sedentary adults who want to be more active.
Reduced risk of injury
Low-impact exercises are easy on your joints, making you less likely to injure your knees, ankles, hips, or back. In addition, many low-impact exercises, such as stretching and balance training, can strengthen your joints to withstand impact if you switch to high-impact training.
Less recovery time
You may need a day (or two) off after running 10 miles. In contrast, you don’t necessarily need to take any time off between low-impact workouts. You can swim one day, go for a walk the next, and dance later that evening. This means you spend more time moving and less time resting.
Gain muscular strength and endurance
As we said, low-impact doesn’t mean low results. Low-impact exercises like squats and lunges can help your muscles gain strength and endurance faster than high-impact exercises because you slow down the movements and work every muscle.
Great for all levels of physical fitness
If you are starting to get into fitness, the thought of jumping around or going for a run can be daunting. In contrast, going for a walk in the park or stretching at home is much more manageable. This can make it easier to ease into fitness and build strength and endurance without hurting yourself.
Builds stability and agility
Balance and stretching exercises are essential for building stability and agility. These attributes will help you become stronger and less prone to injury. In addition, working on your balance will improve your posture and coordination.
How to Bring Flexercise into Your Daily Life
Now that you know about the benefits of incorporating low-impact Flexercise movements into your day let’s discuss how to do it.
- Stretch in the morning
Start your day with a good stretching routine to wake up your muscles and get feel-good chemicals circulating around your body. You don’t even need to get out of bed for this. Simply flex your muscles as you lie in bed. Start from the top down to flex everything from your facial muscles to your toes.
- Find a movement routine you enjoy
If you are new to exercise, you might not be sure what feels good yet. Try several different types of activities, like going for a walk, swimming, dancing, balance training, or yoga. Don’t limit yourself! If an opportunity for you to move your body presents itself, go for it.
- Don’t forget about balance
Balance training is essential for keeping your body strong and aligned. You can use tools like a balance board or practice without them.
For example, stand facing a wall or chair that you can grab on to if you start to feel wobbly. Keep your right leg firmly planted on the ground as you lift your left knee. See how high you can lift it while standing on your right leg for 10 seconds, then repeat on the other side.
StrongTek is Here to Help You Stay Flexible
At StrongTek, we believe in the power of flexibility and balance to build strength and promote lifelong health and wellbeing.
Browse our collection of exercise products that can make your Flexercise routines more enjoyable and comfortable.