Struggling to stay consistent with movement? Each week you’ll get relatable stories, practical strategies, and uplifting tips to help you move smarter, feel better, and bring more wellness into your daily life.
A better way to bend forward
|
Hi Reader, The past three weeks have been a lot of fun. I was invited to teach at the Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association spring session at the University of Alberta, and some of you reading this today may have been in class with me there. If that’s you — I’m so glad you’re here now as part of this email community. 💗 I hope to continue sharing resources that support your physical activity, movement, exercise, and therapeutic yoga practices in ways that feel practical and sustainable for real life. Over the past few weeks in class, we spent quite a bit of time exploring hip hinging and bending strategies — not just for yoga, but for everyday movements too. And honestly, this feels like the perfect time to talk about it. Gardening season is coming. This week’s new Real Moves for Real Life video focuses on: This isn’t really about posture. It’s about strategy. Many people get nervous about gardening season because they already know what tends to happen: They spend a few hours outside, and suddenly the back starts “talking back.” But bending itself is not the problem. What’s important is how the movement load is being distributed throughout the body. In this video, we explore a simple movement strategy called the hip hinge — helping the hips and pelvis contribute more effectively so the back doesn’t feel like it has to do all the work. We talk about:
And this applies to so much more than gardening: lifting groceries, loading laundry, reaching into cupboards, picking things up from the floor. These are movements we do every single day — often without thinking about them. So let’s take a different approach. Instead of trying to “fix” posture, we can become more aware of how we move and where the work is happening in the body. One small adjustment can sometimes make a surprisingly big difference. (And yes… Mr. Indiana Bones makes an appearance in this one too.) 🎥 Watch the video here:
And if this topic resonates with you, June has a few upcoming opportunities to continue exploring movement together: 🚶♀️ Take Your Walk to the Next Level: Intro to Nordic Walking A three-week in-person workshop series starting June 3 in Edmonton. We’ll explore walking mechanics, posture, pole use, and how to make walking feel more supportive and efficient.
🦴 It’s Not Just Tight Hips A virtual workshop happening June 12 focused on understanding hip tension, movement patterns, and what may actually be contributing to discomfort and stiffness. This workshop will be hosted inside The MedFit Movement Studio and includes complimentary access through the Move Now membership level.
As always, if this video was helpful, I’d love if you shared it with someone else, gave it a thumbs up, or leave a comment. It truly helps these resources reach more people who may need them. And I’m curious: Have a great week ahead! Be well and happy moving, Lisa Supporting you in your physical activity journey.Together, we will use thoughtful and considerate movement to reprogram how you live in your body. Let's teach your brain to soften the intensity, and to grow your own ease.
Using exercise science, kinesiology, and yoga therapy, we can find a place that will not only allow you to move better and move more, but also increase the quality of your life.
www.lisaworkman.com |
Medical Fitness Consulting
Struggling to stay consistent with movement? Each week you’ll get relatable stories, practical strategies, and uplifting tips to help you move smarter, feel better, and bring more wellness into your daily life.
Hi Reader, As we move into the thick of gardening season and spend more time outdoors tending to our yards, flower beds, and vegetable gardens, it can be helpful to ask ourselves a simple question: How am I preparing my body for these activities? For many people, gardening is a labour of love. We look forward to the warmer weather, the longer days, and the opportunity to get our hands in the dirt. What we don't always look forward to is how our bodies might feel afterward. A few hours of...
Reader, have you ever said… "My right knee is my bad knee." "My left shoulder is the problem." "My good hip is doing all the work." I hear comments like this all the time. And I understand what people mean. They're talking about the side that hurts. The side that feels stiff. The side they don't trust anymore. The side that doesn't seem to cooperate. And every time I hear someone describe their body this way, I find myself thinking the same thing: What if we're missing the point? Because...
Hi Reader, There’s something about June that draws us back outside. The fresh air.The sounds of the birds early in the morning.The feeling of walking through your neighbourhood and noticing what’s starting to bloom again. And sometimes, we simply need another reason to get outdoors. That’s why I’m so excited to share that Take Your Walk to the Next Level: An Introduction to Nordic Walking begins this week here in Edmonton. Over three Wednesday sessions (June 3, 10, and 17), I’ll teach you how...