Sitting Meets Movement

If you open any book on biomechanics, you'll find a central concept that describes the base layer of functional human movement - Proximal Stability, Distal Mobility.

Healthy bodily movement is built on being stable toward the centre - spine, core and torso - and mobile away from the centre - hips, shoulders and limbs.

For the spine, I started by developing stability strength, especially in its neutral position, its most stable and resilient shape.

You can practice building neutral spine stability while tolerating all kinds of loads, and with your body in all kinds of positions. No reps, just hold - stability, not mobility - yet.

⚠️ Most people lack spine stability from decades of relying on a backrest for support while sitting. However, not many people are training neutral spine stability, and an epidemic of back issues is the consequence.

For the limbs, it's all about movement proficiency, measured by how much range our joints have and how much strength and control we have throughout those ranges. Range PLUS strength.

You can start by strengthening throughout your full current range. Then, work to increase your range over time.

⚠️ Most people have no idea how far they are from optimal ranges yet still spend most of their energy on strength or fitness instead. It is difficult to concisely describe how much more resilient mobility will make you compared to fitness. Injuries and early onset ageing are the obvious consequence.

These basics are just that, basics. Of course, many variations of these concepts are possible beyond this foundation, but I believe this is the best first step we can take to access them.

🪑 Sitting directly opposes this healthy base of movement - sitting creates proximal instability and distal immobility, or proximal mobility and distal stability. The consequences of this are terrible. We have a planet full of people who feel old by as early as 30 or 40 years of age and believe it normal. 🤯