Exercises for Mobility and Functional Strength

Indian clubs are incredibly useful for improving shoulder and spinal mobility. They come in a variety of materials and weights. When first starting with them, whether you have limitations or not, it's generally wise to begin with the lightest clubs you can find. I suggest starting with 1-pound clubs and gradually working up to 2 or 3 pound clubs only if you feel that your shoulders can use more weight. The maximum weight that I find I need for an excellent shoulder workout is 5 pounds. In this video, I am using 3-pound wooden clubs. Read more

This is a look at a series of helpful exercises for those who have rotator cuff issues. Most mild to moderate cases of bursitis, adhesive capsulitis, and various forms of impingement can be overcome by improving shoulder and spinal mobility using the exercises shown here.

It's always prudent to consult with your own health care providers before trying any program of care. Read more

To build upon the ankle plantar flexion stretch that I shared earlier, here is a short routine of 3 mobility exericses that I enjoy doing to improve ankle mobility:

Ankle Raises While on Balls of Feet:

Ankle raises are excellent for strengthening your calf muscles and Achilles tendon, and for warming up all of the soft tissues that surround your ankle joints. Ankle raises are also helpful for developing balance and proprioception. Read more

While developing and maintaining good core strength is extremely helpful to protecting the spine and surrounding tissues against injury, it's equally important to work at improving usable strength of the trunk toward its end ranges. Read more