MOVEMENT HEALTH

When we think about health, we often think about exercise, and not movement. Why is this important? The ability to perform a movement well is a simple definition of skill, and skill is an important determinant of physical health. When it comes to movement, nature makes no allowances for your lack of skill. Even in our modern, technology-enabled environment, lack of skill in simple movements has increased our risk of injury, especially when compounded by long-duration and high-intensity training methods.

Movement is more than just exercise, and good movement health is more than just exercising regularly each week. At EVO, we understand the importance of optimizing movement health through the development and mastery of simple movement patterns that focus on building balance, strength and coordination. We also know that in order to develop lifelong movement health, you need to practice these movements skillfully, purposefully and playfully on a regular basis. Here are some guidelines for movement health:

• MOVE SKILLFULLY – awareness of your environment is the foundation of skill. Therefore, while exercising, learn to engage with your surroundings. Take your headphones off, and listen to your body; take your shoes off and go bare foot; pay attention to your posture; follow the rhythm of your movement.

• MOVE PURPOSEFULLY – include the building blocks of movement in your workouts, such as balancing, squatting, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, hanging, climbing, twisting, jumping and running. These are the movements that gave us context and meaning during our early years. These re the movements we are designed to do.

• MOVE PLAYFULLY – take time to explore and discover new movements. During these moments, there is no need for sets and reps – this is the time to be curious, to break the rules, and to have fun. Try the climbing wall, swing from a bar, crawl on the floor, or do a handstand.

Kesh Patel, Fitness Director EVO Europe