Written by: Phindile Le Bris Sithole-Spong
A couple of months ago, I started to focus on my overall health. This meant aiming to eat healthier, working out, going on walks, getting sunshine and other minor adjustments that have made a significant impact on my overall health. On that note, I also want to start incorporating evening movement and mobility stretching before bed. I first discovered mobility training/movement by mistake while scrolling through my go-to fitness App, “FitOn”, and landed on the mobility section. As someone who struggles with joint pain, body stiffness and restless leg syndrome, I was fortunate to find stretches to loosen up my very tight and sore muscles. Now I am obsessed and can’t stop singing its praises.
But what is mobility training or stretching, you may ask? Put simply, it is exercises or movements designed to loosen tight and sore tissue and muscles—the exercises that I have been doing make use of a foam roller, small body ball and stretching band. I like to do them in my room after applying some essential oils to my pulse points, like lavender, to help me start the process of winding down and relaxing. Since I started a few weeks back, I have noticed that I move differently from day to do. Not only that, but I noticed that my sleep is a little better, and I find myself a lot more relaxed going into bed. Especially as it pulls me away from being on my phone or computer and forces me to connect to my body more.
It has been a few days since I have done it, and I feel like my body is missing it, so I will try to schedule it for as many nights as possible. Nonetheless, if you are like me and find yourself struggling with aches and pains or struggling to shut down and relax before bedtime, I cannot recommend this enough. It is a daily practice and ritual that can help you feel better and more connected to yourself. It really is a daily practice and ritual that can help you feel better and more connected to yourself.
