I’ve been getting a lot of questions about flexibility, mobility, and strength. To answer the questions, I came up with a podcast and a blog about it so you can access the vital information either way.
Flexibility
It is the ability of a muscle to stretch passively. It pertains to how long a muscle can get and how far a body can move due to that muscle length.
Mobility
It is the ability of the joint to move and how far the joint can move.
There are two kinds of joint mobility in a person.
Joint hypermobility – When some or all of a person’s joints have an unusually large range of movement. This causes the joint to pass the end range. People with hypermobility are particularly supple and able to move their limbs into positions others find impossible.
Joint hypomobility – When there is a decrease in the range of movement of which a joint is capable. Usually, it is due to inflammation or the effects of surgery. Such instances affect the mechanics of the joint.
Strength
It is the ability for a muscle to take on a load. If you can take on more load, it means that your strength has increased.
Is it possible to be flexible, to have mobility, and to have strength all at once?
Of course! You have to work on all of them so they could work hand in hand to make you more flexible, be more mobile, and be stronger.
But, there are instances where you feel you have the strength but you are not flexible or vice versa. This is usually because of your body type. The body type tends to have an easier time with one of these capabilities, and your mind and body naturally gravitate towards it.
Hypermobility in relation to Yoga
In yoga, those who have joint hypermobility find it easier to do most of the poses because it requires flexibility and mobility. When one is hypermobile, the person would no longer exert effort to practice these poses, but this could lead to straining your muscles and joints.
If you have joint hypermobility, you have to work on strength while you do yoga because you already can be flexible and mobile. For example, in doing a crescent lunge, most people will have difficulty doing that post if they are not hypermobile. If you are hypermobile, this would be a piece of cake. What you have to work on then is to rely on your muscles, too, not just on your joints. If you do not practice strength when doing these poses, it will stretch out your ligaments.
Why You Need To Practice Strength When You Are Flexible, Hypermobile
Ligaments, when stretched out, do not go back to their original form. It could then lead to dislocation if you ever get involved in a traumatic incident. You do not want that to happen.
It is important to activate your muscles when doing yoga. The reason for this is if you continue to have strength, you can support your joint’s mobility and flexibility. If you have all flexibility and no strength, it could lead to injury, too. If you have no flexibility, it could lead to strains. It is essential to have a balance of both.
With yoga, you gain more range of motion in your joints and have strength in your muscles. It creates mindfulness with breathing, and you get to notice what muscles and joints are doing in certain positions. Once you have this mindfulness, you will see the difference when you are just hanging out in a pose and actively being in the pose. You always want to practice the latter so you can work on your mobility, flexibility, and strength altogether.