Mindful Movement: Functional Movement Screening
Mindful Movement: Functional Movement Screening
At Hixon Fitness & Athletics, we believe that moving your body regularly and with intention is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This philosophy, often referred to as "mindful movement," emphasizes the importance of being fully aware of your body's movements, focusing on the quality and purpose of each exercise. Mindful movement goes beyond simply working out; it adopts a holistic approach that considers range of motion, mobility, stability, and muscular strength as the pillars that encompass effective movement. Whether you are at our gym or engaging in personal training sessions, mindful movement is key to achieving sustainable weight loss and overall fitness.
Our philosophy ensures that your body stays flexible and mobile while progressing in strength and muscular size. A great fitness plan incorporates all planes of motion and should increase your capacity for range of motion and joint stability. So how exactly would you know where to start to begin incorporating mindful movement?
A brief and low impact fitness assessment measuring your capacity for movement is all it takes.
The Essence of Mindful Movement
Mindful movement is about more than just burning calories or building muscle. It’s about understanding how your body moves and making each movement intentional. This approach encourages individuals to pay close attention to their form, breathing, and the sensations in their body during exercise. By doing so, it helps prevent injuries, enhances performance, and fosters a deeper connection between mind and body. At Hixon Fitness, our personal trainers incorporate mindful movement into every session, whether in our private gym or in customized workout plans, ensuring that each exercise serves a specific purpose in your fitness journey.
The Pillars of Mindful Movement
To embrace mindful movement, it's essential to focus on four key pillars: range of motion, mobility, stability, and muscular strength. Range of motion refers to the ability of your joints to move freely through their full spectrum. Mobility, on the other hand, is about the freedom and ease with which your body can move, combining flexibility with control. Stability involves maintaining balance and control of your body's movements, preventing falls and improving coordination. Lastly, muscular strength provides the necessary power to perform daily tasks and athletic activities efficiently. By addressing these pillars, mindful movement promotes a balanced and comprehensive approach to fitness, aiding in weight loss and improved overall health.
Functional Movement Screening: Tracking and Improving Movement
At Hixon Fitness, we use the Functional Movement Screening (FMS) fitness assessment to track our clients' ability to move mindfully. The FMS evaluates seven fundamental movement patterns to identify limitations and asymmetries that can lead to injury. This assessment helps our personal trainers develop personalized training programs that address each individual's specific needs, ensuring that every movement is both effective and safe. By incorporating FMS into our services at our gym, we can monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to improve overall movement quality, helping our clients achieve their fitness and weight loss goals more efficiently.
To summarize, The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening tool used to identify limitations or asymmetries in seven fundamental movement patterns that are key to functional movement quality. These movement patterns are designed to provide observable performance of basic locomotor, manipulative, and stabilizing movements. The FMS is widely used by physical therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning professionals, and fitness professionals to assess the risk of injury and to develop corrective exercise strategies.
The seven movement patterns assessed in the FMS are:
Deep Squat
Hurdle Step
In-line Lunge
Shoulder Mobility
Active Straight-leg Raise
Trunk Stability Push-up
Rotary Stability
Each movement is scored on a scale of 0 to 3:
3: The movement is performed correctly without any compensation.
2: The movement is performed with some compensation or difficulty.
1: The individual is unable to perform the movement.
0: There is pain during the movement.
The total score from the seven movements can help identify areas that need improvement and guide the development of an individualized exercise program to improve movement efficiency and reduce the risk of injury.
Embrace Mindful Movement with Hixon Fitness
Mindful movement is not just a trend; it's a sustainable approach to fitness that can transform your life. By focusing on the quality of movement and addressing the key pillars of range of motion, mobility, stability, and muscular strength, you can enhance your overall well-being. At Hixon Fitness, our team of experienced personal trainers is dedicated to helping you move mindfully and achieve your health and fitness goals. Whether you prefer working out in a private gym setting or need personalized guidance for weight loss, we have the right solutions for you. We invite you to experience the benefits of mindful movement by scheduling a Functional Movement Screening with one of our coaches. Take the first step towards a healthier, more intentional lifestyle and challenge yourself to move mindfully with Hixon Fitness & Athletics.