We know that sounds strange coming from your physios and movement experts. But stay with us, because we think it's the most honest thing we can say about how to think about movement.
We don't really care about specific exercises.
There is no single exercise that is perfect for any pain or prevention. None.
Exercises are tools. And tools are only a means to an end. If you don't understand the end you're working toward, it doesn't matter what you do with the screwdriver. You can turn it all day long and still never build the thing you set out to build.
We’re not going to give you a packet of mindless 2×10 or 3×8 sets of 5 exercises. We would rather you connect with what you’re learning about your body integrated into your day to day movements than just check off your exercises box.
We care about whether you're implementing things in a way that feels sustainable, and whether it's going to come with you into the future.
Most of the time, people get tired of the work and the consistency they implemented during their active rehabilitation. The exercises become something they view as externalized, something they owe to their physio. They feel like they're doing it for us, not for themselves. And so they inevitably stop, or they keep doing the same exercises for months or years without ever evolving them.
That's the trap, and it goes in both directions.
Exercises are only beneficial for a season and for a purpose. Once you've screwed the thing in, the screwdriver stops being the tool you need. If you're going to keep building the house, you might need a hammer instead. Your tool has to evolve alongside the job you're doing. The same is true for how we manage our bodies.
The learning something along the way is the non-negotiable.
At ROOTS we’re giving you movement principles not exercises. We teach you what you're aiming to understand and what you're aiming to implement in your body. And then we teach you a couple of exercises you can use to reach that goal.
The exercises matter, but they're the least permanent part of the work. The principle is what stays with you.
If you understand why a particular movement helps, you can find a version of it that fits your life when it’s life-ing. If it can’t grow with you you’re still in a temporary phase.
For this reason, much of your sessions at ROOTS will be comprised by questions.
Why are we giving you this?
What should you notice while you do it?
What would tell you it's working, and what would tell you it's time to change it?
What are 3 changes that would make it harder or easier? Why?
What’s a movement that happens in daily life that this reminds you of?
How does this help you understand your body and why you’re here?
Some people will read this and feel relieved. Others might feel a little uneasy, because it's easier to follow a program than to take ownership of one. If you want to check out we can’t blame you but we probably aren’t the right place for you.
But if you’re one of the people that gets excited by these details, you’re in the right place and we can’t wait to grow with you.
