Functional movement practice that isn't mind-body?
January 28, 2025 4:12 PM Subscribe
I am developing a good routine with strength/resistance training and cardio, and I also want to make sure I am stretching and moving my body in ways that help with functional movement and flexibility as I age. I would love to do this in a class setting on a weekly basis. As far as I can tell, the main way folks do this is through pilates or yoga. Is that right? Is there some other kind of group stretching class that is offered regularly in cities?
I do some functional movement of as part of my warm ups and cool downs with weight training, but I would like the community and accountability of a regular in-person class. I might consider online classes if there's nothing in person.
I would like to avoid anything with a philosophy or anything that suggests it's better than strength training (a local studio was critical of weight lifting and "getting bulky" on its website, and that was a turnoff).
Any suggestions?
I do some functional movement of as part of my warm ups and cool downs with weight training, but I would like the community and accountability of a regular in-person class. I might consider online classes if there's nothing in person.
I would like to avoid anything with a philosophy or anything that suggests it's better than strength training (a local studio was critical of weight lifting and "getting bulky" on its website, and that was a turnoff).
Any suggestions?
IME modern pilates in the US doesn't have a philosophy beyond "exercise is good" and there's no meditation or anything. I also found the reformer a fun way to exercise.
I think the individual instructor has a huge impact on your experience of it, so if there's one you don't like don't be afraid to change to another.
posted by jeoc at 4:25 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
I think the individual instructor has a huge impact on your experience of it, so if there's one you don't like don't be afraid to change to another.
posted by jeoc at 4:25 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
Is there some other kind of group stretching class that is offered regularly in cities?
Yes, general stretching classes are not uncommon to find. It seems like you want a specific keyword but I don't really know what to call it other than a stretching class, I've only taken a few of them as a drop in thing.
To echo everyone else, yes, the attitude and choices of the individual teacher will determine whether or not they comment on other people's choices about how to exercise their body or comment on personal appearance. Finding those comments on websites might be annoying but it's better than learning they have these attitudes later on in class.
I guess you could ask a friend to look at websites if it is an issue for you to read about it, if it is turning you off from wanting to read the websites to find out about people's teaching philosophy in the first place.
posted by yohko at 4:56 PM on January 28
Yes, general stretching classes are not uncommon to find. It seems like you want a specific keyword but I don't really know what to call it other than a stretching class, I've only taken a few of them as a drop in thing.
To echo everyone else, yes, the attitude and choices of the individual teacher will determine whether or not they comment on other people's choices about how to exercise their body or comment on personal appearance. Finding those comments on websites might be annoying but it's better than learning they have these attitudes later on in class.
I guess you could ask a friend to look at websites if it is an issue for you to read about it, if it is turning you off from wanting to read the websites to find out about people's teaching philosophy in the first place.
posted by yohko at 4:56 PM on January 28
Les Mills Body Balance is basically a yoga based stretching and flexibility class that is often offered (here in Australia anyway). It's also available online.
Some community centres/groups will have stretching for seniors type classes but it doesn't sound like you're in that demographic.
Echoing the above posters that how much "philosophy" gets into the class depends on the individual instructor.
posted by pianissimo at 6:18 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
Some community centres/groups will have stretching for seniors type classes but it doesn't sound like you're in that demographic.
Echoing the above posters that how much "philosophy" gets into the class depends on the individual instructor.
posted by pianissimo at 6:18 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
Tai chi might be another option if you’re really uninterested in the yoga/pilates axis.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:28 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:28 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
Pilates was invented in the early 20th century as a means for interned prisoners to keep fit. It doesn’t have ancient traditions to draw on, though it originally did have a definite notion of being grounded in one’s body. Whether you encounter that now is going to be extremely teacher-dependent.
posted by janell at 7:33 PM on January 28 [3 favorites]
posted by janell at 7:33 PM on January 28 [3 favorites]
My local gym offers “roll & release” classes a few times a week. They use a variety of rubber and inflatable balls and other props to do muscle/facia release and promote mind-body connection in a very slightly heated (high 70s) room.
That said, I lift a couple times a week, spin or ride my bike several times a week depending on weather, and go to yoga once or twice a week. I’ve never encountered a teacher or studio that had an issue with it, and I’ve seen quite a few studio schedules with classes called “yoga for runners” and similar things. Yoga classes offered at gyms will also tend to be full of cross-training weightlifters as compared to freestanding yoga studios, and usually are far lighter on the philosophy. Iyengar studios also tends towards technical body alignment instruction and away from the other bits of yoga in my experience.
You do you, but I think it’s really individual to the instructor/owner and if you’re willing to try a few different instructors, you’re likely to find something that works for you. I did have a retired-dancer Pilates instructor who seemed to have a real bias against weightlifting, but it seemed to be dancer-baggage instead of a Pilates issue.
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:36 PM on January 28
That said, I lift a couple times a week, spin or ride my bike several times a week depending on weather, and go to yoga once or twice a week. I’ve never encountered a teacher or studio that had an issue with it, and I’ve seen quite a few studio schedules with classes called “yoga for runners” and similar things. Yoga classes offered at gyms will also tend to be full of cross-training weightlifters as compared to freestanding yoga studios, and usually are far lighter on the philosophy. Iyengar studios also tends towards technical body alignment instruction and away from the other bits of yoga in my experience.
You do you, but I think it’s really individual to the instructor/owner and if you’re willing to try a few different instructors, you’re likely to find something that works for you. I did have a retired-dancer Pilates instructor who seemed to have a real bias against weightlifting, but it seemed to be dancer-baggage instead of a Pilates issue.
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:36 PM on January 28
Things to look into...
Capoeira
Modern dance
Contact improv
I find just stretching by itself terribly boring but these kinds of activities at the intersection of gymnastics, dance, and martial arts tend to do stretching as part of the overall practice that requires and reinforces functional strength and flexibility. And they often have weekly classes/gatherings.
posted by hovey at 7:59 PM on January 28
Capoeira
Modern dance
Contact improv
I find just stretching by itself terribly boring but these kinds of activities at the intersection of gymnastics, dance, and martial arts tend to do stretching as part of the overall practice that requires and reinforces functional strength and flexibility. And they often have weekly classes/gatherings.
posted by hovey at 7:59 PM on January 28
Tai chi is a great way to stretch and improve balance. I've practiced it on and off for 50 years. Apparently it's even become accepted by some western medicine practitioners—it was recommended by my surgeon after a total hip replacement several years ago.
posted by Scout405 at 8:08 PM on January 28 [2 favorites]
posted by Scout405 at 8:08 PM on January 28 [2 favorites]
Dance! My nearby ballet studio offers "stretch & strengthen" classes, and beginner adult ballet is great for mobility and proprioception.
posted by augustimagination at 11:30 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
posted by augustimagination at 11:30 PM on January 28 [1 favorite]
If you have a Feldenkrais class near you, that could also be an interesting option - not so much stretching, but using your body well and as a result releasing any unnecessary tensions.
posted by coffee_monster at 2:25 AM on January 29
posted by coffee_monster at 2:25 AM on January 29
My gym has about 7 yoga teachers and soe teach a very very secular yoga with no mention of the religious philosophy tradition some teach a secularized practice with meditative components and some went to ashrams for most of the 70s and teach the full religious philosophy of the class. So you can find yoga classes that don't really focus on mind/body meditative if you look around. Echoing above that it's really about your fit with the instructor.
posted by edbles at 4:45 AM on January 29
posted by edbles at 4:45 AM on January 29
Seconding Les Mills Body Balance. I think it's likely exactly what you are looking for.
I also think most yoga classes held in an actual gym (as opposed to a yoga studio) will eschew both philosophy and criticizing other fitness routines.
posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 5:42 AM on January 29
I also think most yoga classes held in an actual gym (as opposed to a yoga studio) will eschew both philosophy and criticizing other fitness routines.
posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 5:42 AM on January 29
seconding feldenkrais - I found the stretches to be grounded in body awareness, which was useful for me to observe the dynamic relationship of how things fit together as I age. I wish someone would offer pragmatic yoga classes that match the vibe of Harry Dean Stanton in "Lucky."
posted by SoundInhabitant at 8:00 AM on January 29
posted by SoundInhabitant at 8:00 AM on January 29
Pilates does this for me, and I'd encourage you to poke around at other local studios to find one with a better match for what you want. Echoing the comments about finding the right trainer.
posted by gingerbeer at 2:18 PM on January 29
posted by gingerbeer at 2:18 PM on January 29
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I'm also doing PT right now and, in fact, my pilates teacher has been very curious about what they're having me do and has been trying to build around and on top of that to help me further rather than dismissing it or other forms of exercise.
That said, I think to a significant degree this is going to depend on the teacher(s) and is going to vary from place to place.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:21 PM on January 28