“I really enjoyed this program, so much so that I’ve started it again. I’m 53 and have never had very flexible hips, they are now so much more flexible. I’m feeling stronger and fitter. I love how low impact it is while actually making you feel like you’ve worked out. It’s great if you have joint issues with lots of modifications you can do. The whole thing is that you work out how much you can do and you focus on doing that really well. Can’t do a full deep squat, squat as far as you can but do it to the best of your ability. Highly recommend this program for anyone.”
“I purchased GMB Mobility with the hope that it would provide a way to improve my flexibility and mobility on days I wasn't training with kettlebells. I'm over halfway through the program at this point and it has been exactly what I had hoped... and more. I am finding squat and hamstring mobility greatly improved and my wife has commented on the fact that I just seem to move better.
In addition, it's really, really fun. Although clearly based on a scientific approach of stretching and then owning the new range of motion through action, the sessions and animal movements are also quite playful. I've found the playfulness to be a nice contrast to my more structured kettlebell training. The sessions also work well as a way to train in a hotel room while on the road and I find myself doing some of these moves throughout my day.
I'm super happy with this purchase and decided to sign up for an in-person seminar to learn more. Looking forward to that!”
“Mobility has become my before work morning routine!
Powerful full range of motion, get the blood flowing, total body training, without being a “workout”.
Absolutely essential for this busy nurse!”
“I've found that 15 and 30-minute sessions are the best for this program, as 45 minutes seems like too much for the few exercises given in most of the sessions. For example, some stretch can be suggested for 4 minutes and 30 seconds on one side, and it starts to lose any benefit after maybe 3 minutes. Some more variations and cues are needed for the 45-minute sessions, I guess.
The shorter sessions are a great way to start moving when you hit a bad health/mood period and need something that you can do even in bed (most of that stuff you can! maybe aside from the locomotive exercises at the end). It is a good cool down after other trainings or a long day when you just want to stretch and breathe the stress away.
I enjoy the fact it's not about static hold but incorporates both moving and easing into various stretches, and also ends with locomotion patterns. It makes it so the program allows to add variety to my daily movement instead of simply stretching something. It encourages me to find ways of moving around and playing!”
Thanks for the review :)
Just so you know, for the longer durations, you're meant to move in and out of the positions at your own pace. You're absolutely right that there wouldn't be much benefit to a very long hold time. We'll try to make this clearer in the instructions.
Really glad the program has helped you enjoy moving and improving your mobility.
“Your program is intuitive and well designed. The format and interface is exemplary, easy to use on the go from phone or tablet. You are knowledgeable and passionate. I love the GMB vibe which is super friendly, approachable, inclusive and most of all, human. Lately in your email `(re-)starting`, you nailed it ever so nicely what happens when reality trips you up, and how to move on.
Thank you. Keep it up!”
“I love this programme and recommend it to people constantly. I have only ever done stretching haphazardly and never felt that much benefit from it even when I did do it more consistently. I did enjoy the GMB fundamentals and felt a better range of motions through this, which inspired me to give the mobility programme a shot. At first, I noticed that some of the stretches and warm-ups were familiar to me, and I wondered whether this might not be that useful to me, given I already considered myself reasonably limber. Regardless, I started the programme, and at a time when I was not in a good place and struggling to motivate myself to do even the most basic tasks. This aside I am easy distracted and can quickly lose interest in things. I add all the previous statements to give a context for just how remarkable it is that I did not lose interest in this programme. In fairness, I was already bought into the GMB crowd and convinced that they know what they are doing and I like their approach focusing on functionality. What made a huge difference to me was the layout of this programme. Each session I am given the choice to modulate it depending on how I feel and how much time I have. This is a great way to give me control and stop me from falling out of a good habit. All too often I have stopped with a good routine because I felt I HAD to do 45min or because whatever I was doing just took that long and would always be intense even if I wasn't having such a good day or week - and there will always be times like that. With that single option of adjustment, the programme already sets you up for building a habit that you can sustain and be consistent with no matter what life throws at you. Like I said I am easily bored, but also very forgetful - not to worry as the tutorials guiding you through each exercise are informative, yet to the point! It can be so frustrating trying to follow something online and not being sure you are doing it right or understanding why you are doing it. The tutorials are empowering because they explain what it is for, how to scale it up and give you the option to attune it to your needs and body, allowing you to adjust where an exercise is too challenging for your particular circumstances. That way you don't end up feeling like you failed because your movement doesn't look like that person on the screen. Once I feel I have the hang of an exercise, I can very easily toggle on or off the 'skip tutorial functions', but I still always refer to the 'cues' for forms that are added on each page, which is an excellent reminder of the key elements like having a coach standing next to you. Equally even after doing a move x amount of times, there are moments where I go back to the tutorial because now that I am familiar with the move, I find that reviewing the tutorial helps me pick up on nuances that escaped me the first time.
Next: the timer! Bless that timer! Who knew that would make such a difference? I could use my stopwatch after all, yet somehow it is not the same. The visual countdown timer is fantastic to keep myself going and get a better feel for how much longer it is, way more than only seeing the clock. It is also the biggest indication of why my previous attempts at being more flexible failed, I would swing my arms about a couple of times then hold a stretch for 5second and repeat twice - boom good to go right? The beeping is useful too because at times I am contorted and can't see the timer,not to worry you get to stay in the zone as the beeper will keep you straight. Being able to have it on my phone is great too. I did have a bit of an issue where I dropped out of the habit of doing the programme (I was still doing the stretches I learned though) and wanted to reset it back to the start. It isn't yet possible, but anytime I have contacted the team for help or suggestions, they reply fast and are always so helpful and friendly. I never feel I have wasted any money or that they are only after profit. I genuinly believe they are trying to help you help yourself and give you all the tools to do so.
The programme itself: I mentioned before I felt reasonably limber and had done stretches ad hoc believing it is the right thing to do, but not getting any physical feedback. Now granted, when I started off like with most new interests, I dove in at max-setting and did Mon-Fri every morning for the 45min (now I use a more relaxed approach) and my lower back was buzzing! buzzing like that warm fuzzy deep muscle relaxation you may get after a massage or a beer after a hard days work outdoors. I felt like I was melting into my mattress at night. I never even knew I was tight and tense in some of these areas of my body, I certainly never had a backache. Suddenly here I was, like putting glasses on: 'wait this is what I could feel like?' I did taper down the training a bit, but the benefits are so clear like being slapped in the face, slapped in the face with a fluffy delicious pancake. I strongly have to fight the urge not to bear crawl from the water cooler in my office back to my desk. Speaking of desk work, I used to get neck pain and yes the physio gave me exercises (many of which are in this programme too) but I found it so hard to follow through. Now my neck is better and when I do feel it act up, I use my go-to exercises from this programme. No need to do the whole shebang everytime after all, just like salt isn't exclusive to cooking an elaborate dish, you can use individual exercises you learned to "spice" up your day as and when needed. I feel so much better for it that I don't even care about the looks I get for suddenly dropping on all fours next to the desk and doing shoulder circles looking like a cat about to expulse a furball.
I have had periods where I enjoyed training intensely at the gym, cycling to work but going flat out and going hard at it in the Martial Arts class. All the while, I always felt I should do more or use my time to do other drills to benefit training like trying to teach myself to be more explosive yadiyadiya... in my head while I knew that flexibility and mobility are good, it didn't quite make the priority list given I already felt time constrained. It took me being utterly miserable (mentally) and a break in my training to decide I could at least manage mobility exercises if nothing else. When I did got back to my martial arts class and yet kept the GMB mobility up, I was quite stunned to find I could hit harder and move faster with improved agility. GMB mobility unlocked so much tightness in my body, especially around my hip, that I felt I could tap into the "energy linkages" in my body much more easily. I wasn't stronger , but I made much better use of the strength I have by being able to use the full range of motion and "snap my hip" or let my elbow "fly" without feeling any pain or restriction. Like a feisty jellyfish. I also eventually returned to the local Olympic Weightlifting class, and here too I could drive up from a squat and feel stable on a much heavier overhead squat than before. My body felt well aligned and I felt more in tune with allowing me to be more sensitive to when my balance was off and use that feeling of tension in one part as a cue to adjust my stance. It seemed to free up spare energy. Before GMB mobility, I could tell I was using up strength trying to fight against my body to force it into the right position first, but the tightness and limitations on my range of motions where pushing back.
The results from the GMB mobility aren't necessarily visible (mind my posture is better) nor instant, it is more like weaving a subtle web of resilience and relaxation throughout your body. The programme is for everyone and that might just be my favourite part. It puts you in charge and doesn't make you feel like you should be doing more and harder....we have enough of that in our life. It seems to have been built with human beings in mind, no matter how good our intentions are it can be difficult to follow through. They have made it as easy as possible to stick to it and consistency, in my experience, brings about more significant long-lasting change than a briefer period of doing something intensely. And if like me you still fall off the wagon for a bit, it's okay you were given the tools and understanding. I paused the programme but kept up loads of the stretches and movements nevertheless. With that said I can also tell that it is better to follow the programme.
Above all, it is fun! okay okay...you may not find every moment fun as you are doing it, though I argue it can be very relaxing and you can do it in front of the TV if you please. The fun part is re-discovering the joy of movement.
Caution: you may resent your desk-based job and feel sudden urges to get into a squat or sprawl out on the floor in unusual shapes.”
“Bought this one to complement my Integral Strength training program. I am super happy with it so far. Still early in the program but small changes in my flexibility are noticeable and the aches in my hips, shoulders and neck have improved.
A big thank you to the GMB team! Every program I got from them has been fantastic!”
