Men’s Health

Like Dark Chocolate, Holistic Movement Satisfies Deeper

Holistic movement is like a piece of rich, dark chocolate — small, intentional, and deeply satisfying.

You ever eat one of those mini chocolate bars from Halloween? You eat one… then another… and somehow you’re still not satisfied.

But a small square of real dark chocolate? That hits different. It’s richer. It stays with you. It satisfies.

Why Dark Chocolate Hits Different

The difference isn’t just taste — it’s quality.
Dark chocolate is made with real cocoa, less sugar, and more of the stuff your body actually likes. You don’t need much of it to feel satisfied.

And it even helps your nervous system, not just your cravings — research backs this up.

The same is true with how you move.

When you train in a way that includes your fascia, your posture, your nervous system, and your structure — your body feels better. You don’t need to kill yourself in the gym.

The same is true with how you move. Myofascial Stretching is one example of movement that nourishes the body more fully.

You just need to feed your body what it’s actually hungry for.

Holistic Movement Works Smarter

Holistic movement isn’t about going soft — it’s about going deep. Learn why that makes all the difference.

It builds real strength from the inside out. It makes space in your joints. It calms your nervous system while it challenges your muscles.

And the best part?
You leave feeling stronger, not broken.

Just like with chocolate — when it’s made right, a little bit goes a long way.

Real Satisfaction Comes From Depth

If you’re always looking for the next workout fix — but never feeling better in your body — maybe it’s time to try something more nourishing.

Something that satisfies deeper.
Something that was made to work with your body, not just sweat it out.

That’s what we do here.
And like dark chocolate… once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

→ Ready to train smarter? That’s what we do here. See how our personalized, holistic approach works in real programs.

Somatic Pride: Finding Strength in Feeling at Home in Your Body

Man meditating Somatic Pride

We often talk about self-confidence or resilience like it’s just a mindset — but your body has to believe it, too. That’s somatic pride. And for many men, that’s where the disconnect lies.

Cultural norms often teach men to disconnect from discomfort, push through pain, and stay strong by numbing out. Over time, this creates a gap between who we are and what we actually feel. That gap becomes tension. Disconnection. Even shame.

You can’t take pride in a body you’re constantly overriding.
You can’t feel strong when you’re always fighting your own signals.
And you can’t be fully present for others — or even yourself — when you’ve been trained to tune out.

Somatic awareness changes this.

Learning to inhabit your body fully — to feel it, trust it, and work with it — creates an inner confidence that doesn’t need performance or perfection. For a thoughtful look at how somatic awareness bridges the mind–body gap, Psychology Today’s article on “Somatic Awareness: Connecting Mind and Body” is a great primer → Psychology Today – Somatic Awareness.

That’s why our approach to strength includes tools like ELDOA and decompression training — techniques that help your body unwind and realign from the inside out. These aren’t just exercises. They’re invitations to come back into your body.

That’s what real self-respect looks like: not a posture of dominance, but a relationship of honesty and care with your own body.

Want to explore what that kind of somatic pride feels like?

Book a free 30- 45 minute strategy call to talk about how somatic training and decompression work can help you feel stronger, more present, and at home in your body — without pushing through pain or numbing out.

This isn’t a sales call. It’s a space to get clarity, ask questions, and see what’s possible.

Follow the Thread—Where Movement, Fascia, and Freedom Align

Find more insight, reflection, and fascia-informed care across the platforms where we stay connected:

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Youtube

Your Body Is Not a Tool: It’s a Tensegrity System

Mens Health. Your Body is not a tool - tensegrity system body

Your Body Is Not a Tool—It’s a Tensegrity System

Most men treat their body like a tool.
Use it. Push it. Sharpen it. And when it breaks—tape it up and keep going.

But what if that’s the wrong model?

What if your body is less like a hammer… and more like a suspension bridge?

🧬 What Is a Tensegrity Structure?

Tensegrity is a principle of architecture and biology that describes how a system holds its shape through tension and compression in balance.

In your body, that means:

  • Fascia suspends bones, not just muscles.
  • Muscles work in continuous loops—not linear pairs.
  • Stability comes from distributed force, not just strong joints.

This concept is well explored in tensegrity structures in the body, where bones float in a sea of soft tissue and movement is the result of dynamic relationships—not rigid levers.

When one area tightens or collapses, everything else has to adjust—sometimes with pain, sometimes with compensation.

🧠 The “Tool Mindset” Is Costly

Most men were taught to push through discomfort, to train harder, and to earn results through effort alone.

But this approach overlooks the systemic balance that your body depends on:

  • Strength in one plane + stiffness in another = injury
  • Big lifts without joint hydration = compression, not growth
  • No fascia prep = poor rebound and reduced circulation

Fascia doesn’t just wrap muscles—it governs how force travels through the body. Fascia’s role in structural balance is central to preventing overload and sustaining performance.

A tensegrity system doesn’t respond well to brute force. It needs strategy.

🔧 The Shift: From Hammer to Suspension Bridge

What if instead of forcing your body, you prepared it?

  • What if warm-ups focused on joint mobility and fascial hydration, not just heat?
  • What if your training helped restore balance before pushing capacity?
  • What if you saw self-care as performance insurance, not a luxury?

🛠️ ELDOA: Biotensegral Fitness in Action

This is where tools like ELDOA, myofascial stretching, and segmental reinforcement come in.

They create:

✅ Precise decompression
✅ Vector-aligned tension
✅ Functional hydration of discs and joints
✅ Endurance without compensation

It’s not flashy. But it works. And it lasts.

In fact, fascia-related dysfunction is often a root cause of training breakdown. Learn more about overuse injuries and movement compensation and how smarter prep can make the difference.

📣 Final Thought: Pride in Structure

During Men’s Health Month and Pride Month, the message is simple:

➡️ Pride in yourself starts with knowing yourself.
➡️ You can’t give what you don’t have.
➡️ A resilient body supports a fulfilling life.

The goal isn’t to push harder—it’s to train smarter.
Your body isn’t a tool. It’s a system. Treat it that way—and it will carry you far.

Want to experience what real body architecture feels like?

Holistic Exercise And Fitness Program

Follow the Thread—Where Movement, Fascia, and Freedom Align

Find more insight, reflection, and fascia-informed care across the platforms where we stay connected:

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Youtube

Emergence: The Body’s Quiet Revolution

Emergence: The Body's Quiet Revolution

We tend to think in straight lines. Start here, end there. Do the work, get the result. But the body doesn’t operate like a factory.

It operates like a forest.

In a forest, growth is not linear. It’s ecological—emerging from networks of interdependence, seasons, decay, and surprise. This is how the body heals, evolves, and ultimately transforms.

This is emergence—when small, slow, often invisible processes suddenly produce something entirely new. A shift in posture. An absence of pain. The feeling of being organized from the inside out.

The Patience of Complexity

We’re conditioned to seek fast results. We want the “fix.” But when it comes to pain, performance, or even mental clarity, the body doesn’t respond to force. It responds to presence.

Real change in the body comes from layered input—postural precision, fascial tensioning, nervous system reset, fluid movement, mindful breath. None of these alone are a magic bullet. But together, they build the terrain for something deeper to emerge.

Like in ELDOA, where you’re not just doing an exercise to open up space at a specific joint—you’re turning on and integrating that joint with the rest of your spine, nervous system, and body. It’s a deliberate act of reconnection, aligning with the principles of PIT and DAM to allow for more fluid, intelligent movement. Or in myofascial stretching, where you find the restriction and *wait* for the tissue to yield. Or in proprioceptive re-education, where you’re not just retraining muscles—you’re awakening forgotten intelligence.

Working “With” the Body, Not Against It

Techniques rooted in osteopathic principles—like ELDOA, MFS, segmental reinforcement, and fluid proprioception—are not about overpowering dysfunction. They’re about partnering with the body’s own capacity to reorganize.

You’re not “fixing” the body.
You’re giving it the information it needs to *emerge into coherence*.

This takes patience. Curiosity. And yes, repetition. But the rewards go far beyond relief. You move with more integrity. You live with more resilience.

This layered, systemic process is at the heart of our Osteopathic Exercise and Therapy Techniques, where you’ll find tools that support the body’s natural ability to adapt and reorganize.

More Than You Think You Are

Emergence reminds us that we’re not limited by where we are now.

With the right input, the right environment, and the willingness to work with complexity, we don’t just recover—we transform.

You may be showing up to resolve pain or feel better in your joints. But what if this process gave you more than that? What if you discovered strength, confidence, and alignment that you didn’t think was possible?

Not by forcing your body to comply.
But by allowing your system to do what it’s built to do: adapt, organize, and emerge.

Your body is not a project to be completed

It’s a living, dynamic system that—given the right relationship—can become more than you imagined.

That’s the quiet revolution.

That’s emergence.

Follow the Thread—Where Movement, Fascia, and Freedom Align

Find more insight, reflection, and fascia-informed care across the platforms where we stay connected:

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Youtube

How to Make The Time Go Faster During A Workout

This is an interesting article that I notice often in my studio during workouts.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/26/people-doing-intense-exercise-experience-time-warp-study-finds

In a workout class that includes ELDOA’s, a one-minute stretch can feel like an eternity due to the challenge and discomfort it presents for the joints. However, the entire 45-minute class or session can pass in the blink of an eye because of the constant need for awareness and consciousness during the exercises.

The Choice to have "fun" in a workout.

The choice during a workout

The article mentions that time seems to go faster when you are enjoying yourself, and I agree. However, when working out, the goal is to intentionally challenge yourself and embrace discomfort. It is up to each participant to choose whether to set themselves up for success.

They can choose to accept the challenge and even find joy in the process of improvement. The time will pass faster and more enjoyable. Or they can decide that “this is too hard,” “I don’t like it,” or “this isn’t fun,” basing their experience on fleeting emotional states and the belief that they can’t succeed. The time will pass slower and much less enjoyable.

Finding a balance of “fun” in your workouts

While having fun doing activities you love is essential, those activities can take a toll on your body. The areas you use most can become tight, weak, and challenging to work with. However, if you value your body and choose to give it “some love” through corrective exercises, you can continue enjoying your life. Ignoring these issues because they are “not fun” may eventually lead to injury and potentially require surgery. Super not fun.

In the long run, I find it enjoyable to challenge myself to become more than I am. It doesn’t mean the process is always fun, but it makes the outcome more worthwhile for both my body and soul.

Check out this next article on how a Holistic Exercise and Fitness Program can lead you to sustainable progress and a fun life

The Ultimate Guide For A Holistic Exercise And Fitness Program

Find out more @

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Youtube

Do Actions Equal Results? The Truth About Self-Improvement

Do Actions Equal Results? 🤔

The biggest misconception is that action equals results. You’ve seen it everywhere:

  • “Do these 3 things to achieve X.”
  • “My 10-step formula for success.”
  • “I used this exact system to achieve X.”

These types of headlines make it seem like if you just follow a plan and use some elbow grease, you’ll reach your goals. And if you’re baking a cake or fixing a leaky faucet, that works great.

But when it comes to you—your body, your health, your transformation—you are not a recipe.

The Truth About Programs and Self-Improvement

When these headlines apply to personal growth or fitness, something gets lost. These “plug-and-play” formulas can feel like an easy fix, but they often backfire. Why?

Because they remove the responsibility to grow into the person who can achieve that goal.
If success were as simple as following steps, everyone would have perfect health, a thriving business, and a movie-worthy life.

But that’s not reality.

The Real Answer: Do Actions Equal Results?

Not exactly. That little “=” sign is doing a lot more work than we think.

It doesn’t just mean “do this, get that.”
It means:

  • Change how you think and behave
  • Learn and unlearn
  • Try, fail, adjust, repeat

That equals sign is transformation.
And transformation takes a philosophy, not just a checklist.

Real-World Example: When “3 Steps” Isn’t Enough

A client came to me after finishing PT. They were told to keep doing:

  1. McKenzie press-ups
  2. Clamshells for hip strength
  3. Planks for core strength

But they weren’t improving.

After evaluating them, I saw a flat lower back, an unstable SI joint, weak abs, and poor posture. Their imaging confirmed degeneration at L4/L5 and SI dysfunction.

So we changed the plan:

  • Replaced McKenzie press-ups with ELDOA for L4/L5, L5/S1, T8/T9, and C4/C5
  • Swapped planks for “good mornings” to retrain dynamic ab and spine strength
  • Upgraded clamshells to full-fiber glute med training within a fascial tension chain
  • Added myofascial stretches for pelvic balance: iliopsoas, trochanter muscles, glute medius and max
  • Treated the SI joint directly to stabilize the base

That’s not a formula—it’s a process of ongoing assessment, adaptation, and individualization.

What They Really Needed to Do

They needed to make time.
They needed to face the emotional resistance that often surfaces in healing.
They had to become the version of themselves who no longer lives with back pain.

And they did. But not because of steps 1-2-3.
Because they committed to a philosophy—and worked through the equals.

You’re Not Alone. I’ve Been There.

I used to believe that if I just worked harder and followed the steps, I’d reach my “X.”
Sometimes it worked. But often, it didn’t.
And it led to frustration, burnout, and self-doubt.

The lesson?
You have to grow into the person who can hold the result you want.

So if you’re asking “Do actions equal results?”
Yes—but only when the actions are rooted in learning, not just doing.

Request A Free Consultation Here

Find out more @

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Threads

Youtube

How To Thank Your Body

SolCore Therapy and Fitness

We’re approaching the gratitude and thankful season. It’s a time to take stock of your life and think of all the wonderful things in it. In my opinion, your body is one of the best blessings we have received.

This remarkable body of yours allows you to live and experience life. But too often, we take it for granted and expect it to work or are annoyed when something comes up. And in these cases, you are left with somebody to “make it go away.”

But your body is your responsibility. And by not being proactive and taking care of your body, you are leaving your health up to chance or expecting different results from the same activities. This way of working with your body is the norm and is detrimental to your life.

The current system of preventive health is either dogmatic or focused on symptom-based actions.

Think about it. Isn’t it funny that you will go to different people in different professions and hear similar information? This information is generally correct but only part of the picture. But since you listen to it from multiple sources, it seems like it is.

That’s called an echo chamber.

Or you keep returning to the same people at the same frequency to fix the same issue. You may feel slight relief, but it never totally goes away. That is the reality of symptom-based care. The focus is only to have it go away and not on the whole body, and your body functions best holistically. So, while treating the symptom may be necessary, it is not sustainable.

By taking a proactive approach to your health, you gain control over your body’s needs, ensuring it can keep up with the life you want to live. This requires a balanced program that you can follow.

Our holistic program is designed to train your body in a way that’s specific to you. It allows you to focus on the areas that are important to YOU, not just perform random acts of movement.

Now, when something comes up, it won’t be as bad as it could have been, and you will have already been doing many exercises that will help you fix the issue. Seeing a practitioner who understands this way of working with the body will probably be necessary for some hands-on therapy, but now it won’t take as long, and again, you have more control over the outcome because you are doing the exercises you need.

Working holistically doesn’t mean just doing different forms of exercise and focusing on different parts of your body. That is necessary on a broader level, but working holistically means two main things:

1)That the exercises you do complement and build together

2)And the program you use addresses all the different ways your body needs training.

The best way to learn is by doing it. This way, you will not only experience it but also understand it better like learning any skill.

  • If you are local to Santa Fe, NM, come for a two-week trial. You’ll get two weeks of classes and a one-on-one session. Use this link https://www.solcorefitness.com/a-trial-without-any-commitment-2/ to read more about our in-house two-week trial and sign up.
  • If you are not local or if you know classes may be too much for you, then work privately with us. You’ll not only get to experience an actual holistic training session, but you’ll also get personalized advice on what is the best way for you to train and then access the exercises that you did via our online portal so that you continue to make sure you’re doing it right. Use this link to schedule a free consult and sign up for individual training/therapy. https://calendly.com/ekemba_solcorefitness/ica-interview  

If you’re not ready to jump in yet and want a deeper dive into holistic training, grab our information-packed guide, “Move Better, Reduce Pain, and Live Life On Your Terms: The 4 Steps To Break The Cycle, Fix It, and Keep It! “

Go to https://www.solcorefitness.com/move-better-reduce-pain-and-live-life-on-your-terms-landing-page/and input your information, and you’ll get instant access.

Give thanks that you have your body and show it thanks by taking care of it.

SPECIAL OFFER
A Trial Without Any Commitment
START YOUR IN-HOUSE TRIAL NOW

Find out more @

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Threads

Youtube

Boost Immunity By Working Out Like This

Ever wondered how your body’s connective tissue—your fascia—could be playing a powerful role in your overall health and immune system?

We already know that exercise helps improve strength, posture, mobility, endurance, and even your mood. But what’s often overlooked is this: you can boost immunity by working out… if you do it the right way.

The key is specificity.

Click on the image to watch the full video

SolCore Therapy and Fitness

Why Random Movement Doesn’t Cut It

I call it “random acts of movement.” You go for a walk, take a class, do a few stretches, maybe see a practitioner when something hurts. You’re doing something—but there’s no strategy behind it.

And when there’s no strategy, your body doesn’t respond the way you want. In fact, it can start to fall apart because neglected areas accumulate dysfunction.

If you want better immunity, you need a focused program—just like you’d need one to build strength or endurance.

How Structure Affects Immune Function

Your body functions best when its structure supports its purpose. Muscles, bones, fascia, ligaments, and organs all work together. If you want your body to think better, digest better, move better—and yes, respond better to threats—you need to make sure your structure is aligned and functioning well.

Let’s look at the immune system specifically:

  • Your lymphatic system is a major player in immune defense.
  • It flows through key ganglion points: your clavicles, cysterna chyli (around T12), and cloquet ganglion (pelvic area).
  • These areas are surrounded by fascia, which influences how well everything moves and drains.

If your posture is misaligned—like in a typical forward head posture from sitting all day—you’re compressing areas like the clavicles, reducing lymph flow. That alone limits your immune system’s ability to function.

The Role of Fascia in Immune Health

Your fascia isn’t just “white stuff” between muscles. It’s alive and intelligent, involved in protection, communication, and healing.

But many mainstream techniques abuse it. Take foam rolling: people roll aggressively over their inner thighs where many lymph nodes live, crushing tissue that’s meant to protect you. That’s not recovery—it’s self-sabotage.

To boost immunity by working out, you need to:

  • Understand fascial chains
  • Train with posture and structural integrity in mind
  • Avoid overstimulating or damaging key immune zones
  • Keep fascia hydrated and responsive through motion and therapy—not abuse

It’s About Flow

Think of your immune system like a river. If it flows, it’s healthy. If it stagnates, it festers. Inflammation is your body’s first line of defense, not a bad word. But it needs a clear path.

Your fascia, posture, and muscular balance create—or block—that path.

Real Application: From Concept to Movement

Let’s take the glute medius. It has three fibers, and each is connected via fascia from the foot all the way to the skull. A random clamshell isn’t going to cut it. But if you train that muscle in the context of the full chain—foot to hip to spine to shoulder—you’re strengthening tissue and improving flow.

That’s the difference between isolated training and integrated immunity-supporting training.

Beyond Workouts: Food, Hydration, and Function

Of course, immune health isn’t just about movement. It’s also about:

  • Drinking enough water (half your body weight in ounces daily)
  • Eating clean, organic, pasture-raised, nutrient-dense food
  • Supporting your gut, not just feeding it

But none of this works well if your body can’t absorb it. If your GI tract is twisted from poor structure, your supplements turn into expensive urine. If your fascia is compressed, your organs can’t perform their jobs. That’s why structure dictates function—and why movement must support structure.

Final Thoughts

I’m not going to give you a quick fix or a miracle supplement. That’s not what I do. But I will give you the truth:

✅ You can boost immunity by working out
❌ But not with random activity
✅ It takes a specific, holistic program designed with fascia, posture, and organ function in mind

If you want to learn more, check out the free ebook below. Or book a free call with me—we’ll talk about what’s holding you back and what it would look like to train your body the way it was designed.

Drop any questions in the comments. Stay well—and keep your flow strong.

— Ekemba Sooh, SolCore Fitness & Therapy


📞 Want to Talk? Book a free call and let’s figure out what’s next for you.

building a foundation for a better life.

Find out more @

Facebook

Blue Sky

Pinterest

Instagram

Threads

Youtube

Mastering the Push Pattern: It’s Not Just For Your Pecs

Mastering the push-pattern. The bench press. The chest press. The push-up.

Whatever you call it, this push pattern is one of the seven primal movements—and it’s about a lot more than just building your pecs.

In this post (and video), we’ll explore how mastering the push pattern isn’t just a matter of technique, but of understanding the full-body biomechanics behind it. When you treat it as a holistic movement, you unlock strength, mobility, and injury resilience across your entire body.

Check out the full video by clicking on the image below.

The Push Pattern Is a Full-Body, Compound Movement

Yes, the push pattern trains your pecs—but it also demands the coordination of your:

  • Lats
  • Deltoids
  • Biceps & triceps
  • Forearms, wrists, and hands
  • Elbows, shoulders, and spine
  • Rib cage, sternum, and even your pelvis

When you perform a push correctly, these systems integrate through your fascia to create a strong, stable, and safe motion.

But when you lack strength or coordination in any of these areas, your body compensates. That’s where problems start.

Compensation = Cheating Your Body

Let’s say your pecs are underdeveloped. You can still bench press—but your body cheats by overusing the lats, delts, or even your spine.

Over time, this imbalance leads to:

  • Shoulder pain
  • Poor posture
  • Limited progress
  • Injury

To avoid this, you must train the push pattern segmentally first—then globally.

Segmental Training Before Full Patterns

Instead of jumping straight into compound movements, train the individual components:

  • Pec flies at diagonal angles to match muscle fiber lines
  • Serratus anterior strength (fan-shaped movement)
  • Rhomboid work in glenohumeral-friendly positions
  • Posterior chain and thoracic posture development
  • Psoriatic joint mobilization and therapy (behind shoulder blades)

This builds neuromuscular coordination, muscle mass, blood flow, and fascial integration—giving your body the tools to execute the push without compensation.

Choosing the Right Push Pattern Progression

Once you’ve built the foundation, you can progress the push pattern intelligently:

  • Open chain (free end movement): barbell bench press, dumbbell press
  • Closed chain (fixed end): push-ups from wall, bench, knees, or toes
  • Unilateral (one side): single-arm press
  • With rotation or combination: functional push + twist variations

Start with the basics. Don’t jump into complexity without preparation—your body will guess, and guessing equals injury.

Posture and Scapular Mechanics: Two Common Mistakes

Two things I see people get wrong constantly:

  1. Posture
    • Arching the back during a press
    • Leading with the head during push-ups
    • Lifting the head off the bench
    • Dropping the pelvis or changing spinal curves
    👉 Your posture is your training. What you teach your body under load is how it will behave.
  2. Scapular Mechanics (Shoulder Blade Movement)
    • On the way down (eccentric), scapulae must retract
    • On the way up (concentric), they must protract

If your scapulae can’t glide properly, your shoulders take the hit.

The Serratus Anterior: The Unsung Hero of Push Movements

The serratus anterior is critical for scapular protraction and stabilization. It fans out from the ribs to the shoulder blade and works alongside:

  • Rhomboids (between the scapulae)
  • Psoriatic joint (behind the scapula)

You must train it in multiple planes—not just with “push-ups plus,” but in diagonal and rotational movements to build full range and resilience.

We have a great guide to understanding holistic exercise and fitness

The Ultimate Guide To Holistic Exercise and Fitness

Why Mastering the Push Pattern Matters

This isn’t just about looking better in a t-shirt. The push pattern shows up in:

  • Daily movements (pushing open a door)
  • Sports performance
  • Fall prevention
  • Structural balance
  • Joint health

When you rush into it without preparing the body segmentally, you’re skipping steps—and your body will force you to pay attention later through pain or dysfunction.

Final Thoughts (and Your Next Steps)

Mastering the push pattern means respecting the complexity of your body.

✅ Train weak links first
✅ Stretch and mobilize where needed
✅ Build strength from the ground up
✅ Respect posture, control, and sequencing

📥 Free Resource + Call Option

🎁 Want to train smarter, not harder?
Get my free guide: 4 Steps to a Strong, Pain-Free Body to Live the Life You Choose — instant access.

Building a foundation for a better life.

Find out more @

Facebook

BlueSky

Pinterest

Instagram

Youtube

🌟 Unlock Your Full Potential: The Secret Link Between Stretching and Strength! 🌟

Stretching is often seen as a warmup, cooldown, or just something you do when your muscles feel tight. But what if stretching and strength weren’t opposites—but partners?

When done correctly, stretching not only improves mobility—it builds strength by enhancing posture, neuromuscular control, and the structural integrity of your body.

Let’s dive into how this works and why most people are doing it wrong.

Click on the image to watch the full video

Stretching Isn’t Just Passive Relaxation

The kind of stretching you see in most gyms—grabbing your foot, throwing a leg on a bench, or flinging your arm across your chest—is outdated and ineffective.

At best, it temporarily increases range of motion. At worst, it disrupts how your body generates strength.

But with the right approach, stretching can actually improve strength by working with the body’s connective tissue system—specifically, your fascia.

Stretching vs. Warming Up: Know the Difference

Let’s clear this up:

  • Warm-up: Prepares your body for activity
  • Stretching: Helps normalize tissues after activity
  • Foam rolling: Neither warming up nor stretching—and often harmful to fascia

Warm-ups increase your current potential. Stretching expands what’s possible over time. That’s why you should never stretch before intense activity—only after.

Why Fascia Matters for Strength

Fascia is the body’s connective tissue matrix. It wraps every muscle, nerve, and organ—creating structure, transmitting force, and supporting movement.

If your fascia is:

  • Dehydrated
  • Stressed
  • Tangled from poor posture or injury

…it will limit how your muscles function. Stretching properly hydrates, aligns, and restores fascia—giving your muscles a better “container” to generate force from.

The Science Behind It: Tensegrity + Hill’s Muscle Model

Your body works through tensegrity—a balance of tension and compression. When fascia is out of balance, your strength output suffers.

According to Hill’s Muscle Model, true strength depends on:

  1. Muscle fibers
  2. Tendons
  3. Fascia

Most programs only train the first two. The third component—fascia—is what holistic stretching trains directly.

Myofascial Stretching: What It Actually Does

Done correctly, myofascial stretching:

✅ Aligns fascial chains across the body
✅ Improves posture and neuromuscular communication
✅ Boosts coordination within strength movements
✅ Reduces injury risk by improving structural integrity

Think of it as strengthening from the inside out.

Why Most People Miss This

Stretching that leads to strength isn’t generic. You can’t Google a “hip flexor stretch” and expect it to improve your squat.

You need to:

  • Know which chain the muscle belongs to
  • Line up posture and joints correctly
  • Understand how it connects to your fascia and nervous system

That’s why working with someone who understands fascia is so important. I help clients do just that.

Take Care of Your Fascia Like This:

  1. Hydrate – Plain water, ½ your body weight in ounces daily, away from meals
  2. Manage stress – Nature, meditation, journaling, breathing
  3. Stretch with fascia in mind – Post-activity, aligned to your body’s specific needs

Want to Learn How to Do This Right?

If you’re just going through the motions or skipping stretching altogether, you’re missing a huge piece of the strength puzzle.

✅ Download my free guide: 4 Steps to a Strong, Pain-Free Body
✅ Book a free consult: Let’s assess your body, your routine, and see what’s really holding you back
✅ Keep learning: Explore my channel and blog—everything here is built around a holistic, fascia-first approach

Let me know in the comments: Are you using stretching to support your strength? Do you train with myofascial chains in mind?

See you next week.

it’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

Find out more @

Facebook

BlueSky

Pinterest

Instagram

Youtube