My shoulder used to pop. My hips used to snap. And I'm fairly certain at least some part of me crackled at some point. I was a walking, talking Rice Krispy treat.
Due to lifting heavy and driving myself into the ground to get bigger and stronger, my body had a lot of minor annoyances. They weren't big problems like a torn ACL or rotator cuff. Nah, these were small problems. You know, the real easy stuff to ignore.
And although I'm now pain-free, I know I'm not the only one who's had them. I can't count how many times I've heard a variation of the following sentence:
"My (shoulder, hip, knee, penis) gives me a little trouble. It'll be fine as soon as I warm it up, though."
Here's the kicker: those little annoyances can quickly turn into big problems that may eventually require surgery, physical therapy, or at best, a lifetime of minor pain.
When I started working with Mike Robertson a little less than a year ago, I saw some dramatic changes in not only the way I looked, but also the way I felt and performed.
The trick? Soft tissue work, dynamic flexibility, and mobility exercises. Not only did his specific combination of bullet-proof exercises feel like a workout, just adding in a few simple movements to the beginning of my lifting session helped me dramatically.
Mike charges a lot of money for one-on-one coaching. And since most of us can't afford that type of commitment, I looked for something more wallet-friendly and just as effective.
The Magnificent Mobility DVD is badass, pure and simple. In it, Mike and Eric Cressey go over a ton of exercises that serve as a sort of "bullet proof your body" system.
I own a copy. My friends all own copies. And whenever someone asks me about a bum shoulder, a clicking knee, or a sore lower back I recommend Magnificent Mobility to them, too.
Bottom line: invest in your body and it'll take care of you for the rest of your life. Trust me on that one.
(I can't help you with your defunct penis problem, though. You should probably ask a therapist about that one.)
Anyone else here have MM? What are your guys' thoughts? Let me know in the comments!
Posted May 15, 2009 by .
This entry is filed under fitness and mobility.
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Comments for This Entry
MagMo made it possible for me to squat and deadlift pain-free after years of struggling to get out of bed in the morning. As hokie/melodramatic as it may sound, it's made the difference between hitting PRs and extensive chiropractic for me. I've been a believer for years.
M2 is an awesome product. The drills are easy to do, quick to do and have helped with my recovery.
It's also helped with some nagging hip/glute problems and some Soleus/Achilles issues that were manifesting in my heel.
Throwing in some foam rolling and lacrosse/spikey ball work in addition has helped.
The sad thing? I work with about 30 other massage therapists and they all could use this product because apparently $20 is too expensive for a weekly massage.
I can't say enough about Magnificent Mobility. I bought it about 2 years back and it has been a staple in my workouts and the workouts of my clients ever since. If you don't own it, I'd highly suggest purchasing it.
I just started MMA training, and I am realizing how tight my hips actually are! I'm definitely going to have to pick this up.
Does the DVD offer more than you could get online or in Eric Cressey's book?
M2 is freaking amazing! I ended up drawing my own little reminder book with the exercises and what to concentrate on. I'm hoping over time I'll remember all of them and won't have this goofy stick figure book i made.
M2 is great !! I'm 46 and I also have Steve Maxwell's Encyclopedia Of Joint Mobility DVD.
Both of them help keep my joint healthy. I move around better than I did 10 years ago.
What? You mean, I can possibly get rid of all the pops, crackles, and snaps that my body gives me. I have them in my shoulders, fingers, wrists, back, ankles, hips, neck, and toes.
Wow. I'll give it a read....
I have used his "20 steps to bullet proof knees" but it didn't help much, mostly because my knee problems were due to other issues. The advice did, however, help my warmups for lifts and make my lifts better. I have not yet tried out MM, but I hope to once they come out with a free version (never going to happen). Until then I am going to stick with my dynamic warm ups
To everyone who is wondering about the content of M2 vs. EC and Robertson's free stuff-it's slightly comparable.
There are obviously more drills and better instruction with the DVD's than online.
If you are balking at the price of M2 I suggest you pick up a copy of EC's Maximum Strength book. He has 2 different dynamic mobility warm-ups each consisting of 10-12 movements that share only 1 movement between the two (x-band walks).
If you look on Youtube and do a search for Eric Cressey+Foam Roller Series you can also see his suggestions for his soft tissue work.
I also will second Maxwells Encyclopedia of Joint Mobility if you want another good resource. You can also pick up Mike Mahler's "The Boys are Back in Town" Kettle Bell DVD. Maxwell does 2 different joint mob. sections, Steve Cotter does a great dynamic warm-up section, and Mahler shows some good KB tips and techniques.
MM is amazing. I was pretty much a walking cement mixer who was about as flexible as a steel beam. That started to take its toll, so I looked into MM, and while I can't say I'm all better just yet, it's made a huge difference.
After suffering serious lower back pain after squats and deadlifts I seeked advice from Nate via email. Thats when he recomended Magnificent Mobility.... It is the best investment I've ever made and now after suffering pain for years not only has it helped me in the gym (Pain Free) it has helped me with my MMA .
A must for anyone.
Thanks again nate.
Yo Vanish,
The DVD is around $80 but if you go to t-nation and click under Eric Cressey's latest post, you can pick up the DVD for $49.95. I've been pondering the purchase for several months. The product has received several good reviews; therefore, I feel the purchase was necessary.
I've been using the same warmup routine, mobility stuff for yrs. now! Marco Lala. Look him up!
Absolutely, MM is a great program.
As you outlined, joint and tissue health are integral to lifting longevity!
Eric Cressey's Maximum Strength book is also great. I did a review for it, and I'm currently following the program.
Hey Nate,
Like you I had shoulder problems...
I started doing chest presses and Arnolds (shoulder presses) on the exercise ball, it helped me to gain stability and also provided a good warm up, plus it can improve your overall strength and more...
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