Traditional vs. Primal Mobility: Decoding the Differences

With the plethora of mobility programming options out there, it can get confusing to know which one will work best for you and make the right decision. Whether you’re aware of the various options or not, we are, and we can help you make a well-informed decision as to which type of mobility training will suit you best.

In this article, we’ll be chatting about: 

• conventional vs innovative mobility methods
• key differences in mobility training styles
• and give you some strategies to help you choose the best mobility programming option for you.

Let’s dive in! 

A Visual Contrast of Methods

When selecting a mobility training approach that will best suit you, there are two major things to consider:
1. How much will you learn
2. Does the approach match your goals

Let’s break these down individually!

1: 🧠 How much will you learn

This is something that most people will look past when they select a program but is likely the most important piece to your longevity and is one of our primary values at Primal Mobility. The reality is you likely don’t want to pay for a program forever, regardless of how great and enjoyable that program is. The mobility challenges you’re facing now (pain, discomfort, challenges getting into certain positions, etc.) should not be the same challenges you are facing 5 years from now (if the programming actually works, it should help you resolve these issues), and whether you’re still following that same program or not, you’ll want the tools to be able to have a solution for them.

At Primal Mobility, we genuinely believe in the development of your knowledge. We want you to begin to learn how to identify the root cause of the challenges you’re facing so that you can begin to see your body’s movement as a puzzle. Once you understand the pieces, it becomes simple to put it together and solve the problem.

2: 🔐 Does the approach match your goals

There are many different ways to challenge your range of motion, and they all land somewhere on the spectrum. 

You can find programs that are more calming, relaxing, and passive or programs that are priming, engaging, and challenging. Depending on what you’re trying to achieve and how you like to get involved with your mobility training, this will depend on what approach suits you best. 

If you enjoy a good challenge, want to feel your muscles putting in the work, and love to learn, the approach Primal Mobility takes would be your best bet.

If you’d prefer to calm your nervous system, relieve some stress, focus on deep breathing practices, and take more of a yoga approach, then another program will suit you more appropriately.

Just to make it clear, at Primal Mobility, we cater to those who prefer to put the work in and want to understand the nuances of mobility training and how it applies to common mobility-related issues. We are not the best option for those who want a relaxing experience. Our programs get you fired up, engaged, and sweaty.

Before choosing your program it will be incredibly helpful to understand what approach speaks to you so that you can increase your odds of remaining consistent over time to get the best results from it.

Side-by-side comparison

Let’s use a visual demonstration to better understand the comparison between traditional vs Primal Mobility delivers our programs.

As an example, we will use a classic frog exercise.

In this video, you can see how the video is very quick, straight to the point, and keeps the exercise very basic. This works very well for those who are simply looking to go through the motions without thinking too much👇

Now we let’s take a look at two different variations of the frog exercise in the way that Primal likes to approach things - with detailed instructions and a very active approach👇

1: Tactical Frog 

2: Eccentric Frog 

Primal Mobility focuses a lot on education. Not only in our videos but in everything we do. We genuinely believe that your mental involvement in the process is the key to your long-term success. This is why we are a coaching company and not just a programming company. We teach you how and why you are struggling with something so that you ultimately harness the tools to make a difference.

Both approaches will offer different benefits. They both work well in their own way. This is why you need to understand what you’re looking to achieve. Because if you don’t then you won’t know if you’re making the best decision with the program you select! 

Proven “Tricks & Hacks”: Elevating Your Mobility Game

Funny enough, most people are always looking for the next mobility improvement hacks, but there’s no single thing that's going to accelerate your progress. What it comes down to is consistent movement and challenging your joints through their full ranges. Your body is extremely efficient and will get rid of ranges that aren’t “needed” anymore. In this case, if you don’t use it you lose it. So naturally, the best benefit will just come from challenging the ranges of a few primary joints on an ongoing basis.

But that’s no fun; we all want the “quick-tip,”…so I’ll play along!

My biggest insider tip: If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to train the Primal Big 3 frequently and consistently. The Primal Big 3 are the three main areas that we believe have the largest influence on how the rest of the body moves and performs. These are the ankles, the hips, and the thoracic spine. 

Here are 3 of my favourite mobility techniques for each of the Primal Big 3👇

Ankles

Hips 

Thoracic 

A fun experiment: Try testing a 10-second squat hold both before and after you do these 3 exercises and see how the position feels in comparison!!

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you need to know what you want to achieve and how you prefer to have the information and programming presented to you. Which one will have you curious and interested in your mobility training? The biggest key to your success will be your consistency, so if you find a mobility method that helps you enjoy the process, that should be the choice you go with! 

Generally speaking, we have noticed that the clients who come to Primal Mobility after having tried many different mobility approaches tend to enjoy the coaching approach we take so that they can continue to learn. They also enjoy how our programming is delivered in a similar way to a traditional strength protocol. It feels familiar, logical, and interesting and challenges them in a fun and unique way.

If you feel that Primal Mobility may be the best option for you, we want to help you! We also understand that you may not be sure about us yet, and just want to get some more info to see if it’s a good fit. We’re cool with that! Just book a free consultation with our Head of Coaching, Bekah, and she’ll be able to give you all the details to help you make a well-informed decision! Cheers!