A better way to bend forward

The past three weeks have been a lot of fun.
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I was invited to teach at the Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association spring session at the University of Alberta, and some of you reading this today may have been in class with me there. If that’s you — I’m so glad you’re here now as part of this email community. 
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I hope to continue sharing resources that support your physical activity, movement, exercise, and therapeutic yoga practices in ways that feel practical and sustainable for real life.
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Over the past few weeks in class, we spent quite a bit of time exploring hip hinging and bending strategies — not just for yoga, but for everyday movements too.
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And honestly, this feels like the perfect time to talk about it.
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Gardening season is coming.
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This week’s new Real Moves for Real Life video focuses on:
​A Better Way to Bend Forward.​
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This isn’t really about posture.
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It’s about strategy.
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Many people get nervous about gardening season because they already know what tends to happen:
They spend a few hours outside, and suddenly the back starts “talking back.”
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But bending itself is not the problem.
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What’s important is how the movement load is being distributed throughout the body.
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In this video, we explore a simple movement strategy called the hip hinge — helping the hips and pelvis contribute more effectively so the back doesn’t feel like it has to do all the work.
We talk about:

• using the hips as a stronger foundation
• improving stance and support
• distributing movement load more effectively
• reducing unnecessary strain on the spine
• making gardening and everyday movement feel more sustainable

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And this applies to so much more than gardening: lifting groceries, loading laundry, reaching into cupboards, picking things up from the floor.
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These are movements we do every single day — often without thinking about them.
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So let’s take a different approach.
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Instead of trying to “fix” posture, we can become more aware of how we move and where the work is happening in the body.
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One small adjustment can sometimes make a surprisingly big difference.
(And yes… Mr. Indiana Bones makes an appearance in this one too.)
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 Watch the video here:

Move Better This Gardening Season

And if this topic resonates with you, June has a few upcoming opportunities to continue exploring movement together:
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Take Your Walk to the Next Level: Intro to Nordic Walking
A three-week in-person workshop series starting June 3 in Edmonton. We’ll explore walking mechanics, posture, pole use, and how to make walking feel more supportive and efficient.

Learn About Nordic Walking

​​It’s Not Just Tight Hips​
A virtual workshop happening June 12 focused on understanding hip tension, movement patterns, and what may actually be contributing to discomfort and stiffness.​
This workshop will be hosted inside The MedFit Movement Studio and includes complimentary access through the Move Now membership level.

Access Workshop Details

As always, if this video was helpful, I’d love if you shared it with someone else, gave it a thumbs up, or leave a comment. It truly helps these resources reach more people who may need them.
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And I’m curious:
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Are you practicing your hip hinge before the grass turns completely green? 
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Have a great week ahead! Be well and happy moving,
Lisa