When it comes to building strength and mobility, moving in six directions isn’t just effective—it’s essential. Too often, our bodies fall into repetitive patterns, focusing on just one or two planes of motion. But true, balanced strength comes from training the body in all its natural movements.
The Power of Moving in Six Directions
Our joints are designed to move in three planes: front-to-back, side-to-side, and with rotation. When we limit our exercises to just one of these, we risk losing the full functionality of our joints. Imagine getting into your car after a heavy snowfall. You try to drive forward, but the tires just spin, creating deeper ruts in the snow. The more you try, the more stuck you get, and soon any new movement feels impossible.
Your joints can be just like those tires in the snow. If you only practice moving forward and backward—say, by jogging—you’ll get strong in that motion, but what happens when life calls for something else? Imagine stepping out of the car. Your hips and knees need strength and mobility to lift the leg forward, rotate out to the side, and push down in a different motion entirely.
This is why training in six directions matters. It builds the strength and mobility your body needs to handle real-life movements, whether that’s reaching for something high, stepping out of a vehicle, or climbing stairs with ease. When you give your joints this kind of all-around workout, you not only reduce wear and tear but also improve your overall functionality.
Real Results from Six Directional Movement
I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this training can be. The people who consistently practice moving in six directions tell me they feel the difference.
“We have ten women who swear by Laurie’s Aqua Cardio HIIT and Noodle Abdominal audio pool workout. I’ve never been dedicated to any exercise program, but I am with this one. I swear I get withdrawals when I miss my day.” – Sibyl C.
The proof is in the practice. When you train your body to move in all directions, you create a foundation of balanced strength that supports everything you do.
Try This: Hip Functional Strength Routine
Give your hips a workout that covers all six directions. Here’s a simple but powerful routine to get you started (watch the YouTube video here):
Step 1: High Knee + Posterior Foot Reach
Stand tall. Lift your right knee high, then extend your right foot behind you as far as it’ll go. Repeat this back-and-forth motion.
Step 2: Add a Front Kick
Next, after the high knee, add a front kick before you reach back with your foot.
Step 3: The Combo
Now, combine it all: high knee, posterior reach, front kick, and side kick. You’ll feel the burn as you engage the muscles at the front, back, and side of your hips.
For the stationary leg, this exercise creates a gentle turning motion around the hip joint—a feel-good mobility movement that’s as satisfying as it is strengthening.
Do this on both sides for a full-body balance in all six directions: front-back, right-left, and rotating right-left.
Tips for Progression
As you build strength, you can increase the challenge. Make sure to wear shoes and gloves during the routine to add resistance. This keeps the range of movement, but adds extra effort to deepen the muscle engagement and build stronger hips and legs.
Ready to get started? Learn more about how I help people like you reduce pain and live better, more mobile lives here. And when you’re ready, join me inside Wavemakers here.
