The Yoga Practice Every Aging Athlete Needs to Keep Lifting Pain-Free

In the pursuit of physical greatness, many of us push our bodies to the brink. We lift heavier than we should, run until our legs give out, and power through grueling HYROX workouts designed to test our limits. But building strength, speed, and endurance doesn’t always equate to being truly healthy. Sure, fitness can lower our risk of disease—but not every journey looks the same. That’s where pioneering yoga instructor and author of the upcoming book Mobility for Life, Jeff Bailey, says Avita Yoga offers something different.

"I often say, 'less is more,' and here’s why," Bailey says. "There’s a difference between fitness and health, and in the pursuit of fitness, we tend to either overdo or avoid it altogether. Fitness usually implies muscular definition and the ability to perform particular activities, which excludes a lot of people. It can be short-sighted and even frantic."

What's Avita Yoga?

In Avita yoga, you won't find people doing scorpion handstands or headstands. Instead, it uses simple, long-held shapes in order to release tension around joints.  

"In Avita Yoga, we repurpose the muscles, not to make them bigger or more defined, but to condition the joints and bones," Bailey adds. "To achieve healthy bones and joints, we must target them, a process that involves slowing down, doing less, and gaining much more. The depth of practice makes it enjoyable, peaceful, and sustainable regardless of age or ability."

Related: This Unique Mobility Move Releases Tension in Your Back in Minutes

How Is It Different From Mainstream Yoga?

Bailey points out that most mainstream yoga classes focus on building strength and increasing flexibility. But for people who aren’t naturally flexible, especially men, that emphasis can be intimidating and even discouraging.

"In Avita Yoga, we don’t require flexibility, nor do we pursue it," he adds. "We go for mobility, which is a very different approach. We target fascial restrictions around the joint, which is a pleasant experience that yields relatively quick and lasting results."

Mobility Over Flexibility

When most people think about aging gracefully, they zero in on flexibility. They spend hours stretching, trying to touch their toes, thinking it'll help them stay limber enough to tie their shoes or pick things up off the floor. And while that has its place, Bailey says there’s a bigger piece of the puzzle: mobility.

"Seeking flexibility for joint health completely misses the point," he says. "There is no correlation between the flexibility of muscles and joint health. There are plenty of flexible people with joint issues. Mobility and joint health improve simultaneously with the proper mindset and approach. It’s a mistake to try to improve mobility without healing and remodeling the joint along the way."