Five simple measures can help provide a starting point for strength, movement and physical capacity.
Most of us have a reasonable sense of whether we are active.
We know whether we walk regularly, go to the gym, play sport or spend too much of the week sitting down.
But there is another question that can be harder to answer.
How well are you actually moving?
For Phoenix Health Co Head of Movement Angela Saville, moving well is broader than being conventionally “fit”.
It is about having enough strength, mobility and physical capacity to do the things life asks of you now, and to keep doing them as you get older.
That might mean running.
It might mean walking comfortably, travelling, playing golf, getting down onto the floor with the kids or grandkids, carrying shopping or simply moving through the day with confidence.
And that is why knowing your starting point can be useful.
A starting point, not a scorecard
At Phoenix, movement begins with understanding the individual.
The Phoenix Five uses five simple functional measures to give people a clearer indication of where they are now.
The aim is not to rank people or decide who is “fit”.
It is to create a starting point.
Someone may discover that their strength is better than they thought. Another person may identify an area of movement or physical capacity they would like to work on.
What matters is what happens with that information next.
For Angela, that means asking a more useful question than simply whether somebody exercises.
What do you want your body to keep allowing you to do?
Once that is clear, movement can become more purposeful.
Why it becomes more important with age
Our physical capacity does not stay the same throughout life.
Strength, mobility and aerobic fitness can change as we get older, particularly when work, family and other commitments make regular movement harder to prioritise.
That does not mean everybody needs to train like an athlete.
For many people, the goal is much simpler.
Feel strong.
Move confidently.
Maintain the physical capacity to keep doing what matters.
A useful baseline can help make that more specific.
Rather than exercising because you feel you “should”, you have a clearer sense of what you are working towards.
Come and find out where you are now
On Sunday 20 September, Phoenix Health Co is inviting the Illawarra community to experience that approach at the free Phoenix Movement Day at the St George Illawarra Dragons High Performance Centre.
The morning begins with Phoenix Restore led by Angela Saville, followed by a 5km run or walk with Run Havoc.
Participants will then have the opportunity to try the Phoenix Five, enjoy coffee and refreshments and hear from Dr Oscar Horky in a short Get Ahead session exploring why movement matters before something goes wrong.
The morning finishes with an opportunity to experience Phoenix Recovery.
You do not need to be an athlete.
You do not need to be a runner.
And you do not need to arrive with anything to prove.
Come along, move and get a better understanding of where you are now.
Phoenix Movement Day
Sunday 20 September
St George Illawarra Dragons High Performance Centre
7.00am Phoenix Restore with Angela Saville
8.00am 5km run or walk with Run Havoc
8.30am Phoenix Five, coffee and refreshments
9.00am Get Ahead with Dr Oscar Horky
9.30am Phoenix Recovery
Get ahead of your health. Move with Phoenix.
Want to learn more about optimising your health?
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