In today’s health-conscious society, there is a fitness routine for every goal – and recent research supports the idea of personalized and holistic thinking — building a physical movement routine built for the longevity of mind and body rather than one singular outcome. A movement program for longevity must include strength training, conditioning, and mobility. At Open, we offer a fitness program that blends all of these core elements to create a completely unique movement experience called Move.

Why you should keep moving

Exercise has long been associated with reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, but new research goes further. Studies have shown that regular movement can actually add years to your life. 

Regular movement, particularly when combined with mindful practices like yoga, helps reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost mental clarity—all contributing to longevity. The more we move, the more we enhance the body’s natural healing processes, allowing us to age gracefully.

The power of mindful movement 

At Open, we encourage a mindful approach to movement. Whether you’re flowing through a yoga sequence or practicing moving meditation, it’s essential to stay present. Mindful movement involves knowing how your body feels, where tension resides, and how your breath supports your actions. This awareness deepens the connection between the body and the mind, fostering a sense of peace and balance.

Mindful movement helps us exercise more intentionally, avoiding the trap of pushing ourselves too hard or moving in ways that don’t serve our bodies. It’s about tuning in to what your body needs, not just to burn calories or reach fitness goals but for long-term health and vitality.

What is Movement for Longevity?

Put simply, movement for longevity means that our class programming has been designed to help your body and mind perform well for a long time. The various Move classes we offer at Open blend techniques from fitness routines like Pilates, barre, yoga, strength training, conditioning, and stretching. To accomplish movement for longevity, it is important to incorporate all of these elements into your routine for a holistic approach to physical fitness.

• FLOW: Strengthen your heart, lunches, and vascular system.
• POWER: Tone your muscles and increase bone density to withstand stress and load, training your body to move through a healthy range of motion.
• RESTORE: Aid in creating a resilient mind capable of returning swiftly to baseline after stress.

Conditioning

• Tones muscle and burns fat
• Increases energy
• Lowers blood pressure
• Strengthens immune system

Conditioning workouts (also known as aerobic exercise) are designed to improve cardiovascular health. By regularly elevating one’s heart rate and training endurance and stamina, the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes is significantly lowered. This movement has also been shown to reduce overall stress levels throughout the day. 

At Open, conditioning is included in our Flow and Power classes. This mindful fitness practice elevates your heart rate and moves your body in a healthy range of motion that is safe on your joints. This rhythmic practice also targets your core and other muscles through modalities like Pilates, barre, yoga, and bodyweight training, for a unique approach to classic conditioning workouts.  

Start your practice: Feel Good Flow

Strength training 

• Tones muscle and burns fat 
• Increases energy
• Protects joints
• Increases bone density

If you’re looking for a routine that hones in on the idea of movement for longevity, strength training is just as important as conditioning. Strength training is crucial when it comes to your body’s ability to withstand stress and heavy loads. Even tasks as simple as carrying a package up the stairs or moving furniture around your house require decent muscle strength.

At Open, we’ve taken a new approach to strength training in our Power classes. During this practice, your workout will blend weighted and unweighted exercises as well as explosive plyometric movements to push your body to the next level. As a result, your muscles will become more toned and you’ll notice an increase in your strength, speed, and overall resilience.

Start your practice: Power Flow

Mobility + recovery

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves sleep
• Improves performance of physical activities
• Decreases risk of injuries
• Increases blood flow

The only way to really reap all the benefits of your workout routine is to place just as much emphasis on the recovery days as you do on the hard workouts. Flexibility training and recovery through stretching classes (or yin yoga) reduces the risk of injury and allows you to slow down and train your mind in tandem with your body. Mindfulness is key when it comes to movement for longevity. Your body is only as resilient as your mind, so taking time to recover and focus on mindfulness is crucial.

At Open, we offer classes that aid in mobility and recovery. Mobility principles are present in all classes, especially Flow. Recovery will be found in Restore, our version of a yin yoga class that pairs longer-held postures with down-regulative breathwork and sound meditation. This recovery practice helps round out your workout routine, allowing you to move well for a long time.

Start Your Practice: De-stress Flow

Incorporating movement for longevity into daily life

The more you move, the better you feel. Along with trying our Move classes, you can make movement part of your daily routine easily.

• Daily Yoga Practice: Even a short, 15-minute yoga session can do wonders for your flexibility, strength, and mental clarity. The key is consistency. Commit to a daily practice, even just a few poses or a meditation session.
• Walk with Intention: Walking is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to stay active. Turn your daily walks into mindful practices with one of Open’s guided walking meditations.
• Take Movement Breaks: If you work at a desk, make it a point to stand up, stretch, and move around every hour. These small breaks can prevent stiffness, improve circulation, and reset your brain.

Moving forward

Movement for longevity is about more than just physical fitness—it’s about creating a lifestyle that supports long-term health, mindfulness, and well-being. By staying active, practicing mindful movement, and nurturing both your body and mind, you’re setting the foundation for a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life.

Try one of our Move classes for free today– your future self will thank you.