Let’s Get Down!
Getting Down...and Back Up! Why Floor Movement Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Body
When was the last time you intentionally got down on the floor...and then got back up again? If your first thought was, "Probably when I dropped my phone," you're not alone!
As adults, we spend a lot of time sitting in chairs, cars, and at desks, but very little time moving through the full range of getting down to the floor and rising back up. Yet this simple, playful movement is one of the best ways to build functional strength, improve mobility, and support healthy aging.
Getting down to the floor and back up again is a full-body team effort. Your legs, glutes, hips, core, back, and pelvic floor all work together to coordinate the movement, while dozens of smaller stabilizing muscles quietly jump in to help with balance, posture, and control. Even your shoulders, arms, neck, and ankles lend a helping hand when needed! It's not about using one muscle—it's about your entire body learning to work together more efficiently.
LIFE HAPPENS ON EVERY LEVEL
—don't forget to practice the floor. Your body will thank you for years to come.
From a somatic movement perspective, the magic isn't just in getting up—it's in how you get up. Rolling onto your side, reaching across your body, pushing through your hands, kneeling, squatting, and standing all challenge your brain and body to communicate with one another. These varied movement pathways improve body awareness, coordination, balance, and confidence while strengthening the connection between your nervous system and your muscles.
Repeated floor transitions also nourish your joints. Your hips, knees, ankles, spine, and sacroiliac (SI) joints all experience gentle movement through different ranges of motion, helping maintain mobility and flexibility. The more frequently we move through these patterns, the more natural and comfortable they become.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is what these movements represent: functional fitness. The ability to comfortably get down to the floor and rise back up is one of the strongest indicators of overall mobility, independence, and resilience as we age. It reflects not only strength but also balance, coordination, flexibility, and problem-solving—all essential ingredients for living an active, confident life.
The best part? It doesn't have to feel like exercise. Rolling, stretching, crawling, spiraling, and exploring different ways of moving across the floor can awaken a sense of curiosity and play that many of us haven't experienced since childhood. Your body loves variety, and your nervous system loves novelty.
So the next time you have a few extra minutes, skip the chair. Sit on the floor while reading, stretch while watching television, or simply practice getting down and back up a few times. Your future self will thank you—and your body might just rediscover how much fun it is to move. Because one of life's greatest superpowers isn't just getting through the day—it's getting down, getting back up, and enjoying every step in between.