Hey Aretas Performance Community,

This week, we're shifting our focus to a conversation vital for every one of you committed to a lifelong journey of health and movement: what comes after recovery, or after you've hit those initial fitness milestones?

At Aretas Performance, we see physical therapy and foundational fitness as crucial stepping stones. But our true passion lies in guiding you beyond these points, helping you build a resilient, high-performing body that serves you for decades to come.

Performance as Your Continuum

Many of you know the power of targeted rehabilitation. For those who've navigated an injury, physical therapy is essential for getting you back on your feet. But once pain is managed and basic function restored, a critical question emerges: what's next? How do you not only prevent recurrence but truly optimize your body for life's demands?

This is precisely where Aretas Performance steps in. We view our work as the crucial bridge – and the ongoing pathway – to sustained health, robust strength, and the freedom to pursue the activities you love, without limits.

The Pillars of Lifelong Performance

It’s no secret that exercise significantly increases our healthspan – the period of a person’s life when they are healthy and free from major chronic disease or disability. Healthspan is often considered a more meaningful indicator of aging and well-being, reflecting the years spent in good health and with vitality.

At Aretas, that's our ultimate goal. We want to help you live as healthy as possible, for as long as possible. Public health studies over recent decades show indisputable evidence that high physical fitness is the most crucial factor for delaying all-cause mortality and the onset of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular issues, metabolic disorders, and cancer. In fact, long-term exercise actually reshapes the molecular basis of multiple organ systems, from cardiorespiratory to neurological.

Because we know you want to live a long, healthy life, we'd like to introduce our pillars of lifelong performance:

Intelligent Strength Training

It's not just about building big muscles. Strategic, progressive strength training is your best defense against age-related decline, building strong bones, maintaining a healthy metabolism, and supporting hormonal balance for a vibrant life. A growing body of work refers to this as strengthspan, emphasizing quality of life in terms of physical strength and function. A greater strengthspan means you may not only live longer but also perform everyday tasks independently and recreational activities proficiently as you age.

By increasing (or at least preserving) your lean muscle mass, we maintain a higher metabolism, which helps keep excess body fat down and prevents against all-cause mortality. Muscle mass naturally declines with age, and sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) can significantly impact quality of life. Maintaining adequate muscle mass via strength training is crucial for a longer healthspan as it supports mobility, bone health, and overall physical function.

The best way to maintain or build more lean muscle mass is by lifting as heavy as you can, safely. For the most part, we're not just looking for muscle endurance but muscle strength, which comes from a progressive strength training program where we strategically and safely reduce reps and increase weights to help you preserve and build muscle.

Purposeful Mobility & Stability

Our focus on dynamic mobility and foundational stability ensures your joints move freely and safely, enhancing performance in daily tasks and sports while preventing aches and pains down the road.

Mobility involves range of motion, coordination, and the ability to move with ease – crucial for maintaining independence and performing daily activities. Stability, on the other hand, is the ability to control joint movement and maintain balance, preventing falls and injuries. It's often achieved through strong muscles and proper joint mechanics.

Good mobility and stability are essential for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, which is crucial for maximizing healthspan. By improving these through regular, focused physical activity, we can delay the onset of age-related diseases, reduce the risk of falls, fractures, and other injuries, and improve overall healthspan.

Smart Impact Training

Yes, controlled impact can be your friend! Exercises involving low-level impact, like the power training we discussed last week, are vital for stimulating bone growth and maintaining the quick reflexes that keep you confident on your feet.

We won't go into extensive detail on impact training here, given our focus on power in last week's newsletter. But it's a friendly reminder that impact training, which involves activities like jumping progressions, stimulates bone mineral density and helps maintain (or improve!) physical function, thus helping you live better for longer.

Holistic Fitness, Nutrition, & Wellness

Your training is only as good as your plan, and to maximize your healthspan, you need to include all aspects of exercise, fuel, and recovery.

Our holistic approach to nutrition and wellness focuses on sustainable practices to help you live better for longer by supporting energy levels, optimizing recovery, and ensuring your body has the building blocks for long-term health.

So “What’s Next?”

At Aretas Performance, these pillars aren't isolated concepts – they are woven into every personalized program and class we offer. Our coaches meticulously design your journey to ensure you're not just recovering, but continually progressing towards optimal health and performance.

Whether you're transitioning from physical therapy, returning to a beloved sport, or simply committed to living a long, active life, we are your partners in building resilience, confidence, and limitless movement.

Ready to explore your 'what's next' and invest in a body that lasts?

Schedule a comprehensive assessment with one of our expert coaches. We'll build a tailored plan to help you achieve not just your immediate goals, but lifelong vitality.

• Email Drake here.

• Email Mitch here.

• Email Laura here.

If you’re interested in our classes or programs to continue your health journey in an affordable, supervised small-group setting:

• Our OsteoStrong classes are a perfect example of intelligent impact for bone health. Sign up for a class here. Your first class is on us!

• Our Perimenopause Power classes are designed to support women in the menopausal phase of life, prioritize strength and resilience and combatting symptoms. Sign up for a class here (first one is free!), or contact Laura for more information.

And if you're looking to have some fun, get outside, and enjoy a fantastic workout, be sure to check out our Rise & Grind workouts on Bradford Beach! We had our kickoff workout yesterday, and it was a huge hit. Learn more about joining the next session here.

We believe that everyone can benefit from unlocking their inherent potential. Whether you're striving for peak athletic performance or simply want to move through life with more confidence and ease, our team is here to guide you on your journey to a stronger, more powerful you.

Thank you for entrusting us with your health and fitness journey. We’re dedicated to helping you thrive, not just for today, but for a lifetime.

In Excellence,

The Aretas Performance Team