By Ludwight Rigueur, SMTh, SMTr, LMT, Qigong Instructor by Ludwight

All issues

Your muscles are keeping a secret from you

The fitness quality that goes first (and how to get it back)

Happy Monday, !


image


Something sneaky happens to our muscles as we get older, often without us even noticing it.


And I’m not talking about them shrinking or getting weaker.


It’s this:

You lose speed.


More specifically, your ability to produce force quickly—what we call power.

Many times, you don’t notice it until you suddenly need it…


Like when you go to catch yourself before you stumble, or you reach fast to grab something that’s falling, or have to rush across the street… and your muscles just don’t fire up as quickly as they used to.


That’s because fast-twitch muscle fibers… the ones responsible for those quick, reactive movements… are the first ones to shrink as we age.

Which is why you can feel reasonably strong and still notice that quickness fading.


They're different systems.

The good news: power responds to training, even for people in their 60s, 70s, and beyond! 


And the movements that build power can actually be fun.


Here are a few simple ways to build it back:


Fast sit-to-stands: Sit in a sturdy chair → stand up as quickly as you can → sit back down with control. Repeat for 8–10 reps. (Progression: add a small hop at the top)

Quick step-ups: Using a low step or stair, drive one foot up and push through the heel with real intent. The goal is to teach your nervous system to recruit muscle fast.

Ball (or pillow!) slams: Lift a medicine ball — or even a couch pillow — overhead and throw it at the floor as hard as you can. (Also a fantastic stress reliever after a bad day.)

Bonus: dancing, pickleball, tennis, and golf all count, too. Anything that requires quick, reactive movement is working exactly the right system.



Keep up the good work,


Coach Lu 


image


Ludwight Rigueur, SMTh, SMTr, LMT, PMT, Qigong Instructor

Rigueur Soma Performance

w: https://www.rsomaperformance.com/

e: [email protected]

Booking Page: shor.by/RSPbookPage

https://www.rsomaperformance.com/



image



Access past newsletters through this link: 

https://sendfox.com/rsomaperformance/feed



Share
Get the next issue in your inbox
Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.

0 comments

More issues

All 1,024 →
#977 Jun 7, 2026

Grocery Store Survival Guide

Read issue →
#976 Jun 3, 2026

You can lose 20% of your bone density in 5 years

Read issue →