Over the years I wound up developing a routine for balance and mobility which I log in my fitness apps (and here in UAC) as Yoga since it is functionally the same thing for my body (I have no interest in the spiritual side of it). I never intended to create this routine. It just kept evolving.

At first (in 2014) it was a set of stretches and bodyweight exercises to help me with issues, pains and even injuries I developed while getting further into long distance running. I did this on and off for a couple years as needed, adding new exercises as needed based on new pains, injuries, whatever. By 2017 it became a more serious and very regular thing. This year I took it even further by converting some of the moves which were brief holds into longer isometric holds (and adding some others as well) turning it into something more resembling a workout (albeit a very light one) as opposed to just the "simple routine" from which it all originated.

I could never overstate just how foundational this routine is to everything I do. As silly and simple as this routine may seem, and how little of a calorie burn it produces, without it there is nothing but eventual pains and injuries. I know this from a lot of experience. Been there, done that, and not even remotely interested in any freaking sequels. At all. No thank you.

For someone looking to start such a routine, be it stretches, yoga, isometrics, or whatever, my advice is to start small and make it functional for what you want/need to do. Over time you should absolutely work in a regular full body routine. You won't regret it. You would be so, so very surprised how many under-developed/unused muscles the average person has which makes even simple daily tasks and life a lot more painful than it would otherwise be if those muscles were actually functional. You don't have to hit the gym and work all those muscles out either, just a simple (and regular) full body isometrics routine will make you feel like a whole new person after a few weeks.