Gym Day: The Usual Grind, Plus a New Move for My Neck
Another solid session in the books at Planet Fitness today, and I’m feeling good about adding something new into the mix — some targeted neck work to help preserve posture as the years go on.
The Regular Rotation
My Planet Fitness sessions usually follow a pretty dependable rhythm. I’ll hit the weight floor for a mix of strength work, spend time on the cardio machines to get the heart rate up, and cap things off with some stretching before I head out. Being a Black Card member means I’ve also got access to the massage chairs and HydroMassage beds, which I lean on more than I probably should admit — they’re a great way to let the muscles settle after a heavier lift day.
Beyond the gym itself, movement has become a bigger part of my week overall. Pickleball games keep things playful and competitive, rowing sessions build that steady endurance, and I’ve been making red light therapy at the Body Angel booth a regular part of recovery. It’s become less about any single workout and more about building a lifestyle where movement, recovery, and mindfulness all work together.
Why I’m Adding Neck Work
Posture is one of those things that quietly erodes if you don’t pay attention to it — especially with how much time any of us spend hunched over phones or screens. So I’ve started folding in a few simple neck-focused exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles and keep that “forward head” creep from settling in over time.
A few I’ve been working into my routine:
- Chin tucks — gently drawing the chin straight back (not down) to strengthen the deep neck flexors that support good alignment.
- Isometric neck presses — pressing my palm against my forehead, side of the head, and back of the head, holding light resistance without letting the head move, to build stability in all directions.
- Neck rotations and side bends — slow, controlled movement through the full range of motion to keep things mobile rather than just strong.
- Shoulder blade squeezes — not the neck directly, but pulling the shoulder blades back and down does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to counteracting that slouched, screen-time posture.
Nothing intense — these are slow, deliberate movements meant to build endurance in muscles that don’t usually get much direct attention. But posture compounds over time, just like anything else in fitness, and I’d rather be proactive about it now than reactive later.
Wrapping Up
Between the usual Planet Fitness circuit, pickleball, rowing, red light recovery, and now this small addition of neck work, it feels like the routine keeps getting a little more complete. Small, consistent additions like this are usually the ones that pay off the most down the line.
Logging this one on Actifit as always — here’s to keeping the body (and the neck) moving in the right direction.
This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io