“You can’t have a soft body and a stressed-out mind. So when we teach people to soften, we’re teaching them to calm their nervous system. That’s real strength.” – Josh Henkin
“Softness isn’t the absence of effort. It’s the right amount of effort, in the right place, at the right time.” – Cory Cripe
💭 “Soften up.”
Not exactly what you expect to hear in the middle of a strength training session, right? But in this powerful podcast conversation, FLD owner Cory Cripe teams up with DVRT creator Josh Henkin to challenge everything we’ve been taught about tension, bracing, and “grinding it out.” Together, they explore how softness—yes, softness—isn’t weakness at all. It’s the secret to unlocking better core strength, improved mobility, and truly efficient movement.
🧘♂️ The Power of Softness in Strength Training
Josh explains that when people chase strength, they often default to unnecessary tension. But tension without purpose gets in the way of everything—breathing, movement, recovery, and performance. At Fitness Lying Down here in La Crosse, WI, we’ve seen the same thing. Clients who grip too hard, brace too much, or hold their breath often struggle with balance, coordination, and longevity. But when they learn to let go of the extra effort?
Magic happens.
🔁 From Movement Prep to Real-World Strength
Josh and Cory dive deep into the connection between Myofascial Integrated Movements (MIM) and Dynamic Variable Resistance Training (DVRT). These two systems teach you how to move well before you move more. Practicing softness through MIM drills helps prepare the nervous system and creates a smooth transition to loaded strength movements—like:
- Bear hug squats
- Overhead kettlebell presses
- Rotational Around the World drills
- Sprinter stance deadlifts
Softness is what allows power to flow through your body instead of getting stuck.
🦶 Softness in Gait & Balance Work
Let’s not forget real life. Most of our clients care less about their one-rep max and more about feeling confident walking across a parking lot in winter or keeping up with the grandkids. That’s where gait comes in. Josh and Cory talk about how softness is essential for:
- Marching drills
- Single-leg balance
- Step-ups
- Gait re-patterning
Fall prevention, balance, and functional strength all rely on your ability to stay relaxed—but ready.
✅ Strength Training. Smarter. Not Harder.
This episode is packed with takeaways for:
- Clients who want to move better and feel stronger
- Coaches who are tired of seeing stiffness mistaken for strength
- Anyone looking to get more out of their personal training or group fitness sessions
And if you’ve been stretching without progress? This conversation will change how you view flexibility and mobility too.
🎧 Listen Now: The Strength of Softness
Ready to rethink your training—and experience a better way to build strength?
🎙️ Click on the links below to listen to The Strength of Softness with Josh Henkin:
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS