Reps in reserve means leaving a few extra reps in the tank when you do your exercises. Instead of pushing yourself to total exhaustion every time, you stop just before you feel completely worn out. This approach can actually help you move better every day and improve your mobility over time.
When you do reps in reserve, your body does not get overly tired or sore. This means you can stay active and keep moving without feeling stiff or needing long recovery periods. If you always go to failure, your muscles might feel tight and your joints could feel stiff the next day. But if you leave a few reps in reserve, your body stays loose and ready for movement.
Mobility is about how well your joints and muscles work together. It is not just about being strong, but about being able to move freely and easily. Doing reps in reserve helps you stay consistent with your daily movement routine. You can do your exercises more often because you are not worn out. This regular movement keeps your joints lubricated and your muscles flexible.
For example, if you do bodyweight squats and stop at 10 reps instead of pushing to 15, you will feel fresh enough to do a few more sets later in the day or the next morning. This kind of routine helps your hips, knees, and ankles stay mobile. The same goes for push-ups, lunges, or any other movement. Leaving a few reps in reserve means you can do more movement throughout the week, which leads to better daily mobility.
Reps in reserve also help you focus on form. When you are not pushing to your limit, you can pay more attention to how you move. Good form means less risk of injury and better joint health. Over time, this helps you move with more ease and less pain.
Daily mobility is not about how hard you push yourself, but about how often you move and how well you move. Reps in reserve make it easier to stay active every day, which is the key to better mobility.
Sources
https://thereadystate.com/blogs/10-minute-morning-mobility-routine/
https://www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/a69435459/project-total-conditioning/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTJmmY6GiYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laVCyCrU7aU
https://www.aol.com/articles/navy-vet-reveals-daily-movement-120036980.html
https://www.foxnews.com/health/navy-vet-reveals-daily-movement-nutrition-habits-keep-him-fit-after-35
