Add These Functional Warm-Ups To Your Barbell Lifting

Barbell lifting is one of the most effective ways to build strength—there’s no question about it.

However, if your body has asymmetries or movement compensations—like uneven hips or limited mobility—loading heavy barbells can quickly expose those weaknesses and lead to injury.

Because barbell lifts are typically bilateral and symmetrical, they force your body into a fixed movement path. If you don’t have the mobility or stability to match that path, your body will shift under load—and that’s where injuries happen.

That’s why it’s essential to warm up your hips, spine, and core before touching the bar.

In today’s video, Mark shares a series of warm-up ideas—including slam ball movements—to get your hips loose and “juicy” before heavy lifting.

He also explains how to combine barbell training with tools like heavy clubs and sandbags for a more balanced, resilient body.