First Move Manual Handling Training is a practical, hands-on workshop designed to help people move safely and confidently – at work and in everyday life.
It’s not just about lifting. It’s about how you move all day.
What You’ll Learn
The training focuses on simple, repeatable principles that help reduce strain across everyday movements like:
pushing pulling
reaching bending
lifting carrying
working in awkward positions
Our trainers (Physios, Occupational Therapists and Occupational Health Nurses) bring real-world knowledge of movement and injury – and provide practical advice that applies directly to your life at work and home.
The 6 Key Principles
Simple cues that are easy to remember and apply:
- Thumbs up for power
- Pinky power
- Bend with balance
- Move your feet (avoid twisting)
- Breathe out for power
- Lift like a weightlifter
These are designed to become habits – not something you have to think about every time.
Why Habits Matter
Most people know how to lift correctly. But when life gets busy, repetitive, or physically demanding – we don’t think about technique. We fall back on habit.
That’s why this training focuses on:
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Building awareness of how you move
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Practising better movement patterns
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Repeating them until they become automatic
The First Move Predicts the Whole Move
The First Move Training Method is built on a simple idea:
The first move sets everything up.
If your first move is off – balance, foot position, or alignment – your body has to compensate.
That’s when strain builds:
- The lower back takes the load
- Shoulders and arms work harder
- Fatigue builds faster
But when the first move is organised:
- Movement feels easier
- You have more control
- Load is shared across the body
- Injury risk reduces
Small changes, Big impact
You don’t need big changes to make a difference.
Small, consistent adjustments – repeated over time – can lead to lasting improvements:
- Adjust your position before you move
- Be aware of how you’re reaching or twisting
- Slow down slightly when setting up
- Reset your posture throughout the day
Final Thought
First Move manual handling training isn’t just about learning the “right way” once.
It’s about building habits that support you every day.
Because when it matters most, you don’t think about how to move…
You move how you’ve practiced.
Want to Learn More?
Want to find out more about the First Move Manual Handling method?
Click the links below for short, practical reads and start learning how to move safely at work and at home.
Why First Move Manual Handling Training is Different
How to Build Physical Intelligence
Why Good Movement Habits Matter
