If you ever stop to watch a bunch of people at the gym, you’ll be surprised to see that most people aren’t even using proper strength training technique. It’s surprising but true, and you’ll find that the majority of individuals are doing the wrong exercises in the wrong ways, and are blissfully ignorant.
The problem is that these people are hurting their own chances to have real strength training success, and they could also be hurting themselves and causing injuries. Avoid those mistakes with the following tips and guidelines.
• Start Light: Anytime that you’re learning a new exercise, you should always start light, even lighter than you would ever actually perform the movement. This allows you to actually master the mechanics and the real strength training technique behind the exercise. Once you have that down, you can add weight knowing that you’re comfortable with what to do and how to do it correctly.
• Use a Spotter When Necessary: Always use a spotter for exercises that require it, particularly if you use heavy weights. If you ever have any doubts, or you aren’t sure about something, then call someone over for help. They’ll be your safety valve if anything goes wrong, and can also provide you with more motivation to, “Keep going. Almost there!”
• Breathe: Many people simply forget to breathe while they’re lifting weights. It’s the kind of small detail in your strength training technique that can really make or break you. You’ll wear out your energy supply, and could even injure yourself seriously. Instead, breathe deeply and regularly during your exercises, and learn the appropriate time to exhale (usually the forceful phase of the exercise) and inhale (the negative, restarting or lowering phase) for each movement.
• Body Posture & Alignment: Body posture and alignment are extremely important for strength training success so that you avoid injury and target the right muscles. Incorrect posture can particularly lead to serious injuries for your spine, neck and back. Learn how to stand or position yourself, which muscles should be applying force, and so forth.
• What Feels Right?: Ultimately, to see if you’re utilizing correct strength training technique ask yourself, “Does this feel right?” Are the correct muscles sore after your workout, are they sore in a good way, or do they feel strained? Always check in and test your body to see if you’re doing something appropriately, it’s the quickest and easiest way to make sure you’re on the right track with your exercises.
To get on the road to strength training success, all you need is the right information and tips, like the ones above, to help you achieve what you set out to do. Correct strength training technique can make an absolutely huge difference in your results, and will also keep you safe and injury free. Utilize even more information, such as the tips you can find below, and you’ll be firing on all cylinders and making great progress.
