Study Proper Form to Maximize Your Workout
Summer is winding down and school, once again, is getting started for the year. Although you may not be among the masses getting comfortable in another creaky desk, now is a great time to take yourself back to school with your workout. Proper form is crucial to seeing results and preventing injury, and takes some studying like any subject you would learn in school. Do you do crunches day after day, with only neck pain or leg strain to show for it? If so, a little time spent studying proper form will pay off with shorter workouts and less reps, and most importantly, you’ll see more results!
When you focus on form, you become aware of the muscles that you should be working, and learn to recognize when you are depending on muscles that you are not targeting. It is far more effective to use less weight, do fewer repetitions and focus on proper form.
For most exercises proper form starts with proper posture. To find proper posture you must stand tall, lining your ear, shoulder, hip and ankle so they are connected by one straight line. Level your pelvis and focus on using your abdominal muscles for support, to take extra pressure off your back. Also, maintain a level and neutral chin and relax the shoulders. Practicing proper posture in your everyday life will translate to your workouts and help maintain the proper form for any exercise.
If you are new to exercise, or if you already have a workout routine in place, working with a personal trainer is the optimal way to check your form, and see where you can make adjustments that will enhance your workout. A California Family Fitness trainer can monitor you while you perform exercises and identify when and where you break form which helps increase awareness and trains your body.
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