Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Body 2 Soul - Get Super!: Body weight squat
Body 2 Soul - Get Super!: Body weight squat: Reality: • Main Muscle Group: Quadriceps • Secondary Muscle(s): Glutes, Hamstrings • Exercise Type: Strength • Equipment R...
Body weight squat
Reality:
• Main Muscle Group: Quadriceps
• Secondary Muscle(s): Glutes, Hamstrings
• Exercise Type: Strength
• Equipment Required: Bodyweight
• Mechanics: Compound
• Force Type: Push
•
Experience
Level: Beginner
Now what:
1.
The bodyweight
squat is an exceptional exercise to use as a warm up to follow the Dumb bell or
Barbell squat, or front squat, and also as a finishing pump exercises with maximal
reps, (if you still have the energy). Stand erect with your feet around shoulder width apart, toes pointing out
at around 30 degrees. No need for a protractor, 10 to 30% is fine.
2.
Interlock your
fingers, or put one hand on top of the other, now straighten your arms out in
front of you (for balance not jokes). Your arms can also be crossed on your
chest for the Macarena squat. Placed
behind your head for a prisoner squat. Placed
on your knees for the cheaters squat.
Placed on your glutes for the "well that’s awkward" squat.
3.
Keeping your
eyes facing up, back straight and feet concreted firmly on the floor, slowly
squat down keeping your knees in line with your toes, (do not let the toes go
past your toes), and sticking your buttocks out. Think Sir-Mix-A-Lot, ‘I like
big butts’.
4.
When your
thighs are horizontal with the floor contract the quads, hamstrings and glutes
by pushing back up through your heels.
Some people do find this difficult; so a little platform under the heels
may assist you to keep proper posture and form.
5.
Do not lock
your knees out at the top of the movement to avoid injury, and repeat for reps for wishful accomplishment.
Performance
pointers:
1.
Basic principles
apply to all squats. Keep your back straight, (mother always told me not to
slouch), eyes facing forwards, chest out, (surprisingly no sarcasm here…), and
don't let your knees come forward as you squat down.
2.
Squat down as
if you were about to sit down on a chair behind you. Most importantly, do not relax at this point,
as there is no chair behind you and you could end up on your butt in the middle
of the weights floor. (Not so cool.)
Just saying:
I feel cold watching this video in winter….
Labels:
24 hour gym,
Body 2 Soul,
body weight exercise,
correct form,
exercise,
fitness,
glutes,
hamstrings,
leg exercise,
muscles,
Perth fitness,
quads,
squat
Location:
Maylands WA, Australia
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Shoulder Press
Reality:
• Main Muscle Group: shoulders
• Secondary Muscle(s): Triceps
• Exercise Type: Strength
• Equipment Required: Machine, (or dumbbell but we are
focusing on one exercise at a time: DB, BB and machine are actually quite
different in regards to grip, stance, muscles worked etc.)
• Mechanics: Compound
• Force Type: Push
• Experience Level: Beginner
1. The bar comfortably
comes down just next your face; I guess this depends on how big your head is?
2.
Do not be
brave here. I suggest you do a few, (2
to 3), and imagine doing at least 10. Do
not feel weak seeing the peg high on the rack, low on kilograms. If you are doing it correctly on a cable machine…
it is not easy.
3.
Next, add the
weight you want to use and sit down on the bench.
4.
Un-rack the
weights and bend your elbows slightly. This is the starting position for the
movement.
5.
Slowly lower
the weight down until the bar is just below chin height, pause, and then raise
the bar back to the starting position without locking your elbows out at the
top of the movement.
6.
This can also
be done on the smith machine by setting a bench down with the back to a 90-degree
angle.
7.
Repeat for ambitious
number of repititions.
Performance
Pointers:
1. The smith
machine shoulder press is a viable option for moving heavy weight without a
spotter. Cable machine is also more supportive regarding the importance of back
and core muscles. My personal opinion…
the shoulder press with free weights is more taxing on core muscles if you have
correct form; therefore more of a compound and beneficial exercise. Better still; stand, or sit on a fit ball, or
stand on one leg, or sitting on a fit ball with one leg raised???? BUT, not with heavy weights!!! If you want to
be hulk, do it sitting, do it supported.
2.
Don't lock
your elbows out at the top of the movement.
3.
Always warm up
first to lower your risk of shoulder injury.
I’m just
saying:
· Always lower the bar below your chin to complete a long
range of motion if using a barbell.
· Do not be afraid to hold your reps at the top or bottom of
movements for maximum effect.
· Know when you are losing form; quality not quantity is the
key.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Leg extension: Do I, don't I?
Reality:
• Main Muscle Group: Quads
• Secondary Muscle(s): None
• Exercise Type: Strength
• Equipment Required: Machine
• Mechanics: Isolation
• Force Type: Push
Now what:
1. The leg extension is a great movement for isolating the quads. Sit on the leg extension machine and adjust it so that the leg pad sits on your ankles.
2. Then adjust the back rest so that your knees are just off the end of the seat. If you are miniature then a support behind your back may be necessary.
3. Select the weight you want to use on the stack. Contemplate… Now select the stack you SHOULD use on the stack.
4. Take the weight off the rack by stretching your legs marginally. This is the initial position for the exercise.
5. Grasping onto the handles for stability and dear life, and bending at the knees only, extend your legs out as far as possible.
6. Hold for a count of 1 to 2 while squeezing your quads, and then slowly lower legs back to the starting position. The weight shouldn’t touch the stack, unless you are finishing your set, or you are fatigued.
7. Repeat for desired reps.
Performance Pointers:
1. Use a slow and controlled movement - do not "kick" the weights up. It is not a happy sack, it is a controlled isolated movement.
2. Pause at the top of the movement and squeeze your quads to add intensity to the leg extension. I like to hold 3 to 5 seconds on the final 3, just for a little extra leg burn!
3. Regarding your fitness program, this exercise can be used as a pre-exhaust exercise for lunges, squats or other big compound movements. It can also be used for the second exercise in compound/isolation supersets.
4. Try not to drop your toes down and back beyond your knees. Your knees shouldn’t track out over your toes as it may causes undue stress on the knee joints.
5. By turning your toes either out or in during your set, you are able to concentrate more specifically on inner and outer muscles of the quadriceps.
I’m just saying:
Many people have a strong opinion in regards to the leg extension, mostly negative:
· “The leg extension doesn’t work the quad muscle in a productive manner”
· “Leg extension machine is dangerous to your knee joint”
Okay, so maybe the last concern is not too common, but you would be surprised by some of the conversations we hear at the gym!
I’m not saying you should use it or avoid it. (Truth is told; this could be said for every exercise in the gym.) There is a reason why trainers write you a program; everyone has a different body; every body is not suited to every exercise.
People claim the leg extension machine is completely useless for building muscle. Lies I say! (My opinion.) There is a good deal of times where it can serve a constructive purpose. But… even if it’s going to be a useful part of your lower body training, it’s going to be a very small secondary part of it. You still need to remember that we’re only talking about a quad isolation exercise here. If you ever train with me then you know I am a lover of compound exercises! Why work one muscle when you can work 2, 3 or 4 muscles at once? (But then again I have always preferred a buffet as apposed to a set menu. Why have one meal, when you can have 3, 4 or 5…)
Treasures like squats, deadlifts, lunge variations, leg presses and more should get the majority of room on your plate, (I mean majority of your time, effort and focus).
I’m not saying you should use it or avoid it. (Truth is told; this could be said for every exercise in the gym.) There is a reason why trainers write you a program; everyone has a different body; every body is not suited to every exercise.
People claim the leg extension machine is completely useless for building muscle. Lies I say! (My opinion.) There is a good deal of times where it can serve a constructive purpose. But… even if it’s going to be a useful part of your lower body training, it’s going to be a very small secondary part of it. You still need to remember that we’re only talking about a quad isolation exercise here. If you ever train with me then you know I am a lover of compound exercises! Why work one muscle when you can work 2, 3 or 4 muscles at once? (But then again I have always preferred a buffet as apposed to a set menu. Why have one meal, when you can have 3, 4 or 5…)
Treasures like squats, deadlifts, lunge variations, leg presses and more should get the majority of room on your plate, (I mean majority of your time, effort and focus).
Achtung!!!:
If you currently have an existing knee problem, the leg extension exercise may not be the best option for you unless otherwise recommended by a medical professional.
If it hurts your knee… think about it brainiac… DO NOT USE IT!
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Lying Leg Curl
Reality:
• This is the most drooled on piece of equipment at the gym.
• Main Muscle Group: Hamstrings
• Secondary Muscle(s): None
• Exercise Type: Strength
• Equipment Required: Machine
• Co-ordination: High, this is awkward to position yourself correctly and look ‘cool’
• Mechanics: Isolation
• Force Type: Pull
• Experience Level: Beginner
Now what:
1. The lying leg curl is a great exercise to isolate the hamstrings. Set up for the leg curl by selecting the heft you want to heave on the stack and adjusting the padding to suit your leg length. I am tall, but often think I follow a giraffe on this machine, people will not judge you on the specs that you leave the machine, so be honest to avoid injury. (Ankle adjustment low to embellish long legs and 50kg left to heave on leg curl stack is not going to fool anyone when you are 160cm tall and 60kg in structure. Just saying… we have camera surveillance. I see all!)
2. Lay face down on the machine. As mentioned often, “This piece of equipment is the one that gets the most action or attention in the gym”, apart from the abductor, adductor… that deserves another blog entirely.
3. The padding should be positioned just above the back of your ankles. If it's higher than that, adjust the length, measure your height, and acknowledge that what you see in the mirror actually has shorter limbs.
4. Tense up the hamstrings by taking the weight slightly off the stack. This is the starting position for the exercise.
6. Squeeze the hamstring hard, and then slowly release the movement back to the starting position.
7. Repeat for desired reps or as requested by personal trainer.
Performance pointer:
1. Common mistakes with the leg curl;
· Moving the weight up and down too fast
· Not using a full range of motion.
· Not controlling the weight throughout the set. Don't use momentum to move the weight up, and don't allow it to drop back down quickly.
2. Always use a full range of motion by curling the weight up as far as possible and lowering it as far as possible without the weight dropping on the stack.
In all honesty, this exercise has recently been given a bad wrap. It is a piece of equipment available in the gym, so I just want to ensure that we are using it correctly. Personally, I like this. I am focusing on a particular muscle, if I keep belly to the pad, and concentrate on no back arch; I think I am all good.
By the way, did anybody else notice how awkward it is to get in and out of this machine? Between this and the 45% leg press, I definitely left grace and co-ordination at the door. Dare you to do it gracefully. The only time your hamstrings will ever work in isolation is when you do this exercise. The hamstrings are meant to act in unison with the glutes and lower back, so training them alone only leads to imbalances, especially in the posterior chain—the interrelated muscles on the back side of your body that are responsible for explosive speed and power. And ‘apparently’, that's not just bad, it's a catastrophe, because a faulty posterior chain can leave you with an excruciating hamstring pull—even if you're just out for a jog.
Perhaps:
How about the weighted 45- degree back extension? Use a back extension apparatus while holding a weight plate to your chest. This exercise works the hamstrings, spinal erectors, and glutes together. While you'll probably never find yourself in a leg-curl position outside the gym, you'll always be bending forward to pick things up off the floor, (if you are clumsy like me), and the back extension trains all the muscles that make that possible. (There is a great one-legged extension for the back that I am sure I will share in the month to come.)
Rumor is out that a ‘dead lift’ is also a good alternate exercise; heavy barbell weight, stretch down calf, a nice movement, but you are inviting other muscles to play so it is definitely not isolated.
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