March 29, 2024

Get Exercise Form Right First

Fit Body:

Master Form First!

Adding a new exercise into your workout? Get exercise form right first, and then add load to challenge your muscles. Ask your training partner or gym buddy to watch a few reps. Even using mirrors as form feedback may miss important elements of the exercise. Your partner can watch a few reps from behind you, on the right side, left side and in front, and then offer feedback as to your alignment and stability. Proper form means a more effective exercise, and that’s where results happen!

Getting Started by Brett Klika C.S.C.S.

Getting Started With 3 Simple Strength Exercises

Strength training helps increase the amount of lean, mean muscle you have.  Muscle burns fuel like an engine, so the more you have, the more fuel you burn. Aside from the ability to burn more calories and fat, muscle adds shape and definition to your physique. Strength training is the practice of improving your own level of strength, whatever that may be!

Bodyweight, dumbells, kettlebells, machines, resistance bands, and a number of other forms of resistance all work to provide a challenge to the body, making it stronger.  In order to continue to get stronger, you just have to find new ways to challenge your body.

Here are 3 exercises to get you started. (As always, consult your physician before performing exercises.)

1.  Lunge (Click to view YouTube video demonstration)
The lunge is a great starter exercise for strength, flexibility, and shaping of the lower body.
1. Start by standing with your feet together.
2. Step forward as far as you can with your left leg.
3. Once your left foot contacts the ground bend both your left and right knee until your right knee is as close to the ground as possible.
4.  Keep your torso upright, your left heel on the ground, and don’t allow your left knee to pass the toes on your left foot.
5. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side!

Try 2 sets of 10 repetitions on each leg.

2.  Slow push-ups (Click to view YouTube video demonstration)
Most people have at least attempted to do a push-up sometime in their exercise life.  This intense upper body exercise, however, can prove to be a little difficult for first timers.  Here’s a way to start a little slower to build success!

1. Start in the “all 4’s” position with shoulders aligned over the hands.
2. Keeping the shoulders over the hands, bring the knees off the ground so the spine and hips are parallel to the ground.
3.  Squeezing your ab, glute, and quad muscles while attempting to “grab” the ground and slowly lower yourself to the ground, keeping your spine and hips parallel to the ground.
4.  Your chest, belly, and knees should all touch the ground at about the same time.
5.  Once you reach the ground, use your knees to get back up to the “all 4’s” starting position and repeat.

Try 2 sets of 6 repetitions.

3.  Supermans (Click to see YouTube video demonstration)
Strength training can do a lot more than improve your physique.  It can improve your posture and help get you out of chronic pain.  The superman exercise is a great movement to improve posture and strength of the upper back and shoulders.

1. Lie on your stomach with both arms straight out in front of you, thumbs up towards the ceiling.
2.  Pretend that you have a tennis ball tucked under your chin.
3.  Keeping the feet on the ground, arms straight, and chin tucked, lift the chest, arms, and head off of the ground.
4.  Hold for 2 seconds, then return to the starting position and repeat.

Try 2 sets of 10 repetitions

Here’s a quick whole-body beginner workout you can do at home without even changing your clothes!

Enjoy getting stronger, happier, and healthier!

Brett Klika, CEO of SPIDERfit Kids (www.spiderfitkids.com) is an award winning personal trainer, author, and international motivational speaker inspiring men, women, and children around the world to create a culture of wellness in their home and live the best version of their life.  To contact Brett with questions or comments at brett@spiderfitkids.com.