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Why is Proper Form so
Important When Working Out
There are so many
reasons why proper form and posture are important when you are working out.
Most exercise professionals won’t even let clients begin an exercise routine
without learning about the basic form for each particular exercise. This is
a good thing, since incorrect form and posture can lead to aches, pains and
serious injuries!
Some of the reasons
why proper form and posture are important when you are working out are:
-
Safety
a.
Good form and posture put your body in the correct alignment. Believe
it or not, your body has natural safety features built in! Standing and
sitting in the correct form takes full advantage of your body’s natural
safety features and the body’s natural leverage.
b.
Good form and posture helps you to avoid injuries, pulls and strains.
(If you have experienced an injury in the past due to incorrect form, you
know just how painful it can be!) Your body, from the time it is born, is
built to avoid injury and works at all times to not hurt itself. However, to
work properly, the correct form and posture must be maintained – especially
during exercise. You work out to benefit your health and your body, not to
injure it!
-
Time efficiency
a.
No one wants to waste time! They want to make the most of every
moment they are working out. Therefore, using proper form and posture is
beneficial since it allows you to target the exact muscle groups you wish to
give a workout. When you use incorrect form and posture, you may end up
working out peripheral muscle groups that you had no real desire or need to
work on instead of those you are targeting.
b.
Since most personal trainers and exercise specialists won’t allow
clients to work out seriously until form and posture are correct, a lot of
time will be lost and money spent on getting it correct instead of actually
doing the more beneficial exercising.
-
Confidence in your
activities
a.
Think of every other aspect of your life:
i.
At work, when you know what you are doing, you are confident in your
abilities and feel good about yourself.
ii.
At home, when you complete a chore or family project and you do it
well, you are proud of yourself which leads to more confidence in your
abilities.
The same
thing can be said for a work out! When you have correct form and posture,
you will know you are doing your exercise routine right! This will lead to
confidence that you are doing just what your body needs. Not only that, but
you will look great as you do it!
Some common mistakes
with form and posture when you are working out are:
1.
Slouching
– stand up straight
when you are doing upright exercise. Your shoulders should be back and your
tummy should be held in tight. Your head should be up straight, not thrown
forward.
2.
Leaning on the rails of
exercise equipment
– never lean when doing a work out. This puts extra strain on your back,
shoulders, and neck. Make sure you are standing correctly, as stated in
number one, even when there are railings.
3.
Trying to lift too much
weight – Have
someone check your form when doing any kind of weight training. Work with
less weight at a slow pace until you get the correct form and posture every
time.
The benefits of
using proper form and posture when working out will show after only a few
work outs. You will be standing taller, looking and feeling better, and
confident that you are doing something beneficial for your body.
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