Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Workout TIP of the Day!!

Okay.  So I didn't watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show...but I saw a million tweets referring to how incredible they all looked!  Strutting down the runway, shoulders back, heads held high.  Well, good news!  We can all look a littttttle bit more like that!  Posture is a HUGE contributor to giving you a taller, leaner appearance!  And one of the absolute GREATEST ways to improve your posture is to use proper form when doing a resistance workout.

So, the next time you hit the weights, follow these steps to ensure you're using proper form!
  1. Stand with feet shoulder width, arms dandling at sides, face forward, shoulders back but relaxed
  2. Inhale DEEPLY. (Feel your head and shoulders rise? You should be a little taller at the end of an inhale!)
  3. Exhale slowly & completely without letting your height decrease (If I had my hand on your head at the end of your inhale, it should still be touching the top of your head by the end of your EXhale!)  Keep that head held high and let your shoulders roll back naturally.  This requires activating your core!
  4. Now hold this exact position as you do your bicep curls, shoulder presses....whatever.   Your head/neck/shoulders shouldn't move an inch during your lifts!  This teaches your upper back muscles to hold you body in this upright position at all times, thus improving your posture!
Not only will improved posture make you a little happier with what you see in the mirror, but it decreases your chances of pulled muscles, neck problems, and lower back pain!!

1 comment:

Gabby Malcuit said...

I watched it on the DVR the night before last. Yes, I really need to work on my posture.