Balancing your strength training

In this post I would like to discuss BALANCE, and
more specifically a balanced training program. What I mean by
that is, are you working your body equally in the front, back, sides,
and in all planes of movement?

If not, then you may be on your way to an injury or already have
had one. Plus imbalanced training programs cause bad posture
which can lead to a host of injuries and problems.

Don’t make the common mistake of focusing on the exercises
that you’re already best at, or training only the “beach muscles”
and the ones you can see in the mirror. I believe that my herniated
disc injury was caused by an imbalanced training program,
and now that is a constant reminder for me to stay balanced.

I don’t want you to make the same mistake I did.

A rough analogy of this would be the alignment on your car. If your
car is out of alignment then your tires will wear unevenly, and the car
will not run at optimal efficiency.

So here is the rule of thumb for avoiding muscle imbalances.
For every pushing movement, counterbalance it with a pulling
movement. For example a bench press balanced with some type
of back row. Or an overhead press countered with pull-ups.

Don’t forget your lower body. Specifically the back of your legs or
“posterior chain” which includes your hamstrings, glutes, and low back.
Most of us are quad dominant and having an imbalance in the lower
body can have a big effect on our posture. Not to mention the weaker
our glutes and hamstrings are the more strain we put on our lower
backs when doing everyday lifting activities. So you might want to
stop blaming your mattress for your low back pain and take a look at
your training program, or lack of one, and make sure it has balance.

And don’t forget your flexibility, which will also have an effect on your
posture and can cause imbalances in your body. Also pay attention to your
posture. Many of us put unnecessary strain on our backs by walking and
sitting with poor posture. A “cue” that I suggest is “sit tall” and “stand tall”.

Muscular imbalances can be avoided. Remember to train each joint
in all of its ranges of motion and equal in intensity. And through balanced
training, appropriate stretching, and carrying yourself correctly, you can
promote good posture, avoid injuries, and maximize training efficiency.

Be ready to stand tall on the winner’s platform!

Think Strong, Look Strong, and Be Strong!

Would love to hear your comments on this below. Thanks!