By Jasmin Waldmann
If you’re a regular gym-goer, you know that following the right exercise techniques is absolutely essential or you might end up with gym injuries. These injuries can set you back and, if you are passionate about fitness, such a setback can be quite frustrating. Has your instructor discussed with you the need for right techniques to execute your workouts? How much do you know about mind-body connection, avoiding injuries, and recovery? Here’s what you should keep in mind:
Your frame of mind
What’s your mood like before you enter the gym? If you are frustrated or in a bad mood, you might tend to work out far more aggressively. Understand the mind-body connection. Be aware of your frame of mind and let out the anger, but in the right way and in moderation.
The proper technique
When people don’t work out using the right technique, there are more chances of harming their bodies instead of doing good. Let you trainer explain and show how exactly each exercise has to be executed, then execute it yourself and let the trainer give you feedback or use mirrors. If you feel that your trainer cannot explain it, it’s a sign that they have no or incomplete knowledge of what they want you to do. It’s best to look for another trainer.
The right pace
Most people, who work out in gyms, do it at too fast a pace. This, actually, negates your intention because the more speed one uses, the less the muscles need to do the actual work. The slower one moves the weights, the more muscle fibres need to work (many fibres build one muscle). The results that you get from the latter are far better for the muscles – they will grow faster. Also, in addition, more muscles fibres are involved in the tasks. The right way to do this is to move slow, e.g. 4 seconds against the resistance and 4 seconds to give way to the resistance (e.g. biceps curl: 4 seconds up and 4 seconds down).
Recovery
If you don’t let your body rest and recover and, instead, just go on and work out regardless of its readiness, you can end up with injuries. Understand when it is the right time to work out the same muscles/muscle area again. No one else can tell you that. You will know it yourself. When you help it to recover quickly, you will also build up muscles quicker.
Along with your workouts, eat the right foods, manage stressful situations (by looking at them not as stress-generators but as challenges that you can surmount), get enough sound sleep, have a healthy social life, understand the higher meaning of existence and your role in it and you will experience an overall wellness in your life.
Jasmin Waldmann is a Mind & Body Transformation Expert and the inventor of Pilardio® and JaWa Diet. Visit www.jasminwaldmann.com. Also read her expert opinion on the Wellness Experts pages.
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