by NATALIA HAWK
Let’s have a bit of fun on a Sunday afternoon… and talk about technique.
I know. Zzzzz. Just the word takes me back to boring swimming classes as a kid, when we had to stop diving through hoops into the water (best game ever) and start talking about the exact angle our hand was supposed to exit the water while midway through our freestyle stroke.
But technique is important when it comes to exercise. All too often, we sign up for classes or start running programs without knowing how to do things properly – putting us on the fast-track to injury or extra-sore muscles or a general complete lack of progress.
I turned to Pinterest for a bunch of handy memes that you can save to your computer or print off and remember forever. Hooray! Remember that these are, of course, the very basics – if you have very specific concerns or want some better guidance, see a PT.
Squats
Your vitals: Butt back. Chest up. Knees in line with toes. Remember this even when you’re participating in those frantic Body Attack classes when you’re supposed to be squatting one second and then doing a double-leap, triple-pirouette over a step the next… 75 times over.
Lunges
If you do yoga/pilates, some kind of cross-training or any weight-training, you’ll probably be lunging at some point. Make sure you check out your form in a mirror as sometimes it can feel right… but it’s not actually right. (Story of my life.)
Top Comments
I do lots of these exercises and always watch my technique (I am a dance teacher) but I have always wondered why lunges are recommended for your butt? I never get a sore butt from doing lunges - more like sore quads or sore calves. I find that squats work better at targeting the butt.
Push-ups don't have to be on the floor. For those with limited mobility, start against a wall and you can make it harder by standing further out from the wall. Push ups on a staircase can also be a good way to build you strength if you can't manage the floor yet. As "Sundress" said, it's all about form, not repetitions or speed.