Form ~

Isn’t it interesting how a movement that is around you strikes up a thought in your mind?  Well that’s exactly what happened to me Monday morning.  Here I was getting ready to do my overhand chin-ups and there was a female doing her side sit-ups.   She was moving so quickly that it took me by surprise.  Then my mind starts asking questions, like why is she moving so fast?  What benefits is she getting out of that routine?  Before I get to deep into it, I stop my thoughts and get back on track with myself.  Interesting how a mind can wander around and start on its own course.   While you’re at the gym, your mind gets trained also.  Staying focused on yourself, blocking all sounds, breathe, what muscle are you working on, how many reps are you going to get and form.  Now you’re in position and poof there goes your mind again.

Yikes, my mind just wanted to wander around.  It wanted to write this morning.  For me, when writing comes, I somehow try to capture it.  There is a reason for it ~ so at times I give it that space to capture what it’s trying to relate to me.

That’s exactly what happened; this piece came into place. As I started to get myself set up for the overhand chin ups I recognized how many people were in the gym.  For some unusual reason, the gym had quite a few individuals working out.  Great I say ~ but there is something missing.  As my eyes would travel around I watched others do their exercises.  Many people bicycling, step mastering, running or walking on the treadmill, various stationary equipment being used, barbells, dumbbells, cables, floor routines ~ and endless routines that each of us brings to the gym.

I believe that if you were getting bored with an exercise routine and wanted a change, all you would have to do is take a peek around.  With all that is displayed in the gym, you could learn something new each week.

What’s amazing to me ~ a student in the learning ~ is the Form that each individual has.  The way that each holds themselves while doing an exercise.  Another question that presents itself in my mind; when you’re working out and doing an exercise, are you focused on your Form?  I think I took this for granted because it comes so easily for me (except when I go up in weights, It catches my attention to focus more) but overall it’s part of a workout.   But in looking around, I have noticed that this is not the case.

Do individuals who workout, think that showing up at the gym, doing something is part of the scheme of saying “I go to the gym”?  Or are these individuals not aware of this very important piece when they workout?  Now I am not saying that All individuals do this, but the mass majority of the individuals that I have seen do not watch their form.

In the beginning I thought that going up in weight was important but truly as time presents itself week by week, I have learned that it’s not all about the weight.  It’s about the Form.  How you hold your weights, how your body is in position to do that particular exercise, the focus in the Form while doing the most weight you can perform on that particular exercise.

Did you know that Form is extremely important while you do each exercise?  You can get better results in your full body range, in your muscles, the way you breathe, if your Form is aligned.  Did you also know that the form you carry each exercise with is also a body reminder in your posture?  How you carry yourself as you walk each step throughout your day.  Posture is your Form.  Your form is your concentration of what you are handling. ~ A movement to avoid injury and maximize the benefit.  Just like dancing, running, jump roping, boxing, yoga, swimming, any type of sports, or exercising ~ your FORM is ultimately important to do right and benefit from it.  Otherwise, what’s the point in doing it?

Proper form ensures that the movement only uses the main muscles and avoids secondary muscles.   When working out the main muscle, fatigues sets in and the body attempts to compensate by recruiting other muscle groups.

As my eyes wonder around to find at least one person paying attention to their form ~ I found one.  I am sure that there are others but the one that stuck out the most is this one gentleman.  And no it’s not my trainer.  I wanted someone else.  Eddie is a gentleman who has been going to the gym; my guess, many years.  When I catch him in my eyesight I watch to see how he performs his exercise.  He is a gentleman that I believe other men watch.  His form is perfect in each routine that he attempts to perform.  He is there for his own needs and desires.  He is reaching out beyond the furthest he can take his body and it displays his hard work.  I would guess he is in his thirties and enjoys what he ventures into.  With his form creates this proper posture which I can probably be safe to say, he carries with him throughout the day.  When he starts his exercise, he stays very focused on himself.  Whether it’s in his mind or in the mirror ~ he is focused!  Focused on his body posture, the form in how he is carrying and lifting the weights, his breathing, the slowness of absorbing each movement and keeping it at a medium to slow pace to intensify the muscles.  He is truly benefiting from his time well spent in the gym.

If in fact you want a true workout that you can benefit from ~ your time, your energy, your strength, your diet, your exercise, than Focus on Your Form.   Going to the gym is not a race ~ don’t rush through each exercise ~ take your time.   Leave the ego outside the door before entering into the gym.  When using heavier weights than what you’re use to handling, your joints and bones are the ones that will take most of the stress.  Your form will probably be effected somewhat until you build your strength with that particular weight.   If you put two and two together; heavier weights and poor form might (most likely) end with injuries.  Where as focusing on your proper form with each movement, you will achieve better results as your muscles will be doing most of the routine, they will grow properly, but most of all you will also prevent incurring any type of injuries.

Give it all you got and Do it to the Best You can give ~slowly~ the results will give you a much greater return.   Practice perfect form ~ You’ll be doing your body a favor.