You may have been working out for years and might even have yourself a home gym, but that doesn’t mean you know everything there is to know about exercising. There’s always room to grow, and you should always be open to learning new ways to work out smarter. Learn about some exercises you are probably doing wrong and some easy fixes you can make.
Squats
Squats are arguably the most important exercise you can include in your exercise routine since you need a strong base to build the rest of your body. However, squats are only beneficial if you are going low enough. Squats are not easy, by any means, but there are several ways you can improve your form, and it all starts with going 90 degrees or even lower as you bring your weight down.
Lunges
Lunges also target a ton of lower body muscle groups that are worth building. While lunges might seem straightforward, one thing you will not want to do is drop your kneecap all the way to the ground. Instead, go as deep as possible without doing so to get the most out of the exercise.
Planks
Planks are an amazing way to strengthen your core on your journey to looking like Thor himself. Planks can feel like they are going on for eternity, which is why many people tend to drop their backs. The key to good plank form is to keep your back as straight as possible with your arms parallel to your shoulders.
Push-Ups
Push-ups put you in a similar position as planks, so naturally, those who do them are prone to the same mistake. As you perform your push-up, make sure you are not only getting low enough (which means at a 90-degree angle or less) but that you are also keeping your back straight and your legs out.
Pull-Ups
Pull-ups are an excellent exercise that can truly test your upper-body strength. Pull-ups can come easy to some, but they might also be easy because you are not going low enough. To perform a pull-up correctly, fully extend your arms as you go down before you return your chin above the bar.
Bench Presses
Many people may favor bench presses, but that doesn’t mean they’re performing the exercise correctly. An easy mistake to make when you are doing a bench press is bouncing the bar off your chest and using that as a boost to get the weight back up. Instead, lightly touch the bar to your chest as you bring it down toward you, and then push it back up. Another note about your bench press is that you should try to arch your back instead of resting it flat on the bench, but you don’t want to overdo it. By making this small change, you will be able to generate more power and lift more.
Bicep Curls
The last exercise you are probably doing wrong is biceps curls. The main way that people mess with their bicep curls form is by using too much weight. When you do this, you’re less likely to keep your elbows locked where they should be and are more likely to use your shoulders for leverage instead.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
