It’s one of those hotly-debated topics, should I lean or should I not lean? And if I lean, how far back should I lean? I am of course talking about the lat pulldown. You should have a slight lean on lat pulldowns of 10-30 degrees. How much will depend on your body type and what … Read more
Firstly, I have to admit that I seem to always have dark patches on my elbows, and even my knees. However, my elbows are definitely worse, especially since I’ve made planks a regular part of my workout routines. Here’s why this happens and what you can do about it. Dark elbows from planking are caused … Read more
Do you find yourself holding your breath whenever you plank? Or do you eventually give up on a plank because you’re struggling to control your breathing? As it turns out, this is an extremely common planking issue. Here’s why this occurs and how to fix it. If you can’t breathe during planks it’s usually because … Read more
The whole point in performing any variation of planks is to strengthen your core and tone your abs. However, many trainees tend to avoid side planks as they’re worried that it’s going to make their waist bigger. But is this actually true? Bodyweight side planks will NOT make your waist bigger. The obliques are like … Read more
We’ve all been there, right? Firstly, the reason you perform planks is to strengthen your entire core. However, whenever you perform planks you tend to feel it in your lower back. Well, as it turns out, this mainly comes down to poor form. If you’re feeling planks in your lower back this is usually due … Read more
It’s the age-old question when it comes to planks – should you be doing them on your elbows or your hands? Plus, is one version better than the other, or does it actually make a difference? Here’s what you need to know. Planks performed on your elbows (forearms) ensure that your body is in parallel … Read more
I often start panicking that all the squat racks are taken before I’ve even left home. Why? Unfortunately, I go to a commercial gym which only has one squat rack. Yes, I know I could go to a “better gym”, but hey, this one’s close to home, I know where everything is, and I feel … Read more
The first time you ever used a squat rack you probably didn’t care whether you should be facing in or out. In fact, you probably saw someone else squatting and copied their technique. That’s great, as long as they were squatting the right way. Oh yes, there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way … Read more
Lat pulldowns are a fantastic exercise for building your lats, although most of us perform them in front of the neck. That said, if you enter any gym you’re likely to see people performing them behind the neck too. However, you’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t bring lat pulldowns behind your head, simply because it … Read more
I’m sure you realise that using proper breathing techniques are essential when lifting weights. But, you probably don’t put as much thought into breathing with an exercise like bicep curls. I mean, it’s not as though you are working the largest muscle groups, as you typically would when performing squats or deadlifts. That being said, … Read more