Most of us typically lunge either forward or backward. However, lateral movement is essential for your overall strength and mobility. Side lunges definitely provide this lateral stimulus, but where exactly should your toes be pointed? The vast majority of trainers state that you should do side lunges with your toes pointed straight ahead. That being … Read more
Lunges are difficult enough at the best of times. But, there are those of us who seem to perform lunges perfectly on one side, but really struggle doing lunges on the other side. If you’re unable to do lunges on one side, or find it much harder, this typically comes down to muscle weakness, tightness, … 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
As fantastic an exercise for your upper back as bent over rows are, there’s nothing worse than feeling the movement in your hamstrings. You’ll generally find that you’re much more focused on your hamstrings, as opposed to the working muscles. Furthermore, this can also cause you to rush through your set or to use poor … Read more
I actually find it quite strange to be talking about your legs growing faster than your upper body. What I mean by this is that I have become so used to seeing Johnny Bravo-esque guys in the gym. Basically, a huge upper body and tiny chicken legs. That said, for anyone who trains in a … Read more
Anyone else wondering whether it’s better to have your heels or toes elevated for Romanian deadlifts? I’m sure you’ve probably seen people in the gym doing both before. So clearly, there must be some benefit to raising one part of your feet during RDLs. That being said, one of these variations is fantastic, whereas the … Read more
You’ll never know how many times I’ve seen this question asked, “Can I Do Romanian Deadlifts With a Mixed Grip?” Of course, it makes a lot of sense, as your grip typically fatigues well before your glutes or hammies. However, should you actually be using a mixed grip with RDLs? Or is this something to … Read more
Have you ever wondered whether there’s a perfect Romanian deadlift depth? I totally understand you wanting to know, because as great an exercise as RDLs are, you’ll often find that you can’t feel the target muscles working. In truth, you probably feel that this is the case because you haven’t lowered the load far enough … Read more
It’s actually an extremely commonly asked question, “Are Romanian Deadlifts Better With Barbell or Dumbbells?” I guess we all know that Romanian deadlifts are a fantastic exercise for your glutes and hamstrings, and even for your lower back. Plus, training your posterior chain can have a multitude of positive effects on your overall physique? However, … Read more