Do you ever rush through a workout only half focusing on what you're doing?  

 

Do you experience pain or discomfort during your exercises?

 

Do you increase your weight to a point where you can no longer maintain proper form?  

 

Do you rush your movements and rely on momentum to move the weight?

 

If you answered yes to any of the above questions it's time to rethink the way you're working out.  

 

Whether you're lifting weight, doing yoga, taking a boot camp or group exercise class, you should always be prioritizing form.  

 

I can't stress enough the need for good form.  The benefits to focusing on form include:

I often see people at the gym going through the motions.  They're not focused on their workout because they're distracted talking to a friend, watching TV, or just in their head thinking about everything but their workout.  Training like this will still yield results but with increased focus and awareness you will increase the benefits gained from your time and effort.  Focusing on your movements and the muscles the exercise is meant to target can help to activate the proper muscles and prevent your dominant muscles from taking over which could result in training the wrong muscle.  Activating the targeted muscles and utilizing core and stabilization muscles will improve your ability to control your weight and movements.  With more control and stability you may even be able to lift more weight than you thought possible!

 

I also see gym members who are motivated, focused, and dedicated to their workouts but aren't prioritizing their form.  Ego takes over and increasing weight and reps, or powering through the set as quickly as possible is perceived to be more important than the quality of movement.  Pushing yourself to a point where you are unable to control your weight or maintain good form reduces the benefit you are gaining from the exercise, develops poor movement patterns that can be difficult to reverse, and leaves you vulnerable to injury.  I know it can be frustrating to dial things back by reducing weight or slowing down.  You may feel like you're moving backwards instead of advancing forward, but in reality if you regress to perfect your form you will gain more from your workouts long term.  

 

Pain should not be a result of your workout.  I'm not talking about discomfort or soreness... we all know that's a part of the beautiful process.  Pain that is sharp, dull, or persistent should get your attention.  If something feels wrong during your workout do not push through it.  Pain is not gain.  If you're feeling pain it's a sign that you have injured yourself, or you may be executing the exercise incorrectly, using too much weight, or that an exercise isn't right for you and your injury history or current fitness level.  Listen to your body!  Adjust the weight or range of motion of the exercise.  If you are still experiencing pain, try a different exercise, or depending on the severity of the pain, stop training and rest or see a doctor before you proceed. 

 

So how do you know if you're using good form? 

Quality is always better than quantity.  It's important to push yourself, but be sure to do so with integrity.  Your health and safety are always more important than bragging rights!