What’s the RIGHT way to do an exercise?
One of the most common questions we get in the studio, clinic and gym is "what is the RIGHT way to do this exercise?"
And I get it - we all want to be doing things the best way we can. It's tough work...may as well be getting the most out of it!
The thing is......
There is no "right" or "perfect" way to do anything!!
A better question might be "which version is best for me?"
And the answer to this depends on lots of different factors....
Your GOALS
Are you trying to get stronger? more mobile? Aiming for performance? Endurance? Pain management? Relaxation?
There's likely some different variations of the exercise that can be tweaked to target each of these goals a more specifically.
Your ANATOMY
We are literally all built differently. The shapes of our bones and joints have a huge amount of normal variation. Slight changes in position can make big differences for how things feel on an individual level. My version doesn't need to look like your version, and this is 100% ok!
Your CONFIDENCE
New to this movement? Been injured doing something similar and not sure how things are going to go? All good - there's a version that we can start with that you can build more complexity into as your confidence and trust in your body grows!
The CONTEXT
Picking up a pen from the floor is a bit of a different job than picking up 100kg. Your body probably will move a bit differently in those two situations. We don't need to be in the same positions, or use the same amount of tension/force for all situations....having a variety of movement options is awesome.
What feels right for YOU!
Something that felt good yesterday might feel shit today. Maybe you had a bad night's sleep or are a bit stressed from work. Maybe your system is a bit tired from lifting that 100kgs from the ground a few times yesterday! It's ok to make decisions and choices based on how you are feeling in the moment.
Next time you catch yourself asking "what is the right way?" see if you can turn it around and explore what might be best for YOU in this situation.
If you want support exploring the ways your body can move and get strong, we would love you to join us in our Small Group Training sessions online or in the studio!