Personal Training
It took me a while to come around to the idea of hiring a personal trainer (decision to be one was actually much faster!). I had always enjoyed the gym and creating my own schedule of classes and workouts. Although I preferred to go to a class, I could certainly do my own thing as well. As I’m sure you all can relate, generally, there is a different level of intensity in a class when you are following the guidance of a professional. Personal Training was a little confusing or I thought it was reserved for people that really didn’t know what they were doing - boy was I wrong!!
When I finally sought out the advice of a trainer for my postpartum recovery my outlook completely changed (hence, why you found me here!).
I don’t believe that you need a personal trainer every week for the rest of your life - although to be honest some sort of accountability and someone to push you every week does sound pretty ideal… But gaining knowledge from someone who spends their life focused on fitness and is educated to tell you how to move your body can have drastic positive consequences. It wasn’t so much that I needed to be told to exercise but I learned how to make small tweaks to get so much more out of each movement. Knowledge is power, be a student.
This has shaped my philosophy - I’m not willing to spend pointless, precious moments figuring out exercise and allowing a movement to serve one function. Don’t let a bicep curl just work your biceps. You should be bracing your core for stability, forcing your triceps to control the decent and perhaps adding in a lunge or some other full body challenge. Most importantly, form and posture should be perfect. It doesn’t have to be fast or heavy, it should be perfect and you will get so much more out of it and then continue to build.
The arm row where you are just lifting your elbow to the sky and stressing out your neck… that should be engaging your serratus (do you even know what that is?) and increasing strength in your upper/mid back for better posture and to ALLEVIATE the pain.
This is one of the reasons I began posting progressions. To clearly outline the phases for each movement and how to make sure you are doing each step correctly before moving on to the next. You will not get the benefit of an exercise or movement if you aren’t doing it correctly.
Side Plank Progression
ALWAYS: Pull the waist away from the mat (no handing!!) with stacked hips, keeping spine straight (head to tailbone) and neutral.
Start with perfect side lying posture, head in your bent are and BREATHE
On forearm, pushing away from mat and pulling shoulder away from your ear, neck angled to keep spine straight
On forearm, push up on to the bent lower leg
On forearm, straight legs, one foot in front of each other
On forearm, straight legs, one foot on top of the other
Straight arm, one knee down
Straight arm, one foot in front of the other
Straight arm, one foot on top of the other
Play! Straight arm is more of a full body challenge where as forearm targets the core more specifically. Do thread the needle twists, leg lifts, hip dips, the list goes on!
After just two sessions with a personal trainer, my time spent in classes worked harder for me. I was changing - increasing my strength, tightening my waistline but doing the exact same schedule of classes I was before my training. I learned how to make each movement truly work for ME in order to reach my goals.
Work harder AND smarter in each position and truly maximize the impact of every minute of exercise. Want to get going on this journey as well? Reach out for a complimentary chat and let’s talk goals!
xo
