[3/28/12] Wednesday Wellness: Strength Training

Strength training offers a lot of benefits. However, it is easy to do it incorrectly, which can result in injury and fewer positive results.

Here are some rules for strength training:

1. Always warm up and stretch first

2. Always use proper form

3. Always use full range of motion

4. Breathe properly - exhale on the hard part, inhale on the easy part

5. Use proper speed: 1 or 2 counts on the hard part (against gravity), pause, 3-4 counts on the easy part (with gravity), pause

6. Always cool down and stretch when finished

#5 is the one that can greatly increase your results. Most people skip this step, so they use more momentum on each rep. If you simply pause between each motion, and vary your count, you'll increase your benefits.

Good luck!