Michael Sinclair Practise an Overhead Reach Before an Overhead Press Before lifting something overhead, try the movement with empty hands. Sit or stand comfortably, raise your arms only as far as you can control, and notice whether you can lower them just as smoothly. ... Beginner Technique Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Understand a Smith Machine Before Your First Set Before using a Smith machine, learn how its bar moves, how it hooks back into place and how its adjustable stops work. Do that with a qualified instructor before adding plates. A guided bar gives you ... Exercise Equipment Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Understand an Isometric Hold Before Adding It to Strength Work In an isometric exercise, a muscle produces force while the position stays essentially still. You may see a wall press or a held plank rather than a movement repeated up and down. The absence of visib... Exercise Technique Strength Training
Michael Sinclair How to Read a Strength Workout Before You Start A workout can look simple on a screen and still leave you with several unanswered questions. Does “three sets of eight” mean eight movements in total? Does “each side” apply before or after you switch... Strength Training Workout Planning
Michael Sinclair Learn the Hip Hinge Before Adding Weight A hip hinge starts with learning to move at the hips while keeping the rest of the setup controlled. Practise the unloaded pattern before adding a weight or copying a fast exercise. The first goal is ... Exercise Technique Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Slow the Lowering Phase Without Losing Control The lowering part of a strength exercise deserves the same attention as the lift. Return the weight or your body to the starting position deliberately, using a load you can control. You do not need to... Exercise Technique Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Train Both Sides Without Rushing the Switch When a familiar strength exercise works one arm or leg at a time, finish the first side under control, put the resistance down safely and reset before changing sides. The switch is part of the exercis... Exercise Technique Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Choose an Exercise Order Before Your Strength Session Choose the order of your strength exercises before you start. Put familiar, demanding movements where you can give them good attention, then organise the remaining work around your goals, equipment an... Strength Training Workout Planning
Michael Sinclair Keep a Strength Log You Can Actually Use A useful strength log answers two questions: what did you actually do, and what would you need to know to repeat it? Start with the exercise, its setup, the resistance if any, and the work you complet... Exercise Log Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Make Push-Ups Fit Your Starting Strength You do not have to begin with a floor push-up to practise a pushing movement. A wall version lets you learn the action while standing, using a stable surface and a position you can control. Choose the... Home Exercise Push-Ups Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Rest Between Strength Sets Is Part of the Workout When a strength session includes more than one set, the pause between sets belongs in the plan. It gives you a chance to start the next set deliberately rather than carrying rushed movement into it. T... Exercise Planning Rest Strength Training
Michael Sinclair Keep Breathing Through Your Strength Sets During ordinary strength exercise, keep breathing rather than holding your breath through the whole effort. A useful starting cue is to breathe out during the lifting or effort phase and breathe in as... Breathing Exercise Technique Strength Training