One of the most common questions I get asked by clients is, “Should I use a lifting belt?” Lifting belts are often misunderstood. Do they protect your lower back? Do they make your abs stronger? Or weaker? The answer is, of course, it depends. And it depends completely on if you use the belt correctly. …
Technique Tuesday: How to Use a Lifting Belt to Brace Your Core Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday is about an often-misunderstood accessory exercise: the floor press. Many people are quick to trash the effectiveness of the floor press because it reduces the range of motion. It eliminates the bottom portion of the bench press, which is where most people struggle. However, the floor press still does a handful …
Technique Tuesday: Build Your Bench with the Floor Press Read More »
I’m a day tardy with this week’s Technique Tuesday but I promise it’s worth the wait. We’ve broken down all three main powerlifts, so now it’s time to explore different accessory exercises to drive your strength to new levels. This week, we’ll talk about Pendlay rows and how they can improve your deadlift by increasing upper back …
Technique Tuesday: Pendlay Rows to Improve Your Deadlift Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday wraps up the deadlift, specifically how to find the right deadlift hip position. I’ve struggled with this in the past and when it clicks, it makes a huge difference in how much weight you can pull. Start with your hips too high and you’ll rely mostly on your lower back and …
Technique Tuesday – Finding the Right Deadlift Hip Position Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday explains the proper shoulder position during the deadlift. There’s a lot of confusion about what to do with the upper back and shoulders to lift maximum weight, and I’m here today to clear up that confusion. Spoiler alert: the “shoulders down and back” cue isn’t nearly as useful for deadlifting as you …
Technique Tuesday – Shoulder Position During the Deadlift Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday shows you how to use your breathing to brace your torso during the deadlift. This will protect your back AND help you lift more weight. Breathing during the deadlift can be tricky. There’s more to it than just gasping for air. Check it out: Next week, we’ll talk about how to …
Technique Tuesday: Breathing During the Deadlift Read More »
Today’s Technique Tuesday covers a controversial bench press topic: arching your back. Should you arch? How much? Will it hurt your back? The answers are probably, it depends, and probably not. Here’s how to use the bench press arch correctly to press as much weight as possible while keeping your back and hips healthy: …
This week’s Technique Tuesday will show you how to avoid the cardinal sin of the bench press: lifting your butt off the bench. Many people think you have to give up your leg drive to keep your butt on the bench. Lucky for you, they couldn’t be more wrong. It all comes down to foot position …
Technique Tuesday: How to Keep Your Butt Down during the Bench Press Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday is all about the bench press and why you must keep your elbows under the bar to press heavy weights. Want to know why elbow position is so important? And why gripping the bar too close, over-tucking the elbows and touching too low on the chest can sabotage your bench press numbers? Check it out: …
Technique Tuesday: Elbow Position During the Bench Press Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday brought to you by CSP Mass talks about why two of the most popular squat accessory exercises might not work as well as you think. If you’ve ever used box squats and good mornings to bring up your squat but ended up with no gains to show for it, I feel …
Technique Tuesday: Squat Accessory Exercises that Don’t Work as Well as You Think Read More »
