Push-Ups vs. Posture
I hear people talk about the really tough classes they do at the gym and I think "Great, good for you!" Then they start to tell me about what they did and sometimes I think, "No, not so good." Here's why...my beef with classes is that most of the time (not all of the time, so if you are an instructor please don't be offended!) there are two things going on that I don't agree with:
- The instructor is doing the workout--how can they be checking the form of their participants? I understand doing a few as examples, but then they should be moving around the room and watching people. The smallest corrections/adjustments can make a world of difference--not only in its effectiveness, but preventing injury as well.
- Chest work--especially for most women is not going to benefit you! Push-ups are always a big one I hear about--not so good for the majority of women. Most of us ladies (men too!) have developed weak or poor posture for many reasons--sitting in front of a computer all day, bad chairs, gravity, driving, being tall and hunching over to talk, and for women, a larger chest, and nursing or cuddling a baby can do it too. I would prefer back work, low back work, shoulder work for the rear deltoids, upper back, etc. Working those muscles will help improve poor posture and you will feel better! When you go into a class from now on, when they are doing chest presses, do reverse flies instead, so pulling back instead of pushing forward, keeping those shoulders back and down and squeezing between your shoulder blades. Instead of push-ups, do small reverse circles with your thumbs pointed to the ceiling and as you rotate your shoulders back and down. Hold them in that position for a moment so you are pushing your shoulder blades down towards the floor. Or simply lay on the floor face up with your knees bent, and pull your shoulders back and down and pull your abs in--it will be harder than you think!
Posted by heart&core Sisters at 9/9/2010 7:29 AM 
Categories: good posture
Tags: poor posture reverse flies reverse circles push-ups rear deltoids abs back work chest work chest presses
Categories: good posture
Tags: poor posture reverse flies reverse circles push-ups rear deltoids abs back work chest work chest presses
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