Mind-Muscle Connection

Creating a mind-muscle connection is imperative when you are training for great results and, more specifically when you are looking to achieve the best out of your weight training!

Mind-muscle connection means that you are mentally engaged and focused on the actual muscle you are working; this ensures that every rep you perform is controlled and has purpose.  Think about which muscle that you are targeting before performing the exercise and then aiming to take that muscle to its fullest stretch, then fullest contraction.

A common mistake with weight training is focusing on lifting or pulling a weight, rather than actually thinking about what muscles are getting used to perform the exercise.  Further more, it is common to neglect positioning and exercise technique when too much focus is just on the weights that you are lifting.

An example of this is on the Lat Pulldown.  Many people tend to lift as heavy as possible and only just get the bar past their chin, instead of dropping their weight selection, lifting their eyes and chest and pulling the bar down to maximum stretch.  By taking the bar right down to the top of the Chest while squeezing the scapula together will ensure a full contraction is achieved in major muscles in the back.

Learn what muscles you are targeting and think about them every single rep!