With all of the fitness information available to us today, it can be quite confusing when it comes to choosing the best way to train your body. While we all want to look good, just focusing on those “mirror muscles” can cause a lot of problems over time.
A well rounded fitness routine should focus on improving mobility, flexibility, and general strength. These are all things that we tend to lose over time through injuries and the aging process. Think of the basic movements we do on a daily basis….push, pull, squat, reach, hinge, etc. The better we are at these movements the better our bodies will function, feel and look!
Also consider exercises that force muscle groups to work together. Traditional bodybuilding type exercises (curls, lateral raises, leg press, etc.) focus on single muscle groups and often ignore some of the smaller, not so noticeable muscles. While those “mirror muscles” may grow and look great, ignoring some of the smaller ones that provide stability and enhance mobility will cause issues down the road either in the form of how you move and feel, or as an eventual injury.
Push-ups (many different variations), pull-ups, squats, deadlifts, lunges, etc. are all great “total body” exercises that will improve the overall functionality of your body and still allow you to look great!
About the writer: Ken Grall is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and owns and operates an Edge Fitness in Madison, Wisconsin. Learn more about Ken.