The mind and body have a connection that is very important when trying to build those muscles up when bodybuilding or lifting for that matter. When our mind is not truly into what we are doing, we will not have the improvement that we would if our “head was in the game.”
What Is Mind Muscle Connection
The problem between the mind and muscle connection occurs when people are only focusing on causing the weights that they are lifting to just move up and down instead of what they should be concentrating on.
They should be trying to make sure that the correct specific muscles are being used and worked on with the exercises that are designed to use and work on those specific muscles.
This means that when using an exercise that is supposed to strengthen the biceps, such as standing arm curls, it is important to do it correctly and focus on working out your biceps, not using your back and shoulders to lift the weights.
The major key to succeeding in this is that you have to understand exactly what the muscles that you are working out are intended to do. Instead of just thinking of only which muscles are worked out while doing this or that exercises, you should be thinking about which muscle the exercise is supposed to be working out, and then make sure that those muscles are the only ones that are getting worked out, by concentrating on the form that you are using in carrying out the exercise.
Thinking of the muscles that you are supposed to be working out, the only way to make that muscle grow the way that you are wanting it to is in making the technique that works that muscle as difficult as possible.
This is done while exercising with the maximum amount of weight that you can safely use but also making sure that the weight that you are using is not so heavy that you can not complete the recommended number of repetitions.
Use The Correct Form
You have to make sure that you are using the correct form, posture, and positions when working out to get the greatest benefit from your workout. This is one of the biggest reasons for workout injuries and reaching a plateau on your muscle growth.
Therefore, the next time that you go to the gym, keep in mind that the way you work out is just as important as the workout itself. Try to visualize your form before you begin each workout technique. Using an empty dumbbell or barbell, depending on the exercise, practice the exercise while going through your form in your head.
Notice the placement of where your arms are. Are they in the correct starting position? Go through a repetition or two noticing exactly which muscles are tensing and relaxing. Then make sure that after you add weight to the dumbbell or barbell, you are still using the correct muscles.
With every single exercise, if you do this, you will begin to see results occur at a faster pace. Once the weights are being used, make sure you are focusing on contracting and relaxing your muscles that are being worked on. Keep in mind that a muscle can only pull and relax.
Muscles cannot push. In order to move any part of your body, one muscle pulls while others relax. For instance, your quads pull your lower leg straight with the upper leg while your calves pull your lower legs to be parallel with the ground.
Using The Correct Amount Of Resistance
Resistance training is taking into effect the amount of weight that your muscles can move without using other muscles that are not supposed to be used during the exercise that you are doing. Muscles in general can only feel the resistance you are putting on them.
For instance, if your bicep is only able to move 50 pounds, and you are trying to curl 75 pounds and you are using your shoulders and back to make the repetitions, then you are cheating yourself out of the benefits of using just your biceps.
In order for you to make the weights move, you must distribute the weight’s workload to more muscles, which in turn, defeats the purpose of doing weightlifting in the first place.
Hopefully, the next time that you are working out, you will keep these things in mind, while also keeping in mind that while using heavy weights is the key to muscle growth, you must not use more weight than your muscles can lift on their own without having to distribute their work to other muscles.
What Is Mind Muscle Connection
The problem between the mind and muscle connection occurs when people are only focusing on causing the weights that they are lifting to just move up and down instead of what they should be concentrating on.
They should be trying to make sure that the correct specific muscles are being used and worked on with the exercises that are designed to use and work on those specific muscles.
This means that when using an exercise that is supposed to strengthen the biceps, such as standing arm curls, it is important to do it correctly and focus on working out your biceps, not using your back and shoulders to lift the weights.
The major key to succeeding in this is that you have to understand exactly what the muscles that you are working out are intended to do. Instead of just thinking of only which muscles are worked out while doing this or that exercises, you should be thinking about which muscle the exercise is supposed to be working out, and then make sure that those muscles are the only ones that are getting worked out, by concentrating on the form that you are using in carrying out the exercise.
Thinking of the muscles that you are supposed to be working out, the only way to make that muscle grow the way that you are wanting it to is in making the technique that works that muscle as difficult as possible.
This is done while exercising with the maximum amount of weight that you can safely use but also making sure that the weight that you are using is not so heavy that you can not complete the recommended number of repetitions.
Use The Correct Form
You have to make sure that you are using the correct form, posture, and positions when working out to get the greatest benefit from your workout. This is one of the biggest reasons for workout injuries and reaching a plateau on your muscle growth.
Therefore, the next time that you go to the gym, keep in mind that the way you work out is just as important as the workout itself. Try to visualize your form before you begin each workout technique. Using an empty dumbbell or barbell, depending on the exercise, practice the exercise while going through your form in your head.
Notice the placement of where your arms are. Are they in the correct starting position? Go through a repetition or two noticing exactly which muscles are tensing and relaxing. Then make sure that after you add weight to the dumbbell or barbell, you are still using the correct muscles.
With every single exercise, if you do this, you will begin to see results occur at a faster pace. Once the weights are being used, make sure you are focusing on contracting and relaxing your muscles that are being worked on. Keep in mind that a muscle can only pull and relax.
Muscles cannot push. In order to move any part of your body, one muscle pulls while others relax. For instance, your quads pull your lower leg straight with the upper leg while your calves pull your lower legs to be parallel with the ground.
Using The Correct Amount Of Resistance
Resistance training is taking into effect the amount of weight that your muscles can move without using other muscles that are not supposed to be used during the exercise that you are doing. Muscles in general can only feel the resistance you are putting on them.
For instance, if your bicep is only able to move 50 pounds, and you are trying to curl 75 pounds and you are using your shoulders and back to make the repetitions, then you are cheating yourself out of the benefits of using just your biceps.
In order for you to make the weights move, you must distribute the weight’s workload to more muscles, which in turn, defeats the purpose of doing weightlifting in the first place.
Hopefully, the next time that you are working out, you will keep these things in mind, while also keeping in mind that while using heavy weights is the key to muscle growth, you must not use more weight than your muscles can lift on their own without having to distribute their work to other muscles.
