Today’s post is from the archive, yet is every bit as topical today… certainly just as valuable while you advance your fitness program to a Fall routine.

A little knowledge can go a long way to improving your workout.

One of the more striking examples of this is to learn how your body moves and what muscles have to do with it.

Since you already know that ”making muscles” takes lifting weights, you go to the gym and you lift weights. Right?

You mimic what you see others doing, you lift what you can – perhaps in any manner that you can. Over time, your interest builds; then you do some research into what you’re actually doing at the gym.

Through that learning, you begin to understand that the PURPOSE of a muscle is to articulate the bone joints. You learn WHERE certain muscles originate on one bone then attach on another, and you see the PHYSICS behind how a muscle can flex or extend a joint. You learn the reason why muscles GROW.

At one point, a light comes on and you realize “ARGGH!… parts of my routine have been totally futile!!”

Then you adjust your movement. Correct your alignment. Start working opposing muscles. You learn to move the weights fully against gravity from any angle. How to brace, how to leverage, how to “pack”.

Now your’re working smarter, not longer at the gym to achieve your goals.

And, voila!  

Better results… Stronger muscles. Increased stamina. Pain-free joints. Better posture.

More “Likes”!!