Here are four simple cues you can use to move better and feel great in your workouts.
If you’ve had a nagging feeling of:
“I’m not sure if this is sketchy, am I doing this right? 🧐”
…then this is for you!
Let’s dig in.
WATCH: 4 CUES TO HELP YOU MOVE BETTER
CUE #1: “Maintain balance across your foot”
This helps you avoid your knees collapsing inward, especially on squats and lunges.
Focus on maintaining even pressure between your heel, base of your big toe, and base of your pinky toe as your squat or lunge (front-foot only on the lunge).
The goal is to help you externally rotate at the hip, without overdoing it.
CUE #2: “Slam the car door shut”
This helps you keep your spine in a good position as you go into a hinge or deadlift position.
Imagine your arms are full of groceries, and you have to slam the car door shut with the seat of your pants.
The goal is to move the hips back, rather than round your back down.
Note: some flexion/extension of the spine is safe and normal! This is for when we have excessive movement at one point.
CUE #3: “Push your shoes through the floor”
This helps you stay strong through your spine and avoid excessive arching as you stand up from a hinge position.
Imagine you are pushing the soles of your shoes so hard through the floor, they are actually making an imprint.
The goal is to stand up rather than arch back.
CUE #4: “Imagine there are strings attached to your elbows”
This helps you avoid too much pressure on the front of your shoulder and is great for horizontal rows and presses.
Imagine there are two strings attached to your elbows, and someone is standing behind your gently pulling them back and around your torso.
The goal is that your shoulder blades move around your ribcage in sync with the movement.
And there you have it! Four quick cues to help you move with confidence.
And one last point: there is WAY too much fear-mongering about exercise technique on the internet.
Our bodies are all built a little differently, and there are lots of variations of GOOD movement.
You don’t have to move exactly like the person you see on the internet for it to be safe and effective. ❤️
Hope this helps give you some ideas and get you moving! 🙌
– Coach Matt
P.S. Wish you could ask a coach a question? Well, now you can! As an experiment, I set up a Video Ask! It allows you submit a question to be answered by a coach. Check it out!
