Common Gym Exercise Mistakes You’re Making

Have you ever thought about your technique and whether you’re using the right ones? Here are some mistakes from three common gym exercises that you want to avoid, and solutions to correct them. 

Forward Lunges

• Mistake 1: Knees falling in
• Correction: Stabilise the knee by using the glute
• Mistake 2: Leaning forward
• Correction: Keep back straight and shoulder blades squeeze
• Mistake 3: Accelerating too fast on the way down and hitting the floor with your knee
• Correction: Use control when lowering

Chin-ups

• Mistake 1: Not starting from a full hang
• Correction: Start off with your head pushed forward, biceps behind your ears and elbows locked out
• Mistake 2: Rounding shoulders at the top
• Correction: Depress the lats at the bottom before pulling yourself up and squeezing the shoulder blades at the top
• Mistake 3: Not engaging your lats at the bottom position
• Correction: Starting from a dead hang, pull your body up without bending elbows then extend and squeeze the shoulder blades while pulling the last down 

Lat Pulldowns

• Mistake 1: Swaying back on the way down 
• Correction: Keep torso upright and sternum up as you pull
• Mistake 2: Rounding shoulders forward
• Correction: Depress shoulders first and squeeze the scapulas before pulling down
• Mistake 3: Using momentum
• Correction: Stretch and squeeze the upper back together on the way down

For more assistance on your training techniques, reach out to us today so we can pair you with one of our professional coaches.