I love combo moves because it's a challenge for whole body coordination & strength, which makes them much more functional!
Squat: Reach backwards with your hips as if you are trying to sit down on the toilet. Your shin should stay straight (perpendicular to the floor) as your knee bends to a 90 degree angle. Make sure you can see your toes at all times!
Overhead press: Begin with arms up to shoulder level, elbows bent to 90 deg, and dumbells roughly parallel to your eyes. Press upwards and straighten elbows until hands meet overhead.
Combo: As you squat, lower your arms to the starting position. As you come up from the squat, press.
Here is a great video from you tube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1xlMnEkE30
Notice how her back remains straight at all times with a good curve in the low back and her head up. Also, her hips are moving behind her, not down.
Doing a squat with proper form will prevent knee injuries and pain, and also will give you stronger and nicer looking leg muscles!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Welcome to Focused Fitness!
Hello and welcome!
I am a 25 year old future physical therapist (this fall I will graduate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy! More on that later though). Recently I've found myself giving exercise advice to friends, family, and strangers via internet forums and getting a lot of positive feedback. When I was encouraged to start my own blog where you can find all of this information, I realized that I could encourage others to make positive changes to their health by making it accessible via one simple blog!
Since I'm just starting I'm not sure where exactly we are going with this, but here are some ideas:
1) Exercise demonstrations
2) Answering questions/requests for specific exercise from YOU
3) Posts based on real scientific understandings of fitness & health
4) Stories of my own trial & errors (emphasis on errors) with weight loss, working out, fitness & health
5) Consults from experts when your questions lie outside of my own knowledge
6) Advice specifically aimed towards women, from women
7) Exercise logs and photos of my personal transformation
Please check back soon, and if you have questions leave them in the comments!
I am a 25 year old future physical therapist (this fall I will graduate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy! More on that later though). Recently I've found myself giving exercise advice to friends, family, and strangers via internet forums and getting a lot of positive feedback. When I was encouraged to start my own blog where you can find all of this information, I realized that I could encourage others to make positive changes to their health by making it accessible via one simple blog!
Since I'm just starting I'm not sure where exactly we are going with this, but here are some ideas:
1) Exercise demonstrations
2) Answering questions/requests for specific exercise from YOU
3) Posts based on real scientific understandings of fitness & health
4) Stories of my own trial & errors (emphasis on errors) with weight loss, working out, fitness & health
5) Consults from experts when your questions lie outside of my own knowledge
6) Advice specifically aimed towards women, from women
7) Exercise logs and photos of my personal transformation
Please check back soon, and if you have questions leave them in the comments!
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