Conflicting advice

valerieschram

I was at the gym today doing squats, and one of the trainers commented on my form. She suggested that I need to look up while squatting. I am reading Starting Strength, and I remember Rippetoe was pretty adamant about not looking up. He suggests that you imagine you have a tennis ball under your chin and look down. I told her what I had read. She wasn't my trainer, and I didn't ask for her advice, but I am a newbie and appreciate tips on form as long as they are correct. I lean towards following the advice I read opposed to the trainer I knew nothing about, but how do I politely decline her tips. I wasn't quite sure what to say to her, and it was kind of awkward.

amycool

As long as your shoulders are back, your abs are pulled in tight and your knees don't go over your toes I don't think it would matter where you look, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

tracielinn

I have a tendency to look down at everything that I do. My trainer always tells me to look up and keep my neck and head in alignment.

jsteffen80

If you're doing Rip's program, and preforming squats the way he prescribes, your best bet is to follow his form.

froeschli

Just ask what makes their method preferable to yours. If they answer with an intelligent reason (strain on your neck, or something) maybe they have a point.
Thank them, tell them you'll look into it, or give it a try or whatever.

I doubt anyone would go correct your technique to make you look stupid, so the intention is help. If this help is backed up with genuine knowledge, even better.

If they come back and ask why you're not doing it their way (doubt they would), explain it caused you some muscle pain or just that you feel more comfortable that way.

IME you've got to be either doing something seriously wrong, or nearly right and trying hard for people to volunteer advice so keep going

jching29

Eh...I'd split the difference and look forward? Sometimes, looking at either extreme while exercising can injure your neck. But, as long as you've felt fine, I don't see why it matters whether you're looking up, down, or at photos of Johnny Depp while you do your squats

tolygal

bumping because I've read to look up (sort of - not like super extended or anything, but definetly not down). If I remember right, all the videos I've watched show looking up (sort of up) too. However, if you're following a specific program, there is probably a reason they asked you to do that. So - I'm bumping to see what others say because I'm no expert!!

penrbrown

I wouldn't trust trainers at the gym. I know I was given TERRIBLE form advice by the trainers at my local gym (like letting knees go over toes when squatting! WHO allows that to happen? C'mon, that's terrible form for squats).

Anyway, I'd imagine keeping everything properly aligned is important and part of that will be determined by where you're looking. I'd imagine if you're looking up it will tilt your head back. Dunno about you but that doesn't seem like the best alignment...

I'm not sure looking DOWN seems wise either though. I know when you do pushups or crunches you try to keep your head neutral... as in, looking straight forward.

jcr85

Rippetoes recommends the head position that he does because it keeps the neck neutral and facilitates hip drive. Most people have a tendency to slightly flex the knees when they look up, shortening the hamstrings and blunting hip drive. But if your form is bad and your using this method its only going to make it worse and you will probably end up hurting your back.

beckajw

Bumping because I've always been told to look straight ahead (neither up nor down). Interested to hear what others think.

spartacus69

I look straight ahead to down slightly, a la Rippetoe. (His recommendation is to focus on the floor 6-7 feet in front of you, not directly down at your toes.) He also states there is no problem looking straight ahead (with some caveats.)

Rippetoe explains his own logic here:
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/texasbbq-2.htm

tolygal

Bumping because I've always been told to look straight ahead (neither up nor down). Interested to hear what others think.

Yes - my "sort of up" is probably better explained like looking ahead. Because when you are in the lower part of your squat, your back is sort of leaning forward, so it "feels" and "looks" like "up" but it's really just looking straight ahead.

valerieschram

I look straight ahead to down slightly, a la Rippetoe. (His recommendation is to focus on the floor 6-7 feet in front of you, not directly down at your toes.) He also states there is no problem looking straight ahead (with some caveats.)

Rippetoe explains his own logic here:
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/texasbbq-2.htm

Thanks--good info.!

aj_31

I usually look forward with maybe a slight tilt up. Unless I'm checking out my knees/toes then I will look down to make sure my form is correct.