other people correcting your technique? your opinion?
Replies
-
my general rule of thumb in life is to not give unsolicited advice or opinions.
i've had too many busy bodies needlessly approach me in gyms about things like how i modify a position in yoga class so i want suffocate myself, how i'm working out too hard on the treadmill, etc to appreciate an outright "lesson"
but yeah i agree with it's how you do it a few weeks ago 1 gus at the gym helped me in such a way that it didnt seem like he was being a*hole about it. he complimented me on being able to do tons of full bodied push ups, but then suggested i try those handle bars since that help keeps my wrists where they should be. then after i tried the bar the next day i realized he was saying "good job at what you've accomplished so far, but your form could be better". i definitely appreciated being told this way than some stranger coming up to me and being like "you're doing that wrong"0 -
I would probably be annoyed.
See, I've hired trainers in the past, three times.
I told them all I wanted to get strong. I expected some weight loss as a side effect, but my primary purpose was strength, not weight loss.
All three of them put me on machines with 3 sets of 10-12 reps and light weight, all isolation stuff.
The last one, I asked to help me learn to squat.
He put me on a Smith machine and only had me go down half-way. Funny thing was, he put 50 lbs on the thing. Why not just let me use a bar?
So, if a trainer came up and tried to criticize my form, I'd probably tell them to f-off unless I was paying them.
Yeah unfortunately most trainers really aren't worth a ****. I'd say the trainers that go through NASM are probably the better of the bunch but you can't put a price on pure experience. I'll take experience and results over somebody with just an education any day of the week and twice on Tuesday.
Haha, yeah. I'm from australia and we have either AIF or TAFE here. I chose TAFE cause AIF has been known not to teach you much (considering it is an 8 week course) The TAFE course goes for 1.5years full time and we learn everything from anatomy to psychology to business.0 -
I am happy to take advice from a knowledgeable source.
It's all about efficiency. I could probably find out the hard circuitous way -- but a good teacher gets you from A to B with a straight line.
If you're concerned about someone's reaction, couple of things that could help:
- my former trainer would use humor in pointing things out
- sometimes you can introduce yourself and ask if they wanted a free quick tip about form/technique (if they say 'no', your conscience is still clear for trying)0 -
No offense, but I'll take the technique and form I was taught by an Olympic certified weight lifting coach over a student, any day. Lower back arched off the bench is actually normal anatomical position for the spine. Putting it completely flat on the bench would force you to relax it and round it, which will cause injury. Arching puts in the correct position with the proper muscles supporting it. Do you tell people to do rows or deadlifts with a rounded back? So why would you tell them to bench press with a rounded back?
This ACTUALLY is not true, it puts way too much pressure on the spine which need not be there.I'm still trying to figure out what she wants to correct about back being off the bench during a bench press. It's supposed to be off the bench. Feet on the floor, hips on the bench, back arched, shoulder blades under and against the bench, chest up.
Correct, arched back bench press (shoulders and butt touching the bench) is what is taught by well, everyone. Even just read about it in Rippetoe's Starting Strength, it outlines exactly why you want to arch your back. Obviously not so much of an arch that your butt comes off the bench or you're laying on your neck or something. But enough of an arch to fit a hand under is considered the best form for powerlifting. You can push more while minimizing risk of injury.
In other words, I wouldn't go around offering up unsolicited advice at all. Especially when your information is wrong.
I'm not saying it has to be COMPLETELY flat, I mean people which take their butt completely off the bench, like this...
And maybe you shouldn't go around accusing people of **** when you have no idea what they're even talking about.
The poster your arguing with said nothing about taking your butt of the bench. Why are you accusing him of not knowing what he's saying? Id' say you should go demand a refund on your education.
I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about him accusing me of my information being wrong when he doesn't even know what I was talking about in the first place.
His response and your response in bold
Having said that...
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/bench-press-technique.html
Eta: I think it would depend on your approach. Most people would probably appreciate help.0 -
No offense, but I'll take the technique and form I was taught by an Olympic certified weight lifting coach over a student, any day. Lower back arched off the bench is actually normal anatomical position for the spine. Putting it completely flat on the bench would force you to relax it and round it, which will cause injury. Arching puts in the correct position with the proper muscles supporting it. Do you tell people to do rows or deadlifts with a rounded back? So why would you tell them to bench press with a rounded back?
This ACTUALLY is not true, it puts way too much pressure on the spine which need not be there.I'm still trying to figure out what she wants to correct about back being off the bench during a bench press. It's supposed to be off the bench. Feet on the floor, hips on the bench, back arched, shoulder blades under and against the bench, chest up.
Correct, arched back bench press (shoulders and butt touching the bench) is what is taught by well, everyone. Even just read about it in Rippetoe's Starting Strength, it outlines exactly why you want to arch your back. Obviously not so much of an arch that your butt comes off the bench or you're laying on your neck or something. But enough of an arch to fit a hand under is considered the best form for powerlifting. You can push more while minimizing risk of injury.
In other words, I wouldn't go around offering up unsolicited advice at all. Especially when your information is wrong.
I'm not saying it has to be COMPLETELY flat, I mean people which take their butt completely off the bench, like this...
And maybe you shouldn't go around accusing people of **** when you have no idea what they're even talking about.
The poster your arguing with said nothing about taking your butt of the bench. Why are you accusing him of not knowing what he's saying? Id' say you should go demand a refund on your education.
I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about him accusing me of my information being wrong when he doesn't even know what I was talking about in the first place.
His response and your response in bold
Having said that...
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/bench-press-technique.html
I'm sorry it was 3am when I wrote that and thought he said that the butt was meant to be off the bench, but realised afterwards it didn't....0 -
I see it all the time, but I never say anything.0
-
I'd be wary of correcting anybody's form until you know their history/goals.
Some dude interrupted me mid-squat to critique my technique which is effed up on it's own but I already knew about my tendency to GM on the last reps of the last sets. I did not need that pointed out, actually. I was working on it. I might judge the woman hanging over a cardio machine until I know it's a triumph for her to get to the gym at all and some chick telling her she's Doing It Wrong is not going to help either.
I guess I just don't see this sort of intervention as being particularly helpful regardless of the credentials/intentions of the person doing the intervening.0 -
I see it all the time, but I never say anything.
Yup, people just don't react well. Today there was this kid in the gym doing squats and he was in really good shape and probably a very good athlete, but his squat form was fairly bad and would've benefited from some help. I didn't say anything...0 -
Some dude interrupted me mid-squat to critique my technique
Yeah, that is pretty rude regardless of who that person was. It's a good way to distract somebody and get them hurt in the process.0 -
I'm sorry it was 3am when I wrote that and thought he said that the butt was meant to be off the bench..
Ok, I gotcha. Best wishes with your studies :flowerforyou: 0 -
I'm sorry it was 3am when I wrote that and thought he said that the butt was meant to be off the bench.. Ok, I gotcha. Best wishes with your studies :flowerforyou:
Thankyou
0 -
I would love someone to do this (especially if I was doing something that could result in an injury) but i can understand why you are worried about doing it - not everyone would take it well!
I agree. I would have loved for someone to correct me when I started The 30 Day Shred and killed my knees by having them too far forward (took 4 weeks after the 30 days to get them better).
Kill them with kindness first you can get a feel for their attitude, and I do believe you said you were in training....make certain you know what your talking about 0 -
I'd be wary of correcting anybody's form until you know their history/goals.
Some dude interrupted me mid-squat to critique my technique which is effed up on it's own but I already knew about my tendency to GM on the last reps of the last sets. I did not need that pointed out, actually. I was working on it. I might judge the woman hanging over a cardio machine until I know it's a triumph for her to get to the gym at all and some chick telling her she's Doing It Wrong is not going to help either.
I guess I just don't see this sort of intervention as being particularly helpful regardless of the credentials/intentions of the person doing the intervening.
I would have wanted to throw a plate at him. You bring up a good point though. 6 months ago if anyone had said anything to me I probably would have left and never went back. I would have never realized I actually love lifting.0 -
i would love for people to correct my technique. the majority of the time i have no idea what i'm doing so any tips are always wholeheartedly welcomed.0
-
I'd be wary of correcting anybody's form until you know their history/goals.
Some dude interrupted me mid-squat to critique my technique which is effed up on it's own but I already knew about my tendency to GM on the last reps of the last sets. I did not need that pointed out, actually. I was working on it. I might judge the woman hanging over a cardio machine until I know it's a triumph for her to get to the gym at all and some chick telling her she's Doing It Wrong is not going to help either.
I guess I just don't see this sort of intervention as being particularly helpful regardless of the credentials/intentions of the person doing the intervening.
I would have wanted to throw a plate at him. You bring up a good point though. 6 months ago if anyone had said anything to me I probably would have left and never went back. I would have never realized I actually love lifting.
Yeah I'd wait until they were leaving the gym or at least between sets and just ask if they'd like some pointers, not like oh you're doing this all wrong blahblah. I'd just say ... if you changed this it would make you less subsective to injury... If they say no yeah course I'd back off, it's just some novices don't actually know that they are doing anything wrong.0 -
i would love for people to correct my technique. the majority of the time i have no idea what i'm doing so any tips are always wholeheartedly welcomed.
You can do a couple things here and another lady actually did this yesterday.
1. Post a video of each exercise you want reviewed.
2. Watch good videos by people like Mark Rippletoe, Dave Tate (Elite EFS), Louis Simmons (Westside Barbell Club) and then find people in the gym that seem to have good form and ask for their help.
3. Learn from those same videos yourself. 0 -
@Mercenary1914, You don't have many friends do you?I am studying to become a Personal Trainer atm, and I see a lot of people doing things wrong at the gym...
eg people swinging with lat pulldown, swinging with bicep curls, people lifting their back up on the bench press whilst lifting the weight.
It all looks like an injury waiting to happen, but would you find it ignorant if someone came up to you and corrected your technique, cause you're scared they may hurt themselves or they will not be getting the most out of an exercise?
I never ever say anything to anyone with bad technique...However, I purposely shake my head at them when we make eye contact...I have been known to bust out laughing too...
Kills me when dudes put way too much weight on their lat pull downs and they are trying to use their whole body to pull it down...
or the habitual curl bar rocker...bwahahahaha0 -
You don't have many friends do you?I am studying to become a Personal Trainer atm, and I see a lot of people doing things wrong at the gym...
eg people swinging with lat pulldown, swinging with bicep curls, people lifting their back up on the bench press whilst lifting the weight.
It all looks like an injury waiting to happen, but would you find it ignorant if someone came up to you and corrected your technique, cause you're scared they may hurt themselves or they will not be getting the most out of an exercise?
I never ever say anything to anyone with bad technique...However, I purposely shake my head at them when we make eye contact...I have been known to bust out laughing too...
Kills me when dudes put way too much weight on their lat pull downs and they are trying to use their whole body to pull it down...
or the habitual curl bar rocker...bwahahahaha
Honestly I'd like him to come to my gym and shake his head at some folks because I see that crap everyday. There's this dude I refer to as Captain Kindle, because he takes 10-minute breaks and reads his Kindle in-between sets, but this fool will put some weight on a barbell in the full power rack, throw on a 13mm lifting belt and prime himself for a huge lift but he's just doing BB curls. Although I refer to his curls as Power Curls because he sets up like he's going to do Hang Cleans and Curls with all that momentum. LMAO0 -
A trainer at my gym a while back pointed out something I was doing wrong on my squats. He noticed that I was leaving my shoulders behind when my hips were coming out of the hole and he was right. It looked like I was doing goodmornings halfway through my squat. His conjecture that the weight was too heavy being the cause was wrong though. It was just plain old sloppy form. I'm currently squatting a hundred pounds more than I was at that time and with better form and protecting my back. He did wait until after my set to tell me though. Another one showed me how to hip drive, which added a lot of power to my squat, so that was pretty cool. Now when somebody tries to tell me I'm doing it wrong, because you need to isolate your quads by using a leg press or smith machine, that's when I let it go in one ear and out the other.
There are some a-holes and *kitten* out there too, but, for the most part, most people are just trying to be helpful.0 -
I appreciate help from the trainers if they see I am doing something wrong..Id be more likely to hire them to help me since they showed concern in the first place.0
-
agree with other posters - it's all in the approach. if you are kind about it "hey, workin' hard...i'm a student in exercise science and i noticed you workin' hard. do you mind a little advice on your form?" is better than, "hey, nice burn. you're doing those wrong and you're gonna get hurt."
then they have the opportunity to opt out of what you have to say. if they don't want the advice, "ok. great! just thought i'd offer. have a nice workout." and leave it at that.0 -
I see a lot of personal trainers doing things wrong, but I would not correct them unless they ask for help. I wouldn't want anyone correcting me as well, unless I asked for it.0
-
I'm new to the whole lifting thing so i would appreciate it someone critiqued me. Even if they said it in a rude way, such as "your form sucks." I would still be like "well then help me do it right since you are so concerned." And then I would know. (assuming they knew what they were talking about.) I'm a shy person so it's not very likely for me to ask someone for help. I was doing dead lifts and other things for the first time today at the gym... I've watched many videos on form so I think I was doing it right but I wish I had the nerve to ask someone to watch me and make sure.0
-
Aside from lighter dumbbells at home I'm new to weight lifting (been going to my local gym 3-4 days a week for 3 weeks now and loving it mind you) and am concerned about correct form and technique. Luckily 2 of the guys I train with are seasoned lifters, one of which was an accredited PT and has the results to back himself up too. So far the form I've been shown by 1 has been confirmed by the other so I'm confident I'm being shown right. I always make sure I have them watching my back, starting positions etc.
If I was training on my own and someone noticed I was doing something that opened myself to risk of injury I'd be fine with being given a pointer or 2 AFTER I've at least finished my set (preferably the whole exercise) as being distracted/startled mid lift could have disastrous results.
It's been said numerous times, it's all in the delivery. Try start with something positive then ask if they want a pointer that may save an injury. If they don't want your help, so be it, move on. I personally would be less inclined to listen to some random that wasn't a PT or gym staff.0 -
This ACTUALLY is not true, it puts way too much pressure on the spine which need not be there.I'm still trying to figure out what she wants to correct about back being off the bench during a bench press. It's supposed to be off the bench. Feet on the floor, hips on the bench, back arched, shoulder blades under and against the bench, chest up.
Proper powerlifting technique involves the back being arched but the hips should contact the bench as he listed.0 -
I would think that if you approached them in a cool friendly non arrogant manner, and let them know your qualifications, they would be glad for the free help ! 0
-
As far as the original post: I don't comment on peoples techniques unless there's some sort of discussion taking place about that topic. For example, yesterday I had someone ask me to show him a technique for lifting with the rear delts. I showed him a new lift and since we were actively discussing techniques, I was able to interject with my opinion about proper ROM for lifts. He happens to use WAY too much weight with awful ROM on most of his lifts, so this was an opportunity for me to mention ROM without it being a completely unsolicited comment that he didn't ask for.
As a general rule though, I don't comment on someones technique. I do LOL in my head though.
And I think the funniest one is lat pulldowns.0 -
No, I would want someone to correct me. A friend on here designed a simple work out for me to start out with.. I can't do it daily b/c all the push ups kill my arms/shoulders.. I worked out with my husband the other day and my form was incorrect for the push ups. Told me if I don't need to do the exact number that's on the cards if I can't do them correctly. Do what I can correctly so that I'm not as sore later.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions