Learn to Lift with Confidence: The Power of Understanding and Guidance

Stepping into the gym to start strength training can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to lifting. The weight of the dumbbells or the barbell, the unfamiliar movements, and the fear of doing something wrong can all contribute to a sense of uncertainty. At any.Body we recognise that barriers to strength training aren’t just physical; they’re psychological too. Fear of injury, lack of knowledge, past experiences of not feeling ‘strong enough,’ or simply not seeing themselves as someone who lifts weights can all stand in the way.

The key to feeling confident in your lifting journey is about understanding the mechanics behind movement and having the right guidance to support you.

The Importance of Understanding the Mechanics

Before you pick up your first dumbbell or load the barbell, it's essential to understand the mechanics of the lifts you’ll be doing. When you grasp these principles, lifting becomes less about lifting heavy and more about controlled, intentional movement.

Breaking down the mechanics means:

• Understanding proper joint alignment and positioning.

• Developing an awareness of how your body feels and responds to movement.

• Understand how joint positioning can influence muscle activity.

• Learning how to generate and control movement in your body.

For example, let’s consider the squat. It’s not just about lowering your body down and coming back up. It’s about combining knee flexion with hip flexion, maintaining a neutral spine, ensuring your ribcage doesn’t flare and making sure you have the mobility in your ankles and hips to achieve the movement. Understanding how all of these components work together helps you create a stable foundation for your lifts.

The Role of a Coach/Teacher in Building Confidence

A good coach/teacher does more than just demonstrate and explain exercises. Their job is to break down complex movements, provide education, and offer hands on and verbal feedback to ensure you understand not just how to perform the exercise, but why certain mechanics are important. They are also there to create a safe and supportive space to help you build confidence in your movement.

What you should expect from a good coach:

·         Someone who helps you navigate pain or previous injuries and provide individualised strategies and modifications to keep you moving pain free.

·         An inclusive, judgement free environment.

·         An emphasis on joint alignment and movement mechanics rather than just lifting heavy.

·         Education and empowerment

·         Guidance to move intuitively, helping you connect with your body and fostering awareness of how each movement feels.

 If you’ve been wanting to start strength training but don’t know where to begin, finding the right environment matters. any.Body’s approach focuses on empowerment, education, and creating a safe, supportive space where women can build strength at their own pace. So, if you’re looking to start your strength training book a consultation with one of our Women’s Health Exercise Physiologists today.