To take full advantage of the fitness opportunities and equipment at Columbia Basin Racquet Club, you should learn proper posture and correct form.
Tiffany Malone has been a personal trainer for 30 years, with ten years of physical therapy experience. During her nearly fourteen years at CBRC, she’s trained hundreds of clients and has worked with nearly all of them to correct the same common issues: gaining proper posture and maintaining good form.
Tiffany says, “Posture is the foundation of any good workout and general movement. If you don’t have good posture, then your body is not in alignment. This means you can get hurt more easily because you can strain muscles, wear down joints, and negatively stress tendons. Any of theses negates the benefits of the exercise.”
TRAIN YOUR MUSCLE GROUPS
Correct posture and form will train your muscle groups to work together so you gain strength, agility, and mobility. For example, when you do a kettlebell squat and your posture is aligned then you will be able to lift a heavier weight more safely. This leads to a stronger body and makes everyday activities that use the same muscles, such as gardening, hiking, or washing a car, easier and more efficient.
In addition to learning proper posture, Tiffany also makes sure her clients are lifting the correct amount of weight. If the weight is too heavy, then you can be injured more easily. You also won’t strengthen the targeted muscle groups. Alternatively, lifting weight that is too light is generally a waste of time. Either way, you will not make progress on your fitness goals.
BENEFITS BEYOND STRENGTH
Proper form is good for more than gaining strength. Tiffany says that when you have a neutral back, or in other words, when your vertebrae are vertically aligned, then you will see other benefits. Sitting or standing straight allows you to fill your lungs to capacity. When you can take deeper, fuller breaths, you will have increased circulation. When your oxygen is higher, then you’ll have more physical energy and improved mental clarity.
ASK THE TRAINERS
If you’re unsure about whether you are using correct form, check with a personal trainer. They will provide complementary orientation to the machines in the weight room that isolate specific muscle groups.
This orientation, known as the Red Circuit because it starts with the machines with the red cushion fabric, is especially important for youth ages 10 to 13. They can start using the equipment at that age, provided an adult is with them. Learning the correct form will lead to better and more advanced workouts as they get older.
Personal training sessions are also available, but if you can’t afford that option, then Red Circuit orientation is a good place to start. Also, new members receive a Starting Point appointment, a one-hour session that includes functional movement screening, general workout guidance, and tips for setting fitness goals.
FRIENDLY AND AVAILABLE
Even if you’ve had orientation and training, you may still have questions. Trainers staff the trainer desk in the weight room and are available to help. If you don’t see anyone there, simply go to the reception desk upstairs and they’ll find someone for you.
Tiffany says she and the other trainers are committed to safety and wellness and they want members to ask for help. The CBRC staff take personal satisfaction in seeing members and clients progress and they know that everyone benefits from being part of a healthy community.