THE BENEFITS OF OLYMPIC LIFTING

For many people, an ideal workout routine is very cardio-­centric with the only weight lifting and toning exercised designed to target specific muscle areas. However, weight training has benefits that go well beyond muscle tone, and it is important to train all parts of the body rather than focusing only on areas where more tone or less bulge is desired. By lifting with more effective techniques like Olympic lifting in which a maximum-­weight barbell lift is attempted, the desired muscle tone will come naturally as these other distinctive benefits are noticed as well.

Improved posture and coordination
It is true that Olympic lifting does require more skill and precision than lifting dumbbells or using a weight machine. This should not be considered a negative aspect of Olympic lifting, because the need for proper technique ensures better posture and muscle coordination. To succeed in Olympic lifting, one must know how to improve stability by transferring force through different muscles instead of performing lifts that only use the strength of a single muscle group.

Greater strength and muscle tone
What you will notice as you focus more on your whole­-body performance instead of the bulk and tone of your muscles is that the toning is built into the exercise. As you find yourself able to perform Olympic lifts with the activation of multiple muscle groups, you may notice that the muscle mass you do have is much more even through the whole body and thus easier to maintain with more diverse workouts.

Movement supporting everyday activity
Even the simplest activities like opening a jar or lifting a heavy object require more than just one muscle group. Therefore, if you are only exercising specific muscles in your workout, you may not have any significant changes for your athletic performance.

If you want to begin incorporating Olympic lifting into your routine, check out the CrossFit program offered at Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn. You can see out schedule of classes online or call us at 718-758-7500 for more information about our athletic programs.