CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE JUNE || ISSUE 34 | Page 129

03
NEVER PROGRESS TO A MORE
ADVANCED EXERCISE IF YOU
CAN’T DO THE BASICS FIRST
If you cannot perform a correct, full range of motion, chest to the floor push-
up or full depth squat, do not try to take your game to the next level by
attempting a more advanced version of the same exercise.
By adding another level of difficulty, in this case performing the exercise on
an unstable surface like a BOSU, all you are going to do is further
exaggerate your already bad form. If taken too far, you can get hurt.
Master your form of the basics and when you want to ramp things up,
simply set bigger performance goals like 5 more reps each set. Don’t over
complicate things.
04
NEVER USE RESISTANCE
MACHINES FOR THINGS THEY
ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR
I’ve seen some interesting ways that inventive people try to use resistance
machines. From laying sideways one legged leg presses to Smith machine
bench press throws to cable station assisted jumps. There is no shortage of
ways people try to find the next “new” exercise and the internet has only
made this worse because anything seen online is given automatic
credibility.
Resistance machines are designed by biomechanical engineers for a
specific purpose using exact ranges of motions. Doing anything outside
the intended use is only asking for trouble.
In the end, I wanted to use this platform to say – STOP! Please think before
you try something new, research your intentions first, and feel free to reach
out to me and ask if what you’re thinking makes sense, and most
importantly, is safe.