Mind to Muscle Connection
What is Mind to Muscle Connection?
Movement is controlled by the brain. The first step towards muscular contraction is a signal sent by the brain to your muscles telling them to contract. This is where the mind meets the body.
Why is Mind to Muscle Connection important?
The more you can improve this communication, the more muscle fibers you will recruit. A single muscle head is made up of many individual muscle fibers. By improving your Mind to Muscle Connection you are actually increasing the number of muscle fibers being recruited when you perform a lift. This results in a better quality muscle contraction to maximize your workout.
Does Mind to Muscle Connection correlate to the amount of weight I’m using?
No. Too many people get obsessed with how much weight they are pushing rather than how much work their muscles are actually doing. Your muscles do not grow because of the weight moving up and down. They grow because they are forced to contract by acting on that weight. If you maximize the force placed on your target muscles you will maximize your gains, and that's what it’s all about: maximizing the work done by your target muscles.
What are some helpful tips for developing a strong Mind to Muscle Connection?
1. Focus on your workout by turning off all distractive devices that can divert your attention.
2. During each lift, visualize the muscle you are working. Think about the specific muscle you want to focus on and direct your attention to that body part.
3. Lightly tap on the specific muscle you are trying to work thereby reminding your body to emphasize the pressure in that area.
4. During your first few repetitions, concentrate on squeezing the weight emphasizing the muscle you are working.
5. Give yourself verbal cues, such as “push through your heels” while performing squats.
6. Increase your time under tension (also known as the time you spend during each repetition). The slower the repetition, the better your brain will communicate with your targeted muscles.
