posing right - Team Franco Bodybuilding Forum: Competition and Fitness Board

the2ndoak · Beyond Nutrition - Co Owner

posing right

Joe · Beyond Nutrition - Co Owner

the2ndoak wrote:

How do you know, without using the mirror, if you hit a pose right? For example, I was reading� on another site about donts and dos, but no one could really answer my question of whether or not you hit the pose right. Specifically, the read double bicep/lat pose.

I would say you first have to learn the pose, and then the key is to remember the feel of it.� Starting with the leg positioning to hitting the pose without overdoing it.� Many newbies press too�hard thinking the harder they squeeze more muscle will appear, wrong!�
Again feeling it out and body position are the keys.

Rob L · Newbie

I agree, everytime I try to squeeze extra hard to make a muscle look better, the pose looks worse. My trainer tells me, when your lean enough, and you've done your homework and have that mind/muscle connection, the pose will look great!

For me I tend to squeeze too hard when I'm really not lean enough thinking I will look better, wrong!

winflex · Beyond Nutrition Sponsored Athlete

A good way to know if you are doing the pose right without the mirror is to pose without the mirror and have your picture taken. If you can hit the pose correctly for consecutive times in each picture then you pretty much have it down. Don't forget to practice that correct pose repetitively until its second nature. It also helps to go to a posing class to have an instructor modify your pose to make it the best for you. A posing class also helps you because it feels like you are on stage competing when other people are around posing. This helps to make you more comfortable onstage.

So summary:
1. Have someone take pictures of you without using the mirror to get it right.
2. Practice the correct feeling.
3. Go to posing class or instruction.
4. Start feeling comfortable with each pose.

Also I agree with these guys above. Posing harder will not make your more defined. Losing the bodyfat will. When you are really lean, it doesn't take much for the muscle to show/pop.

the2ndoak · Beyond Nutrition - Co Owner

i actually do the pose blindfolded (yes really), because I dont want to you use the mirror. I only have the problem with the two back poses. Everything pretty much "feels" right when done.

winflex · Beyond Nutrition Sponsored Athlete

That's where the picture taking will help. My wife takes my pictures or videotapes me getting into my poses. I face her like she is the judge and there are no mirrors involved.

I review the pictures or videos and then work on improving from there.

Also, another thing I think helps a lot is visualizing what you want it to look like. For example for lat spread, you want a wide wide back with a small waist ideally. So I visualize ideally what it would look like if I had a perfectly wide back and small waist and just try to emulate it in the pose. I don't forget about my calves, glutes and hamstrings either. So I try to feel those things as I hit the pose.

If I don't feel the contraction or stretch rather for lat spread, I know I'm missing something.

the2ndoak · Beyond Nutrition - Co Owner

winflex wrote:

That's where the picture taking will help. My wife takes my pictures or videotapes me getting into my poses. I face her like she is the judge and there are no mirrors involved.

I review the pictures or videos and then work on improving from there.

Also, another thing I think helps a lot is visualizing what you want it to look like. For example for lat spread, you want a wide wide back with a small waist ideally. So I visualize ideally what it would look like if I had a perfectly wide back and small waist and just try to emulate it in the pose. I don't forget about my calves, glutes and hamstrings either. So I try to feel those things as I hit the pose.

If I don't feel the contraction or stretch rather for lat spread, I know I'm missing something.

I'm a strong believer in visualization.

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