Strength

These exercises will increase the force you are able to muster when pushing, pulling or lifting. This is relevant to all of us in everyday life, whether we are carrying shopping, wielding a spade in the garden or playing with our kids in the park.

Firstly it is important to mix your weight training between the machines available at the gym and free weights (dumb bells or barbells). It is a mistake to rely solely on machines because they create a forced or guided two dimensional pattern which you have to follow, unlike free weights, which permit three dimensional movement.

Machines cannot mimic the specific movements which you may need to make to training your muscles for certain sports. Also, machines provide resistance only at a single point, whereas free weights offer full force resistance to your muscles throughout the entire range of each given contraction and extension.