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I like Rippetoe's book (mentioned in the article), but I also think anyone just getting into it should get a personal trainer that knows what they're doing to t

I like Rippetoe's book (mentioned in the article), but I also think anyone just getting into it should get a personal trainer that knows what they're doing to teach them how to squat. Squatting correctly is hard. It's a complex movement that involves the entire body and requires you to do things you probably are not used to doing, and mobility you probably do not have.

alexpw 9y ago
+1 "mobility you probably do not have" Poor posture, tight hamstrings, weak ankles, knee joints, tendons, etc. You can't take those things for granted. The more complex the movement, the more likely you are to involve a part of the body that is not capable of handling it. Other parts will compensate, but if you go to failure or use imperfect form, you'll quickly discover a weak link. Complex movements are the best for maximizing strength gains, but even without weights, they can more easily break you.
jghn 9y ago
Also many personal trainers don't know now to squat either, so just grabbing the nearest or most fit looking one one won't help. If one goes down this path and the trainer tells you things like to not go down all the way, find another trainer. Ideally your butt is touching your calves at the bottom of your movement.
- parthdesai 9y ago
  uggghh, it's not necessarily true. At the least, your butt has to be parallel to the floor and at the most you can go all the way down. You can stop anywhere between that and it is still a perfectly proper squat.
  - failrate 9y ago
    Yes, and if you are just starting out, half squats with no weight are a perfectly valid exercise.
- stinkytaco 9y ago
  Thighs parallel to the ground is a competition squat. Indeed, your but touching your calves often means you are curling slightly to make that contact and that can lead to injury.
  - x0x0 9y ago
    Most people will not have the flexibility to go atg without serious butt wink. Look at all the stretching the oly people do.
brooklyn_ashey 9y ago
I agree, squats and deadlifts. Do you have any resources you would recommend to check out beyond these? Thanks!
- krishicks 9y ago
  Rippetoe has done some "how to" videos for The Art of Manliness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhVC_AnZYYM&list=PLLIasrSrFGdSNbeOT8Agw9N301qCHpRU0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhVC_AnZYYM&list=PLLIasrSrFG... Alan Thrall runs a Sacramento gym and has a number of videos on technique: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLibo-Z1-9Z6jPVfvHhy0vHSuKKb9LMjNZ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLibo-Z1-9Z6jPVfvHhy0v...
- x0x0 9y ago
  1 - Find a good powerlifting gym. Nothing will beat in person technique feedback from a 800+ lb squatter. 2 - Failing (1), find one on the internet that does online coaching. Film yourself and pay for feedback. I have no experience with him, but George Leeman is strong as hell and knows his technique. You could start here. https://www.muscle-massochist.com/services/ https://www.muscle-massochist.com/services/ 3 - If you're in sf, I have a strong recommendation. (Your username may be old.)
sn9 9y ago
There are actually Starting Strength coaches that are trained and certified by Rippetoe. His site has a page to find coaches near you who can train you in the movements and help with programming.
- cholantesh 9y ago
  Only in the US unfortunately.
  - maaksool 9y ago
    Mostly in the US. There's coaches in Finland, Singapore, UK, Australia and Korea (and probably elsewhere). http://startingstrength.org/index.php/site/coaches http://startingstrength.org/index.php/site/coaches
  - toasterlovin 9y ago
    Online coaching is a thing that Starting Strength does now. Probably better than whatever random personal trainer you'll end up getting paired with when you walk into your local gym.
travmatt 9y ago
> requires you to do things you probably are not used to doing, and mobility you probably do not have Learned this the hard way. I'd encourage anyone tempted to try out his program to take a week or two and work on your mobility first. You won't really notice your imperfect movements until the weight is sufficiently heavy enough to start hurting you.
- vwoolf 9y ago
  Learned this the hard way. I'd encourage anyone tempted to try out his program to take a week or two and work on your mobility first Interesting; do you have any links for advice or guidance on how to work on mobility?
  - eloary 9y ago
    Simply: Stretch every day, morning and evening or even more often. Start with physical therapy type exercises and then gradually add stretches from ballet, gymnastics, wrestling, etc. It'll put a literal "spring" in your stride, improve posture and range of motion, and lower perceived pain both during exercise and at rest. The weights also improve flexibility but not in as balanced a fashion. Stories abound of lifters with the posture of a gorilla.
  - ansonhoyt 9y ago
    I like "Rodney Yee's A.M. Yoga for Beginners". It is gentle enough for when you're just getting started and only 15-20 minutes. It doesn't feel like much, but after several days you'll start to notice more flexibility. I start here whenever I've stopped exercising for a while.

alexpw 9y ago

+1 "mobility you probably do not have" Poor posture, tight hamstrings, weak ankles, knee joints, tendons, etc. You can't take those things for granted. The more complex the movement, the more likely you are to involve a part of the body that is not capable of handling it. Other parts will compensate, but if you go to failure or use imperfect form, you'll quickly discover a weak link. Complex movements are the best for maximizing strength gains, but even without weights, they can more easily break you.

jghn 9y ago

Also many personal trainers don't know now to squat either, so just grabbing the nearest or most fit looking one one won't help. If one goes down this path and the trainer tells you things like to not go down all the way, find another trainer. Ideally your butt is touching your calves at the bottom of your movement.

parthdesai 9y ago
uggghh, it's not necessarily true. At the least, your butt has to be parallel to the floor and at the most you can go all the way down. You can stop anywhere between that and it is still a perfectly proper squat.
- failrate 9y ago
  Yes, and if you are just starting out, half squats with no weight are a perfectly valid exercise.
stinkytaco 9y ago
Thighs parallel to the ground is a competition squat. Indeed, your but touching your calves often means you are curling slightly to make that contact and that can lead to injury.
- x0x0 9y ago
  Most people will not have the flexibility to go atg without serious butt wink. Look at all the stretching the oly people do.

brooklyn_ashey 9y ago

I agree, squats and deadlifts. Do you have any resources you would recommend to check out beyond these? Thanks!

krishicks 9y ago
Rippetoe has done some "how to" videos for The Art of Manliness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhVC_AnZYYM&list=PLLIasrSrFGdSNbeOT8Agw9N301qCHpRU0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhVC_AnZYYM&list=PLLIasrSrFG... Alan Thrall runs a Sacramento gym and has a number of videos on technique: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLibo-Z1-9Z6jPVfvHhy0vHSuKKb9LMjNZ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLibo-Z1-9Z6jPVfvHhy0v...
x0x0 9y ago
1 - Find a good powerlifting gym. Nothing will beat in person technique feedback from a 800+ lb squatter. 2 - Failing (1), find one on the internet that does online coaching. Film yourself and pay for feedback. I have no experience with him, but George Leeman is strong as hell and knows his technique. You could start here. https://www.muscle-massochist.com/services/ https://www.muscle-massochist.com/services/ 3 - If you're in sf, I have a strong recommendation. (Your username may be old.)

sn9 9y ago

There are actually Starting Strength coaches that are trained and certified by Rippetoe. His site has a page to find coaches near you who can train you in the movements and help with programming.

cholantesh 9y ago
Only in the US unfortunately.
- maaksool 9y ago
  Mostly in the US. There's coaches in Finland, Singapore, UK, Australia and Korea (and probably elsewhere). http://startingstrength.org/index.php/site/coaches http://startingstrength.org/index.php/site/coaches
- toasterlovin 9y ago
  Online coaching is a thing that Starting Strength does now. Probably better than whatever random personal trainer you'll end up getting paired with when you walk into your local gym.

travmatt 9y ago

> requires you to do things you probably are not used to doing, and mobility you probably do not have Learned this the hard way. I'd encourage anyone tempted to try out his program to take a week or two and work on your mobility first. You won't really notice your imperfect movements until the weight is sufficiently heavy enough to start hurting you.

vwoolf 9y ago
Learned this the hard way. I'd encourage anyone tempted to try out his program to take a week or two and work on your mobility first Interesting; do you have any links for advice or guidance on how to work on mobility?
- eloary 9y ago
  Simply: Stretch every day, morning and evening or even more often. Start with physical therapy type exercises and then gradually add stretches from ballet, gymnastics, wrestling, etc. It'll put a literal "spring" in your stride, improve posture and range of motion, and lower perceived pain both during exercise and at rest. The weights also improve flexibility but not in as balanced a fashion. Stories abound of lifters with the posture of a gorilla.
- ansonhoyt 9y ago
  I like "Rodney Yee's A.M. Yoga for Beginners". It is gentle enough for when you're just getting started and only 15-20 minutes. It doesn't feel like much, but after several days you'll start to notice more flexibility. I start here whenever I've stopped exercising for a while.