Ever seen a person in the gym with a gargantuan upper body and tiny chicken legs? Or a lifter with well developed pecs and upper arms, but lacking correlating bulk in the back muscles? Training without considering muscle balance not only leads to a lack of symmetry in the aesthetic sense, it also encourages strength imbalance and joint problems. When strengthening your body, always consider training it in balance from top to bottom, front to back and left to right; you’ll not only look better, but you’ll probably function better too.

Helpful Hints . . .

Treat yourself to a massage! Even if you concentrate on balancing your strength training, muscle imbalances can still develop without properly maintaining flexibility and joint mobility. Can’t afford a quality masseuse? Try selfmassage and roll yourself on a foam roller or a tennis ball to “iron out” the knots in your muscles. You’ll increase flexibility while reducing your chance for injury.

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