Buzz
When it comes to weightlifting, form and technique are paramount. You might feel confident that you're executing everything correctly, but the only way to be sure is by having proper training, watching yourself lift, or ideally, both. While checking yourself in the mirror can help, capturing a video with your phone is a more effective way to learn. You can review the footage later (ideally with a trainer) and spot areas to improve.
We’ve previously highlighted the significance of form. If you're uncertain about your technique, recording a video is an excellent way for a personal trainer to analyze it. It also allows you to become more conscious of your unique habits and patterns. For example, you might discover that you tend to favor one side during a bench press or make unusual shoulder movements to lift the weight. With the help of a professional, you can address these tendencies directly. (While some people share their videos online for feedback, I typically caution against this due to the conflicting advice that can come from both qualified and unqualified responders.)
Feeling self-conscious about recording yourself in the gym is completely normal, but remember, it’s all for your improvement! As for positioning your phone to record, you can ask someone to lend a hand for a couple of minutes, or get creative and make a makeshift tripod by using a bench to hold the phone and small weights to secure it in place.
If you’re unsure which exercises to record, here are just a few that tend to be challenging for most people:
Squats
Lunges
Overhead Presses
Deadlifts
Push-ups
The list of exercises can be quite comprehensive, depending on the individual, so consider this just a starting point. It's highly recommended to capture videos from multiple angles—front, back, and side—for a thorough evaluation. Afterward, you can review them yourself or, even better, share them with a trainer for a professional assessment.
Image courtesy of Official U.S. Navy Imagery.
