So what's the difference between going to the gym and doing your standard resistance training session of bicep curls and tricep extensions for arms, pec flyes and lateral raises for chest and back or using the leg press machine and calf raises for the leg, compared with perfecting the technique and becoming strong in the two major olympic lifts, the clean and jerk and the snatch?
Well here are five major benefits to O lifting that resistance training will not give you.
1. The risk of injury is low in O lifting compared to resistance training.
2. The lifts involve every muscle in the human body including the small stabilizer muscles, so it's not only an effective training method but also cuts down on the amount of time needed for training.
3. The movement patterns and the effect they have on the body helps greatly to develop athletic ability and transfers to numerous other sports as they develop speed and explosive power.
4. They help to develop strong healthy bones that are resistant to fracture as well as helping to prevent Osteoporosis.
5. Finally, lifting can be an enjoyable experience especially as you achieve new personal bests and your technique improves.
My own experience of lifting has been a very interesting and rewarding journey so far. I have achieved things I never thought possible. Standing on a podium wearing a gold medal, holding up my country's flag whilst the national anthem played was a proud moment for me!!
To be honest, being able to pass these skills on to other people is the best part of my experience. Everybody has the ability to learn and benefit from Olympic lifting. Every lifter is an individual, learning and developing in different ways, what works for one lifter doesn't always work for another. Whatever level you are at, beginner to elite, finding the most efficient way to get a barbell from ground to overhead is your goal and the benefits speak for themselves.Helping someone achieve that goal is the most rewarding thing of all!
Following on from the article above here is another link for more reasons why women should lift weights! http://tinyurl.com/43fk6a4
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