FITNESS TRANS4MATIONS

Most of us are used to carrying out every tasks with our dominant limb because that's the side we are accustomed to using and as a result it tends to be a lot stronger than the opposite side. When we train both limbs at the same time, such as when performing a two legged squat, the strong side tends to take over a lot of the work of the weaker side and your body ends up with potential muscle imbalances which can lead to injury.

Training one side of your body at a time means that you can work on the weaker or non-dominant side first, putting more effort and energy into the exercise resulting in more effective training due to the extra stimuli being put on the nervous system.  This is due to the fact that each side of the body will have to put in an independent effort to move the weight.

So a stronger right side will not be able to compensate for a weaker left which is often the case with fixed weight machines or barbells.

As a result you will develop symmetrical strength and a more harmonious body shape. As many single sided movements involve balance you will improve this quality and develop stabiliser support and joint strength.

You will also benefit from improved co- ordination and it will help you burst out of a training rut if you are accustomed to carrying out the same tired old routine.

How to get started?

• Ditch the machines and the barbells and pick up a dumbbell instead.
• Always start on your weak side and complete as many reps as you can.
• Initially train at a more moderate intensity on your dominant side allowing your weak side to catch up.

Which exercises can I do?

The possibilities are endless. Single leg squats, single arm DB chest press, single arm DB flys, single leg hamstring curls, single arm DB rows, single arm pulldowns, single arm shoulder press, lat raises etc.

To carry out these exercises correctly we recommend you get some expert advice from one of our experienced trainers who can assess the imbalances in your body and recommend the right routine to get you a toned and symmetrical physique.