all of last month I posted about plyometric exercises and why they are important. this month we are changing it up and doing the opposite. Isometrics!!
so what are isometric exercises?
they are a contraction of a particular muscle or muscle group. during isometric exercises you won't be noticeably moving the muscles and the joints are not moving at all. you are holding in a static position while contracting your muscles. this is a change from typical exercises where you are going through eccentric and concentric muscle contractions.
you are essentially, making your muscles work against an immovable object (a wall, your own body, the ground, etc).
holding positions sounds easy enough, but you are not just holding still, you're contracting your muscles to full tension. which gets real tough, real fast!
why should I do isometrics?
through isometrics you can increase strength and can rebuild strength in injured muscle groups with less of a chance of further injuring a muscle.
isometric exercises are also great for beginners and elderly people. isometric exercises are low impact so just about anyone can do them.
and not to mention, they are so convenient. zero equipment (usually) and minimal space. no excuse workouts!
isometrics are also a great compliment to HIIT workouts, because you're moving (or holding, rather) your muscles in a different way.
so what are some of these isometric exercises?
think of some yoga moves, where you're holding a position. or planks!
even better, you can follow me on Instagram and facebook cause I will be posting new isometric exercises all throughout the month of May! personally, I don't incorporate a wide variety of isometrics in my workout routine so I am looking forward to adding some diversity in my routine! join me this month and tag me in your attempts of the moves this month. or if you need some more guidance, you can shoot me an email at tiffnessfitness@gmail.com and we can discuss getting you set up on a personalized program!
