Learning to master the correct techniques for the exercises you perform at the gym is a must. Without correct technique you'll only get a fraction of the results you would otherwise get, and leave yourself open to serious injury in the process.

So what is the correct technique?

Well the real answer is that each exercise has its own particular way of being completed. Generally speaking, though, aim to move the limbs or the trunk of that body part over the widest range of motion possible. Only move the parts of the body that are supposed to be moved according to the description of the exercise. If you help the target muscles with other muscles than you don't get the same growth, and you put the other muscles under great stress because you aren't using the proper technique. You also don't want to 'lock' your joints during the movement.

You see, each exercise or movement has a lift, pause and lowering phase. During the pause phase you don't want to lock your joints, because then you're not contracting your muscle as you hold it. You want to stop 5 or 10 degrees before locking.

You want to always be contracting your muscles, at all three phases. This means as you lower the weight, don't just let it drop with gravity. Push against and move it smoothly. You might be surprised to know that most of the muscle 'damage' occurs during the lowering phase, and so yields the most growth.

So no jerky movements, everything should move to a smooth rhythm.

By using the correct technique, you ensure that the working muscles feel the full force of the weight. You don't cheat it by using other muscles to help it. That's also why you don't want to push more weights than you can handle with the correct form, just to impress others. If you do that, you're robbing yourself of growth in the muscle with the same effort. How effective your time at the gym is depends on your technique. Thats the only way you'll enjoy the full benefits from doing weight training.

You also minimize the chance of injury by using the correct form. The traditional lifting exercises have been developed so that they are safe if done correctly. It is only when you try something outside your current limits that you put unnecessary strain on your body. It is not worth the risk.

So make sure you invest in learning the correct technique for each exercise you perform. Your body will thank you.