The days where people think only men can use weights are thankfully long past, but in case you get some surprised looks when you talk about your lifting here are some benefits to just learning to deadlift alone.
Maybe together we can get more women working on their deadlift form and gaining the benefits now that the whole myth of women not lifting heavy weights has been debunked! Feel empowered, get stronger and get excited about your health and fitness once more!
Using all of your muscles on an innate movement pattern
The deadlift uses an innate human movement which is where you hinge forwards at the hips. It works on your glutes, your core, shoulders, lats and hammies while allowing you the opportunity to lift more weight than almost all other exercises. The biggest benefits to working on your deadlift form include;
Learning how to do a deadlift
1. Place your feet shoulder-distance apart with the barbell placed in front of you.
2. Lower down hinging from your hips keeping a small bend in your knees until you are close enough to grab the bar. You can use an underhand grip, overhand grip or mixed grip. Make sure those hips are hinged and you are not going down into a squat.
3. For proper and safe deadlift form you need to keep your spine neutral by looking forwards not up. It is tempting not to do this but it is important to keep your head down.
4. As you take hold of the bar make sure your shoulders are back and squeeze your core and glutes as you stand. Tuck in your pelvis as you lift the barbell, pause at the top and then slowly lower. You should not drop the bar, lowering it down reversing everything is important. You have just finished your first rep!
