What is weight training?

Weight training is sets of different exercises in which the muscles are stretched and squeezed by using external weights to gain strength and increase the size of skeletal muscles. A variety of specialized equipment is also used for specific type of movements and to target specific muscle groups.

What are the Advantages of Weight Training?

Weight training has a number of important benefits. Not just only it increases the muscle size but Weight training also helps to: 

• Shape up and tone the body and gives it a good appearance.

• Enhance sports performance by increasing strength, power and even endurance. It helps to perform better in sports like wrestling, football, cycling, baseball, tennis and cricket.

• Counteract common diseases like obesity, osteoporosis and diabetes.

• Improve the balance and functionality of our body, especially when we become old.

• Recover fast from chronic illnesses or conditions like heart disease, stroke and hip replacement.

• Increase you performance in power lifting sports.

What is the difference between weight training and body building?
Weight training and body building are very similar but both have different purpose. In body building, the body builder works for the size and shape of his muscles uninterested in gaining strength. Bodybuilders work out to maximize their muscle size and minimize the fat content in their body. On the other hand the objective of weight training is to increase strength and improve anaerobic endurance, giving least attention to reduce the fat content of the body far below normal.

How to breathe during weight training?
It is important that you follow the correct breathing technique when you lift weight. For each reputation, whether working on a machine or using free weights, exhale when you apply force and the weights go up against gravity. Inhale while the weights come down in the direction of pull of gravity.
Never try to do multiple reputations while holding your breath. It can prove to be fatal!

Before and after weight training

Before starting the training there should always be a 5 to 15 minutes warm up session. It can be a little jog or doing exercises using light weights. A warm up is important as it reduces injury chances. After the training there should be a cool down session to help reduce muscle soreness for the hours ahead. Stretching, calisthenics, a slow swim or jog can cool the body down.