Gym Hacks You Should Know About

Marla Eskin
3 min readJan 12, 2023

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Anyone who has worked out in a gym knows that some machines and exercises are harder than others. There are several methods to make working out at the gym a bit less difficult and more effective. There are simple hacks that will make your next trip to the gym much more productive, making you stronger and fitter more efficiently.

First, the warm-up is quite important in every gym session. They help reduce the risk of injury when you’re lifting heavy by increasing your body’s core temperature and blood flow to your muscles, joints, and ligaments. The best way to warm up before exercising is to do 5 to 10 minutes of light aerobic exercise like walking, jogging, jumping jacks, or cycling on an exercise bike. Warming up is especially important before lifting weights. When your body is cold, it can be more susceptible to injuries like strains and tears, so it’s important to get your muscles and joints warm before exercising.

Additionally, if you’re a newbie or intermediate lifter, don’t be afraid to lift heavy weights or go to the weight section. There are many ways to make lifting heavy easier. Start by ensuring you use proper form and posture, hold your breath, and squeeze every muscle as you lift. Ask a trainer or a friend for help if you’re unsure what weights to use and how to use them properly.

Furthermore, try going backward on the hand rowing machine if you can. Most people go forwards on the rowing machine, but if you go backward, you can activate different muscles and get a more complete, whole-body workout. The backward motion uses more muscles (including your core and legs) than the forward to work out more muscles with less time and effort. The rowing machine is one of the best pieces of equipment in the gym because it targets multiple muscle groups at once. The backward rowing motion is a great alternative to the traditional rowing motion and can help prevent the overuse injuries that can occur when using the flywheel for too long.

Another hack you could try involves using grip discs. Grip discs are a quick and easy way to strengthen your grip and build forearm muscles and core strength. Wrap the discs around a barbell or dumbbell and squeeze for as long as possible. You can also use them on push-up bars by wrapping the discs around them and squeezing them as long as possible. These grip discs come in various strengths and sizes, so you can make them as easy or difficult as you want.

Moreover, if you’re waiting for dumbbells to become free or for a machine to become available, you can do a quick and easy triceps press while you wait. Grab a barbell and place it behind your head on the bench. Then, lower the barbell and press the bar back up when you reach the bottom of the movement. Anyone can do this exercise anywhere; it is a great way to work your triceps while waiting for your next exercise.

These new hacks should serve as great alternatives to spice up your gym session.

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Marla Eskin
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An alumnus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Marla Eskin holds a bachelor of arts in political science and a juris doctor from the institution.