Figured I’d start a thread on this because it’s something that gets thrown around a lot in training circles, but rarely discussed in detail.
We’ve all heard about the “mind-muscle connection” — the idea that instead of just moving weight from A to B, you should be actively focusing on the target muscle and trying to feel it work during every rep.
Some people swear by it, say it completely changed their training once they learned how to apply it. Others think it’s overhyped, and that chasing the “feel” just leads to using lighter weights and wasting time.
There’s also some research behind it — studies showing increased muscle activation when lifters focus on the working muscle, especially in movements like curls or flyes. But in practical terms, what does that mean for actual size and strength gains?
From personal experience, I’ve noticed it makes a big difference with certain body parts — like chest and lats, which are usually harder to connect with. On other lifts, like pressing or deadlifts, I’m not sure it matters as much.
Curious what everyone else thinks:
• Do you actively train to improve mind-muscle connection, or just focus on progressive overload and let the rest take care of itself?
• Any tips or methods that helped you improve the connection over time?
• Are there certain muscles you find impossible to feel, no matter what you try?
• Do you think this is more important for bodybuilders than strength-focused lifters?
Would be good to hear different perspectives — especially from guys who’ve been training a while and can look back on what actually made a difference.
We’ve all heard about the “mind-muscle connection” — the idea that instead of just moving weight from A to B, you should be actively focusing on the target muscle and trying to feel it work during every rep.
Some people swear by it, say it completely changed their training once they learned how to apply it. Others think it’s overhyped, and that chasing the “feel” just leads to using lighter weights and wasting time.
There’s also some research behind it — studies showing increased muscle activation when lifters focus on the working muscle, especially in movements like curls or flyes. But in practical terms, what does that mean for actual size and strength gains?
From personal experience, I’ve noticed it makes a big difference with certain body parts — like chest and lats, which are usually harder to connect with. On other lifts, like pressing or deadlifts, I’m not sure it matters as much.
Curious what everyone else thinks:
• Do you actively train to improve mind-muscle connection, or just focus on progressive overload and let the rest take care of itself?
• Any tips or methods that helped you improve the connection over time?
• Are there certain muscles you find impossible to feel, no matter what you try?
• Do you think this is more important for bodybuilders than strength-focused lifters?
Would be good to hear different perspectives — especially from guys who’ve been training a while and can look back on what actually made a difference.