Posing instructor?

[DanTheManB]

Just curious but, when one enters a contest is it almost a must to hire one? Surely you can become good at posing on your own if you practice right?

[Titan1969]

Check out magazines, videos, etc. Then the hard part is you have to decide for your free posing what you body looks the best doing. It is a time tested venture and you wont have it polished the first show, but keep at it. I have mine down pat but I did the same routnine last year and fixed a few positions. I won first place last year...and I have 3 shows in the next 4 weeks this year. I do 20-30 minutes day for the last 4 weeks out. Hold each of the mandatories for 1 minute....it is a lifetime it seems...but you will get better. I can hold many of my poses indefintely by just a slight shift occasionally to relaxed the tired muscles.

Tony Kehl
Developing Fitness Programs for Individuals
simplefi@simplefitness.biz
www.simplefitness.biz

[Most Muscular]

Just curious but, when one enters a contest is it almost a must to hire one? Surely you can become good at posing on your own if you practice right?

I disagree.... you first have to learn how to CORRECTLY do the pose to show off your strong points and hide your weaknesses, and THEN practice them. If you don't know what you're doing you could be just practicing bad habits.

[Abdominator]

I disagree.... you first have to learn how to CORRECTLY do the pose to show off your strong points and hide your weaknesses, and THEN practice them. If you don't know what you're doing you could be just practicing bad habits.

Most Muscular is right. Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes permanent. You don't want to have bad posing become engrained and then on the day of the show, you can't shake the bad posing. When I first competed, I learned how to pose from a friend of mine who competed the year before, and he had an excellent coach. So he passed his knowledge down to me, and I've passed it down to the people I've mentored (for example, Fletch, Railz, KarateChris, Beeza).

If you know a competitive bodybuilder at your gym, ask him if he wouldn't mind teaching you how to pose. The lat spread is the hardest pose to learn, but the others are pretty easy, once you learn how to stand and what NOT to do. You can also meet potential posing instructors at bodybuilding competitions. Often competitors who are local maybe willing to mentor you when it comes time for your contest. Ask around, and you might be surprised at what turns up.

If you plan on visiting FL anytime soon, let me know. I wouldn't mind helping you out if you want. Also, look around for some forum members here who live in your area. If they've competed, they'll probably be able to meet you at your gym and help instruct you.

- Skip :)