How to Improve Mind Muscle Connection? DO THIS Before Your Next Workout

[@dylancuthel6910]

I could listen to you all day. Makes everything sound so clear, precise and easy to understand.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Glad to hear that!

[@Kinochan28]

Funny thing that is exactly what I was thinking just now hahaha

[@TheDesertStormGuy]

Thumbnail Game 10/10

[@johnwetmore9559]

I agree regarding activation exercises. However, the lat activation drill you showed in a video with John Meadows has been really useful. I've trained new clients who have never felt their lats working, and then they do that drill and they're like "OH, THAT." It's not something I'd have them do before every workout, but in terms of teaching them to "feel" their lats contract and then try to chase that same feeling in a lat pulldown, row, etc. is still valuable!

[@voltage333amp]

👆

[@MPERTER]

After years of training I've found that the best thing to do is dynamic stretches (for both muscles and joints) then jump into warming up with the same movements I'm working (lower weights, increasing them and lowering the reps for sets) untill I feel warmed up and ready to jump into my first exercise. The norm I guess.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@steelermia]

that's exactly what I do yep

[@spoopyscaryskelebones3846]

@@steelermia YEP. Clock.

[@cygarner1834]

Thank you!!! I appreciate the way you have"matter-of-FACTly" presented the importance of proper focus on function.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@flyLeonardofly]

Plini and now Tool? Your vids are waking up my all time favorite bands ... Love your shirt collection, man!

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@proudmisfit4405]

Honestly Eugene and James Grage teach so well. For me, it's a blessing to learn from you both

[@jessiewhite7783]

Idk about all that. I’m sort of from the opposite side of the spectrum as far as I was never taught about activating anything; I was taught to warm up light and go from there. Period. Here recently, I’ve been getting into bands and more of a “pre-workout” before my workouts and I’ve noticed a complete difference in my overall workout and recovery. Night and day. I’m also getting better pumps off of smaller weight. Idk, I think everyone is different my friend. Peace and love everyone !

[@coacheugeneteo]

Depends what exactly you're doing really.

[@jessiewhite7783]

@@coacheugeneteo Very true. I think that’s where my incomplete thought was headed. Thanks for the amazing videos. John would be proud ❤️

[@jaredscblack]

Hey Eugene, I wanted to say thank you. I've watched tons of KZbin fitness channel videos, tons of stuff that were 'relevant' to my training that I thought would 'help' me, but they just over complicated what I "needed" to do and how I understood things. Your videos are so straight forward and properly explained, and you don't over complicate things with buzz words, just facts. I used to try to over arch my back, always squeeze my shoulders during bench, and I thought mind-muscle connection was one of the most important things, but coming across your videos actually helped me so much more than I can show gratitude for. My shoulders feel strong, bench game is getting there, and I feel much more aware of my body and how it works. I just wanted to say thanks. Oh, and if we were mates I'd call you Heuge-gene. Please keep making vids bro. Peace.

[@MelanieSakowski]

Brilliant: ultimately, reconnect with self and feel the movement “from the inside out”. Breathing helps all the above 🙌🏻

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@annabelapurva-madhuri4861]

So truuuuuue. When I got a spinal compression fracture in 2015, I legit needed core rehab exercises cause all my abs seemingly completely switched off! I have been lifting for over 3 years and I don’t bother with glute activation at all before workouts any more. Hasn’t made any difference I believe. Love your shirt 😸

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!! TOOOL!

[@stoempert]

Fully agree. I do complete workouts in the time some people spend 'waking up' their muscles.

[@akin1989]

Haha! Likewise. I don't have the luxury of a massive amount of time in the gym "activating" muscles. Adequate warm up and warm up sets are adequate for me... and time efficient!

[@codygooden3638]

Nice shirt bro! 😎

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!!

[@papaspaulding]

I've trained since the 90s and never paid much attention to activation exercises myself. Ive always felt If i need to do an 'activation exercise' before a exercise to feel that muscle then that exercise isn't for me and i need to pick a better one in which i get a strong mind to muscle connection. my warm up sets will take care of the rest in relation to preparing the muscle for the real working sets also

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@waqastariq9642]

Thanks for explaining the formula, I am following the same and getting results.But the selection of right exercises is still challenging.

[@notoriouslycuriouswombat]

so much wisdom in this post... thanks man, I remind myself of these things constantly; it's those things you know and hear but catch yourself not doing. one problem when i first started back exercising few years ago was too much weight and sacrificing form, what an enormous problem amongst beginners (such as myself) and intermediates. As I get older, keeping form, the right weight, and the right exercises at the level an i am at become so crucial so i don't hurt myself and can keep going.

[@IntoTheOutside000]

TOOL 🙌 🔥 you can't have a guitar in every video and not post some riffs bro. Respect ✊

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!!

[@ericsample1636]

Thank you I hear you loud and clear...

[@emilrasmussen7429]

Love you'r video and t-shirt man, Spiral out! 🤘

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@j03yyy]

Thank you for some solid insight. Ive been questioning this “muscle activation” thing for a while. I agree with your points and you phrased it perfectly for me! Additionally, I would say its a good thing to use bands for the sensation (and rehab) to potentially deepen the mind muscle connection but in terms of activation, your muscles have to fire regardless and there’s no on/off switch to them unless there is a neurological issue.

[@staniskucharski4491]

I'd love to promote your channel at the gym, could you perhaps do a "long form" workout vid that would be good for putting on the tv in the background? Maybe a full body routine? Love the content, presentation and honesty. Keep it up, you are a force of good in this industry of hyenas.

[@coacheugeneteo]

I'll post some soon!

[@fenrir3171]

Hey Eugene, I recently started training my Tibialis Anterior to try to fix my calves's stiffness, and my Serratus Anterior to increase my scapula and shoulder stability. In your opinion, should everyone train these "lesser known" muscles? Would love a video about these, cheers!

[@coacheugeneteo]

Absolutely

[@Blakebyrd003]

@@coacheugeneteo I have scapular winging so I’d appreciate this as well

[@oinkgoespiggy7781]

Thanks for the vid bro really appreciate it. Also side note where did you get your headband at??

[@Bunny11344]

I just do dynamic stretching and jump into my warm up set of squats or hip thrusts etc

[@coacheugeneteo]

Nice

[@DilsJourney]

will be doing this today!

[@coacheugeneteo]

Enjoy!

[@mindibear]

I stopped doing glute activation exercises and I still made the same muscle gains. Can’t believe I wasted so much time on them.

[@Bunny11344]

Me too! I also find it tires me out before heavy lifts

[@jesscochran]

Love this video thank you for clearing everything up. Makes total sense!

[@tmc3834]

Another banger uncle 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@gnb1222]

Nice PRS! Had mine for 22 years

[@leandrohorn8058]

Nice t-shirt. Tool is one of my favorites bands

[@coacheugeneteo]

Mine too!

[@FlorianGrau]

Best t-shirt!

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@venom07786]

Tool ftw!

[@coacheugeneteo]

yes!

[@dimitriskapsis1593]

One more great video. I love your content, hope you never stop. 🙏🙏

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@jonstevens6273]

Fear Inoculum

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@davewilson9472]

Thankyou Eugene ❤️

[@leeteivans2509]

Taking what you've said a little further - How much SHOULD you be feeling the target muscle? I've seen a lot of tik tokers stating that as long as you are lifting with proper form then the muscle will be being worked regardless of sensation even if you dont feel it, especially when going for heavier/lower reps

[@coacheugeneteo]

It depends on the exercise. Some exercises will give you a stronger sensation than others due to the relative position you go into

[@umarb7325]

@@coacheugeneteo I find the meatier the muscle the higher the sensation. Also if youre going too heavy you almost will never feel it. Use the right weight for the right muscle. if you're doing bicep curls you need to be realistic go moderate weight. Just because you can curl it doesnt mean it's best for your biceps. The right weight is the one that makes you feel the muscle rather than the heaviest.

[@kennyrollins5340]

7:35 checkout those dance 🕺 moves

[@coacheugeneteo]

😂😂

[@theatkins2671]

This is quality. Thanks for being so informative.

[@Getwelllivehealthy]

Good explained coach. Love the logic behind it. Thanks for sharing

[@josesoto3594]

Oh no, the vlogger type thumbnail. Uncle eugene came back a little weird out of (youtube) retirement. Jokes aside glad to see you trying new stuff, hopefully it attracts more viewers

[@coacheugeneteo]

hahahahahahaha

[@gonzalogamez6035]

love all the clips of the mountaindog

[@potatopirate_]

sensation does not equal activation i needed to hear that, thanks!

[@user-kr5qb7kt7q]

Mr.Teo thank your for great video. Always love your edu videos from S.Korea :)

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@PoPo-xp7yk]

Nice PRS!

[@Kadaverbengt]

I have nothing to add to this butt respect and honor. Great video with great content that actually makes great sense. 💪🏻

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@RBWVR]

Man your music taste on point!

[@Etanggang]

Love you uncle Eugene

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

I like the Stronglifts 5x5 philosophy - just do light squats before your squats, light overhead press before your OHPs, etc. But as I get older I find I need to limber up my lower back with stretches on off days.

[@barrywolff9621]

I find that when I do bench press I don’t feel much stimulus to my chest but more so to my arms and shoulders. Today I reduced the weight and performed flyers, trying to feel my chest. I think I trained my chest better today than I usually do. You likely don’t have this problem.

[@ryank7498]

Was hoping you'd be able to answer the following? I've struggled with mind muscle connection with chest for years. Instead of doing activation exercises, would you recommend initially spend some time using super light weights and playing around with the exercises until I can really develop a great mind muscle connection and then bumping up to a reasonable weight that I can still completely control?

[@dsmith9103]

Wise words as always Uncle Eugene

[@yearight1205]

Hey Eugene I've recently discovered your channel and really love your method of training. Could you please consider doing a video on improving knees? I'm starting to have some knee pain and would really like your thoughts on how to address it.

[@iamcorneliu1097]

Respect💪🏼 love these vids

[@-Black-White-]

2 videos in 1 week!? Here we gooooo

[@coacheugeneteo]

Coming back!!

[@Tazy50]

nice brachioradialis. Please make a video dedicating to its hypertrophy. It's my favorite muscle.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Sure

[@Tazy50]

@@coacheugeneteo Thank you!

[@sean.momentum]

You explained how glutes work really well. 👍👍👍

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@splichie1988]

I always thought sitting for extended periods was a contributing factor to lower back problems due to glutes being "inactive" for long periods. (We were taught this as PT's where I'm from). If this isn't the case what in your opinion seems to link sitting for long periods and back pain? Love your content!

[@nusense808]

Smoke one prior to gym. Ultimate mind muscle connection

[@TheBeerduck]

Clickbait game is strong with this one. Impressive, most impressive.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Haha Thank you! 🙏

[@Mshill211]

Looooove that shirt

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@matheuskelson]

No shit you're a Tool fan 😍

[@annabelapurva-madhuri4861]

🙌🏼😻

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!!

[@aninditachatterjee9975]

Do you have podcasts on fitness ? Wondering as you are a great speaker.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Not for a few years

[@arthurwild6563]

0:10 that picture though.

[@meronjibreal8725]

Thank you so much for this video, truly appreciated.

[@uhsemehicieronlas3]

great video!

[@juansamudio1171]

Sumo deadlifts are great for glutes or squats and though the glutes may be more activated and etc... I think people take way too wide of a stance all the time which is really only used for power lifters to limit the range if motion or maybe for a 1 reps max

[@user-uv8pg8ed1w]

Dude you gotta show us how you play that guitar one day! Love your content, helped me a lot!!

[@tomwest7251]

The intro absolutely killed me HAHAHA

[@coacheugeneteo]

hahahaha

[@mrtempelhof42]

How would you program and adjust your resistance-training, when you also do some form of other sport e.g. like Basketball? Thank you Coach Eugene!! Through you I started to enjoy training and focusing on my nutrition, I stopped overthinking these things..

[@coacheugeneteo]

It depends on the season of training they're in!

[@GimmeLexTalionis]

I know I won't be able to get "symmetric quads" (vmo is bigger on my left leg, and rest of the quads are bigger on the right leg). But what has further helped me with mind muscle connection is applying some targeted pressure with fingers on the muscle I want to work more. Pinpointing the area. Can't be done with all exercises, but e.g. with seated quad machine it works well for me.

[@venom07786]

It seems difficult to ensure proper technique if there's little to no sensation in the muscle I'm attempting to work. So maybe 'activation' means to us newbies, "Let me just feel into this muscle a little better before I move it thru a range of motion". Not sure.

[@divyansh6574]

Do you ever need activation for biceps?

[@venom07786]

@@divyansh6574 no. But a curl is one of those techniques that's pretty hard to mess up. More speaking to compound lifts like the bench or the squat.

[@cristiplopeanu]

Is activation and proprioception the same thing? My muscles do activate, but I don't "feel" them, which always led to injuries in the past. Now I am taking time to build proprioception through isometric exercises and my proprioception increased, not mention I find it really easy and fun.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Well it just comes down to what you do for the 'let me just feel into this muscle a little better before I move it thru a range of motion' - chances are if you just did the right exercise, loaded properly at the right pace for enough reps you'll get what you're after. People are skipping ahead or adding in unnecessary stuff and still not getting the most important stuff correct!

[@divyansh6574]

Uncle Eugene dropping bombs.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Dalick8]

Hi from France Eugene! I’m coming from John Meadows channel… yeah… I saw some collabs and find your approach and explanations very interesting, on point. Even if this might sound off, as ur content is different from my GOAT Mountain Dog, I might have found his heir, at least to me. I just hope your doing fine, and Im looking forward your upcoming content! U have all my support

[@ooHashim]

Nice video… as always

[@coacheugeneteo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@elisteele574]

You're awesome man, I would love to know where you get all these sweet shirts haha.

[@coacheugeneteo]

I got this one at a Tool concert haha

[@elisteele574]

@@coacheugeneteo I bet it was a great show!

[@sabaca304]

Thank you

[@alexa8494]

any advice for training with a shoulder labrum tear?

great information as always... maybe a Tool cover video sometime? ahahah

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@PraveenYadav-pk2im]

Sir, can you please share some insights on how one should be strong enough to stick to building his or her physique and improving it day by day. How to bring devotion?

[@blakelightsey8094]

What you eat in a day video!!!

[@Sgubby]

Love. That. Shirt.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@ralfnuggs165]

Workout on lsd couple times a year thatll wake up everything

[@harmonytodd7035]

Hey Uncle Eugene! Do you advise doing some corrective exercises and core exercises as a warm-up? I've been doing some turkish get-ups, lateral band walks, side plank adduction, some rotator cuff and lower trap work before training. Am I wasting my time?

[@Azazel47]

TOOL shirt = instant like.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!

[@polopicasso]

How often should I implement PT/rehab style workouts? I love weight training but every once in a while I get a slight tear in my knees or back and I return to mobility training for weeks.

[@adamwilliamson9048]

Patellar tendon pain. Hey Uncle Eugene... what am I doing wrong? Virtually every pressing variation (Squats/Hacks and a myriad of machines... even body weight squats) hurt my knees. Fine with limited/quarter squat ROM... but I wanna go deep.

[@russellsimmons3265]

Nice shirt bruv

[@juansamudio1171]

So is mind muscle connection necessary?

[@miked6947]

Tool 🤘🤘

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yes!!

[@damian3127]

What’s your deadlift max bro.

[@omarfrommultihibu123]

Do you have any video playing guitar?

[@jludwig5374]

do you still think it's a good idea to have a "warm-up" routine or should we just go straight into the main workout?

[@bouncyhippo3220]

At what point should you switch up your workout routine? If you've been doing the same workout for months and seeing improvements, should you just keep doing it until you plateau?

[@coacheugeneteo]

Great question!

[@Seven55555]

What do you think about toe shoes? Been thinking of getting some, most sport shoes have such a narrow toe box

[@1Reaper1]

What I always end up talking myself in circles with is activation work and the concept of post-activation potentiation. The phenomenon in which near maximal contractions lead to even stronger contractions and larger force production. Do we need to use PAP to induce potentiation in muscles we deem to be weak in a movement to try and accommodate for this lack of strength. I am still of the mind set that the warmup sets can induce PAP without additional activation exercises but it is an interesting topic.

[@coacheugeneteo]

Yeah PAP hasn't really been shown to be a real thing that we need to be worrying about. It makes sense in theory, but in practice doesn't actually seem to elicit much of a difference!

[@1Reaper1]

@@coacheugeneteo ah I didn’t know. Ill have a read into it. Thanks mate

[@FiddiTwo]

eugene, can u talk about different methods of boosting work capacity ? i feel like 1 or 2 sets of a heavy exercise and i'm cooked :) Especially things like squats

[@juansamudio1171]

Wait so is putting knee bands around tour knees a bad cue?

[@yeahbuddy2081]

how to fix shoulder impingement?

[@mr.nobody1738]

Liu Kang does fitness

[@andimanta3266]

What do you think about alternate calories day? If I like eating more calories (300 kcal more) in my training days and 300 kcal less in my non-training days or if I go overboard in one day can I lower it on the next day? (And still not interfere with my muscle building efficency)