OK, so we’re committed to lifting a little more than usual. But given how important form is, it’s important to know exactly how to lift heavier.

Go slow

Miller stresses the importance to gradually getting heavier: “Work on consistency and focus on the basics. That means learning to move well. My advice is to go a little bit slower and so you can really focus on that control. Think about what muscles are being worked when you’re doing it.”

Remember to breathe

“Something that people kind of forget about is how powerful your breath is when doing strength work,” she continues. “If you don’t work with your breath and if you’re not creating tension in your body, you’re not going to be able to lift as much. All the great strength coaches are going to teach you about intra-abdominal pressure and creating that tension in the midline.”

Be consistent

Ozard says that “you also need to be training quite regularly, but also with enough time out to rest and recover”.

Focus on your core

“Having a strong core is also important because when we lift everything comes from the core,” Ozard concludes.

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