question about plie squats

[WRITER]

In her recent workouts, Cathe prefers the bar in front position. In older workouts, she occassionally had the bar on her shoulders.

Does anyone know how these two positions respectively affect the body? I can lift considerably more weight if I use the shoulder position.

I am assuming the shoulder position gets the glutes more, the front position gets the thighs more. But, I don't know. And, I'm trying to decide if it's more worth my while to do 22lbs. with the front position or 30lbs with the shoulder position.

Thanks!

 

[Aquajock]

I'm not sure why Cathe has gone to the anterior hold for the barbell in plie squats. Speaking only for myself, I've never been tempted to use that grip, and I also don't believe that one position favors the thighs or glutes more over the other. It's possible that people were having trouble hiking a heavier weightload over the head, and/or were hyperextending the low back a little too much with the back/shoulder hold.

I'm far more comfortable with the "Older" barbell position with the bar at the back of my neck and across the shoulders. And like you, Writer, I can use a heavier weight load with the "older" position.

A-Jock

 

[fit_fairy]

I like the barbell on my shoulders as well. It's more comfortable and like you gals said, I can use heavier wt. So that's how I will continue to do this exercise.


Catherine

http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/1.gif

 

[kathryn]

I can't see that there would be any appreciable difference in focus on the legs from one postion vs. the other.

I also prefer the "bar-on-the-back" postion, as the front-hold position feels a bit unstable to me, like I might drop the bar any second.

 

[Runcrazy]

I also prefer the bar on the back. However, there is one of her workouts and at the moment it escapes me, but she does quite a few squat sets and so switching to the front gives the back and shoulders a rest. That's the only time I ever do that hold.

Jo

 

[WRITER]

Thanks for these replies! It looks like I'm in good company with preferring the shoulder position, so I'll continue to do use it.

 

[NY25]

I'm not sure which workout it is, but Cathe actually addresses this in one of her videos. You can do front, back or even bag the bar altogether and use dumbbells (unless you're going particularly heavy), which she also does in another video. It's purely a comfort/personal preference thing.