plus: bodybuilding's most controversial pose! January 24, 2024 | [Read Online]( [BarBend Newsletter] Todayâs newsletter is presented by BetterHelp. Join the millions of people who have taken advantage of BetterHelpâs convenient and affordable online therapy services. [Click here]( to learn more and get 25% off today. Hereâs whatâs going on in this edition: - A new study explains two tips to maximize muscle growth - Top lower-body stretches for lifters - The tale of bodybuildingâs forbidden moon pose Exercise Science Take It to the Max Credit: ALL best fitness is HERE / Shutterstock Science is always sticking its nose into the gym, but this time, it offers you something more than a semi-sweet, low-sugar chocolate substitute or a new cream for your thigh rash. Thatâs because a recent study has established the two most important training techniques to achieve maximal muscular development. The two pillars of hypertrophy, according to this new data set, revolve around tempo and range of motion. Thatâs it! Well, itâs a little more complex than that, and weâve broken the study down into simple terms so you can use it as a springboard for serious gains. [Use Science to Grow]( From Our Sponsor Transform Your Struggles Into Strength With BetterHelp in 2024 Struggling with progress in the gym because of life outside the gym? Stronger bodies start with stronger minds. Join [BetterHelp]( to transform lifeâs challenges into growth. Their 30,000 therapists are dedicated to your personal development, offering insights and strategies tailored to you. Take their quiz to match with the ideal therapist for you and your goals, and start your journey with a special 25% off deal. [Get Started With BetterHelp]( Flexibility Lift for Show, Stretch for Dough Credit: @NHL / Giphy Stretching has all the glamor of being a backup NBA center in the 1990s whose only job it was to foul Shaq. But just like those 7-foot roadblocks, stretching needs to play a major role in your lower-body strength strategy. The good news is that you donât have to take two yoga classes a day to see the real-world benefits of increased flexibility. Instead, weâve pieced together the 10 best lower body stretches that should be inserted pre- or post-workout so you can squat more and recover faster. You can even do some of these from the luxury of your own home, with the eponymous couch stretch being chief among them. You can also throw a leg over and knock out a sitting pigeon pose while youâre at it. Stop neglecting this aspect of your body and get limber with the 10 stretches below. [Learn to Stretch]( Bodybuilding Moon Over Jacked Hammies Credit: @golden_era_of_bodybuilding on Instagram // Mahmudul-Hassan on Shutterstock Very few things are outright banned in the sport of bodybuilding. But the moon pose is a unique entry into the âdo not doâ section of the sportâs rule book, and the reasons for it being forbidden are, well, pretty easy to see. The moon pose involves the participant turning his or her back to the crowd and bending over to touch their toes, thus âmooningâ the audience. Famed champions from Tom Platz to Ronnie Coleman have performed it, and, while it does uniquely show off muscles of the lower body, it can be seen as a tad bit vulgar. Learn about the entire history of the moon pose, its challenges, and the alternatives being used by todayâs athletes. Just keep your pants on. [All About the Moon Pose]( From Our Sponsor Upgrade your lifting routine with the home gym collection from MAJOR FITNESS. Hit your goals with the companyâs Smith machine, and use the code 30ACCESSORIES for $30 off the four accessories [shown on the website](. Plus, enjoy 5% off all items with the code BARBEND5. New year, bigger savings! [Save $$$ Now!]( Everything Else Another Deadlift Variation? Credit: BarBend - This weekâs episode of BarBendâs Strength Weekly podcast covers the results of Wodapalooza, Larry Wheelsâ Pilates experiment, and more. [Watch it here](. - A longtime strongman staple, the axle deadlift allows you to train your posterior chain while you acquire brutal grip strength. [Hereâs how to do it](. - [We reviewed KOS greens](, an organic fruit and vegetable powder designed to help you take in nutrients without having to weed your garden. [fb]( [tw]( [ig]( [yt]( [in]( [Advertise with us]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 BarBend Newsletter 228 Park Ave S, #29976, New York, New York 10003, United States [[beehiiv logo]Powered by beehiiv](