Michnetto
**Fix Your Form: The 3 Most Common Squat Mistakes** The barbell squat is a full-body powerhouse, but poor form can quickly lead to lower back aches and sidelined progress. Whether you are chasing a new personal record or researching where to begin your fitness journey, here are the top three setup mistakes our trainers see—and how to fix them today. 1. The "Good Morning" Squat (Chest Falling Forward) The Problem: Your hips rise faster than your shoulders, shifting the load off your legs and directly onto your lower back. The Fix: Take a deep belly breath to brace your core before bending your knees. Keep your elbows tucked and your eyes locked on the wall straight ahead. 2. Knees Caving Inward The Problem: Your knees buckle toward each other as you stand up, placing massive shear stress on your joints. The Fix: Actively "spread the floor" with your feet so your knees track perfectly over your middle toes. (Tip: Warm up with a light resistance band above your knees to practice pushing outward). 3. The "Quarter Squat" (Cutting Depth Short) The Problem: Stopping long before your thighs are parallel to the floor, almost always because the bar is too heavy. The Fix: Strip off a few plates. Practice tapping your glutes to a bench or plyo box on every single rep to guarantee consistent, safe depth. Members: Reply to this thread with a quick video of your next set for a free form check from our coaching staff! Reading as a guest? If you are hesitant to try free weights, come claim a guest pass at the front desk. Ask any floor trainer to walk you through the squat rack—we are here to help you start safely. What exercise should we break down next week? Drop your requests in the comments!
