Ancient and modern canons of beauty for athletes

Peering at ancient statues, it is impossible not to notice them relief: bulky muscles are present on all limbs, the abdominal and chest muscles are pronounced. They give the ancient works a special look, not similar to modern athletes. The powerful neck flows into the shoulders with a wide base. Next is the wide chest, the quality of its development is emphasized by the midline. A wide back does not hurt the eyes, since balance is achieved through extremely developed thigh muscles. There is no subcutaneous fat on the abdomen, and the pronounced abs have the shape of a rectangle, divided into several parts. Looking at the limbs, we see the similarity of the developed shoulder muscles with the muscles of the thighs. The outlines and shapes of the muscles of the forearm follow the lines of the muscles of the lower leg. The muscles of the hips and shoulders are prominent and elongated. The circumferences of the biceps and calf are similar. The buttocks are quite convex and voluminous.

The muscles of the forearm reach the wrist, and the calf muscle reaches the ankle. Oblong muscles, prominent muscles of the lateral and anterior abdominal muscles give the impression strength And power person.

The conclusion of what is described is that the main criterion of ancient beauty was the inextricable connection physical strength And harmony development of the body, which is the basis of the very concept body-building, and serves as a goal for bodybuilders to this day.

Canons of beauty and proportions of modern athletes

What are the main features of this type: a slender, fairly long neck, a pronounced trapezius muscle, a clearly defined relief of the muscles of the shoulder girdle. The chest is cone-shaped, with powerful pectoral muscles. The abdominal muscles are pronounced, narrow hips, not very developed, without emphasized muscles. The back is wide, the muscles are also clearly expressed, the latissimus muscle is especially developed on the back. Small buttocks, narrow pelvis, slender, relatively long legs, with prominent, well-developed muscles. This is the modern idea canons of beauty and physical development of the body that bodybuilders should strive for.

Let's decipher in more detail what we should strive for in modern parameters: the same length of legs and torso. Failure to comply with this indicator violates the harmony of the body. Well, at least the legs should be longer than the body, and not vice versa. The shoulders, neck and lower legs should be approximately equal in girth. The waist measurements differ significantly in the two tables. This is explained by the difference in views on the standard, i.e. Ruhe welcomes antique proportions in the physique of bodybuilders.

Therefore, before starting exercises, it is necessary measure your data: height, weight, neck and chest circumference, shoulder and lower leg circumference, thigh circumference. This data will primarily help with development control their indicators, elimination of figure flaws and enhanced development of certain muscle groups.

Very important for consistent training take anthropometric measurements, and their effectiveness should be “training diary"with mandatory further analysis, comparison and evaluation. First of all, this will help when planning a set of exercises. A person’s weight is also constantly measured - this is best done on an empty stomach. Height can be changed less frequently, since it is not subject to drastic changes already in adulthood. 2-3 times a year is the optimal frequency for this indicator.

There are no particularly clever tools for reading these indicators, so you can use the standard sewing centimeter. But when measuring you should not forget the following recommendations:

1. When measuring your neck, you need to hold your head straight; take measurements in the middle of the neck.
2. When measuring the chest, 3 measurements must be taken: with a deep inhalation, in a normal state and with a deep exhalation. The measurement line is taken to be the nipple level line. Keep your hands loose at your sides.
3. When measuring your waist, take measurements at the narrowest point of your torso.
4. When measuring your shoulder, you need to bend your arm at the elbow, tense your muscles - biceps and triceps - and place a centimeter on the widest circumference.
5. When measuring the forearm, you need to find the widest part of the brachioradialis muscle.
6. When measuring the hips, the centimeter is placed directly under the muscles of the buttocks.
7. When measuring the lower leg, a centimeter is applied in the same way to the largest part of the calf muscle.

Building your body it should be carried out like a pentathlon - this is the pentathlon of the ancient Greeks. You must strive to achieve success not only in training with a barbell or dumbbells. Show a desire to show results in other sports disciplines such as swimming, running, athletics, gymnastics, any sports games, etc. Believe me, this will help you achieve your goal and contribute to the acquisition of a hardy, flexible and truly good physique.

Of course, it is not necessary to set sports records in all varieties. The main thing here is to become comprehensive spiritually And physically developed people.