Jul 22 / Leslie Guerin

Behind the Cue: Let it shake

Behind the Cue: "Let It Shake"

For many people, this cue is equal parts reassuring and confusing.

"Let it shake."

If you've ever taken a barre, Pilates, strength training, or even a yoga class, you've probably heard your instructor say it. You may have even looked down at your legs, watched them quiver uncontrollably, and wondered if something had gone terribly wrong.

I hear it all the time.

"My legs are shaking!"

"I don't think I can hold it!"

"Is this normal?"

Almost always, those comments are followed by an apology, as if shaking is something to be embarrassed about.

So let's talk about what your body is actually doing, and perhaps more importantly, what it isn't.

Where I First Heard the Cue

The first time I remember hearing "let it shake" was in a barre class.

Barre is famous for tiny movements held under constant muscular tension. Long before Pilates embraced this style of endurance work, barre instructors were coaching clients through trembling thighs, quivering calves, and shaking glutes.

Back then, the shake almost became part of the culture.

If your legs weren't shaking, people wondered if they were working hard enough.

Today, I hear the cue just as often in Pilates.

Not because Pilates has become barre, but because both methods ask our muscles to sustain work over time rather than relying on momentum. Holding a bridge, maintaining a teaser, controlling a plank, or hovering in tabletop can all produce the same response.

The cue has survived because it calms people.

And that's really what it's designed to do.

The Shake Isn't the Goal

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear. People often think shaking means they've found the "magic spot."

They assume the more they shake, the better the workout. That's simply not true. Shaking isn't the goal. Quality movement is. The shake is simply one possible response to muscular fatigue.

As a muscle works harder and begins to tire, your nervous system has to recruit more motor units to maintain the position. Those tiny adjustments can become visible as a tremor or shaking.

Think of it as your body's way of saying,

"I'm working really hard to keep this going."

It doesn't mean you're damaging yourself. It doesn't mean you've done something wrong. And it certainly doesn't mean you should immediately stop.

Why Do Some People Shake More Than Others?

This is probably the question I answered most yesterday while teaching. The truth is that every body responds differently. Some people begin shaking almost immediately. Others can hold the exact same position for a long time without a visible tremor. There are many reasons for this including training history, current fatigue, sleep, hydration, stress and how much stability is required for the specific exercise. Even your nervous system's individual response.

You may also hear people suggest that fast-twitch athletes shake more than endurance athletes. While different muscle fiber compositions can influence how muscles fatigue, shaking itself isn't simply determined by whether you're more of a sprinter or a marathon runner. The science is more complex than that, and many factors contribute to whether a tremor appears. So if you rarely shake, don't assume you're not working. If you shake immediately, don't assume you're weak. Neither conclusion is accurate. 

Shaking Doesn't Cause Muscle Growth

Another myth worth clearing up is that the shaking itself builds muscle. It doesn't. The work you're doing is what creates adaptation. Strength training creates tiny amounts of microscopic damage within muscle fibers. Your body repairs that damage, and over time the muscles become stronger and better prepared for future challenges. The shaking isn't creating those changes. It's simply one visible sign that your muscles and nervous system are working hard together.

Likewise, muscle soreness a day or two later isn't caused by lactic acid. 

In fact, lactate leaves the muscles relatively quickly after exercise and actually serves as a useful energy source. The soreness many people feel, often called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), comes primarily from the body's repair process following unfamiliar or challenging exercise.

Should You Keep Going?

Usually...

Yes.

As long as your alignment is still good. This is the distinction I care about as a teacher. I don't coach people to chase the shake. I coach them to maintain quality. If your legs begin trembling during a wall sit but your knees remain aligned, your breathing stays steady, and your posture is solid, there's often no reason to panic.

But if the shaking is accompanied by collapsing posture, compensating through other joints, holding your breath, or pain, then we've reached a different conversation. That's when it's time to modify, reset, or rest.

The shake isn't what tells me to stop. Loss of good movement does.

Why I Say "Let It Shake"

When I say those words, I'm not talking to your muscles. I'm talking to your mind. I'm reminding you that effort isn't something to fear. Your body is incredibly intelligent. It's adapting, learning, recruiting and responding.

The trembling you see is simply one way your nervous system communicates that the task is challenging.

You don't have to apologize for that.

You don't have to be embarrassed by it.

You certainly don't have to compare your shake to the person next to you. Some bodies shake. Some don't. Both can be working incredibly hard.

The Cue Behind the Cue

This is why I love explaining the meaning behind the words we hear so often in class.

"Let it shake" isn't really permission to ignore discomfort. It isn't encouragement to push until your form disappears. And it certainly isn't a badge of honor that proves you had a better workout. It's reassurance. It's a teacher quietly saying, "You're okay. You're working. Don't be afraid of what your body is telling you."

Because the goal has never been to make your muscles shake.

The goal has always been to help your body become stronger, more resilient, and more confident, one thoughtful repetition at a time.

Behind the Cue

"Let it shake."

Not because shaking is the goal.

Because fear should never be.
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