Dorian Yates Shares 6 Tips for Perfecting Your Posing Game
Dorian Yates is a bona fide legend in the world of bodybuilding. Coming from Warwickshire, England, the man they called “The Shadow” would emerge from the darkness and feel the bright light of success, winning six Olympia titles during his career. And, while this ‘man’s man’ was originally put off by posing, he understood that perfecting the art was an essential key to his success. For those who are hoping to follow in his footsteps, Yates just shared 6 terrific tips for your posing game that you should take to heart.
Embrace Posing
Yates kicked off his two-part posing masterclass on Feb 10, 2025, explaining that he initially “wasn’t really comfortable with posing.” Instead, the Englishman was far more drawn to honing his discipline in the weight room. But the 80s were an important time for the evolving presentation of bodybuilding, especially thanks to the growing influence of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1977 documentary, Pumping Iron. So, the future champ would need to embrace every aspect of competition and that included posing. “I supposed it would’ve been strange going from hardcore balls to the walls training, to the aesthetically pleasing art when posing,” he said. “So, what did I do? I found a way to reflect my physique and my lifestyle into my posing!”
Study the Professionals
“Like I said, it wasn’t my favourite aspect of the sport, but I realised early on that if you want to be a great bodybuilder, you’ve got to work on this part,” explained Yates. “I’ve seen guys with good physiques step on stage, but they couldn’t display it to the max because they couldn’t pose correctly. I began by studying the magazines and any tapes I could watch of the Olympias, seeing how the guys performed their poses and the way they were so fluid in their movements, and how they hit different variations to suit their physiques. I analysed for hours on end and eventually when I became Mr. Olympia, I rewatched my previous contests to see what I could do better.”
