Three-time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane earned a reputation as the epitome of aesthetic bodybuilding. Some of Zane’s biggest bodybuilding career highlights are those where he beat physically bigger bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mike Mentzer. Despite being 81 years old, the bodybuilder still trains regularly and has revealed the crucial steps you need to take to build an aesthetic physique.

While aesthetics has taken a back seat in modern bodybuilding, it’s made a comeback in recent years. Today, even 300 lbs mass monsters know how to perform the vacuum pose that Frank Zane made famous. However, achieving an aesthetic physique is no easy task. “People always ask me to make them a program, as if there’s a magic routine I’ve been keeping secret,“ wrote Frank Zane. The image in the post from his golden days had the caption that read, “There’s no magic fix,” highlighting the crux of his message.

Instead, it’s about doing the fundamentals correctly and being consistent. “I like showing people how to do things correctly because using perfect form and developing the ability to isolate areas is crucial,“ wrote the former Mr. Universe. While people find it tempting to chase big lifts inside the gym, Frank Zane emphasizes the importance of isolation exercises to achieve muscle gain.

Learning to target and isolate the muscle is crucial to achieving symmetry. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but an aesthetic physique is perfectly balanced. According to Frank Zane, you must learn to isolate specific body parts to improve weaker body parts. Yet, how do you know that you’re targeting the right muscle? The former champion has an answer.

“Blood flow needs to get to the muscles for there to be growth,“ explained Zane. The 81-year-old‘s advice is similar to his rival-turned-friend Arnold Schwarzenegger. Frank Zane explained that when you target a muscle correctly, it’ll increase the blood flow to that area, giving you a pump. While advice may sound simple, even fellow bodybuilding legends listen to the Chemist.

Frank Zane taught Arnold Schwarzenegger

Frank Zane was a master at making fine adjustments to his physique and eliminating weaknesses. Since Zane couldn’t match Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lou Ferrigno in size, he perfected symmetry, proportions, and posing. In 1968, Arnold Schwarzenegger asked Zane to help him after losing to the Chemist at the Mr. Universe.

The three-time Mr. Olympia agreed and taught the Austrian Oak a few tricks. In fact, Arnie later said that Zane was the one who taught him most about diet and supplementation. Zane also pointed out that Arnie’s physique lacked proportion. Once Arnie fixed his weakness, he became unstoppable, winning a record-setting seven r. Olympia titles.

People might have the misconception that Frank Zane had a secret formula. However, Frank Zane simply mastered every aspect of bodybuilding to elevate his strengths.