Symmetry & balance . . . What The Judges Are Looking For with Reijuana Pribula
In this episode of Fit Body Lifestyle, Jami and Greg welcome back longtime competitor, posing coach, and Fit Body Fusion coach Reijuana Pribula for a thoughtful conversation about what judges are really seeing when they evaluate a physique on stage. Drawing from Reijuana’s experience as a three-time Olympia competitor, the discussion explores how symmetry, balance, posing, confidence, posture, and preparation all work together to create a winning presentation.
Reijuana also shares lessons from her own competitive journey, including taking a full year away from the stage to intentionally build the muscle needed to move forward in bikini. Her experience is a great reminder that sometimes progress means giving yourself enough time to grow rather than rushing toward the next competition.
A major theme throughout the conversation is that balance is individual. What looks incredible on one athlete may not complement another athlete’s structure. Instead of copying a favorite competitor’s pose, athletes need to understand their own proportions, strengths, development, and movement patterns. Great coaching—and becoming a student of your own physique—helps uncover those small adjustments that can completely change how a physique presents on stage.
Jami, Greg, and Reijuana also dive into the less tangible side of presentation: that unmistakable “it factor.” Technical posing matters, but the best athletes eventually practice enough that they can stop thinking about every movement and simply perform. Confidence, ease, posture, breathing, and presence can make a technically strong presentation feel effortless and captivating.
Ultimately, this episode reminds us that competing is about far more than building muscle or perfecting one pose. It’s about developing the awareness, adaptability, patience, and confidence to present your best physique—and continuing to learn every time you step on stage.
5 Key Takeaways
Symmetry and balance are about the whole picture. Judges aren’t simply looking for great glutes, shoulders, or any one standout body part. The physique should flow from top to bottom and side to side, with muscular development that complements the athlete’s individual structure.
Your best pose is YOUR best pose. Copying another successful competitor doesn’t guarantee the same result. Bone structure, proportions, muscular development, and even how the waist and hips appear in different positions can change which pose is most flattering.
Practice until posing becomes a feeling, not a thought. Technical mastery comes first, but athletes eventually need enough repetition to move beyond mentally checking every detail. Reijuana discusses creative strategies such as posing in baggy clothing or practicing routines faster to help athletes stop overanalyzing and find their natural flow.
Confidence, posture, and breathing contribute to the “it factor.” Sometimes an athlete simply commands attention. That presence comes from more than a smile—it can include controlled breathing, strong posture, relaxed movement, intentional transitions, and the ability to reset gracefully when something doesn’t go perfectly.
Stay adaptable and become a student of your own physique. Your body changes throughout a prep and throughout your competitive career, so posing may need to evolve with it. Feedback from coaches and judges is valuable, but athletes can also learn to assess themselves, make micro-adjustments, and understand what brings out their individual strengths.
