Push Ups
The push up is a classic exercise used to target the muscles of the chest, shoulders, and triceps. What most people don’t know is that push ups also recruit other muscles groups, such as the glutes, thighs, abdominals, biceps, and back, to help keep your body stable throughout the movement.
The best part is, with pushups, you don’t need any resistance to build muscle, just your body. It’s no wonder why personal trainers consider the push up to be the best exercise for a full body workout.
Targets
Chest, shoulders, triceps, glutes, thighs, abs, biceps, and back
Equipment Needed
None
Instructions
Trainer’s Tips
Keeping your body erect, hover facedown against the floor on your toes and hands. Keep your feet apart and your hands underneath your shoulders. Tighten your abs to avoid sagging in the hips and lower back.
Descend in a controlled manner until you’re a few inches off the ground. Then, press yourself up.
If this move felt a bit difficult, the wide pushup might be a better option for you. If this was easy, try one of the more challenging pushup exercises.
- Resist making this a bouncy movement. Instead control the movement throughout.
- Be sure to squeeze the calves at the top of the movement.
- Make sure to drop the heel as far as possible to achieve the greatest stretch.
- Keep your legs straight throughout the movement.