Build Strength with Press Ups

Press Ups really are a very good exercise to start building some basic strength in your hands, wrists,
arms, shoulders, back and chest and should not be overlooked, Otherwise you will miss out on a very important building block toward your goal of getting stronger. Here are a few variations you can start using to build up with.

Get down in the basic press up position with your hands about shoulders width apart, keeping your feet together, body straight and tensioning your stomach muscles Lower yourself down as far as you can in a controlled manner and push back up to the original starting position and repeat aiming for 3 sets of between 10 and 20 Reps.

Variations you can also try with the press up exercises will hit your muscles from different angles and will surprise you even if you are very good at the basic exercise,

1/ Instead of placing your hands down shoulders width apart, place Them directly under your chest on the floor, place your thumbs together and with the fingers next to them make a triangle shape And start doing the exercise this way

2/ Go back to the first hand position but have your feet placed upon dining chair, this has the effect    of adding more weight to press with.

3/ Next you can try this variation, stand against a wall and place Your hands shoulder width apart on the floor about 2 feet or so In front of you then try a controlled Lowering and raising of your body doing a push up as a precaution with all these exercises I Would place a pillow underneath in case your arms give out Trying these exercises for the first time. Aim for 3 sets of 10 reps

4/ I have added this last option in case you find press ups a real Challenge, please do not get upset if you cannot do them here is a Way to build up to them And remember you will be good at a Strength training exercises other people find hard to do… ok

Do the basic press up as described in number 1 but instead of Holding your legs out straight do the press up while you are Kneeling but place your hands in the same position and press with practice you will soon be doing the press up with your legs outstretched behind you.