Purpose

Pushups are great for beginners and young athletes to build a strength base to work with in the future.

Execution

Lie on the floor with your face down and place your arms out to your side; your arms should be slightly wider than your shoulders. You may have to experiment with your hand width to find where you are most comfortable. You should begin the exercise with your arms extended and your torso off the floor. To begin the movement, lower your torso until your chest is about an inch from the floor. Next, squeeze your chest and press your upper body back to the starting position. Repeat this movement until you have completed your set.

Tip

Make sure to keep your core tight and your back flat throughout the movement.

Variation

There are many variations of pushups and here are a few:
• If you are not strong enough to perform pushups, you can place your knees on the ground.
• For a more advanced movement, you can place your feet on an elevated surface such as a chair or a bench.
• You can also vary your grip to work different muscles, for instance if you place your hands wider, pushups will work your chest harder.