Mastering the Push-Up: A Step-by-Step Guide for Strength & Form

The push up is, of course, a fitness classic aimed at strengthening the upper body--particularly the chest, shoulders, triceps, and abs. But even this well-known exercise is often done wrong, and sometimes avoided due to its difficulty.

Instructions

How to Do a Push Up

• 1

  Kneel on your hands and knees. Make sure your hands are lined up with your shoulders.

• 2

  Extend your right leg, then your left leg, until only your hands and your toes are touching the ground.

• 3

  Bend your arms, bringing your chest within two or three inches of the ground. Inhale as you go down. Keep straight!

• 4

  Push against the ground to straighten your arms, lifting your body back into the starting position. Exhale as you come up. You've just completed one push up.

• 5

  Repeat Steps 4 and 5 as many times as you can.