Exercises 220-256 Lying Face Down Neck Plate

1. Set up a bench or stable elevated surface. Begin with both hands on the bench at shoulder-width or just outside of shoulder-width.
2. Place your feet straight behind you while you tighten your abs and engage the hips. Your hips should not dip or elevate too high during the movement.
3. Slowly lower yourself towards the bench. Once your upper arms are parallel with the floor, pause, and return to the starting position.

1. Set a barbell in a weight rack at the low end of a decline bench, making sure it is at a height you can reach without fully extending your arms.
2. Secure your feet under the stirrup, bar or strap at the high end of the bench and lie flat on your back with the rack slightly behind you.
3. Using an overhand grip, grip the bar with your hands slightly wider than your shoulder width apart.
4. Push up to lift the bar from the rack and hold it directly over you with your arms locked.
5. Bend your elbows to slowly lower the barbell until it slightly touches your chest, inhaling as you do so.
6. Drive the weight back up by contracting your pec muscles and return to the start position, exhaling as you do so.
7. At the top of the movement, lock your arms and squeeze your chest muscles.

If you are new at this exercise, you should use a spotter. If no spotter is available, then be conservative with the amount of weight used. Do not  let the bar drift too far forward, it should touch down your lower chest only. Don't bounce the weight off your chest. Keep full control of the barbell at all times. When performing this exercise, use a 2:1:1 count. That is a count of two on the downward movement. Pause for a count of one. A count of one one the upward movement. You can also use dumbbells or exercise bands to perform this exercise.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor next to a decline bench. Secure yourself in the bench. Pick up dumbbells and hold them above you with a slight bend in the elbow.
2. Keeping the dumbbells in line with your chest, slowly open up your arms to the sides.
3. Stop when your upper arms are parallel with the floor.
4. Squeeze your chest muscles and slowly return to starting position. Repeat.

1. Stand next to a cable machine with your left side facing it. Make sure the cable handle has been adjusted to the height of your lower chest. Hold the handle in your left hand. Stand tall with your chest up and core braced.
2. Begin the movement by shifting your left hand across your body. Your left upper arm should remain in place, held close to your side.
3. Pause once the handle has moved across your body and slowly release to the starting position.

1. Set the bar to your waist height.
2. Lie on your back under the bar.
3. Reach up and grip the bar with an overhand grip with both hands.
4. Keeping your body straight,  pull yourself up towards the bar by pulling your elbows as far back as you can and trying to touch the bar with your chest.
5. Hold and squeeze your arm and back muscles.
6. Lower yourself back to the start position in a controlled motion.
7. Repeat.

For this exercise, you can use a Smith machine bar, an Olympic bar on a rack or any other straight, sturdy bar set to the right height. The lower the bar is to the floor, the more intense it will be due to the starting angles of your arms.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat, extending your arms straight back behind your head.
2. Fully extend your legs also. This is the start position.
3. Bend at your waist and at the same time, raise your legs and arms to meet in a closed jackknife position. Exhale as you do this.
4. At this point, your legs should remain fully extended at between 35-45 degrees from the floor.
5. Your arms should be fully extended, parallel to your legs.
6. Your upper body should be raised off the floor.
7. Return to the start position by lowering your arms and legs back to the floor, exhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
2. Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
3. Keep your elbows in  so that they are parallel to your body.
4. Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
5. Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
6. Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
7. Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
8. Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
9. Return to the start position in a smooth movement.

1. Position yourself on a decline bench so that your feet are secured by the pads. Lay back and place your arms across your chest or behind your head.
2. Begin the movement by pulling yourself up by your abdominals. Do not force yourself up by pulling on your neck. Let your abs do all the work.
3. Once at the top, slowly lower yourself back down. Again, focus on the abs doing all of the work. Repeat by bringing yourself back up.

1. Stand with your feet hip width apart. Your toes should be pointing straight ahead or only slightly outward.
2. Cross your arms in front of your body, place your hands behind your head or at the sides of your head.
3. Keep your weight on your heels and bend your knees while lowering your hips towards the ground as if you are sitting down on a chair.
4. Keep your back straight at all times.
5. Continue until you feel a slight stretch in your quadriceps. Do not let your knees extend out beyond the level of your toes.
6. Pause for a count of one.
7. In an explosive movement, drive down through your heels pushing yourself up of the floor with your quads.
8. At the same time extend our arms out above you.
9. Land with your knees slightly bent to absorb the impact.
10. Repeat

1. Begin standing tall with a tight core. Your chest will be up and your gaze will be straight ahead. Bend at the knees and drive your hips back as you lower yourself into a squat position.
2. Launch yourself up while simultaneously twisting to the other side. Your body will perform a 180 degree turn in midair.
3. Land with bent knees and immediately go right into another jump squat, turning to the starting position. Repeat this alternating pattern.

1. Place your feet at shoulder width apart while keeping your chest up and your abdominals braced.
2. Begin the movement by swinging your arms up towards your shoulders. At the same time, bend at the knees and drive your hips back like you’re sitting in a chair.
3. Once your upper thighs are parallel with the ground, pause, then drive your hips forward to return to the starting position.

• Stand up straight with your hands at your sides.
• Keep your back straight and your core tight.
• Forcefully press off the ground with the balls of both feet.
• Launch into the air and land softly on the balls of your feet.
• Focus the tension in the calf muscles, NOT the quadriceps.
• Repeat.

1. Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
2. Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
3. As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
4. As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
5. Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.

This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.

1. Hold one rope end in each hand out to your sides with the middle of the rope behind you.
2. Keep the rope ends even with your hips.
3. Rotate your wrists to swing the rope up over your head.
4. As the rope  swings down in front of and towards you, jump over the rope with both feet.
5. Continue rotating your wrists to swing the rope behind you, back up over your head to repeat.

You can vary the speed, use one leg,alternating legs and even the direction you swing the rope in to increase your stamina and coordination.

1. Stand with your feet together, arms fully extended with your hands by your sides. This is the start position.
2. Bend your knees slightly then straighten and push through the balls of your feet while straightening your your knees to jump up spreading your legs to wider than hip width apart.
3. As you do so, raise both arms out and up in a smooth arc until your hands meet above your head.
4. As you return to the ground, bring your feet together and your hands back to your sides with your arms fully extended.
5. Continue without pause for the desired amount of time or repetitions.

This exercise can be performed as a timed exercise, completing as many reps as possible in a set time or, in sets with a fixed number of repetitions per set. To increase intensity, bend your arms slightly as you raise them to engage your biceps and triceps and squeezing them during each rep.

1. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart.
2. Hold the kettlebell with both hands in an overhand grip in front of your pelvis.
3. Keeping your core strong, rotate the kettlebell around your body changing hands in the front and in the back.
4. Be sure to focus on your posture throughout the entire movement.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells or kettlebells at your feet. Brace your core and keep your chest up as you kneel down. Pick the dumbbells up, maintaining your form and keeping your gaze straight ahead.
2. Standing up, walk forward in a straight line, holding the dumbbells at your sides.
3. The trick is to use very heavy dumbbells. Walk as far as you can then set the weights down. Take a short break and repeat going back the other way.

1. Place a kettlebell on the ground. Step over the kettlebell so that it is in the center beneath you. Move your feet to shoulder-width or just outside of shoulder-width. Tighten your core and keep your chest up.
2. Begin by kicking your hips back and slightly bending your knees. Extend your arms down to grab onto the kettlebell.
3. Holding on to the kettlebell, drive your hips forward to stand back up. Slowly, reverse the movement by kicking your hips back and slightly bending the knees. Do not let your lower back arch.

1. Place two dumbbells on the floor.
2. Stand facing the dumbbells with your feet shoulder width apart.
3. Bend knees and hips to lower your torso in a squatting movement,keep your back straight.
4. At the bottom of the squat grip the dumbbells with an overhand grip,keeping your arms fully extended.
5. Return to an upright position holding the dumbbells with your palms facing towards your body and extending your hips forward. Do not round your back.
6. Return the dumbbells to the floor in the same manner you picked them up.
7. Repeat.

1. Holding the handles of the resistance band, step on to the middle. Place your feet at shoulder-width with toes pointing forward. Tighten your core and keep your chest up.
2. Bend your knees slightly and drive your hips back but NOT lower than your knees. Again, keep the chest up. This is the starting position.
3. Forcefully contract your glutes, driving them forward. Do not just lean back. Your glutes should be fully contracted. Pause then return to the starting position.

1. Hold a kettlebell by the handle in one hand using a neutral grip.
2. Stand on the leg that is on the same side that you are holding the kettlebell.This is the start position.
3. Bending that knee slightly, bend at the hip, and extend your free leg behind you for balance.
4. Continue lowering the kettlebell until your torso is parallel to the ground.
5. Return to the upright position in a smooth movement.
6. Repeat.

1. Stand tall with a tight core while holding a pair of dumbbells. Keeping your chest up and your gaze straight ahead, shift all of your bodyweight to your left foot. Bend the right knee, allowing the right foot to lift off the ground.
2. Maintaining a flat back, tilt your upper body forward. Do not allow the dumbbells to pull you down. Control your descent. Simultaneously, allow the right foot to counterbalance the shift in weight.
3. Feel the contraction in your hamstrings and pause once your upper body is parallel with the ground. Slowly return to the starting position.

1. Hold a kettlebell in your left hand and bring it to the center of your body. Throughout this movement, be sure to keep your abdominals braced and your gaze straight ahead.
2. Begin the movement by bending at the knees then driving yourself up as you pull the kettlebell up. At the top, rotate the wrist so the kettlebell flips to the other side of your hand.
3. Bend at the knees again with a slight lowering of the hips then drive yourself back up to create momentum. Push the kettlebell straight overhead. Carefully bring the weight down and repeat.

1. Stand over a dumbbell with your feet placed slightly wider than hip width apart either side of the dumbbell.
2. Squat down and take a firm grip of the dumbbell; ensure that your shoulders are positioned upright, keeping your back straight and eyes straight ahead.
3. Explosively lift the dumbbell by extending your hips from the squatting position and allow the dumbbell to travel along upward and close to your body.
4. As the dumbbell reaches your hip level, shrug your lifting shoulder and pull the dumbbell upwards keeping the same line of trajectory if viewed from the side.
5. Bending your working elbow and allowing the dumbbell to extend overhead, slightly squat your body below so that your position is semi-squatted with your working arm fully extended above your head.
6. Maintaining a solid grip on the now overhead dumbbell, drive your feet into the floor and rise upwards from the semi-squatting position to complete the lift.

This exercise is a complicated explosive lift. If attempting for the first time, start with a light dumbbell for form practice. Ideally, do so with a qualified trainer present.

• With dumbbells at your sides, stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and fee pointing slightly outward. Look straight ahead.
• Squat down until your upper legs are parallel with the floor by bending your knees, keep your back straight.
• With an explosive but controlled movement, push up through your heels and press the dumbbells above your head as you return to standing position.
• Still standing, slowly lower the dumbbells down to your chest and then down to your sides by extending your arms.
• Repeat.

1. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart
2. Hold the kettlebell with both hands in an overhand grip in front of your chest. Keep your elbows locked at your sides.  
3. Lower your body towards the ground, ensuring that you’re not leaning too far forwards or too far backwards.
4. At your lowest point, drive upwards through your feet and tense your glutes at the top of the motion.  

1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart while holding a light dumbbell to your chest. You should hold the dumbbell by one end between your hands, with the other end extending down your torso. This is the start position.
2. Squat down keeping your slightly arched and pushing your hips back.
3. Continue down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
4. Hold for a count of one.
5. Return to the start position.
6. Repeat.

This exercise can also be performed with a kettlebell.

1. With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with dumbbells as your sides with your palms facing each other.
2. Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
3. Pause for one second.
4. Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.

1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
2. Bring your hands to your shoulders, keeping the handles of the band behind your shoulders. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
3. Bend first at the knees then at the hips. Be sure to keep the chest up and abdominals tight. There should be no arch in your back.
4. Pause when your thighs are parallel with the floor, then slowly return to the starting position, feeling the tension from the band in your quadriceps.

1. Clean two kettlebells to your shoulders. Clean the kettlebells to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you pull the kettlebells towards your shoulders. Rotate your wrists as you do so. This will be your starting position.
2. Begin to squat by flexing your hips and knees, lowering your hips between your legs. Maintain an upright, straight back as you descend as low as you can.
3. At the bottom, reverse direction and stand by extending your knees and hips and pushing down through your heels. As you do so, press both kettlebells overhead by extending your arms straight up, using the momentum from the squat to help drive the weights upward.
4. As you begin the next repetition, return the weights to the shoulders.

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with dumbbells above your shoulders.
2. Squat down keeping your back flat and your knees over your toes.
3. Push through your heels to return to standing while pressing the dumbbells overhead with arms fully extended.
4. Return to starting position and repeat.

1. Stand with feet hip width apart and grasp a barbell with an overhand grip.
2. Make sure your hands are placed slightly wider than shoulder-width.
3. Bring the bar to chest height and slightly retract your head back.
4. Bend the knees, hips and ankles to dip slightly.
5. Use your legs to explosively drive your body upwards and drive the barbell off your shoulders, extending your arms overhead.
6. Lower the bar to your shoulders and repeat.

1. Safely clean and press a kettlebell overhead.
2. Keep the kettlebell above you. Your elbow should be locked out.
3. Now push your butt toward the arm with the kettlebell. Bend from the hips, reaching for the floor with the opposite hand. Keep your gaze on the kettlebell during the movement.
4. Once you touch the floor, pause, make sure the arm is still locked out, and return to the starting position.

1. Kneel in front of a cable station with a rope attachment connected to the top pulley.
2. Grip the rope attachment and place your wrists against your forehead.
3. Flex your hips slightly to take the weight and to hyperextend your lower back.
4. Keeping your hips stationary, bend at the waist so that your elbows travel down towards the middle of  your thighs. Hold for a count of one.
5.  Return to the start position in a controlled movement and repeat.

1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
2. Hold a plate, dumbbell, kettlebell, or medicine ball securely above your head.
3. Keep your elbows locked.
4. Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
5. Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
6. Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
7. Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
8. Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
9. Return to the start position in a smooth movement.

Make sure the weight is held very securely!

1. Lie face up on with a medicine ball between your hands and your arms extended behind you. Keep your arms and legs straight and then raise your feet an inch off the floor.
2. Raise your torso and legs up at the same time and touch the medicine call to your feet. Hold for a moment.
3. Lower down to starting position with arms and ball behind your head.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat, extending your arms straight back behind your head.
2. Fully extend your legs also. This is the start position.
3. Bend at your waist and at the same time, raise your legs and arms to meet in a closed jackknife position. Exhale as you do this.
4. At this point, your legs should remain fully extended at between 35-45 degrees from the floor.
5. Your arms should be fully extended, parallel to your legs.
6. Your upper body should be raised off the floor.
7. Return to the start position by lowering your arms and legs back to the floor, exhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

• Step forward with the left leg as your right knee comes all the way to the ground.
• Flatten your right foot out so the toes are pointing behind you.
• Placing your hands on your sides, gently push your hips slightly forward.
• You will feel the stretch in your right hip flexor.
• Switch sides and repeat.

1. Using one arm, bring the kettlebell up towards your shoulder so that your arm is in the hammer-holding position. (Aim for the position of the kettlebell to be pointing upward, and upside down).
2. Take one lunge step forward and lower your body down to the ground. Find a grounded position in which you can maintain balance.
3. Using your shoulder and chest strength, drive the kettlebell upwards; imagine a straight line running from the ceiling through the kettle bell and to the floor. Trace this line up.
4. Once in a fully extended position, slowly lower the kettlebell back down to the starting position following that same traceable line.

1. Sit on a military press bench or bench that has a back support, holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Place the dumbbells on top of your thighs with your palms facing down.
3. Raise the dumbbells to your shoulders.
4. Rotate your wrists so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This is the start position.
5. As you exhale,  push the dumbbells up and over your head by extending your arms until the dumbbells touch at the top of the movement.
6. Pause for a count of one.
7. Slowly return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing or sitting on  flat bench. For people with lower back problems, the version described is better.

1. Using a T-Bar, load the amount of weight you’d like to work with (start out lighter to master the form before increasing the load).
2. Grip the top of the barbell so that your hands overlap, and your palms are facing inward.
3. Make sure your elbows are low and close to your body and not flaring out.
4. Make sure your elbows are low and close to your body and not flaring out. From a kneeling position and with the top of the barbell at your upper chest explosively push the barbell upwards and drive the end of the barbell away from your body.
5. Using control, slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position.

1. Assume a wide grip on a pull-up bar and hang so that your feet are not in contact with the ground.
2. Once steady, bring your legs up towards your chest, stopping when you feel they are perpendicular to your body (your body should now resemble an ‘L’ shape.
3. Holding this shape, engage your lats and arms to pull your body up towards the bar.
4. Hold shortly when your chin is above the bar, before lowering back down to the starting position.

1. Standing under a pull-up bar, reach up and hold onto the bar with an overhand grip. Make sure your hands are about twice your shoulder width apart.
2. Keep your arms straight and hang from the bar so that your arms are taking all of your weight.
3. Keeping your body straight and not swinging your weight, pull your body up towards the bar by pulling your elbows down towards your torso at an angle.
4. Continue lifting until your chest is nearly touching the bar. You should feel a “squeeze” at the base of your lats (about midway down your back and to the side) as they contract.
5.  Once your lats have completely contracted at the top of the movement, slowly lower your body to the starting position.
6. Repeat.

By using a wide grip, your lats are doing most of the lift, rather than your biceps. It doesn't matter if you keep your legs straight or bent at the knees with your feet crossed. The important thing is that you do not use your legs to assist in lifting your body weight. As your strength increases, you can add weight by using a weight belt.

1. Using a T-Bar, load the amount of weight you’d like to work with (start out lighter to master the form before increasing the load).
2. Grip the top of the barbell so that your hands overlap, and your palms are facing inward.
3. Squat so that your knees are at a 90 degree bend with the top of the barbell almost resting on your chest. Make sure your elbows are low and close to your body and not flaring out.
4. With an explosive movement, push through your legs and drive the end of the barbell away from your body.

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with dumbbells above your shoulders.
2. Squat down keeping your back flat and your knees over your toes.
3. Push through your heels to return to standing while pressing the dumbbells overhead with arms fully extended.
4. Return to starting position and repeat.

1. Clean two kettlebells to your shoulders. Clean the kettlebells to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you pull the kettlebells towards your shoulders. Rotate your wrists as you do so. This will be your starting position.
2. Begin to squat by flexing your hips and knees, lowering your hips between your legs. Maintain an upright, straight back as you descend as low as you can.
3. At the bottom, reverse direction and stand by extending your knees and hips and pushing down through your heels. As you do so, press both kettlebells overhead by extending your arms straight up, using the momentum from the squat to help drive the weights upward.
4. As you begin the next repetition, return the weights to the shoulders.

1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
2. Bring your hands to your shoulders, keeping the handles of the band behind your shoulders. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
3. Bend first at the knees then at the hips. Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Return to the starting position.
4. When you reach the top, push the resistance bands overhead. Slowly lower your hands and repeat the entire movement.

1. Stand with your back straight, feet shoulder width apart, while holding a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip.
2. Hold your arms fully extended by your side, with your palms facing in to your body.
3. Keep your elbows close to your sides. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your arms fully extended and your torso stationary, lift the dumbbells out to your sides and up until they are at shoulder level. Exhale as you do so.
5. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
6.  Return to the start position in a smooth controlled movement inhaling as you do so.
7. Repeat.

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1. Sit on a bench, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Your hands should be at your sides.
2. Maintain a flat back and tight core. Look straight ahead during the movement.
3. Be sure to maintain a slight bend in your elbows at all times.
4. Extend your arms out to the side and guide the weight up. Your arms should come to parallel with the floor.
5. Pause, slowly lower the weight back to the starting position. Repeat.

1. Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
2. Maintaining a slight bend in the elbows at all times, slowly raise your arms up from the sides of your body. Be sure to favor the front as you lift.
3. Once your arms reach parallel with the floor, pause, feel the contraction, and slowly lower back down.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Bring your hands together for balance.
2. Step directly to the left, leaving your right foot in place. Bend the left knee and reach down to the floor once the upper left thigh is parallel to the ground. Try to keep you back strong as you reach. Your right leg should be completely straight.
3. Contract the hamstring muscle then push off the ground to return to the starting position. Repeat on the right side.

1. Standing with a braced core and flat back, bring your hands together at chest height. Position your feet to be at hip-width.
2. Beginning with the right foot, step backward and across your left foot. Simultaneously, bend the left knee and drop it towards the ground.
3. Stop when the front right knee is parallel with the ground. Push off the ground with your right foot and return to the starting position.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Bring your hands together for balance.
2. Step directly to the left, leaving your right foot in place. Bend the left knee and pause once the upper left thigh is parallel to the ground. Your right leg should be completely straight.
3. Contract the hamstring muscle then push off the ground to return to the starting position. Repeat on the right side. Alternate this movement.

• Sit in the lateral raise machine while keeping your core tight and back flat.
• Grab and secure the handles of the machine.
• Slowly, extend your arms up and out to the side.
• Feel the tension in your shoulders, pause at the top, and slowly return to the starting position.
• Do not allow the weight stack to touch.
• Repeat the movement.

1. Sit on a bench, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Your hands should be at your sides.
2. Maintain a flat back and tight core. Look straight ahead during the movement.
3. Be sure to maintain a slight bend in your elbows at all times.
4. Extend your arms out to the side and guide the weight up. Your arms should come to parallel with the floor.
5. Pause, slowly lower the weight back to the starting position. Repeat.

1. Stand with your back straight, feet shoulder width apart, while holding a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip.
2. Hold your arms fully extended by your side, with your palms facing in to your body.
3. Keep your elbows close to your sides. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your arms fully extended and your torso stationary, lift the dumbbells out to your sides and up until they are at shoulder level. Exhale as you do so.
5. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
6.  Return to the start position in a smooth controlled movement inhaling as you do so.
7. Repeat.

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1. Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
2. Maintaining a slight bend in the elbows at all times, slowly raise your arms up from the sides of your body. Be sure to favor the front as you lift.
3. Once your arms reach parallel with the floor, pause, feel the contraction, and slowly lower back down.

1. Sit down on a leg press machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at shoulder width.
2. Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platform  and press the platform all the way up until your legs are fully extended in front of you bot do NOT lock your knees. Your torso and legs should be at a 90degree angle to each other. This is the start position.
3. Inhaling, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Pause for a count of one,
4. Return to the starting position by pushing through the heels of your feet, engaging your quadriceps. Exhale as you do so.
5. Repeat.
6. After completing the desired number of repetitions, make sure you lock the safety pins of the machine before alighting.

Always check to make sure that when you re-rack the weight the platform is securely locked.

1. Set up the barbell on the squat rack so that it is at the same height as your upper chest.
2. Position your body under the bar, with knees bent so that the bar is resting high on the back of your shoulders.
3. Grip the bar with your hands comfortably wider than your shoulders.
4. Slowly straighten your legs to push upwards, lifting the barbell from the rack and take one step forward.
5. Stand with your legs shoulder width apart.
6. Bend your knees forward and allow your hips to bend back as if sitting down,
7. Continue this movement down until your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly more, making sure your knees are pointing in the same direction as your feet.
8. Hold for a count of one.
9. Push up through your heels while straightening your hips and knees, until you are standing in the start position.
10. Make any adjustments necessary to your stance and grip before continuing on the next repetition.

Do not rest the bar on your neck. Keep your head facing forward at all times. Keep your back straight throughout the entire movement.

1. Begin by positioning a barbell at or just below shoulder level in the squat rack. Behind the squat rack, place a tall wooden box or chair. Place yourself underneath the barbell. Make sure the bar is across your upper traps and NOT on your neck.
2. Place your feet outside of shoulder-width with your toes pointed slightly out. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
3. Bend at the knees as you drive your hips back. Lower yourself slowly until your butt touches the box. Pause then drive your hips forward to return to the starting position.

1. With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with dumbbells as your sides with your palms facing each other.
2. Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
3. Pause for one second.
4. Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.

1. Find a comfortable position on a leg-press machine with your feet placed, flat, about shoulder width apart.
2. Extend the resistance away from your body until your knees are at an almost locked position (never fully lock your knees).
3. Further extend the platform away from your body, by driving your toes forward, into a tip-toe position.
4. Hold this fully-extended position for 1 second, before lowering the platform to your extended-leg, flat-footed position.

Do not perform if you have had recent knee injuries.

1. Sitting on a calf raise machine, position your upper thighs under the top pad. The pad should be resting just above your knees.
2. Place the balls of your feet on the foot plate.
3. Keeping the balls of your feet in position, lower your heels as far as possible.
4. Slowly raise your heels as if standing on your toes. Continue as far as possible until you feel a stretch in your lower calves. Hold for a count of one.
5. Slowly lower your heels back to the starting position and repeat.

If the machine isn't equipped with foot plates, you can use barbell plates placed under the machine to increase your range of motion. Don't

1. Set up two weight plates on the ground next to each other. Position a loaded barbell across your trap muscles. Step on to the weight plates with the balls of your feet.
2. With a tight core and flat back, raise yourself up with your feet only. Pause at the top of the raise.
3. Slowly lower yourself down but do not touch the ground. Raise yourself back up.
4. Repeat.

1. Place an exercise step or something similar on the floor in front of you. It should be two or three inches high.
2. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, place your toes and the balls of your feet on the step. Make sure the arches of your feet are not on the step and your heels are on the floor.
3. Raise your heels as high as possible by pushing through the balls of your feet and toes while extending your ankles. Hold for a count of one.
4. Return to the starting position by bending your ankles until you feel a stretch in your calves.
5. Repeat.

1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.

1. Adjust the pulley lever to be below you. Stand in the center of the pulley machine while holding both handles. Brace your abdominals and take a step forward.
2. With your chest up, bring the handles up and to the front of your body. The handles will meet at shoulder height.
3. Pause to feel the contraction in your chest then slowly lower the handles to the starting position.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor next to a decline bench. Secure yourself in the bench. Pick up dumbbells and hold them above you with a slight bend in the elbow.
2. Keeping the dumbbells in line with your chest, slowly open up your arms to the sides.
3. Stop when your upper arms are parallel with the floor.
4. Squeeze your chest muscles and slowly return to starting position. Repeat.

• Holding a pair of dumbbells, sit on a flat bench and slowly lower yourself back.
• Keep a tight core as you push the dumbbells above your chest. The dumbbells will be facing one another and held together.
• With a slight bend in the elbow, open up your chest and slowly lower the dumbbells to the sides.
• When the dumbbells are parallel with the ground, pause, and return to the starting position.

1. Stand straight up with a tight core and flat back. Keep your gaze focused straight ahead as you step back with your right leg.
2. As you step forward into the starting position, launch the right leg into a front kick. Use the left side hand to touch your toe, if you are able to.
3. Return your right leg to the starting position. Repeat on other side. Keep alternating until you complete the set.

1. Stand straight – that’s the starting position. Step forward with your left leg and slowly lower your body until your front knee is bent at least 90 degrees, while your rear knee is just off the floor. Keep your torso upright the entire time. Look forward.
2. Pause, then push off your left foot off the floor and return to the starting position as quickly as you can.
3. On your next rep, step forward with your right leg. Continue to alternate back and forth—doing one rep with your left, then one rep with your right.

1. Standing with a braced core and flat back, bring your hands together at chest height. Position your feet to be at hip-width.
2. Beginning with the right foot, step backward and across your left foot. Simultaneously, bend the left knee and drop it towards the ground.
3. Stop when the front right knee is parallel with the ground. Push off the ground with your right foot and return to the starting position.

1. Keeping your back upright, take one step forward (around 1.5x a normal forward step).  
2. Lower your body into the lunge until the forward leg reaches a 90-degree angle bend.
3. As you lunge, strike forward with your opposite hand to a punch. Your back knee should only just hover from the floor.
4. Push upwards through the front leg and drive your body back to the starting position.

1. Stand straight – that’s the starting position. Step forward with your left leg and slowly lower your body until your front knee is bent at least 90 degrees, while your rear knee is just off the floor. Keep your torso upright the entire time. Look forward.
2. Pause, then push off your left foot off the floor and return to the starting position as quickly as you can.
3. On your next rep, step forward with your right leg. Continue to alternate back and forth—doing one rep with your left, then one rep with your right.

1. Stand upright with a tight core and flat back. Extend arms to chest level in front of you while holding the weight.
2. Step forward with one leg. Front thigh should be parallel with the floor. Drop the back knee.
3. Rotate the torso towards the leg that stepped out while keeping arms extended. Push back up to the starting position.

This exercise can be performed with a dumbbell or a plate weight.

1. Stand upright with a tight core and flat back. Extend arms to chest level in front of you while holding the weight.
2. Step forward with one leg. Front thigh should be parallel with the floor. Drop the back knee.
3. Rotate the torso towards the leg that stepped out while keeping arms extended. Push back up to the starting position.

This exercise can be performed with a dumbbell or a plate weight.

1. Keeping your back upright, take one step forward (around 1.5x a normal forward step).  
2. Lower your body into the lunge until the forward leg reaches a 90-degree angle bend.
3. As you lunge, strike forward with your opposite hand to a punch. Your back knee should only just hover from the floor.
4. Push upwards through the front leg and drive your body back to the starting position.

1. Standing with a braced core and flat back, bring your hands together at chest height. Position your feet to be at hip-width.
2. Beginning with the right foot, step backward and across your left foot. Simultaneously, bend the left knee and drop it towards the ground.
3. Stop when the front right knee is parallel with the ground. Push off the ground with your right foot and return to the starting position.

1. Stand tall while holding a pair of dumbbells at your sides with an overhand grip. Your feet should be at shoulder-width. Tighten your core and carefully step forward with your left leg.
2. Bend the left knee forward while dropping the right knee towards the ground. Once your left thigh is parallel with the ground, pause and contract the hamstrings.
3. Keep your upper arms at your sides as you curl the dumbbell up and towards your shoulder, and rotate them into a hammer position. Slowly lower the dumbbells then kick off the floor with your left foot to return to the starting position. Repeat on the right side. Continue alternating.

1. Lie on your side on a yoga mat or other soft surface with your lower arm bent and comfortably supporting your head and neck
2. Bending at the knee, bring the foot on your upper leg to rest, sole-down, in front of the thigh on your lower leg, use your free hand if necessary
3. Brace your core and make sure your body is nice and straight
4. Slowly lift your lower leg up and off the ground by a few inches, keeping it straight during the exercise
5. Slowly lower your leg to return to the starting position

1. Lie flat on your back on a bench and position your feet flat on the floor on either side of the bench.
2. With a dumbbell in each hand, extend your arms over head until fully extended. Your palms should face one another and your hands should be close together.
3. Bend the elbows and lower the weights to either side of your head.
4. Extend your arms to return to the starting position.

1. Holding a preacher curl barbell with an overhand grip, carefully sit on a bench. Slowly lie back and bring the barbell above your head. Make sure that your feet are flat on the floor and your core is braced.
2. Keep the upper arms in place as you bend at the elbow and allow the forearms to slowly dip back towards your head.
3. Once the barbell reaches the bottom, pause and slowly push the barbell back to the starting position.

1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the dumbbells back and behind you.
3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the dumbbells and begin again.

1. Sit on a bench with back support.
2. Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
3. Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended.  This is the the start position.
4. Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
5. Moving only your forearms, lower the dumbbell in a smooth arc behind your head until your forearms and biceps touch. Hold for a count of one.
6. Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
7. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing. However, it places an extra strain on your back so is not recommended for people with lower back problems. You can also perform this exercise using an EZ bar or straight bar with a close grip behind your head, palms facing forward.

1. Holding a weight plate behind your head, lie face down on a flat bench so that your whole body is supported.
2. Make sure that your shoulders are past and raised a little off the end of  the bench.
3. Lift your upper chest, neck and face off the bench slightly. This is the start position.
4. Holding the plate in position on the back of your head, slowly lower your head down over the edge of the bench (like nodding “yes”).
5. Return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
6. Repeat.

Do not use your hands to pull your head down or use a jerking motion when returning to the start position.