August 10, 2023 5 min read
Bodyweight exercises are a great way to improve your fitness levels and reach your goals. Not only are they convenient and require no special equipment, but they can also be customized to suit any individual’s needs. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, build muscle, or increase your strength and endurance, bodyweight exercises can help you get there.
Shop The Collection: Fitness EquipmentIn this article, we’ll look at seven of the best bodyweight exercises that will help you reach your goals. We’ll discuss how each exercise works and why it’s beneficial for your fitness level. Read on to find out more!
Push-ups are one of the most common bodyweight exercises, and for good reason. They target multiple muscles in the chest, arms, and shoulders, making them excellent for building upper body strength. To perform a push-up, start by lying flat on your stomach with your hands about shoulder width apart. Then, push up off the ground until your arms are fully extended. Lower yourself back down to the ground, and repeat the movement.
The key to maximizing the benefits of push-ups is to make sure you’re doing them correctly. Make sure your elbows don’t flare out too much, and keep your core engaged throughout the entire movement. If you want to make push-ups more challenging, you can try adding a plyometric element – for example, clapping your hands together as you push up off the ground.
Squats are another great bodyweight exercise that can help you reach your goals. The squat targets the glutes and quads, which are important muscles for strength and stability. To perform a squat, stand with your feet slightly wider than hip distance apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Keeping your back straight and your core engaged, lower your body down towards the ground. Keep lowering until your thighs are parallel to the floor, then slowly rise back up to the starting position.
It’s important to make sure you’re performing squats correctly, as incorrect form can lead to injury. Make sure your knees don’t go past your toes, and keep your chest lifted throughout the entire movement. If you want to make squats more challenging, you can add weight, such as a medicine ball, or try different variations like single leg squats.
Lunges are another effective bodyweight exercise that can help you reach your goals. Lunges target the glutes, hamstrings, and quads, making them great for strengthening and toning the lower body. To perform a lunge, stand with your feet hip-width apart and take a big step forward with one foot. Bend both knees to lower your body until both legs form 90 degree angles, then return to the standing position. Repeat the movement with the other leg.
When performing lunges, make sure your front knee doesn’t go past your toes. Also, make sure your back stays straight throughout the entire movement. If you want to make lunges more challenging, you can try adding weights or performing plyometric versions such as jump lunges.
Burpees are a full-body exercise that can help you reach your goals. They target multiple muscles in the chest, arms, legs, and core, making them an effective way to build strength and endurance. To perform a burpee, start in a standing position. Then, lower your body into a squat position and place your hands on the ground. Jump your feet back into a plank position, then jump your feet back to the squat position. Finally, jump up into the standing position. Repeat the movement.
Burpees can be challenging, so make sure you’re performing them correctly. Make sure your core is engaged throughout the entire movement, and avoid arching your back. If you want to make burpees more challenging, you can try adding a plyometric element such as a tuck jump at the end.
Mountain climbers are a great bodyweight exercise that can help you reach your goals. They target the core, shoulders, and legs, making them an effective way to build strength and endurance. To perform mountain climbers, start in a plank position with your hands directly underneath your shoulders. Then, bring one knee up towards your chest while keeping the other leg extended. Return to the starting position and repeat the motion with the opposite leg. Keep alternating legs in a running motion.
Make sure you’re performing mountain climbers correctly by keeping your back straight and your core engaged throughout the entire movement. If you want to make mountain climbers more challenging, you can try adding a plyometric element, such as a tuck jump at the end of each rep.
The plank is an isometric bodyweight exercise that can help you reach your goals. It targets the core, shoulders, and arms, making it great for building strength and stability. To perform a plank, start in a push-up position with your hands directly underneath your shoulders. Then, lower your body down onto your forearms and hold the position. Make sure your back is straight and your core is engaged throughout the entire movement. Hold the position for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat the movement several times.
If you want to make planks more challenging, you can try adding a plyometric element, such as lifting one arm off the ground and holding it for 10 seconds. You can also try different variations, such as side planks or reverse planks.
Sit-ups are a great bodyweight exercise that can help you reach your goals. They target the abdominals and obliques, making them excellent for building core strength. To perform a sit-up, start by lying flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head and curl your torso up towards your knees. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat the movement.
Make sure you’re performing sit-ups correctly by engaging your core throughout the entire movement. Make sure your back stays straight and your neck is in line with your spine. If you want to make sit-ups more challenging, you can add a plyometric element such as bringing your hands to your toes at the top of the movement.
Bodyweight exercises are a great way to improve your fitness levels and reach your goals. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, build muscle, or increase your strength and endurance, these seven exercises can help you get there.
Remember to always focus on proper form and engage your core throughout the entire movement. If you want to make the exercises more challenging, you can add a plyometric element or add weight (if applicable).
With a bit of hard work and dedication, you can use these bodyweight exercises to reach your goals and take your fitness to the next level. Good luck!