Push-Ups for Beginners

Thursday, December 10, 2009

When I first started doing personal training, I was really bad at push-ups, since I hadn't done them in years. Eventually, though, I was able to do about 30 real push ups in a session. Push-ups work your arms as well as your chest, abs, back, etc.

If you can't do a push up on the floor at all, you can always start with push ups on a wall, on a bar at the gym, on your stair railing, etc. - and you can keep practicing this way until you can go all the way down and get the technique down.

And of course, there are always knee push ups:

But my favorite thing Kerri taught me was doing push-ups using the Bosu ball (they have these at most gyms, probably near the free weights - you can also buy them yourself, but they're $100+). I can't find a picture of exactly what we did, but essentially all you need to do is place the bosu ball, dome side UP, right under your chest, and when you come down while doing your push up, lay your chest on the Bosu ball, and lift your arms up.

Then, place your arms back on the floor and push yourself up for the next push up. After doing the push-ups this way for awhile, you'll eventually be able to do them without the ball underneath you at all.