Getting more out of your push-ups is as simple as 1-2-3. By taking a 3-step approach you will safely work your way up to performing the challenging move, which will tax your muscles and increase your strength.
Step 1 warms up your muscles; Step 2 features compound movement patterns that work your abs and arms, Step 3 works your muscles most intensely. Together these steps will chisel killer abs and arms.
Stick to the first series until you can perform 3 sets with a 1-minute rest in-between. Then, add on the second series—try performing a Series 1, then a Series 2, and then resting for 1 minute and repeating. After you become comfortable with that, add the third.
Depending on your current strength, it may take several months before you’re prepared to work through all 3 series—but don’t be discouraged. No matter what level you’re working at, when you perform these moves every other day (about 3 to 4 times per week) you’re sure to see your body and strength transform.
Series 1
Step 1: Wall Push-ups:
How to:
- Angle your body at a slope where your feet grip the floor and hands touch partway down a wall.
- Place hands wider than shoulders, slightly below shoulder height.
- Inhale and bend your elbows and lean in as one unit to touch chest to or near wall.
- Exhale and extend elbows and reach chest back out to starting position.
- Perform this move for 1 minute.
Step 2: Incline Push-ups:
How to:
- Place hands wider than shoulder-width apart on an elevated platform, like a stool, bench, or ottoman (or a Lebert Equalizer, as shown here).
- Grip floor beneath you to hold the body in a high incline plank.
- Inhale and slowly lower chest to bench, descending body as one unit.
- Exhale as you push yourself back up to starting position.
- Perform this move for 40 seconds.
Step 3: Floor Push-ups:
How to:
- Push-ups on your toes will always challenge your abs significantly more than push-ups on your knees.
- If you can’t complete the full 20 seconds on your toes, hold a high plank for the remaining time.
- Place hands wider than shoulder-width apart on a mat on floor.
- Curl toes to grip mat behind you and lift to high plank.
- Inhale and lower body as one unit to touch nose to floor.
- Exhale and push yourself up as one steady, unwavering unit to starting position.
- Perform this move for 20 seconds.
Series 2
Step 1: Inchworm Push-ups:
How to:
- Stand up straight and tall.
- Engage abs to tighten the core, then lean forward at hips and slide hands down thighs until fingertips touch floor.
- Walk hands out in front, one at a time, until reaching a high plank position.
- As you do this, engage abs and minimise shift in hips.
- Spread hands slightly wider than shoulders and perform 1 push-up.
- Walk hands back in toward toes, minimising shift in hips along the way, then slide hands back up thighs and raise torso to an upright standing position.
- Perform this move for 1 minute.
Step 2: Running Man Push-ups:
How to:
- Assume a high plank position.
- Perform 1 push-up.
- At the top of the push-up, reach right arm and left leg into the center and touch right hand to left shoe.
- Resume high plank.
- Perform another push-up, then reach left arm and right leg into the center and touch left hand to the right shoe.
- Perform this move for 40 seconds.
Step 3: Pike Push-up to Twist:
How to:
- Hoist hips high in the air to position body in Downward-Facing Dog.
- Spread hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Inhale, bend at elbows and drive crown of the head directly between two hands on floor.
- Keep hips raised high to the sky.
- Exhale and firmly press into the floor and extend elbows, raising body back to starting position.
- After performing a pike push-up, weave 1 hand through to touch the opposite foot on the floor.
- Return to starting position.
- Perform another pike push-up, then touch other hand to the opposite foot on the floor.
- Perform this move for 20 seconds.
Series 3
Step 1: Push-ups with Mountain Climbers:
How to:
- Assume high plank position.
- Place your feet on a set of fitness discs or paper plates (or towels).
- Perform 1 push-up.
- At top of push-up, drive right knee in toward belly, then return right foot to floor and drive left knee in toward belly.
- Return to starting position.
- Perform this move for 1 minute.
Step 2: Push-ups with Tucks:
How to:
- Place feet on a set of fitness discs or paper plates.
- Perform 1 push-up. At top of push-up, slide both feet in, tucking both knees in toward belly.
- Slide feet back out to resume starting position.
- Perform this move for 40 seconds.
Step 3: Push-ups with Pikes:
How to:
- Place feet on a set of fitness discs or paper plates.
- Assume high plank position.
- Perform 1 push-up.
- At top of push-up, keep legs straight but hoist hips towards sky, sliding feet in closer to hands.
- Slowly slide feet back out with straight legs and resume starting position.
- Perform this move for 20 seconds.