Exercise Guides
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Barbell Bench Press
Lie back on a flat bench with feet firm on the floor. Using a wide, pronated (palms forward) grip that is around 3 inches away from shoulder width (for each hand), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms...
Barbell Incline Bench Press
Lie back on an incline bench. Using a medium-width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked....
Cable Crossover
To get yourself into the starting position, place the pulleys on a high position (above your head), select the resistance to be used and hold the pulleys in each hand. Step forward in front of an imaginary straight line between both pulleys while pulling your arms...
Decline Barbell Bench Press
Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and slowly lay down on the bench. Using a medium width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from...
Dumbbell Flyes
Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell on each hand resting on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other. Then using your thighs to help raise the dumbbells, lift the dumbbells one at a time so you...
Dumbbell Pullover
Place a dumbbell standing up on a flat bench. Ensuring that the dumbbell stays securely placed at the top of the bench, lie perpendicular to the bench (torso across it as in forming a cross) with only your shoulders lying on the surface. Hips should be...
Barbell Curl
Stand up with your torso upright while holding a barbell at a shoulder-width grip. The palm of your hands should be facing forward and the elbows should be close to the torso. This will be your starting position. While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the...
Cable Preacher Curl
Place a preacher bench about 2 feet in front of a pulley machine. Attach a straight bar to the low pulley. Sit at the preacher bench with your elbow and upper arms firmly on top of the bench pad and have someone hand you the bar...
Dumbbell Bicep Curl
Stand (torso upright) with a dumbbell in each hand held at arms length. The elbows should be close to the torso and the palms of your hand should be facing your thighs. While holding the upper arm stationary, curl the right weight as you rotate the...
Hammer Curl
Stand up with your torso upright and a dumbbell in each hand being held at arms length. The elbows should be close to the torso. The palms of the hands should be facing your torso. This will be your starting position. While holding the upper arm...
Incline Dumbbell Curl
Sit back on an incline bench with a dumbbell in each hand held at arms length. Keep your elbows close to your torso and rotate the palms of your hands until they are facing forward. This will be your starting position. While holding the upper arm...
EZ-Bar Curl
Stand up straight while holding an EZ curl bar at the wide outer handle. The palms of your hands should be facing forward and slightly tilted inward due to the shape of the bar. Keep your elbows close to your torso. This will be your starting...
Isometric Neck Exercise - Front And Back
With your head and neck in a neutral position (normal position with head erect facing forward), place both of your hands on the front side of your head. Now gently push forward as you contract the neck muscles but resisting any movement of your head. Start...
Lying Face Down Plate Neck Resistance
Lie face down with your whole body straight on a flat bench while holding a weight plate behind your head. Tip: You will need to position yourself so that your shoulders are slightly above the end of a flat bench in order for the upper chest,...
Isometric Neck Exercise - Sides
With your head and neck in a neutral position (normal position with head erect facing forward), place your left hand on the left side of your head. Now gently push towards the left as you contract the left neck muscles but resisting any movement of your...
Dumbbell Shrug
Stand erect with a dumbbell on each hand (palms facing your torso), arms extended on the sides. Lift the dumbbells by elevating the shoulders as high as possible while you exhale. Hold the contraction at the top for a second. Tip: The arms should remain extended...
Barbell Shrug
Stand up straight with your feet at shoulder width as you hold a barbell with both hands in front of you using a pronated grip (palms facing the thighs). Tip: Your hands should be a little wider than shoulder width apart. You can use wrist wraps...
Upright Cable Row
Grasp a straight bar cable attachment that is attached to a low pulley with a pronated (palms facing your thighs) grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The bar should be resting on top of your thighs. Your arms should be extended with a slight...
Barbell Shoulder Press
Stand in front of a squat rack with a barbell positioned at a height that is close to above your head. Grab the barbell with a pronated grip (palms facing forward). Tip: Your grip should be wider than shoulder width and it should create a 90-degree...
Front Dumbbell Raise
Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells on front of your thighs at arms length with the palms of the hand facing your thighs. This will be your starting position. While maintaining the torso stationary (no swinging), lift the...
Side Lateral Raise
Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells by your side at arms length with the palms of the hand facing you. This will be your starting position. While maintaining the torso in a stationary position (no swinging), lift the...
Reverse Flyes
To begin, lie down on an incline bench with the chest and stomach pressing against the incline. Have the dumbbells in each hand with the palms facing each other (neutral grip). Extend the arms in front of you so that they are perpendicular to the angle...
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
While holding a dumbbell in each hand, sit on a military press bench or utility bench that has back support. Place the dumbbells upright on top of your thighs. Now raise the dumbbells to shoulder height one at a time using your thighs to help propel...
Smith Machine Overhead Shoulder Press
To begin, place a flat bench (or preferably one with back support) underneath a smith machine. Position the barbell at a height so that when seated on the flat bench, the arms must be almost fully extended to reach the barbell. Once you have the correct...
Upright Barbell Row
Grasp a barbell with an overhand grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The bar should be resting on the top of your thighs with your arms extended and a slight bend in your elbows. Your back should also be straight. This will be your...
Down Barbell Wrist Curl
Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing down; hands spaced about shoulder width. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Lean forward and place your forearms on top of your upper thighs...
Up Barbell Wrist Curl
Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing up; hands spaced about shoulder width. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Lean forward and place your forearms on top of your upper thighs...
Seated Dumbbell Palms-Up
Start out by placing two dumbbells on the floor in front of a flat bench. Sit down on the edge of the flat bench with your legs at about shoulder width apart. Make sure to keep your feet on the floor. Use your arms to grab...
Seated Dumbbell Palms-Down
Start out by placing two dumbbells on the floor in front of a flat bench. Sit down on the edge of the flat bench with your legs at about shoulder width apart. Make sure to keep your feet on the floor. Use your arms to grab...
Crunches
Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, or resting on a bench with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle. If you are resting your feet on a bench, place them three to four inches apart and point your toes...
Decline Crunch
Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and lie down. Now place your hands lightly on either side of your head keeping your elbows in. Tip: Don't lock your fingers behind your head. While pushing the small of your back down in the...
Knee/Hip Raise On Parallel Bars
Position your body on the vertical leg raise bench so that your forearms are resting on the pads next to the torso and holding on to the handles. Your arms will be bent at a 90 degree angle. The torso should be straight with the lower...
Cable Crunch
Kneel below a high pulley that contains a rope attachment. Grasp cable rope attachment and lower the rope until your hands are placed next to your face. Flex your hips slightly and allow the weight to hyperextend the lower back. This will be your starting position....
Bent-Knee Hip Raise
Lay flat on the floor with your arms next to your sides. Now bend your knees at around a 75 degree angle and lift your feet off the floor by around 2 inches. Using your lower abs, bring your knees in towards you as you maintain...
Dumbbell Side Bend
Stand up straight while holding a dumbbell on the left hand (palms facing the torso) as you have the right hand holding your waist. Your feet should be placed at shoulder width. This will be your starting position. While keeping your back straight and your head...
Triceps Pushdown
Attach a straight or angled bar to a high pulley and grab with an overhand grip (palms facing down) at shoulder width. Standing upright with the torso straight and a very small inclination forward, bring the upper arms close to your body and perpendicular to the...
Dumbbell One-Arm Triceps Extension
Grab a dumbbell and either sit on a military press bench or a utility bench that has a back support on it as you place the dumbbells upright on top of your thighs or stand up straight. Clean the dumbbell up to bring it to shoulder...
Bench Dips
For this exercise you will need to place a bench behind your back. With the bench perpendicular to your body, and while looking away from it, hold on to the bench on its edge with the hands fully extended, separated at shoulder width. The legs will...
Triceps Extension
While holding a barbell or EZ Curl bar with a pronated grip (palms facing forward), lie on your back on a flat bench with your head close to the end of the bench. Tip: If you are holding a barbell grab it using a shoulder-width grip...
Tricep Dumbbell Kickback
Start with a dumbbell in each hand and your palms facing your torso. Keep your back straight with a slight bend in the knees and bend forward at the waist. Your torso should be almost parallel to the floor. Make sure to keep your head up....
Seated Triceps Press
Sit down on a bench with back support and grasp a dumbbell with both hands and hold it overhead at arm's length. Tip: a better way is to have somebody hand it to you especially if it is very heavy. The resistance should be resting in...
Straight-Arm Pulldown
You will start by grabbing the wide bar from the top pulley of a pulldown machine and using a wider than shoulder-width pronated (palms down) grip. Step backwards two feet or so. Bend your torso forward at the waist by around 30-degrees with your arms fully...
One Arm Dumbbell Rows
Choose a flat bench and place a dumbbell on each side of it. Next, place your right leg atop the end of the bench and bend your torso forward from the waist until your upper body is parallel with the floor. Place your right hand on...
Elevated Cable Rows
Get a platform of some sort (it can be an aerobics or calf raise platform) that is around 4-6 inches in height. Place it on the seat of the cable row machine. Sit down on the machine and place your feet on the front platform or...
Pulldown Behind The Neck
Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. Make sure that you adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar....
Lat Pulldown
Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. Make sure that you adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar....
V-Bar Pulldown
Sit down on a pull-down machine with a V-Bar attached to the top pulley. Adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar. Grab the V-bar with the...
Bent Over Barbell Row
Holding a barbell with a pronated grip (palms facing down), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up....
Bent Over Long Bar Row
Put weight on one of the ends of an Olympic barbell. Make sure that you either place the other end of the barbell in the corner of two walls; or put a heavy object on the ground so the barbell cannot slide backward. Bend forward until...
Barbell Deadlift
Stand in front of a loaded barbell. While keeping the back as straight as possible, bend your knees, bend forward and grasp the bar using a medium (shoulder width) overhand grip. This will be the starting position of the exercise. Tip: If it is difficult to...
Hyperextensions
Lie face down on a hyperextension bench, tucking your ankles securely under the footpads. Adjust the upper pad if possible so your upper thighs lie flat across the wide pad, leaving enough room for you to bend at the waist without any restriction. With your body...
Superman
To begin, lie straight and face down on the floor or exercise mat. Your arms should be fully extended in front of you. This is the starting position. Simultaneously raise your arms, legs, and chest off of the floor and hold this contraction for 2 seconds....
Weighted Ball Hyperextension
To begin, lie down on an exercise ball with your torso pressing against the ball and parallel to the floor. The ball of your feet should be pressed against the floor to help keep you balanced. Place a weighted plate under your chin or behind your...
Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift
Grasp a bar using an overhand grip (palms facing down). You may need some wrist wraps if using a significant amount of weight. Stand with your torso straight and your legs spaced using a shoulder width or narrower stance. The knees should be slightly bent. This...
Butt Lift (Bridge)
Lie flat on the floor on your back with the hands by your side and your knees bent. Your feet should be placed around shoulder width. This will be your starting position. Pushing mainly with your heels, lift your hips off the floor while keeping your...
Flutter Kicks
On a flat bench lie facedown with the hips on the edge of the bench, the legs straight with toes high off the floor and with the arms on top of the bench holding on to the front edge. Squeeze your glutes and hamstrings and straighten...
Leg Lift
While standing up straight with both feet next to each other at around shoulder width, grab a sturdy surface such as the sides of a squat rack or the top of a chair to brace yourself and keep balance. With or without an ankle weight, lift...
One-Legged Cable Kickback
Hook a leather ankle cuff to a low cable pulley and then attach the cuff to your ankle. Face the weight stack from a distance of about two feet, grasping the steel frame for support. While keeping your knees and hips bent slightly and your abs...
Seated Calf Raise
Sit on the machine and place your toes on the lower portion of the platform provided with the heels extending off. Choose the toe positioning of your choice (forward, in, or out) as per the beginning of this chapter. Place your lower thighs under the lever...
Donkey Calf Raises
For this exercise you will need access to a donkey calf raise machine. Start by positioning your lower back and hips under the padded lever provided. The tailbone area should be the one making contact with the pad. Place both of your arms on the side...
Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine
Using a leg press machine, sit down on the machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at a medium (shoulder width) foot stance. Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platform in place and press the platform all the way...
Standing Barbell Calf Raise
This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first set the bar on a rack that best matches your height. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the bar on...
Leg Press
Using a leg press machine, sit down on the machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at a medium (shoulder width) foot stance. (Note: For the purposes of this discussion we will use the medium stance described above which targets...
Leg Extensions
For this exercise you will need to use a leg extension machine. First choose your weight and sit on the machine with your legs under the pad (feet pointed forward) and the hands holding the side bars. This will be your starting position. Tip: You will...
Barbell Squat
This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first set the bar on a rack to just below shoulder level. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of...
Barbell Lunge
This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first set the bar on a rack just below shoulder level. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of your...
Dumbbell Step Ups
Stand up straight while holding a dumbbell on each hand (palms facing the side of your legs). Place the right foot on the elevated platform. Step on the platform by extending the hip and the knee of your right leg. Use the heel mainly to lift...