Fitness From the Pro

We have talked about correct form when it comes to push up exercises. As you know, push ups are a great upper body exercise. Today, I’m going to introduce a couple variations of the push up to add and change up the routine.

One of our first push up exercises to try uses a stability ball. Lay across the ball and walk your hands forward on the floor so just your hips or thighs are on the ball. Arms are directly under your shoulders. Gradually, lower your upper body down toward the floor, keeping the rest of your body straight, and belly button pulled into the spine. Then, exhale and push up. With this exercise, the less legs on the ball, the more difficult. For instance, if you just have your shins on the ball, the push up will be much harder. You will also require more of the abdominals for stability. When you are first starting out, keep the thighs on the ball, and gradually move forward off the ball.

Another great push up exercise uses a much smaller ball than the stability ball. Find a medicine ball, or a small pilates ball. Get into push up position, with the medicine ball under your right hand. This is an unstable surface so you will have to keep the abs tight for balance. The left hand is on the floor. Lower your body straight down, then exhale and push up. Do 8-10 with right hand on the ball, then 8-10 with left hand on the ball.

Instead of using the medicine ball, try putting one hand on a step (Reebok Step), other hand on the floor. This should be a little bit easier, because the step is a more stable surface. Don’t forget to repeat on both sides.

These couple of push up exercises are very challenging. So if your looking to kick up your workout a notch try one of these push up exercises!