Muscles Trained: Chest, shoulders, and triceps

Intro: Pushups are an excellent exercise for overall chest development. They remain one of the best exercises for beginners who wish to improve their upper body strength. They are even useful for intermediate lifters when weight is added. Other variations include placing your feet on a high object or performing one handed sets.

How it is performed: Find a comfortable surface to perform the exercise. Put your feet together and place your palms on the floor. The correct distant between your hands depends on personal preference. Generally the wider your hands the more the chest is targeted. Diamond pushups, which are done with hand practically touching, will work target the triceps more. Make sure your back and legs are in line with one another. Slowly begin the pushup by lowering your arms toward the floor. Do not move your hands or legs off the floor at all. Go down as far as you can. Generally, you want to be able to touch the ground with your chest. Push your body up by straightening your arms to the original starting position. Complete your reps and keep proper form throughout.