Push Ups

Push ups are one way to develop chest muscles while also strengthening your abdominal and back muscles.

The Standard Push up:
Proper position is with your body in a straight, horizontal position, with you hands shoulder-width apart. One proper repetition involves lowering your body to the point that your chest touches the ground, and then lifting yourself back to starting position.

Wide-stance Push up:
This type of push places more emphasis on your chest than the standard push ups. By placing your hands in a wide position, wider than shoulder width, you will be forcing your chest to do more of the work. This push up also lightens the load on your triceps.

Close Grip Push up:
Place your body in a straight, horizontal position. Slide your feet apart to approximately shoulder-width. Place your hands together, directly under your sternum, with the tips of your index fingers and thumbs touching. Your fingers and thumb should form sort of a diamond or triangle shape. This type of push ups puts a heavy emphasis on the triceps.

Elevated Push up:
The elevated push up is exactly the same as a standard push up, but it involves elevating your feet by placing them on a chair, or surface. By lifting your feet, you will be accomplishing two things: increasing the amount of weight being lifted, and shift emphasis to the upper pectorals. The elevated push up can also involve elevating your chest and upper body while leaving your feet on the ground. This is easier. Doing this the load is shifted to the lower chest.