Pushups

How to do it

1. Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length.
2. Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
3. Now breathe out and press your upper body back up to the starting position while squeezing your chest.
4. After a brief pause at the top contracted position, you can begin to lower yourself downward again for as many repetitions as needed.

Common mistakes

• Sagging hips or a piked-up butt.
• Elbows flared out at 90° — stress on the shoulders.
• Half reps: the chest never gets near the floor.

Tips

• Can't do 10 clean reps yet? Push up from a bench or a table with full range.