Do you know what I mean when I mention the word push-up?¬† It can be used with a favorite form of woman’s apparel in order to lift up the breast, but here I mean something else.

On a health and fitness site I would be talking about an exercise that is done strictly by using one’s own body weight and without use of machines. You drop down to a prone position with your hands and toes supporting your entire body weight.  You need to have a straight back and ridged legs where this position is also referred to as the plank.  You then bend your elbows at the same time bringing your body close to the ground.  Next, you would push-up with your hands to go back to the previous plank position.  The cartoon below shows the motion.

Most health clubs and workout facilities push workout plans that concentrate on working individual muscles one at a time. Performing exercises that focus on one muscle group at a time is appropriate for body builders and athletes in certain sports, but to develop “real world” strength, full body weight workouts are best.

Body weight exercises don’t rely on weights or machines. They utilize the weight of your body as resistance to work the major muscle groups. Push-ups, crunches, and hand stand raises are all examples of body weight exercises.

There are many benefits to adopting a body weight exercise program. These include:

• No gym required
• Can be done anytime
• Minimal space required
• Customizable workouts

Another major benefit of a well-planned body weight exercise program is that it will force you to develop “real world” balance, endurance, and strength.

By real world strength I mean the ability to perform activities requiring the use of multiple muscle groups in tasks such as combat, swimming, or lifting a sofa down a flight of stairs. These real world tasks require the coordinated use of multiple major muscle groups to accomplish a goal. Balance, strength, and agility are all involved.

Working the bicep curl machine at the gym might build a cosmetically pleasing bump on your bicep, but it’s not going to make it much easier to lift a heavy piece of furniture. Developing a strong functional core should be the goal of any workout program. It is this core development that provides you with the strength and coordination to perform at competitive athletic levels, or even just get through the activities of our daily life.

An effective body weight exercise program can push you in ways that traditional gym workouts don’t. They provide a more robust, coordinated workout that will maximize your development of overall strength, flexibility, and agility. Become a part of a brand new body weight exercise program that is guaranteed to get you in your best shape ever.