Most of my students hate doing push-ups. Hate. Them. I always get the "ugh" once I announce that push-ups are next. Usually followed by, "but that hurts my wrists!". Well, yeah--anything you do once in a blue moon isn't going to feel GOOD. The body thrives on consistency and that is especially true with strength/toning moves. Consistency and perseverance are key. In the not-so-distant past I didn't particularly relish doing push-ups myself and used to hate them altogether. Now, I can tolerate them and even take pleasure in the burn and success I feel after accomplishing more than 10. Can I bust out 50 without breaking a sweat? Hell no. On a good day I can do 15 (on my toes) and I'm a teacher! Am I'm ashamed I can only do 15 push-ups? Ha! For one, I don't seek to be the world's most ripped woman. I like my slim but curvy frame and I have no intention of trying to "bulk up". Which is why I haven't bought into the whole "kettle-bell craze" either. Swinging kettle bells looks about as appealing to me as
caber tossing. (Click the colored text to SEE actual caber tossing!) Men in kilts throwing trees is... interesting but a little too primitive for me. I digress. See a proper push-up below...
Push-ups. Ladies, we need-need-need to be doing the push-ups! Men too--although most of them claim to do them on a "daily basis". (PAUSE.) Mmm-Hmm. Well, we all have our own version of "reality". Let's put it this way, I see men in my mat classes who have worse form and are often weaker in the upper body, core, and upper back than women who are OLDER than they are. Well. We'll leave the rest of that conversation for another day...
Women
are notoriously weak in the upper body and this is a huge multi-tasking exercise that will efficiently hit many key areas. Whether it's done on the knees or toes--either way you're going to work your pecs, arms, upper back, glutes (if on toes), and abdominals. Note: please keep your head where it is supposed to be--at the top of one's neck. Hanging your head down while you're doing your push-up is only going to make the whole experience more hideous and upleasant--let's not do that to ourselves.
INSTRUCTIONS: Keep your head up, your abs in, your butt tight, and your chest broad. Try doing push-ups first where the elbows go out to the sides: it's more pec work and good for toning the chest (instant breast lift!) and also tones the upper back (better upright posture!). Then, as that gets easier try keeping your elbows pinned to your side and work your triceps more--that's trickier and one MUST keep the shoulders out of the ears and the neck from getting all scrunched up. Usually men like this version better but they rarely do it correctly! Often men will either lift their head too much over-shortening the back of the neck (most common) or they will hang the head down, adding to the difficulty. For proper neck form try to look at the floor but slightly past one's hands.
Try to knock out at least 5-10 push-ups a day if you're a beginner, 15-25 if you're stronger, and up to 50 or more if you're a conditioned athlete. Men--you too.
We'll save the caber tossing for another day! ;)
Be strong and carry on...
Kilt or no.
Eve
