If you’ve been hitting the gym or working out at home regularly, you probably have at least a handful of classic full-body exercises that have become staples in your fitness routine. These exercises are tried-and-true and fantastic for building strength and endurance. Still, it’s essential to periodically assess your progress and make necessary adjustments to continue challenging your body.
Elevate These 3 Full-Body Exercises
Today, we’re reviewing three popular full-body exercises you might consider elevating to enhance your fitness journey. We’re big believers in the power of progression, and upgrading your exercises is one way to keep your workouts fresh and effective.
Squats
Squats are a fantastic full-body exercise that primarily targets your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. However, it might be time to take it up a notch if you’ve been doing the same basic squat for a while.
Elevate your squat game by incorporating variations like:
- Goblet Squats: Hold a dumbbell or kettlebell close to your chest while squatting. This engages your core and challenges your balance.
- Single-Leg Squats (Pistol Squats): These require immense strength and balance. Start with partial pistol squats and gradually work up to full ones.
- Sumo Squats: Widen your stance and point your toes outward to target your inner thighs, adding variety to your squat routine.
Push-Ups
Push-ups are a classic full-body exercise that strengthens your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core.
To elevate your push-up game, consider these advanced variations:
- Diamond Push-Ups: Place your hands close together beneath your chest to target your triceps more intensively.
- Decline Push-Ups: Elevate your feet on a bench or step to increase the difficulty and engage your upper chest.
- One-Arm Push-Ups: This advanced move requires tremendous upper body strength and stability. Start with wall-assisted one-arm push-ups and progress gradually.
Planks
Love them or hate them, planks are exceptional for building core strength and stability. But after a while, the basic plank might not be enough of a challenge, or you might simply be bored.
In either event, try incorporating these variations:
- Side Planks with Leg Lifts: Lift your top leg in a side plank position, engaging your obliques and hip muscles.
- Plank with Shoulder Taps: While in a standard plank position, tap your shoulders alternately with your hands to engage your core and improve shoulder stability.
- Plank on a Stability Ball: Place your forearms on a stability ball while maintaining a plank position. This adds an element of instability, requiring greater core engagement.
Final Thoughts: Challenge Yourself With Personal Training from Xtend Fitness
As you progress on your fitness journey, remember to challenge yourself to see improvements in strength and endurance continuously. By elevating these three full-body exercises (and others) and incorporating variations into your routine, you’ll keep your workouts exciting and maximize the benefits of each exercise.
At Xtend Fitness in San Antonio, we help you reach your fitness goals and continually evolve your workout routine. Our personal trainers know exactly how to challenge you to help you reach your goals quickly while keeping you safe and performing the exercises correctly. Schedule a consultation with our team today to find out more!
