With all the exercise machines at the gym and countless number of workout videos online, it can feel intimidating about where to start. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with the basics. Push-ups are a classic way of strengthening your body. Beyond toning your chest, pushups activate muscles in your back, hamstrings, abs, quads, and triceps. Another perk is that you don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership—just yourself and some space on the floor.
Take a deep breath as you lower yourself down, Pedemonte tells PopSci. You should hold your breath for one to two seconds while engaging the core and then exhale as you are coming back up. Weak upper body or core muscles If your problem is being unable to hold yourself as you lower down, Pedemonte recommends using a chest press machine to strengthen the pectorals, triceps, and deltoid muscles. “It’s great for people who don’t have balance or are starting from zero,” he explains.