Beebleblog

What is it for?

Like any press up exercise this one is primarily for the chest muscles (pectorails major – Beeble) focusing on the lower portion of the muscle. It also works the triceps and your core muscles (the stomach, back and hip joints – Beeble). So why use the ball? We use the ball to add uncertainty and balance to the exercise. This makes the press up exercise far harder and involves more muscles. It works your chest and triceps more by being that more difficult. It works your core far harder than a standard press up due to the 360 degree movement from the ball. Finally it works your shoulders which are recruited as stabilisers against the ball’s desire to move away from you.

…and only for the experienced

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It was only the other day that I was designing a program for one of my clients and was just writing out the first of many gruelling chest exercises for my client, when I heard my darling wife exclaim: “I hope you’re not going to get one of your clients to do that exercise are you?” She was referring to the all too familiar piece of gym equipment, the Pec Deck. Not being a defensive person (not much – Beeble) and wanting to learn more I asked my wife to explain. Nicky is the best personal trainer I know and she proved it again. I will now try and show you how she enlightened me.

Why is the Pec Deck so bad?

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What is it for?

The Bench Press (a.k.a. the chest press or barbell press - Beeble) is an exercise that is often used as a true measure of strength. The exercise itself has been around for a long time and is a favourite amongst gym enthusiasts and novices alike. It focuses on the Pectoralis Major muscles (the Chest muscles - Beeble) and particluarly on the Triceps (back of the arms – Beeble).

Increase Your Strength: Decrease Your Body Fat

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Before I even begin to explain how to do this exercise you have to understand that this is a highly advanced exercise and you must be very competent not only with a normal press up, but also have a very high level of fitness and co-ordination. Now I have that off my chest I can get into the exercise.

What is it for?

Like the standard press up the Jumping Press Up works on the chest muscle (aka the pecs - Beeble) and the triceps as the main muscles. The secondary muscles it will work are the core muscles which you can learn more about here and this is due to the support you have to give your posture to maintain your body in the straight body position.

Why do this exercise?

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What is this muscle?

The chest muscle, also know as the pectoral muscle (pecs), is one one the largest muscles in our torso. We have 2 pecs one either side at the front of our torso (highlighted in on the diagram), they originate from the sternum (chest bone) and insert into the tops of our arms.

What do we use them for?

Our pecs’ primary movements are for: pushing away from the body, moving our arms horizontally together in front of our body (like a seal claps - Beeble) and down against the side of our body. There are many other secondary movements that the pecs are also involved in.

Good examples of exercises that use the chest as a primary muscle are press ups, bench press, chest flyes and any other variant of these e.g. inclined and declined.

Is stretching them important?

Technorati Tags: Chest, Exercise, fitness, pecs, Pectoral, Stretch