Best Beginner Back Workouts With Garage Gym

The Dumbbell Row is a great exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps while also engaging your core for stability. You can do this exercise using a flat bench and dumbbells, making it accessible even with limited equipment.

How to do it

1. Place a dumbbell on each side of a flat bench.
2. Kneel on the bench with your right knee and place your right hand on the bench's edge.
3. Keep your torso parallel to the ground and grab the dumbbell with your left hand, palm facing your torso.
4. Pull the dumbbell up to your side, engaging your back; exhale as you lift.
5. Pause briefly at the top, then lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.

The Bent Over Barbell Row is an effective exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and arms. It uses a barbell for stability, helping you focus on building strength, making it a good introduction to more advanced lifting techniques.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and a barbell on the ground near your shins.
2. Bend your hips back and slightly bend your knees to reach for the barbell while bracing your core.
3. Grab the barbell with your palms facing you and lift it to knee height by extending your hips.
4. Pull the barbell towards your belly button by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lower the barbell back to knee height and repeat.

The Stiff-Legged Barbell Good Morning exercise targets the hamstrings and lower back. It uses a barbell for added resistance and helps maintain a straight back while hinging at the hips.

How to do it

1. Set the barbell at shoulder height and grip it with hands outside shoulder-width.
2. Squeeze your shoulder blades and engage your core.
3. Stand under the bar, placing it on the back of your neck, then step back with feet shoulder-width apart.
4. Keep your heels down and hinge your hips backward, allowing just a slight bend in your knees.
5. Maintain a straight spine, bend forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle, then return to standing.

The Australian Chin Up is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back, biceps, and shoulders. You perform it from a low, inclined position using a bar, making it easier than regular Chin Ups. It's a great way for beginners to build strength towards full Chin Ups.

How to do it

1. Lie underneath a low bar and grab it with an underhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
2. Keep your legs and body straight, starting with your arms fully extended.
3. Pull your chest towards the bar while keeping your elbows close, engaging your core to maintain a straight line.
4. Lower yourself back to the starting position and repeat.

The Dumbbell Bent Over Row targets your back and biceps. Using dumbbells helps ensure both sides of your body are trained equally and adds difficulty, making it great for building strength and muscle in your back workouts.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding dumbbells beside your hips.
2. Bend your knees slightly and push your hips back, leaning your torso forward at a 45-degree angle.
3. Keep your arms extended with dumbbells under your shoulders.
4. Pull the dumbbells toward your sides, squeezing your shoulder blades together at the top.
5. Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position and repeat.

The Reverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row is a great exercise for beginners that works your back, biceps, and shoulders. By using a reverse grip, you can better target your biceps and engage different back muscles. Holding a barbell offers stability, allowing you to focus on lifting properly.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Grip the barbell with an underhand grip (palms facing you).
3. Bend your hips back, keeping your knees slightly bent, until the barbell rests just in front of your shins at a 45-degree angle with your torso.
4. Pull the barbell towards your belly button by bending your elbows, keeping your back straight.
5. Lower the barbell back to the starting position in a controlled manner.

The Incline Dumbbell Row is a great exercise for building back strength. It uses an incline bench to help support your upper body, allowing you to focus on lifting weights without using other muscles for support.

How to do it

1. Set the bench to a 45-degree angle.
2. Lie face down on the bench, holding a dumbbell in each hand with your arms extended and palms facing in.
3. Bend your elbows and pull the dumbbells up toward your lower rib cage.
4. Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position in a controlled manner.

The EZ Bar PJR Pull Over is an exercise that works your lats, triceps, and chest. Using an EZ-Bar makes the grip more comfortable and helps stretch the muscles effectively, which is great for building upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Lie flat on a bench, keeping your shoulder blades on it.
2. Hold the EZ-Bar above your chest with arms straight.
3. Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, keeping your triceps tight.
4. Lower the EZ-Bar behind your head with control.
5. Pull the EZ-Bar back over your chest using your back muscles.
6. Extend your arms to return to the starting position.

The EZ-Bar Pull Over is an effective exercise for building strength in the upper back and chest, while also working the shoulders and triceps. It uses an EZ-Bar which allows for a comfortable grip and helps maintain stability during the movement.

How to do it

1. Lie on a flat bench with your shoulder blades touching it.
2. Grab the EZ-Bar with both hands above your chest, arms straight.
3. Bend your elbows to form a 90-degree angle, keeping your triceps tight.
4. Slowly lift the EZ-Bar over your head while keeping your arms steady.
5. Engage your back and triceps to bring the EZ-Bar back over your chest.

The Stability Ball Back Extension strengthens your lower back and core using a stability ball for an added challenge. This exercise helps improve overall stability and posture.

How to do it

1. Lie face down on a stability ball with your hips on top and your feet shoulder-width apart on the floor.
2. Place your hands behind your head, keeping your shoulders back and chest up.
3. Engage your glutes and lower back to lift your torso until it aligns with your hips.
4. Hold briefly at the top, then lower your torso back to the starting position.
5. Keep your core tight and maintain good posture throughout the movement.

The Inverted Row is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back while keeping your spine straight. It’s similar to a standard row but allows you to use your own body weight for added stability and support.

How to do it

1. Set a barbell at waist height.
2. Grab the bar with both hands, slightly wider than your shoulders.
3. Lie under the bar, keeping your body straight from your heels to your shoulders.
4. Lift your body by bending your elbows and pulling your chest towards the bar.
5. Lower yourself back to the starting position.

The Landmine Row is a strength exercise that mainly works your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a landmine to create a unique movement, helping increase muscle mass and strength while varying your workout routine.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, straddling the barbell, and face away from the landmine anchor.
2. Engage your core and keep your back straight.
3. Bend your knees slightly, hinge at your hips, and grip the barbell near the base.
4. Lift the barbell to knee height by extending your hips.
5. Pull the barbell towards your lower ribcage or chest by bending your elbows.
6. Lower the barbell back to the starting position.

The Single Arm Landmine Row is an exercise that targets your back muscles. By using one arm at a time, you can focus on building strength evenly and improving stability.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, facing away from the landmine anchor.
2. Brace your core to maintain a neutral spine.
3. Bend your knees slightly and hinge at your hips to reach for the barbell with your right hand.
4. Lift the barbell to knee height by extending your hips.
5. Pull the barbell towards your lower ribcage or until a plate touches your chest with your right elbow.
6. Lower the barbell back to the starting position and repeat on the left side.

The Loop Band Pull Up is a great exercise that strengthens your back and helps you work towards doing full Pull Ups. Using a loop band gives support, making it easier as you approach the bar while building strength.

How to do it

1. Attach the loop band to the pull-up bar to create a foot stirrup.
2. Put one foot in the band and grip the bar with your hands overhand.
3. Hang with arms straight and body in a line.
4. Engage your core and pull your chest to the bar by bending your elbows.
5. Lower yourself back down slowly and repeat the movement.

The Loop Band Chin Up is a beginner-friendly exercise that uses a resistance band on a pull-up bar to help you with chin-ups. It assists in lifting some of your body weight, making it easier to build upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Attach the band to the center of the pull-up bar to create a foot stirrup.
2. Step into the stirrup with one foot and grip the pull-up bar underhand.
3. Hang with your arms straight and body straight.
4. Engage your core and pull your chest up towards the bar by bending your elbows.
5. Lower yourself back down slowly and repeat.