Best Beginner Workouts With Weight Machines To Build Muscle Mass

The Hack Squat is a machine-based exercise that helps strengthen your quadriceps. It provides more stability and control than traditional squats with free weights, making it beginner-friendly.

How to do it

1. Step into the Hack Squat machine with your shoulders under the pads.
2. Place your feet shoulder-width apart.
3. Keep your knees slightly bent and lower into a squat by pushing your hips back.
4. Ensure your knees track outward and slightly forward, keeping your core tight.
5. When your thighs reach 90 degrees, push through your heels to return to the starting position.
6. Repeat for the set number of reps.

Leg Extensions are a great exercise for strengthening your quadriceps muscles. Using a machine, this exercise helps you focus on your leg muscles while providing stability. However, be cautious as it can put stress on your knees, so use light weights and control your movements.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the leg extension machine with your back supported.
2. Bend your knees to a 90-degree angle with your lower legs resting on the machine.
3. Hold the handles for support.
4. Straighten your legs upwards until they are level with your thighs.
5. Lower your legs back to the starting position.

The Lying Hamstring Curl is an exercise that focuses on strengthening the hamstrings using a machine. It is effective for building muscle and strength in the lower body, while providing stability throughout the movement.

How to do it

1. Lie face down on the hamstring curl machine with the pad above your ankles.
2. Hold the handles and engage your core to stay stable.
3. Bend your knees to lift the pad up.
4. Lower the pad back to the starting position.

The Machine Row is a great exercise for working on your back muscles. Using a machine helps you maintain stability and control, making it perfect for beginners to practice the seated row technique.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the row machine with your chest against the support pad.
2. Grab the handles with an overhand or neutral grip.
3. Tighten your core to keep your back straight.
4. Pull the handles towards your torso by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Slowly return the handles to the starting position.

The Seated Leg Curl is a machine exercise that focuses on strengthening the hamstrings. It helps build muscle mass by isolating these muscles, making it a good choice for lower body workouts.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the leg curl machine.
2. Adjust the top pad to sit just above your knees and the lower pad to rest on your ankles.
3. Hold the machine handles for support.
4. Bend your knees to pull your heels down in an arc.
5. Return to the starting position once you can no longer flex your knees.

The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together.
2. Make sure your head, shoulders, and butt stay on the bench.
3. Place your feet flat on the ground and keep your knees bent.
4. Position the bar over your chest, holding it just outside shoulder-width with an overhand grip.
5. Engage your core and unhook the bar, lowering it slowly towards your chest while keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
6. Touch your chest gently with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Bent Over Row is an exercise that targets the back muscles using a Smith Machine for added stability. It helps beginners improve their form and strength while performing the row movement.

How to do it

1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and bar at knee height.
2. Engage your core and hinge at your hips while bending your knees to reach for the bar.
3. Grab the bar with palms facing you.
4. Lift the bar by bending your elbows to bring it to your belly button level.
5. Lower the bar back to knee height and repeat.

The Smith Machine Incline Bench Press is a chest exercise that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It offers stability, making it ideal for beginners who want to focus on their form and strength without worrying about balance.

How to do it

1. Set the bench at a 40-60 degree incline and lie back, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Plant your feet firmly on the ground beneath your knees and keep your back in contact with the bench.
3. Position the Smith machine bar over your chest with a shoulder-width grip and keep your core tight.
4. Unhook the bar and lower it towards your chest by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Touch the bar gently to your chest, then press it back up to the starting position.

The Glute Kickback Machine helps strengthen your glutes using a machine for added resistance. This exercise gives you better control and stability while allowing you to focus on the movement without worrying about balancing.

How to do it

1. Stand with your chest against the padding and hold the handles.
2. Balance on one leg and place the other foot on the pedal.
3. Push your leg back while squeezing your glutes.
4. Hold briefly at the back, then slowly return to start.
5. Switch legs and repeat.

The Machine Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners to strengthen the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It uses a fixed range of motion, making it easier to focus on pushing rather than balancing.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the machine with your shoulders squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your back is in contact with the machine all the way from your head to your butt.
3. Hold the handles with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width.
4. Brace your core and push the handles up until your arms are fully extended at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lower the handles back to the starting position.

The Machine Fly is an exercise that targets your chest and works your shoulders. It uses a machine for stability, making it easier for beginners to learn the movement safely and effectively.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the fly machine with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart.
2. Ensure your back is against the pad, keeping contact with your head, shoulders, and butt.
3. Engage your core to maintain a neutral spine position.
4. Hold the handles with palms facing forward.
5. With slightly bent elbows, move your arms in a wide arc to bring the handles together.
6. Slowly return to the starting position.

The Machine Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise done on a machine that provides support and stability. It helps you focus on strengthening your shoulders in a controlled way.

How to do it

1. Sit facing the machine with your arms resting on the pads.
2. Keep your chest up and back straight.
3. Lift your arms out to the side until they are level with the floor.
4. Pause briefly, then lower your arms back to the starting position.

The Machine Leg Press is a strength exercise that targets the quadriceps and helps build muscle. It is performed using a leg press machine, which supports your body as you push weight with your legs.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the leg press machine with your back against the pad.
2. Place your feet shoulder-width apart on the platform, heels just below your knees.
3. Hold the brace bars and tighten your core to keep your back and shoulders against the pad.
4. Push the platform away by extending your legs without fully locking your knees.
5. Slowly return to the starting position.

The Machine Shoulder Press is a safe and effective exercise that targets your shoulders using a machine. It helps you build strength while providing stability, making it ideal for beginners to learn the movement.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the shoulder press machine with your back against the pad.
2. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and keep your heels on the ground.
3. Grip the handles with an overhand grip just outside shoulder-width.
4. Brace your core and push the handles overhead until your arms are fully extended.
5. Lower the handles back to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Decline Press is a safe exercise that strengthens the lower chest, shoulders, and triceps. It offers stability and support, making it ideal for beginners to practice proper form during their workouts.

How to do it

1. Lie back on a decline bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together and securing your legs to the bench.
2. Keep your head, shoulders, and butt in contact with the bench at all times.
3. Position the Smith Machine bar over your lower chest and grip it shoulder-width with an overhand grip.
4. Brace your core, unhook the bar, and lower it towards your chest by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lightly touch your chest with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.