Best Workouts To Build Strength

The Back Squat is a popular lower body exercise that builds strength and muscle, especially in the legs. It's an important move in powerlifting and overall fitness routines.

How to do it

1. Set the barbell just below shoulder height and grip it with hands outside shoulder-width.
2. Squeeze your shoulder blades and brace your core by tightening your stomach muscles.
3. Squat down slightly to place the barbell on your neck before standing up and stepping back into a shoulder-width stance.
4. Keep your heels flat and your chest up as you lower your body by bending at your hips.
5. Ensure your knees move outward slightly as you squat down, keeping your back straight.
6. Once your thighs are parallel to the floor, push back up to the starting position.

The Barbell Bench Press is a key exercise for building upper body strength, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It’s commonly used in fitness programs and is essential for evaluating upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your head, shoulders, and butt are on the bench throughout the exercise.
3. Grip the barbell slightly wider than your shoulders and lift it above your chest.
4. Engage your core by tightening your stomach muscles as you lower the barbell to your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Gently touch your chest with the barbell, then push it back up to the starting position while exhaling.

The Barbell Incline Bench Press is a variation of the standard bench press that targets your chest while focusing more on the shoulders and upper chest. It's great for building strength in these areas.

How to do it

1. Lie back on an incline bench (45-60 degrees), keeping your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the floor.
2. Grip the barbell just outside shoulder-width and lift it above your shoulders with your arms extended.
3. Brace your core, lower the barbell to your upper chest by flexing your elbows at a 45-degree angle, then gently touch your chest.
4. Exhale and push the barbell back to the starting position.

Burpees are a full-body exercise that combines squats, plank, and jumps. They help build strength and endurance and can be modified for different fitness levels.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms at your sides.
2. Squat down and place your hands on the ground outside your feet.
3. Jump your legs back into a plank position, keeping your body straight.
4. Do a push-up by lowering your chest and then pushing back up.
5. Jump your feet back towards your hands and stand up.
6. Jump off the ground, landing softly.

The Cable Row is an exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a cable machine for proper positioning and resistance control, helping you build muscle and strength in your upper body.

How to do it

1. Sit on the bench and place your feet on the foot plates.
2. Hold the handle with both hands, keeping your back straight.
3. Pull the handle towards your torso while leaning back slightly.
4. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the end of the movement.
5. Slowly return to the starting position while maintaining tension in your back.

The deadlift is a powerlifting exercise that targets the muscles in your back and legs. It helps build overall strength and is commonly used in fitness routines.

How to do it

1. Stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and the barbell close to your lower legs.
2. Bend at your hips and knees to lower yourself towards the barbell, keeping your shins close.
3. Grip the barbell with both hands or one hand over and one hand under, while keeping your chest up.
4. Stand up straight by pushing through your hips and knees to lift the barbell along your body.
5. Lower the barbell back down in the same path you lifted it.

The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

How to do it

1. Lie back on a bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Place your feet flat on the ground, under your knees.
3. Hold the dumbbells outside shoulder-width apart, above your chest.
4. Keep your elbows at a 45-degree angle and engage your core.
5. Extend your arms fully and then lower the dumbbells back to starting position.

The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on a bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together and keeping your feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and buttocks.
3. Hold the dumbbells above your shoulders with palms facing inward and elbows slightly bent.
4. Engage your core and slowly lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
5. When the dumbbells are level with your chest, exhale and lift them back to the starting position.

The Dumbbell Lunge is a way to make lunges more challenging by adding dumbbells. It mainly works your thigh muscles (quads) while also helping with balance and strength.

How to do it

1. Stand straight with your feet hip-width apart, holding dumbbells at your sides.
2. Shift your weight onto one leg and step forward with the other leg.
3. Land heel-first and keep your back heel lifted.
4. Lower your back knee towards the ground while keeping your front heel down.
5. Once your front thigh is parallel to the floor, push off your front foot to return to standing.

The Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise is an exercise for the shoulders, focusing on the rear deltoids. By leaning forward with your hips back, you can effectively work the muscles at the back of your shoulders.

How to do it

1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips until your torso is at a 90-degree angle.
3. Keep your elbows bent and raise the dumbbells out to the sides until they reach shoulder height.
4. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the lift and then lower the dumbbells back down slowly.

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 Front Squat is a basic exercise that mainly works your quadriceps by holding a barbell in front of your body. This variation helps improve strength and stability, which can benefit various sports and daily activities.

How to do it

1. Set the barbell at shoulder height.
2. Rest the bar on your shoulders, either with arms crossed or in a front rack position.
3. Step back, placing your feet shoulder-width apart with toes slightly out.
4. Keep your weight balanced on your feet.
5. Push your hips back and bend your knees while keeping your back straight.
6. Lower your body until your spine is neutral and then rise back up to the starting position.

The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and biceps. It's similar to a Pull Up but is more stable, making it easier for beginners to control the movement and adjust the resistance.

How to do it

1. Attach a bar to the pull-down pulley and grip it with your hands shoulder-width apart, palms facing forward.
2. Sit upright on the seat, placing your knees under the adjustable pad.
3. Engage your core and keep your spine straight.
4. Pull the bar down towards your chest by bending your elbows, leaning back slightly.
5. Slowly return the bar to the starting position.

The Leg Press is a great exercise that works your thigh muscles, especially your quadriceps. It is done on a machine that supports your back, making it a stable and effective way to build leg strength.

How to do it

1. Sit on the leg press machine with your back against the pad.
2. Place your feet shoulder-width apart on the platform.
3. Spread the weight evenly on your feet and lift the platform to remove safety bars.
4. Hold the brace bars and tighten your core.
5. Lower the platform, pushing your knees over your toes while keeping your heels down.
6. Stop lowering when your lower back lifts off the pad, then push back to the starting position.

Pull Ups are a challenging exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps using just your body weight. Beginners can modify this exercise with assistance or weights for a more manageable workout.

How to do it

1. Grip the pull-up bar with your palms facing away from you.
2. Engage your core by taking a deep breath and tightening your stomach muscles.
3. Pull your chest up towards the bar by bending your elbows and keeping them close to your body.
4. Lower yourself back down to the starting position.