699 exercisespage 18 of 35

Knee raises (Hanging)

intermediate
core
bodyweightstrengthcorecalisthenics

Instructions

  1. Hang from a pull-up bar with an overhand grip, arms fully extended and feet off the ground
  2. Engage your core and keep your shoulders pulled down and back to maintain stability
  3. Slowly lift your knees toward your chest by flexing your hip and abdominal muscles
  4. Pause briefly when your thighs reach parallel to the ground or higher
  5. Lower your legs back to the starting position with control, avoiding swinging
  6. Repeat for desired repetitions while maintaining proper form throughout

Important points

  • Keep your grip secure and avoid swinging or using momentum to lift your legs
  • Focus on controlled movements rather than speed to maximize core engagement
  • If you can't maintain proper form, try bent-knee raises or use straps to assist your grip
  • Keep your shoulders engaged and avoid hanging passively to protect your shoulder joints
  • Start with shorter holds and fewer reps, progressing gradually as your core strength improves

Knee to Chest Stretch (L)

beginner
full_body
bodyweightstretchingmobility

Starting position: Stand upright with feet hip-width apart, maintaining good posture with shoulders back and core engaged. Execution: Lift your left knee up toward your chest while grasping it with both hands, holding the stretch to feel a gentle pull in your hip flexors and lower back.

Instructions

  1. Stand tall with feet hip-width apart and arms at your sides
  2. Slowly lift your left knee up toward your chest as high as comfortable
  3. Grasp your left knee with both hands, interlacing your fingers around your shin
  4. Gently pull your knee closer to your chest while maintaining balance on your right leg
  5. Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds while breathing deeply
  6. Slowly release your hands and lower your left leg back to the starting position

Important points

  • Keep your standing leg slightly bent and engage your core for better balance
  • Avoid pulling too aggressively on your knee - the stretch should feel gentle and comfortable
  • Maintain upright posture throughout the movement, avoiding leaning backward
  • If you have difficulty balancing, perform this stretch near a wall or sturdy surface for support
  • Focus on steady breathing during the hold to enhance the stretching benefit

Knee to Chest Stretch (R)

beginner
full_body
bodyweightstretchingmobility

Starting position: Stand upright with feet hip-width apart and arms at your sides. Execution: Lift your right knee up toward your chest while grasping it with both hands, gently pulling it closer to stretch the hip and glute muscles.

Instructions

  1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and maintain good posture
  2. Slowly lift your right knee up toward your chest as high as comfortably possible
  3. Grasp your right shin or knee with both hands and gently pull it closer to your body
  4. Hold the stretch position while keeping your standing leg straight and stable
  5. Breathe deeply and relax into the stretch
  6. Slowly release your hands and lower your leg back to the starting position

Important points

  • Keep your standing leg straight and engage your core for better balance
  • Avoid bouncing or forcing the stretch - use gentle, steady pressure
  • Focus on feeling the stretch in your hip flexors and glute muscles
  • Maintain an upright posture and avoid leaning backward
  • Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds for optimal benefit

Knee tucked Side plank up and downs (Left)

core
bodyweightstrengthcoreisometric

Starting position: Begin in a modified side plank position with knees tucked, supporting your body weight on your forearm and knees while lying on your left side. Execution: Lower your hip toward the ground then lift back up to the starting position, maintaining the knee-tucked side plank throughout the movement.

Instructions

  1. Position yourself on your left side with your left forearm planted firmly on the ground, elbow directly under your shoulder
  2. Tuck both knees up toward your chest while maintaining a side plank position on your forearm and knees
  3. Engage your core and lift your hips up to create a straight line from your head to your knees
  4. Lower your hip down toward the ground in a controlled manner
  5. Press back up to the starting side plank position by engaging your obliques and core muscles
  6. Maintain steady breathing throughout the up and down movement

Important points

  • Keep your supporting elbow directly under your shoulder to prevent strain
  • Maintain core engagement throughout the entire movement to protect your spine
  • Control both the lowering and lifting phases - avoid dropping your hip quickly
  • Keep your knees tucked consistently rather than extending them during the movement
  • Focus on using your oblique muscles to initiate the lifting motion rather than momentum

Knee tucked Side plank up and downs (right

core
bodyweightstrengthcoreisometric

Starting position: Begin in a side plank position lying on your right side with your right forearm on the ground, elbow directly under your shoulder, and knees bent with both knees touching the mat for support. Execution: Lower your hips down to the mat and then press back up to the side plank position while maintaining the knee-tucked position throughout the movement.

Instructions

  1. Lie on your right side with your right forearm planted firmly on the mat, elbow positioned directly under your shoulder
  2. Bend both knees and keep them in contact with the mat for stability throughout the exercise
  3. Engage your core and lift your hips up into a side plank position while keeping your knees bent
  4. Slowly lower your hips down to touch the mat while maintaining control
  5. Press back up to the starting side plank position by engaging your obliques and core muscles
  6. Maintain the knee-bent position throughout all repetitions for consistent support

Important points

  • Keep your supporting elbow directly under your shoulder to prevent strain and maintain proper alignment
  • The bent-knee modification makes this exercise more accessible while still effectively targeting the obliques
  • Focus on controlled movement rather than speed to maximize core engagement
  • Keep your core tight throughout the entire range of motion to protect your lower back
  • Ensure your hips move in a straight up and down pattern rather than rolling forward or backward

Kneeling jump squat

quads
bodyweightplyometricstrength

Starting position: Begin in a deep squat position with feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended forward for balance, and weight shifted back onto your heels. Execution: Explosively jump up from the squat position, land softly back into the starting squat position, and immediately prepare for the next repetition.

Instructions

  1. Start in a deep squat with thighs parallel to the floor and arms extended forward
  2. Keep your chest up and core engaged throughout the movement
  3. Explosively drive through your heels to jump straight up
  4. Land softly on the balls of your feet, immediately sinking back into the squat position
  5. Maintain control during the landing phase to absorb impact
  6. Continue the jumping motion in a rhythmic, controlled manner

Important points

  • Focus on landing softly to reduce impact on knees and joints
  • Keep your knees aligned with your toes during both takeoff and landing
  • Maintain an upright torso position throughout the entire movement
  • Use your arms for momentum and balance during the explosive phase
  • Control the landing by engaging your core and leg muscles

L dumbbell raises

intermediate
full_body
dumbbellstrength

Starting position: Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand at your sides with arms straight and palms facing your body. Execution: Simultaneously raise one arm out to the side and the other arm forward to shoulder height, creating an 'L' shape, then lower both arms back to starting position and repeat with opposite arm positions.

Instructions

  1. Stand tall with core engaged and shoulders pulled back, holding dumbbells with a neutral grip
  2. Begin with lighter weights to master the coordination of the dual-plane movement
  3. Raise one arm laterally to the side while simultaneously raising the other arm forward, both to shoulder height
  4. Hold briefly at the top position while maintaining control of both dumbbells
  5. Lower both arms slowly and with control back to the starting position
  6. Alternate which arm goes forward and which goes lateral with each repetition

Important points

  • Keep a slight bend in your elbows throughout the entire movement to protect the joints
  • Avoid using momentum or swinging the weights - focus on controlled, deliberate movements
  • Maintain proper posture with chest up and avoid leaning forward or backward during the exercise
  • Start with lighter weights than you would use for single-arm raises due to the increased coordination and stability demands
  • Stop immediately if you experience any shoulder pain or discomfort

L-sit hold (dip bar or paralettes)1

advanced
chest
bodyweightisometriccorecalisthenics

Starting position: Grip dip bars or paralettes with arms fully extended, shoulders directly over hands, and legs hanging straight down. Execution: Lift your legs up to hip level creating an 'L' shape with your body while maintaining straight arms and holding this position for the desired duration.

Instructions

  1. Grip the bars firmly with hands shoulder-width apart and arms completely straight
  2. Engage your core and lift your legs up until they are parallel to the floor
  3. Keep your shoulders depressed and away from your ears throughout the hold
  4. Maintain straight legs and pointed toes while holding the L position
  5. Breathe steadily and avoid holding your breath during the exercise
  6. Lower your legs slowly and controlled when you can no longer maintain proper form

Important points

  • This exercise primarily targets the core and hip flexors rather than the chest despite the listed muscle group
  • Start with shorter holds of 10-15 seconds and gradually increase duration as strength improves
  • Keep shoulders actively depressed to prevent shoulder impingement and maintain proper form
  • If unable to perform full L-sit, progress by bending knees toward chest or performing supported holds
  • Stop immediately if you experience shoulder pain or cannot maintain straight arm position

L-sit to tucked L-sit

advanced
core
bodyweightstrengthcorecalisthenics

Starting position: Sit on the floor with legs extended straight in front of you, hands placed on the floor beside your hips with fingers pointing forward. Execution: Press through your hands to lift your entire body off the ground, then alternately hold the straight-leg L-sit position and tuck your knees toward your chest while maintaining the lift.

Instructions

  1. Warm up your wrists, shoulders, and core thoroughly before attempting this exercise
  2. Start in the L-sit position by pressing firmly through your hands and lifting your body and straight legs off the ground
  3. Hold the full L-sit for 2-3 seconds, keeping your legs parallel to the floor
  4. Slowly draw your knees toward your chest to transition into the tucked position while maintaining the hand support
  5. Hold the tucked L-sit for 2-3 seconds with knees close to your chest
  6. Extend your legs back out to return to the full L-sit position and repeat the cycle

Important points

  • Keep your shoulders pulled down and away from your ears throughout the entire movement
  • Maintain strong arm and core engagement to prevent dropping to the floor during transitions
  • Focus on controlled movements rather than speed when transitioning between positions
  • If you cannot hold a full L-sit yet, practice the tucked position first to build strength
  • Stop immediately if you experience wrist or shoulder pain and consider using parallettes or push-up handles for wrist comfort

Lat Pulldown

beginner
back
cablestrength

Starting position: Sit at a lat pulldown machine with a grip on the high pulleys. Execution: Pull the pulleys toward your chest, keeping elbows close to your body, then slowly return to the starting position.

Instructions

  1. Adjust the thigh pads so they rest comfortably on your legs to prevent your body from lifting during the movement
  2. Sit upright with your chest out and maintain a slight lean back of about 15-20 degrees throughout the exercise
  3. Grip the bar with your hands positioned wider than your shoulders using an overhand grip
  4. Initiate the pull by drawing your shoulder blades down and back, then pull the bar toward your upper chest
  5. Control the weight on the way up, allowing your arms to fully extend while maintaining tension in your lats
  6. Keep your core engaged throughout the entire movement to maintain proper posture

Important points

  • Avoid pulling the bar behind your neck as this can cause shoulder impingement and injury
  • Focus on using your back muscles rather than your arms by thinking about pulling your elbows down and back
  • Don't lean too far back or use momentum to complete the movement - this reduces effectiveness and increases injury risk
  • Maintain a controlled tempo with a 2-second pull down and 3-second return to maximize muscle engagement
  • Keep your shoulders down and away from your ears throughout the exercise to properly target the latissimus dorsi

Lat Pulldown (Reverse Grip)

back
machinestrength

Starting position: Sit at lat pulldown machine with reverse (underhand) grip on bar. Execution: Pull bar down to upper chest while squeezing shoulder blades together.

Instructions

  1. Sit upright at lat pulldown machine
  2. Grasp bar with underhand grip shoulder-width apart
  3. Pull bar straight down toward upper chest
  4. Squeeze shoulder blades together at bottom position
  5. Control the weight back to starting position
  6. Keep chest up throughout entire movement

Important points

  • Keep your torso upright and avoid leaning back excessively
  • Focus on pulling with your lats rather than just your arms
  • Maintain a controlled tempo on both the pulling and lowering phases
  • Keep your shoulders down and back throughout the movement

Lat Pulldown with V-Grip

back
machinestrength

Starting position: Sit at the lat pulldown machine with the V-grip attachment positioned at chest level. Execution: Pull the handle down toward your upper chest while squeezing your shoulder blades together.

Instructions

  1. Sit upright on the lat pulldown machine bench
  2. Grasp the V-grip handle with both hands using neutral grip
  3. Pull your shoulder blades down and back to engage
  4. Draw the handle down toward your upper chest smoothly
  5. Squeeze your lats at the bottom of the movement
  6. Control the weight back to starting position slowly

Important points

  • Keep your torso upright and avoid leaning back excessively during the pull
  • Focus on pulling with your lats rather than using your biceps to dominate the movement
  • Maintain a slight arch in your lower back throughout the entire exercise
  • Control the eccentric portion of the lift to maximize muscle activation

Lateral neck stretch (left)

beginner
full_body
bodyweightstretchingmobility

Starting position: Stand or sit upright with shoulders relaxed and spine neutral. Execution: Gently tilt your head to the left, bringing your left ear toward your left shoulder while keeping your right shoulder down.

Instructions

  1. Stand or sit with your back straight and shoulders relaxed
  2. Place your left hand gently on the left side of your head above your ear
  3. Slowly tilt your head to the left, bringing your left ear toward your left shoulder
  4. Keep your right shoulder pressed down and avoid lifting it toward your ear
  5. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds while breathing normally
  6. Return to the starting position slowly and controlled

Important points

  • Never force the stretch or pull aggressively on your head with your hand
  • Keep the movement slow and controlled to avoid neck injury
  • Maintain proper posture by keeping your shoulders down and back straight
  • Stop immediately if you feel any sharp pain or discomfort
  • Focus on feeling a gentle stretch along the right side of your neck

Lateral neck stretch (right)

beginner
full_body
bodyweightstretchingmobility

Starting position: Stand or sit tall with shoulders relaxed and head in neutral position. Execution: Gently tilt your head to the right, bringing your right ear toward your right shoulder while keeping your left shoulder down.

Instructions

  1. Stand or sit with good posture, keeping your spine straight and shoulders relaxed
  2. Place your right hand gently on the left side of your head above your ear
  3. Slowly tilt your head to the right, using light pressure from your hand to deepen the stretch
  4. Keep your left shoulder pressed down and avoid lifting it toward your ear
  5. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds while breathing normally
  6. Return to starting position slowly and repeat as needed

Important points

  • Never force the stretch or use excessive pressure with your hand
  • Keep the opposite shoulder down to maximize the stretch along the neck
  • Move slowly and smoothly to avoid sudden neck movements
  • Stop immediately if you experience any sharp pain or dizziness
  • Focus on feeling the stretch along the left side of your neck and upper trapezius

Laying leg raises to windshield wipers

intermediate
core
bodyweightstrengthcore

Starting position: Lie flat on your back with arms extended out to your sides for stability, legs straight and together. Execution: Lift your legs to 90 degrees, then lower them side to side in a windshield wiper motion while keeping your upper back pressed to the floor.

Instructions

  1. Lie on your back with arms spread wide at shoulder height for support
  2. Keep your legs straight and together, engaging your core muscles
  3. Lift both legs straight up to a 90-degree angle with your torso
  4. Slowly lower your legs to one side while keeping your shoulders pressed to the floor
  5. Return legs to center position, then lower to the opposite side
  6. Control the movement throughout the entire range of motion

Important points

  • Keep your shoulders and upper back firmly planted on the ground throughout the movement
  • Move slowly and controlled to maximize core engagement and prevent momentum
  • Stop the side-to-side motion before your lower back begins to arch off the floor
  • Bend your knees slightly if you experience lower back discomfort
  • Breathe steadily throughout the exercise, exhaling as you move your legs to each side

Leg Extension

legs
machine

Starting position: Sit on leg extension machine with back against pad and ankles behind lower pad. Execution: Extend legs upward by contracting quadriceps until knees are straight.

Instructions

  1. Adjust seat so knees align with machine's pivot point
  2. Position ankles securely behind the lower padding
  3. Grip side handles and keep back pressed against pad
  4. Slowly extend both legs until knees are straight
  5. Lower weight with control back to starting position

Important points

  • Keep your back firmly pressed against the seat pad throughout the movement
  • Avoid locking knees aggressively at the top of the extension
  • Control the weight on both the lifting and lowering phases
  • Stop if you feel knee pain and adjust the seat position

Leg Extension

beginner
quads
machinestrength

Starting position: Sit on a leg extension machine with knees bent and ankles secured under the pads. Execution: Extend your legs upward until fully straight, then lower slowly to the starting position.

Instructions

  1. Adjust the machine so the pivot point aligns with your knee joint and the ankle pad sits comfortably above your feet
  2. Sit with your back flat against the backrest and grip the side handles for stability
  3. Set your feet hip-width apart with toes pointing forward
  4. Extend your legs in a smooth, controlled motion until knees are almost fully straight
  5. Pause briefly at the top position while squeezing your quadriceps
  6. Lower the weight slowly taking 2-3 seconds to return to starting position

Important points

  • Keep your core engaged and avoid arching your back during the movement
  • Don't lock your knees completely at the top to prevent joint stress
  • Control the eccentric portion of the lift rather than letting the weight drop quickly
  • Start with lighter weight to master the form before progressing to heavier loads
  • Avoid using momentum or swinging your legs to lift the weight

Leg Extensions

legs
machine

Starting position: Sit on leg extension machine with back against pad and ankles behind lower pads. Execution: Extend legs upward in controlled arc until knees are straight, then lower slowly.

Instructions

  1. Sit with back firmly pressed against backrest
  2. Position ankles securely behind the lower pads
  3. Grip side handles for stability
  4. Extend both legs upward until knees straighten
  5. Lower legs slowly to starting position
  6. Repeat movement with controlled tempo

Important points

  • Keep your back pressed against the pad throughout the movement
  • Avoid locking knees aggressively at the top position
  • Control the weight during both lifting and lowering phases
  • Stop if you feel knee pain or discomfort
  • Adjust seat height so knees align with machine's pivot point

Leg Press

legs
machine

Starting position: Sit in leg press machine with back flat against pad and feet on platform. Execution: Lower weight by bending knees then press through heels to extend legs.

Instructions

  1. Position feet shoulder-width apart on platform
  2. Lower the weight slowly until knees reach 90 degrees
  3. Press through heels to extend legs back up
  4. Control the weight throughout the entire movement
  5. Keep core engaged and back pressed against pad

Important points

  • Keep knees aligned with toes throughout the movement
  • Avoid locking knees completely at the top position
  • Place feet in middle of platform for optimal leverage
  • Never hold your breath during the pressing motion

Leg Press

beginner
quads
machinestrength

Starting position: Sit on a horizontal leg press with feet positioned on the platform and knees bent. Execution: Push the platform forward by fully extending your legs, then slowly lower to the starting position.

Instructions

  1. Adjust the seat and backrest so your knees form a 90-degree angle when feet are placed on the footplate
  2. Position feet shoulder-width apart in the middle of the footplate with toes pointing slightly outward
  3. Grip the side handles for stability and keep your core engaged throughout the movement
  4. Push through your heels to extend your legs, avoiding locking your knees completely at the top
  5. Lower the weight slowly and under control until your knees return to the 90-degree starting position
  6. Maintain steady breathing, exhaling during the push phase and inhaling during the lowering phase

Important points

  • Keep your knees aligned with your toes throughout the entire range of motion to prevent injury
  • Avoid placing your hands on your knees as this can interfere with proper movement mechanics
  • Never allow your lower back to round by letting your knees come too close to your chest
  • Focus on pushing through your heels rather than your toes to maximize quadriceps activation
  • Start with lighter weight to master the form before progressively increasing the load