Perfect Pushup Tips

by Monica

If you're like most people who join bootcamps or hire trainers then you are probably not a huge fan of pushups.

Pushups are definitely not easy for most people but the biggest issue with pushups isn't a weak upper body, a weak core, or shoulder pain. The biggest problem with pusups is the idea that there is only one way to do a perfect pushup.

There is no such thing as the ONLY way to do a perfect pushup. There is no one way to do any exercise but we'll stick to pushups for now. BTW, if you ever hear a fitness trainer who says there's only one way to do anything, run away!

There are actually many ways to do pushups (pushing movements) and many reasons for different people to use different styles. Many of my 60-80 year old female clients with serious shoulder problems do something called a wall pushup with a very wide grip and elbows coming back at an angle. The wall and the angled arm position actually trains scapular retraction as well as core activation.

In his book Movement That Matters Paul Chek discusses the wide range of movement that our bodies are designed for and most importantly he explains why choosing the right type of movement patterns is key for optimum health, fitness, and fatloss.

Just imagine if you were hiking out in the desert and a mountain lion leaped out at you from the side and landed on you and started mauling you (this actually happens here in the SW quite often). Would you tell the lion to hold on while you turned your body so you could push it off with perfect form or would you try to fight off that lion any way you could?

How about pushing an attacker or an opponent off your body or pushing your body onto a flying trapeze or up over a fence. None of those situations would allow you to get in the "perfect position" but you would still have to be able to push away from the object.

Our bodies are designed for a wide range of movement primarily for survival but choosing the right type of pushing patterns for your body will not only help you get the body you want much faster, it can actually improve your posture and your health (i.e. preventing shoulder surgery).

Watch the video above for tips on how to perform better or more pushups or all the videos below for some alternative pushing patterns. Remember that there is NEVER one way to do anything so if you're struggling with regular pushups there are dozens of alternative pushing patterns that can work for you too.