Buzz
We’ve previously explored handstands in our upside-down challenge and even tried yoga-style head balancing. Today, we’re focusing less on balance and more on how incorporating upside-down movements can help strengthen your body.
Decline Push-Ups
These push-ups are an excellent exercise if you're progressing towards handstand push-ups, but they’re also fantastic for building shoulder strength. Watch the video above to see the correct form: your chest should come down just above your hands while keeping your body in a straight line. Avoid letting your back sag, even if it seems like it would make reaching your chest easier.
A helpful tip towards the end of the video: use a pair of parallettes or heavy kettlebells to elevate your hands off the floor. This way, you can lower your chest further without pressing your nose into the ground.
Decline Bench Press
This exercise is a staple in most gyms, offering a variation of the traditional bench press. Using either a barbell or dumbbells, you perform the press on a slanted bench where your knees are hooked at the higher end and your head is positioned at the lower end. This variation targets slightly different chest muscles compared to the flat bench press, making it a great addition to your workout routine.
Decline Sit-Ups
For a greater challenge to your sit-ups or crunches, try using a decline bench. By hooking your knees over the top and lowering yourself down, you will have to engage your core more to raise your torso against gravity. While it doesn’t offer much more than traditional crunches (or weighted ones), it can still add some variety and fun to your workout.
Have you discovered any other effective exercises that can be done in an inverted position? Share your thoughts with us!
