Chest Exercises Can you build a strong chest without any machines or weights?? How about the old fashioned push-up for Effective Chest Exercises!! Yes, in some ways pushups are even more effective for Chest Exercises than a bench press. A pushup is referred to as a closed-chain exercise, meaning you move your body through space, instead of using a bar. In order to make all that happen, you need to engage your core muscles to stabilize your torso. This means you use about 75% of your own body weight during each rep, while targeting your chest, shoulders, triceps, and your core. This movement works a lot more muscles than you would by bench press alone. Pushups also can be done in many creative ways!! • Vary the distance your hands are apart o The wider the hand position – outer chest o The closer the hand position – inner chest • Do pushups in an incline or decline position o Use a bench – incline or decline position o Use a stability ball – more stabilization required • Vary Technique of Pushup o Use one arm o Clap between reps o Use round dumbbells to force you to stabilize • Advanced Techniques o Incline Pushup on using stability ball – full body weight and balance o Decline Pushup with feet on stability ball o Decline Pushup with feet on stability ball, hands holding dumbbells So if you don’t have weights don’t fret….. Your own body weight can produce some outstanding Chest Exercises and with a little creativity will develop the chest you have always wanted.. Toned, Tight and Defined..