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Many athletes as well as sports enthusiasts focus on the workouts for the middle and lower back and ignore upper back exercises, which can lead to a number of negative consequences such as a slower rate of progression or even curvature of posture and muscle imbalance. Correctly selected load and good upper back exercises will help you effectively work out the desired area and, as a result, have a gorgeous body. So let’s talk about building upper back muscles. Anatomy and Function of the Muscles of the Upper Back Anatomically, the muscles of the upper back are represented by the two large areas, which are the trapezius and latissimus muscles. In addition to that, the back bundles of deltas are often referred to as the upper back, as they are involved in most exercises. But from the anatomical point of view, it is incorrect. The trapezius muscles are responsible for the movement of the shoulder blades. They are attached to the back of the head at the top and to the spine at the bottom. These muscles are extremely important for posture and keeping the back straight. The latissimus muscles occupy almost the entire back area and are located on both sides of the spine. Latissimus muscles resemble wings in shape. It is important to understand that the upper back refers only to the part of the lats, which is located under the trapezium. The main function of these muscles is to bring the shoulder to the body and pull the arm back. Peculiarities of Training Even if your upper back is slightly undeveloped, you should not try to build this area by increasing the volume of loads. Such training will rather lead to hypertonicity of the trapezium and problems with the cervical spine than to beneficial muscle strengthening. Try to use no more than 2-3 upper body exercises per workout or put the same load on each part of the back, this will help “tighten” the lagging top without muscle imbalance. It is also recommended to alternate power and repetition modes (in micro-cycles or cycles). This will help to create the most versatile load, as well as balance the ratio of fast and slow muscle fibers, which is genetically set for each person. Finally, while training in the gym, make sure your exercises are diverse as well as focus on different parts of the upper back. If you prefer to exercise at home, do various exercises with dumbbells. You might also want to try rubber band workouts. Workouts for Upper Back Last, but not least, let’s have a quick look at some useful exercises for the upper back: Reverse Fly Barbell High Rows T-Pulls Upright Row Y-Pulls Seated Row Renegade Row Final Thoughts Upper back muscles are very important for the right posture and general back health, which is why you should include some exercises for this muscle group in your workout routine. Find out lots of beneficial upper back exercises in our video tutorials.

The Kardashians set many beauty trends and one of those trends is gorgeous buttocks. So in this article, we will discuss how to build gluteus muscles and consequently look as hot as Kim, Kourtney, Khloé. Let’s start with the anatomy. The gluteus consists of three main parts: Gluteus maximus muscle, which is the largest muscle of the body. It helps to maintain balance while walking and running, allows the leg to move outward, and it is also responsible for the tightened (or not so) shape of the buttocks. The gluteus medius is partially overlapped by the gluteus maximus. It is located in the upper pelvis. It participates in the abduction of the leg to the side, lateral bending, and stabilization of the body during movement. Finally, the gluteus minimus is located under the medius muscle. Together they are responsible for abducting the leg and stabilizing the body, as well as for forming the hip line. Workouts for Gluteus It's not that easy to build gluteus muscles, especially if you are limited in time. But if you work out at least three times a week and never give up, you will quickly reach your goal. In order to help you achieve your goal, we prepared the best exercises for developing muscles of the gluteal region. So here they come: Barbell/dumbbell LungesThis exercise is ideal for those who are interested in pumping up the top of the buttocks and at the same time the back of the thigh. Begin the movement by bringing each leg one at a time forward. The thigh should be parallel to the floor and the knee should be at the right angle. Barbell SquatThis is one of the basic exercises that help effectively build this muscle. From the starting position - legs apart, lower the pelvis just below the knees. Do not bend your lower back and make sure your knees do not surpass your feet. The wider your legs are apart, the greater the load on the buttocks. Romanian deadliftsStand upright with your back slightly arched at the lower back. Holding the dumbbells in your hands, bend over, pulling your pelvis back. Once you reach the spot just below your knees, return to the starting position. Dumbbell Split SquatsThe exercise is performed with a straight back, with one leg taking a step forward and throwing the other one on a stand from behind. Squat and do the exercise for both legs. Back LungesStart in a standing position, take a wide step back and lower into a lunge. Return to the starting position and repeat the exercise for the other leg. Do 20-30 repetitions for each leg, making sure that your knees are bent at right angles and do not protrude beyond your toes. It is important to take steps exactly backward while maintaining rhythm and balance. Wrapping Up Gorgeous buttocks are everyone’s dream come true and, luckily, it’s not that difficult to develop these muscles if you know the right workouts. So why don’t you use our guides and start moving toward your goal now?

Everyone wants to have beautiful hips. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to keep it in a nice shape. We have some exercises that will definitely help you work your hips out. Best Workouts for Hips Beautiful hips require some effort, so let’s take a look at some exercises for hips. CrossingsThis deep inner thigh stretch will improve your hips and give you a boost of energy. Spread your legs wide with your feet facing outward. Bend your knees and lower yourself into a squat. Put your hands on your hips just above the knees, deepening the squat and stretching even more. Jump up and place your right foot in front of your left one, while landing, you should straighten and cross your legs. Return to the starting position and repeat the exercise with the other leg. Repeat the exercise, alternating legs, as many times as you can, for at least 40 seconds. Knee squatsSquats with knees together are much better than regular squats for strengthening the inner thighs, quads, and hamstring. And in order not to waste your time, you can work on your hands at the same time. Stand up straight with your feet together. Take dumbbells, bend your elbows and touch the shoulders with the dumbbells. Do a squat with your knees bent and your hips back as if you were about to sit in a chair. Keep your legs together during the entire exercise. The weight should be on your heels. Now stretch your arms up. Return to the starting position without putting your weight on your toes. Do 10 reps. Elbow plank with raising legsAdd leg raises to your regular elbow plank to improve the hips. Lie on your side, bend your right arm at the elbow and lean on it. Extend your legs so that your body becomes one straight line. Try to rest only on the outer edge of your right foot. Place your left hand on your thigh. Feel your spine stretch and your abs tighten, then lift your left leg just above your hip. Slowly lower it back down. Do not bend at the waist or lean on your shoulder, keep your weight on your elbow. Do about 15 reps for both sides. Swings with bent legsThis is one of the most popular exercises for strengthening the buttocks and hips. It is suitable for everyone, does not require additional equipment, and does not involve the spine. With the help of swings, the back, front, outer and inner thighs are worked out - combo. Start in plank, palms - under the shoulders, knees - under the pelvis, keep the position of the back. On the exhale, we swing our leg, pushing the heel up; we perform 20 repetitions on each leg and four sets total. Side lungesIf you are doing this exercise for the first time, you will not need dumbbells - first master the movements of the legs. Take a dumbbell in your right hand, lunge to the left, lowering your right hand to your right leg. Lower your hips as low as possible, resting on your heels. The toes are facing forward, the angle of the bent leg is 90 degrees. Pushing off with your left foot, go into a courtesy pose: the left leg goes back, and the right one goes forward. Raise your arm with the weight up. Both legs face forward. Keep your hips and legs taut. Repeat without returning to the starting position, but immediately moving from a squat to a side lunge. Do three sets of 10 reps, then switch sides. Final Word Beautiful hips are a reality if you know what to do, so why don’t you give these exercises a try and see everything yourself?

While working out most people pay lots of attention to their legs, arms, and abs and quite often they forget about the muscles of their spine, in particular, the lower back. Today, we are going to talk about the health of your lower back as well as how to strengthen these muscles. Anatomy of Lower Back Muscles The deep muscles of the back are some of the smallest but strongest muscles that support the spine. Most people mistakenly believe that small is insignificant, but when it comes to these muscles, this is completely wrong. The deep muscles of the back represent a set of muscles that attach to the spine. These muscles are composed of many thick, sinewy bundles that fill the grooves on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae and extend from the sacrum to the second cervical vertebra. These muscles spread over 2-4 vertebrae and stabilize the joints at all segmental levels, which allows each vertebra to work more efficiently and reduces the risk of degeneration of the articular structures. The origin of the deep muscles of the back is the posterior surface of the sacrum, the posterior iliac spines, the mastoid processes of the lumbar vertebrae, and the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae. These muscles are attached to the spinous processes of the vertebrae 2-4 segments above the beginning of the muscle. Exercises for the Lower Back Muscles In order to keep your lower back strong and healthy, you need to do some simple exercises for this muscle group. So let us take a brief look at those. Harvesting Apples Starting in the mountain pose. Raise your hands up and begin to stretch your left hand even higher as if you are trying to reach an apple from a branch above your head. Bend your right knee, pull up your right thigh. Inhale and try to feel the tension in the left square muscle of the lower back. Exhale and relax. Repeat this on the other side. Do 10 repetitions on each side. Side Stretching Sit on the floor, resting on your knees, with your hands resting on the floor just below your shoulders. Bring your knees and inner thighs together. Move your hips to the left until you feel comfortable, the left hip is on the bottom, the right is on the top. In this position, look over your right shoulder. Inhale and stretch out along the left lower back and thigh. Exhale, return to the starting position and do the same on the right side. Alternate sides, each time going through the starting position. After doing a few repetitions on each side, you can do the child's pose and rest a little. Belly Roll Place a pillow or bolster against your left thigh, then swing your torso towards the pillow. Continuing to stretch in the spine, place your hands on the sides of the pillow and bend over until you touch the pillow with your ribs and chest. Turn your head to the side that is most comfortable for you. Bend your hips and knees until you find a position with a pleasant, light pull on your right side, allowing your right hip to stretch in the opposite direction from your lower ribs. Relax in this position for a few minutes. Then take a few deep breaths and change sides. Final Word Developed lower back muscles will help you maintain your back health, which is why you definitely want to work on these muscles. So why don’t you do some of the exercises we mentioned in this article right now?

The trapezius is an extremely important muscle group that helps us to have a nice posture. Obviously, training these muscles is essential for every athlete and sports enthusiast. In this article, we are going to talk about the anatomy of the trapezius as well as how to build these muscles. So without any further ado, let us begin. Anatomy of Trapezius Trapezius and neck muscles are a part of the upper back and they consist of two layers. These muscles resemble a trapezoid, which is a geometry shape they had their name from. This muscle group can be divided into several parts, which are: top medium bottom Trapezius muscle symmetrically spreads to the side from the upper part of the vertebral column, imparting upward to the cervical vertebrae and to the back. The muscle fibers of the middle part of the trapezius are attached to the outer edges of the collarbones and scapular bones, and the fibers of the lower part are attached to the shoulder blades. There are a lot of different functions of this muscle. In particular, the upper part of the trapezium is responsible for the rise of the shoulder as well as for the ability to raise arms. The lower part of ​​the trapezius muscle is responsible for lowering the shoulders and arms. Finally, the middle trapezoidal zone assists in shoulder blade movement. Peculiarities of Training Since the functions of the various parts of the trapezius muscle are different, you need to perform a variety of exercises to train each of them. The middle and lower trapezius work well when the muscles of the back are in tension, therefore, any kind of pull-ups in the incline and weight lifting will work. For the upper part of the trapezius, you want to do exercises with dumbbells. The most important thing here is to be consistent in your training and you will no doubt see the results. Exercises for Building Trapezius Muscles Finally, let us take a brief look at some of the exercises for building these muscles. So here they come: Shrug Shoulder blade squeeze Upright row Chin-up Push-up Rear delt cable raise Overhead farmer's walk Rope rear delt pull Y raise High pulley cable row Final Word Trapezius muscles are very important for right posture and your back health, which is why no matter if you're a professional athlete or an office worker, you have to work on these muscles. So why don’t you start right now?