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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?

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.

Chest muscles are among the hardest ones to train yet strengthening these muscles is totally possible. In this article, we are going to talk about chest muscles and how to train them. How to Develop Chest Muscles Developed chest muscles are a vivid indicator of hard work on the body. This muscle group is one of the largest and most complex in the human body. Complete training demands to combine basic and isolating exercises. This is the only way to build the muscles in perfect shape. Barbell exercises are more suitable for increasing muscle mass, and with dumbbells and equipment - for improving the shape and detailed work. It is a bad idea to use really heavyweights in the beginning. It’s much better to learn how to feel the work of the necessary muscles during working out your chest, your arms and shoulders. For example, classic push-ups from the floor will help you feel your chest muscles and understand how they work. For a proper workout, you need to use a variety of dumbbell chest exercises to work the muscles at different angles. Workouts for Chest Dumbbell bench pressPlace the dumbbells near your hands. Start by taking the correct position. The back of the head, back and pelvis are pressed to the bench. The heels are pressed into the floor, the legs are separated by 60 degrees. Memorize the position, sit down, grab the dumbbells, and put them on your knees. Lie down while getting the dumbbells to your chest. Extend your arms, leaving a slight angle at the elbow joint, keeping the dumbbells in parallel. Start the chest exercise with a smooth lowering of the weight, moving your elbows to the up and down. When you feel a stretch in your pectoral muscles, return your arms to their original position. HammerStart it with the right position. Sit on the edge of a bench with the dumbbells on your knees. Lie down tightly pressing the back of your head, back, and lower back to the bench. At the same time, shift your weight from your hips to your chest. Raise your arms in front of you, keeping a 90-degree angle. The palms are turned towards each other, the elbows are slightly bent. Bend your arms as you inhale, bringing the dumbbells to your chest. During the exhalation, unbend focusing on the tension of the pectoral muscles. Repeat it. The Hammer adds extra tension to the triceps, so it's important to focus on your chest muscles. The exercise must be done slowly, and it requires concentrated work. It is great for beginners and athletes recovering from chest, shoulder, or elbow injuries. Dumbbell PulloverLying on a bench, the back of the head, shoulders and buttocks are kept to the surface, the feet stand firmly on the floor, the hands hold the dumbbells on the chest line with one hand on the other. Fix it and raise the dumbbell over your head, doing a slight bend of the elbow. Exhaling, gently lower the dumbbell behind your head, focusing on stretching the pectoral muscles. Only the shoulders work in the process. Having reached the maximum tension in the lower amplitude, return your arms back along the same trajectory. This exercise with dumbbells on the chest is optional, therefore it is more logical to use it in the mix with basic exercises. It helps to stretch the chest muscles, as well as increase the shape of the chest. Make sure that the head is supported in this position. Otherwise, the risk of straining the cervical muscles or pinching the nerve becomes critical. Work the dumbbell smoothly, avoiding sudden jerks and extreme weights.Also don’t forget that some pre-workout warm-ups are great for increasing your stamina and recovery, but don't rely on them all the time. Getting the right amount of sleep and proper nutrition are two of the most important factors in increasing your gym performance. Final Thoughts Exercises for your chest will help you improve your relief as well as general health, so make sure to train these muscles at least a little bit while working out.

The hamstrings are often underestimated. Usually, training focuses on the quads and calves, but the hamstrings seem to be less important. However, it should be remembered that neglecting any muscle has aesthetic and health consequences that you can avoid by working with it well. The reason you shouldn't forget about these muscles isn't just because of the symmetry and the look of your body. A weak hamstring is one of the most common causes of injuries most professional athletes have. Best Workouts for Hamstrings The best way to strengthen your hamstrings is, of course, exercising. So let’s talk about these workouts. Barbell 90The main benefit of this exercise is that you don't need lots of equipment, just a barbell. Start in a standing position with a barbell on your shoulders, keeping your back straight at all times. Bend your knees slightly, stretch your glutes, and bend forward 90 degrees. Then inhale and return back to the starting position. In addition to the hamstrings, this exercise will also strengthen your glutes and back. HyperextensionHyperextension is a great exercise for the hamstrings, as well as the muscles in the lower back and glutes. Sit comfortably on the hyperextension machine with your heels firmly resting on the platform at the bottom of the machine. Cross your arms over your chest or behind your head. Smoothly lower yourself down until you feel a stretch in the muscles of the lower back and hamstring while inhaling. Without delay at the bottom point, straighten to the level of the starting position, exhaling. Then return to the starting position. Throughout the exercise, keep your head in line with the body, keep your back straight. Tights upThis exercise can be performed on two horizontal bars on the playground, or simply put your feet on a chair or bench. We will describe the home workout option. Sit on the floor with your feet on the chair. Raise the body on your hands so that the tights are up in the air. Bend your knees and lift your tights up so that your body is parallel to the floor. Do 7-8 reps. One foot and dumbbellsThis exercise works well but requires a nice sense of balance. Take dumbbells in your hands, take one leg back and do not lower it to the floor until the end of the exercise. After that get to the previous position. Repeat this exercise a few times until you are tired. Final Word Hamstrings might seem insignificant but it doesn’t mean that you can skip working on these muscles. In fact, strong hamstrings will protect you from many injuries. So do not hesitate and start working on these muscles right now.

The path to beautiful abs should not start with the question 'How to strengthen abdominal muscles?' The thing is that the visual image of a flat stomach depends on the percentage of body fat. This means that the way your abs will look not only depends on the number of crunches you do but on the quantity and quality of your food. So today we are going to talk about the tips for getting gorgeous abs. Abs vs Food Nutrition is extremely important for getting abs. In fact, your coach will probably give individual nutrition recommendations after testing, but there is one universal rule that everyone should follow - eat healthy food. In particular, you should avoid eating bakery, sugar-containing foods, and salty snacks. On the contrary, you have to eat more vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts and seeds, as well as meat or other high-protein foods. Getting Started Before starting a workout, it is important to obtain data on your body condition. This means that the best place to start is fitness testing. Your trainer will ask you some questions in order to learn about your lifestyle, test your ability to move, and measure you. Then the coach will recommend the activities that will be safe and effective for you. Popular Abs Workouts It is believed that the best ab exercises are the training of the rectus abdominis muscles, which perform the function of flexing the body and keeping it upright. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. You also want to work on the deep muscles, which are part of your core and include the muscles of the abdomen, back, thighs, and buttocks. Their function is to help the body maintain posture and balance in an upright position. As a matter of fact, if your core is not strong enough, you will most likely experience discomfort while doing other exercises. Strengthening the core should be your top priority and you can do that with the help of TRX loops, plank and its variations, as well other bodyweight exercises. Exercises for Strengthening Core and Abs As we have mentioned above, to have gorgeous abs, you have to make sure you not only work on your abdominal muscles but on your entire core. So here are some exercises for improving all these muscles: Diagonal twists Plank Pushups Plank push-ups Crunches Leg lifts from lying position Wrapping Up As you can see, getting gorgeous abs is totally possible if you know how to work on them. Healthy nutrition and regular exercises will help you sculpt the body of your dreams, so do not hesitate and start going toward your dream now.