BUILD YOUR UPPER-BODY STRENGTH WITH THESE PUSH-UPS

Now that you've been training for a while, you can do sets of push-ups without even breaking a sweat. Feels good, right? Well, maybe it feels a little too good. It might be time to push yourself a bit by introducing some push-up variations to further train the chest, triceps, and shoulders. And that is on top of the Walking Komodo Dragon Alligator push-ups you're already doing in my BodyCombat class... ;)

Here are two advanced push-ups to add to your workout:

Plyo Push-up
Start in your usual push-up position. Slowly lower yourself to the floor. With an explosive burst, exhale and push yourself up, bringing your hands off the floor and clapping them together. Land in the push-up position and repeat. The plyo (for plyometric) push-up increases muscle power by adding extra difficulty. An easier alternative to this move is to do the push-ups on your knees instead of your toes.

Close-Grip Push-up
Start in a push-up position but keep your hands directly under your shoulders instead of out to the side. Your legs should be extended straight out behind you, your feet slightly apart, so you are balancing on the balls of your feet as well as your palms. Keep your elbows pressed firmly against your torso as you slowly lower yourself down. Exhale, press back up to the starting position, and repeat. This close-grip push-up places more emphasis on your anterior shoulder muscles and triceps as well as your chest.

Now, get going! :)