Exercise Database

Outdoor Hiking

Outdoor hiking is a physical activity that involves walking or trekking on trails, often through natural environments like forests, mountains, or parks. It can vary in intensity, from easy flat trails to steep, challenging climbs. Is it Cardio or Strength and Endurance? Hiking is primarily considered a cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise, especially when done on moderate to steep inclines or for long durations. It increases your heart rate, improves lung capacity, and helps in burning calories, making it beneficial for heart health and weight management. Muscle Groups Used: Leg Muscles: Hiking works the major muscles in your legs, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and glutes. The uneven terrain and elevation changes help build strength and endurance in these muscles over time. Core: Maintaining balance on uneven surfaces engages your core muscles, contributing to overall strength. Endurance: Hiking longer distances or over challenging terrains also enhances muscular endurance, particularly in your legs and back. Thus, hiking is a combination of cardio and muscular endurance exercise, with some strength benefits, particularly in the lower body.

Dumbbell Preacher Curl

The dumbbell preacher curl exercise is a version of the preacher curl that uses dumbbells and a special bench to isolate the biceps build and strengthen the arms. Steps : 1.) Start off by adjust the seat of the bench so your arms are level with the top of the bench. 2.) Grab a dumbbell in each hand with an underhand (palms facing up) grip. 3.) Picking up the dumbbells, rest your arms against the bench and extend them fully towards the floor. 4.) Keeping your arms on the bench at all times, curl the weight up towards your head, squeezing and isolating your biceps. 5.) Pause for a moment and then lower the weights back to starting position. 6.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Machine Assisted Chin-Up

Steps : 1.) Start by setting up the weight that will allow your body to lower towards the floor and that you would like to perform for this exercise, making sure that the knee rests are in position for your body to rest upon. 2.) Climb onto the machine and place your knees upon the rest, then once in position grab the pull-up handles above you with an underhand, palms facing toward you, grip and lift yourself up towards the ceiling. 3.) Squeeze your lat and back muscles as your body comes up towards the ceiling until your shoulders are at hand level and hold for a count. 4.) Return back to the starting position. 5.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Flutter Kick

The flutter kick exercise works and strengthens the hamstrings and the muscles on the back of the thigh. Steps : 1.) Start off in a prone position on the floor, resting your forehead on your hands that are out in front of you. 2.) While keeping both legs straight, raise one leg off the floor a few inches, lower and repeat on the opposite side. 3.) As you feel more comfortable with the movement, you can pick up the speed slightly, so you're not resting between reps. It should look similar to how your feet move up and down while swimming. 4.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired. Tips : 1.) Keep your back straight throughout this exercise and hips in contact with the floor.

Cable Reverse Crossover

Steps : 1.) Start by setting up handles on a cable pulley machine at chest level height and stand up straight in between both machines. 2.) Grab onto the handles with opposite handles and extend them out in front of your body so that your hands are completely extended out to the sides, this will be your starting position. 3.) Slowly let the cables return inward so that you are hugging your body and feeling a stretch in your back. 4.) Squeeze and hold for a count. 5.) Return back to the starting position. 6.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raise

The smith machine reverse calf raises exercise is a unique workout that works the anterior muscle of the calf. Steps : 1.) Place a block or low box under the bar at a smith machine and standing on the edge of the box with your toes hanging off. 2.) Place the bar across your shoulders and lean forward lifting your ankles off the box, feeling a stretch in your calf muscles 3.) Return to the starting position. 4.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Toe Touches

Steps : 1.) Start off lying down with your back flat on an exercise mat or the floor, your arms lying across your sides with palms facing down and legs touching each other as this is your starting position. 2.) Slowly raise your legs till they are pointing in the air and then move your arms out so that they are fully extended at a 45-degree angle 3.) Make sure to keep your back flat on the floor, touching your toes with your fingers and squeezing your abdominals in the motion. 4.) Repeat for desired sets and repetitions.

Bodyweight Rear Lunge

Steps : 1.) Start by standing up straight with a slight bend in your knees and arms at your sides. 2.) Step behind you with one of your legs while maintaining your balance and squat down through your hips. 3.) Lower yourself down towards the ground so that your front knee is parallel with the ground and hold for a count. 4.) Return back up to the starting position. 5.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Dumbbell Alternating Deltoid Raise

Steps : 1.) Start by standing up straight with your feet shoulder width apart, arms at your sides and holding a dumbbell in each hand. 2.) Once in position slowly raise the weights up at your sides till they are at shoulder height avoiding any swinging. 3.) Hold this position for a count then return back to the starting position. 4.) On the next rep raise the weights out directly in front of you until they are at shoulder level again. 5.) Return back to the starting position and repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Pendlay Row

Performing a Pendlay row involves several steps to ensure proper form and effectiveness: Begin by standing with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your torso angled forward at around 45 degrees. Hold a barbell with an overhand grip (palms facing down), slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Your arms should be fully extended and perpendicular to the floor. Engage your core muscles to stabilize your spine and maintain a flat back throughout the movement. Keep your chest up and your shoulders down and back to avoid rounding or hunching forward. With controlled movement, pull the barbell up towards your lower chest by retracting your shoulder blades and bending your elbows. Keep the bar close to your body throughout the movement to maximize back engagement. Hold and Squeeze: Once the barbell reaches your lower chest, hold the position for a brief moment and focus on squeezing your back muscles to maximize contraction. Lower the barbell back down to the starting position in a controlled manner, fully extending your arms without allowing the weight to touch the ground. Perform the desired number of repetitions while maintaining proper form and control over the weight.

Bodyweight Side Lunge

Steps : 1.) Start by standing up straight with a slight bend in your knees. 2.) Step out to your side with your left leg and squat down through your hips. 3.) Lower yourself towards the floor so that your front leg is parallel with the floor and hold for a count. 4.) Return back to the starting position. 5.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Cat Cow Stretch

The Cat-Cow stretch is a classic yoga sequence that helps to improve flexibility and mobility in the spine while also stretching the back, torso, and neck muscles. Begin on your hands and knees in a tabletop position. Ensure that your wrists are directly under your shoulders and your knees are directly under your hips. Your spine should be in a neutral position, with your head in line with your spine. Inhale deeply as you arch your back and tilt your pelvis down towards the floor. Lift your chest and tailbone towards the ceiling, allowing your belly to sink towards the ground. Lift your gaze forward or slightly upward, lengthening through the front of your neck. As you exhale, round your spine upward towards the ceiling like an angry cat. Tuck your chin towards your chest and draw your belly button towards your spine to engage your core. Press firmly into your palms, rounding your upper back as much as comfortable. Allow your head to drop towards the floor, creating space between your shoulder blades. Continue to flow between Cow and Cat poses with each breath Inhale to transition into Cow Pose, arching your back and lifting your gaze. Exhale to transition into Cat Pose, rounding your spine and tucking your chin. Move slowly and mindfully, syncing your breath with your movement.

Machine Inverted Row

Steps : 1.) Start by taking a barbell and placing it on a rack at about waist level. 2.) Position yourself underneath the bar, with full body resting on the floor. Grab the bar with a shoulder-width, overhand grip. Keep your body extended straight out with heels on the ground. 3.) Flex up with your elbows, pulling your chest towards the bar until you feel a stretch in your middle to lower back. 4) Hold this position for a count then return back to the starting position. 5.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Machine Hammer Curl

Steps : 1.) Start by sitting on a bicep curl machine that has rotating handles. 2.) Rest your arms over the padding keeping them straight and grab onto the handles with a neutral (hammer) grip. 3.) Slowly elevate the handles up towards your shoulders, squeezing and isolating your biceps, and hold for a count. 4.) Return to the starting position. 5.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Dumbbell Decline Fly

The Dumbbell Decline Fly is an effective exercise for targeting the lower portion of the pectoral muscles. Here’s how to perform it correctly: Setup: Adjust the bench to a decline angle of about 15-30 degrees. Sit on the bench with your feet securely positioned under the foot pads for stability. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip (palms facing each other). Starting Position: Lie back on the bench with your head lower than your hips. Extend your arms above your chest with a slight bend in your elbows. The dumbbells should be positioned directly above your shoulders, palms facing each other. Engage Your Core: Tighten your abdominal muscles to maintain stability and prevent arching your back during the exercise. Lower the Dumbbells: Lower the dumbbells in a wide arc out to the sides, keeping a slight bend in your elbows throughout the movement. Your upper arms should remain parallel to the floor. Continue lowering the dumbbells until your elbows are at or slightly below chest level. You should feel a stretch in your chest muscles. Press the Dumbbells: Reverse the motion, bringing the dumbbells back up in the same wide arc, keeping the slight bend in your elbows. Squeeze your chest muscles at the top of the movement, bringing the dumbbells back to the starting position.

Cable Standing Curl

Steps : 1.) Start by standing in front of a low pulley machine with a straight bar attached to it. 2.) Keeping your knees bent and back straight, grasp the bar with an underhand grip with your arms and hands extended. 3.) Make sure that you keep your upper arms tight up against your body and then slowly curl the bar up towards your chest until you feel tension on your biceps. 4.) Hold this position for a few seconds and then return back to the starting position. 5.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Bench Hip Thrust

Steps : 1.) Begin by laying with your back on a flat bench with your feet hanging off one end and grabbing the bench above your head. 2.) Keep your feet and knees together and then slowly bring them up towards the ceiling keeping them pointed straight up. 3.) While your legs are pointed straight up, thrusts your hips up off of the bench then slowly low back down to the bench. 4.) Repeat for as many reps and sets as desired.

Dual Cable Triceps Extension

Steps : 1.) To begin this exercise; start off by standing with the cable machine at your back. Grab onto overhead cables that are attached to a pulley machine. 2.) Grab each cable with the opposite hand so that you arms are criss-crossed. 3.) Then pull across and down as if you were doing a tricep extension with each hand. 4.) Hold onto this position for a few seconds squeezing your upper back and triceps tightly. 5.) Return back to the starting position. 6.) Repeat this exercise for as many repetitions as needed.