Skipping The Bench And (Mostly) Pushups, Here’s Why

Today I’m going to make a somewhat bold suggestion for many of you gymgoers and at home exercise enthusiasts, and that’s to skip chest, kinda.

If you’re versed in functional fitness this may come as no surprise, but to most I bet it still will.

And what’s the purpose of this then?

Skipping bench and pushups

Well, it’s simply because this movement isn’t very intuitive or natural, defeating the purpose of benefitting from the exercises.

Why no bench?

No bench is because it is highly unnatural to lie down on your back on a bench or whatever and then to try to push a weight forward from your chest.

It simply doesn’t happen in nature, where the more shoulder-based military press with a barbell or dumbbell prevails, along with all the core musculature that is also involved then.

Much better for your posture and natural range of motion which you may already know the importance of, and also less risky injury-wise.

Although those massive pecs you’ve been dreaming of may be suffering here, I still strongly advise you adhere to this tip while sculpting yourself a more natural and efficient body in the process.

What’s the alternative?

As an alternative you may switch over to inclined bench entirely which gives at least a bit better and more natural lifting angle and reduced injury risk, although my advise is still to shun it entirely for the aforementioned military press.

And why no pushups?

Pushups are similar to bench in how they’re done, what muscles, etcetera, but with a somewhat unnatural movement to it as well.

And why do I say this, when it’s actually a natural way of getting off the ground from a prone position?

Well, it’s because it is natural in this sense, but what makes the exercise unnatural and not-so-great is the sheer volume it’s generally done in.

You don’t want to be pumping out hundreds or even tens of pushups all day every day for similar resons to the bench, but can leave it to maybe five to ten of them, and then finishing off with a bunch of them on your knees.

The ones on your knees have a better angle and works a bit as the incline-version of pushups.

And what are the alternatives to these pushups?

Well, aside from on-your-knees pushups they’re the same, military presses, as well, but with a caveat.

If you’re used to pumping out those pushups as your at home exercise of choice, you may want to exchange the bulk of them with other bodyweight exercises and dumbbells ones if you can (get a pair of great dumbbells and a yoga mat here).

Those then include squats, lunges, pushes and pulls with dumbbells, military presses, stand-ups, shoulder exercises and more for a much more well-rounded and good posture promoting workout.