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Strength Training: Exercises, Technique, and Equipment

Explore strength training exercises for pushing, pulling, squatting, and hinging, with practical guidance on technique, equipment, and progression.

Strength training uses resistance to challenge muscles through movements performed with body weight, dumbbells, barbells, cables, or machines. It includes foundational lifts as well as focused variations for different movement patterns.

What does strength training include?

This category covers pushing, pulling, squatting, and hip-hinge exercises, including bench presses, rows, squats, and deadlifts. Select equipment and variations that match your goals, experience, and available space. Braced positioning, controlled reps, and an appropriate load are central to sound practice; coaching can help when technique is uncertain.

Practical guidance

Start with a manageable resistance to learn the movement, then progress gradually. Adjust benches, cables, and machines before each set, and keep a clear area around free weights. Stop if you experience sharp pain or cannot control the movement, and seek qualified technique feedback.

Lateral Raise Bodyweight

Lateral Raise Bodyweight

The Lateral Raise Bodyweight exercise is an effective way to strengthen your shoulder muscles without using weights. This exercise emphasizes the importance of body control and offers a unique challenge by using only your own body weight. Execution Begin in a standing position with your feet sho

Shoulders Strength Training
Lateral Raise to Shoulder Press with Resistance Band

Lateral Raise to Shoulder Press with Resistance Band

The Lateral Raise to Shoulder Press with a resistance band is a dynamic exercise that trains your shoulders and arms in a unique way. This combination exercise not only increases your muscular strength but also improves your coordination and stability through the use of a resistance band. Execution

Shoulders Strength Training
Lateral Raises

Lateral Raises

Lateral Raises are a fantastic exercise for strengthening and defining the shoulders. This exercise primarily targets the deltoid muscles, but also benefits overall upper-body strength and posture. Execution Begin standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand at y

Shoulders Strength Training
Lateral Raises On Cable

Lateral Raises On Cable

Lateral Raises on Cable is an effective exercise for strengthening and shaping your shoulders. This exercise provides unique resistance through the use of the cable machine, creating constant tension on the muscles throughout the entire movement. Execution Set the cable machine to its lowest pos

Shoulders Strength Training
Lateral Step-Ups with Weights

Lateral Step-Ups with Weights

Lateral Step-Ups with Weights is a dynamic exercise that combines stability, strength, and coordination. Adding weights increases the intensity, leading to improved muscle definition and endurance. Execution Find a stable elevated surface such as a step or a low bench. Hold a weight in each hand

Glutes Strength Training
Leaning Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Leaning Dumbbell Lateral Raise

The Leaning Dumbbell Lateral Raise is an effective exercise for strengthening and defining the shoulder muscles. This variation offers a unique challenge through the angle of inclination, activating your muscles differently than traditional lateral raises. Execution Find a sturdy object, such as

Shoulders Strength Training
Leg Circles

Leg Circles

Introduction: Leg Circles are an effective exercise for strengthening your core and improving the flexibility and mobility of your hips. This exercise targets not only your abdominal muscles but also the small stabilizing muscles around your hips. Execution: 1. Lie on your back with your arms along

Glutes Strength Training
Leg Circles

Leg Circles

Introduction: Leg Circles are an effective exercise for strengthening your core and improving hip flexibility. This exercise also helps stabilize your pelvis and strengthen your lower abdominal muscles. Execution: Lie on your back with your arms at your sides and your palms facing down. Lift your l

Abs Strength Training
Leg Circles Abs

Leg Circles Abs

Introduction: Leg Circles Abs is an effective exercise for strengthening your core and improving hip flexibility. This exercise not only helps build stability but also helps define your abdominal muscles. Execution: Begin by lying on your back with your arms at your sides and your palms facing down

Abs Strength Training
Leg curl on stability ball

Leg curl on stability ball

Learn the stability ball leg curl: roll the ball towards you with your heels while your hamstrings, glutes and core control the movement.

Hamstrings Strength Training
Leg Drops

Leg Drops

Leg Drops are an effective exercise for strengthening your core, with a focus on the lower abdominal muscles. This exercise also helps improve your stability and posture. Execution: Lie on your back on a mat, with your hands under your buttocks for support. Keep your legs straight and lift the

Abs Strength Training
Leg Extension

Leg Extension

The leg extension is the only exercise that allows the quadriceps muscles to be trained in isolation from muscles such as the hamstrings, glutes, abdominals, and lower back. Leg Extension Muscles involved: Legs: Quadriceps (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris)

Quads Strength Training
Leg Extension - Legs & Glutes

Leg Extension - Legs & Glutes

Introduction: The leg extension is a popular exercise for strengthening the muscles in your legs, particularly the quadriceps (the front of the thighs). This exercise is performed on a leg extension machine, which helps focus on the quadriceps without loading other muscle groups. Execution: 1. Sit

Quads Strength Training
Leg Flutter Kicks

Leg Flutter Kicks

Leg Flutter Kicks are an effective exercise for strengthening your core and lower body. This exercise not only helps build muscle strength but also improves your endurance and coordination. Execution Lie on your back on a mat, with your arms by your sides and your palms facing down. Lift y

Abs Strength Training
Leg Kicks

Leg Kicks

Leg Kicks are a dynamic exercise that helps strengthen your leg and core muscles. They also improve your balance and coordination while increasing your flexibility. Execution: Begin in a standing position with your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands on your hips or hold them extended for b

Quads Strength Training
Leg Lift Circles

Leg Lift Circles

The Leg Lift Circles exercise is a dynamic movement focused on strengthening and toning your lower body, with special emphasis on your abdominal muscles, hips, and thighs. This exercise combines the benefits of leg lifts with the added intensity of circular movements, making it an excellent choice f

Abs Strength Training
Leg Lifts Swiss Ball

Leg Lifts Swiss Ball

If you're looking for an effective way to strengthen your core and lower body, Leg Lifts with a Swiss Ball are an excellent choice. This exercise combines the benefits of leg lifts with the instability of a Swiss Ball, requiring your muscles to work harder to maintain your balance. Execution Lie

Abs Strength Training
Leg Press

Leg Press

Like the squat, the leg press is a compound exercise; an exercise that involves multiple joints and muscle groups. This is also evident from the long list of muscles involved, as listed above. However, because the upper body is in a fixed position, it is easier to concentrate on using the legs. In a

Quads Strength Training
Leg Press

Leg Press

The leg press is a popular strength exercise that targets the lower body. It is an effective way to strengthen the muscles in your legs and glutes without the load of free weights. Execution Adjust the seat of the leg press machine so that your knees are almost fully extended but still slightly

Quads Strength Training
Leg Press Machine

Leg Press Machine

The Leg Press Machine is a popular exercise for strengthening your lower body. It offers a safe and effective way to train your legs and glutes, with less risk of injury compared with free weights. Execution Sit on the machine with your back and head comfortably against the backrest. Place you

Quads Strength Training
Leg Press Machine Close Stance

Leg Press Machine Close Stance

The Leg Press Machine Close Stance is a powerful exercise aimed at strengthening your lower body. By placing your feet close together, you place more emphasis on the quadriceps and the outer thighs, while also training the glutes and hamstrings. Execution Find a leg press machine and adjust the

Quads Strength Training
Leg Press Machine Normal Stance

Leg Press Machine Normal Stance

The Leg Press Machine with a normal stance is a popular exercise for strengthening your lower body. This exercise offers a safe and effective way to train your legs and glutes, with less risk of injury compared with free weights. Execution Sit on the leg press machine with your back and head com

Quads Strength Training
Leg Press Wide High Stance

Leg Press Wide High Stance

If you are looking for an effective way to train your lower body, the Leg Press Wide High Stance is an excellent choice. This variation of the leg press targets a broader range of muscle groups through a unique stance and execution. It provides an excellent way to build strength and mass in your leg

Quads Strength Training
Leg Press Wide High Stance Behind View

Leg Press Wide High Stance Behind View

The Leg Press Wide High Stance is a powerful exercise that targets the lower body, with a special focus on the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps. This variation, performed with a wide and high foot stance, places extra emphasis on the inner thighs and upper glutes, making it a unique addition to yo

Quads Strength Training