PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To thicken the upper back. This exercise also helps widen the upper back and, to a lesser degree, adds density to the lower back. EXECUTION: (1) Standing with feet a few inches apart, grasp the bar with a wide, overhand grip. With your knees slightly bent, bend forward until your upper body […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To work the lats, especially the lower lat area. Again, working with an overhead cable and weight stack allows you to do the chinning movement with less than body weight. EXECUTION: (1) Grasp the handles or a bar using a narrow- or medium-close grip and pull down to your upper chest. Don’t […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To widen the upper lats. This exercise allows you to do Chins with less than your total body weight, so you can do a lot of extra reps for the upper back if you feel you need more work in that area (but it should not replace Chins as the standard exercise […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To work the back muscles, widen the lower lats, and develop the serratus. This exercise is great for widening and lengthening the appearance of the lats. It also develops the serratus anterior, those little fingers of muscle that lie under the outside of the pecs, which add so much to front poses […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To widen the upper back and create a full sweep in the lats. Chinning yourself so that you touch your chest to the bar rather than the back of the neck gives you a slightly longer range of motion and is less strict, allowing you to cheat slightly so you can continue […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To widen the upper back and create a full sweep in the lats. Wide-Grip Chins widen the lats and develop the entire shoulder girdle. This exercise is primarily for the upper and outer regions of the lats and also spreads the scapula, making it easier to flare the lats. EXECUTION: (1) Take […]
Machine Pullovers can be used to develop the serratus as well as the lats. Learn to feel when the serratus muscles are working the hardest, and adjust the position of your body and the movement of your elbows until you feel them contracting to the maximum.
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To work the serratus muscles. EXECUTION: (1) Kneeling on the floor, grasp a handle attached to a cable and overhead pulley with an underhand grip. (2) Pulling with the lats, bring your elbow down to your knee. Consciously crunch the serratus and lats, getting a full contraction. Release and come slowly back […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To develop the serratus muscles. EXECUTION: (1) Kneel on the floor holding on to ropes attached to a cable and overhead pulley. (2) Keeping your arms extended above you, curl your body forward and down, pulling with the lats. Continue this motion until your head is almost touching your thighs. Bring your […]
PURPOSE OF EXERCISE: To develop the pectorals and expand the rib cage. This is the best movement for expanding the thorax as well as working the pectorals and building up the serratus anterior muscles. EXECUTION: (1) Place a dumbbell on a bench, then turn and lie across the bench with only your shoulders on its […]