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Do push-ups to get a V-shaped back
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Strengthen your shoulders and core with a challenging variation on a classic move.
Advantages
This type of push-up trains your chest and shoulders, and forces your core muscles to stabilize your body throughout the movement. By increasing the load on each shoulder, you can also avoid muscle imbalances. Note: If you feel pain when doing shoulder presses, this exercise is not for you.
How to do it
Kneel next to a bench, feet on the bench, hands on the floor, hands more than shoulder-width apart. Push your hips up so that your legs and torso form an almost perfect triangle. This is the starting position. Bend your elbows to lower your head down toward your right shoulder. Then straighten your arms and repeat the movement to the left side. Start with 3-5 reps on each side.
Expert Council
You should feel like you're upside down. Raise your hips so high that they're almost vertical. Too hard? Start by keeping your feet on the floor or a small step. Then, once you've completed 8 reps on each side, increase the difficulty by placing your feet on a stability ball instead of a bench.
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