With diet and exercise tips flooding the internet every few minutes, it's normal to feel overwhelmed. The frustration often grows when, despite trying various routines, results seem elusive. However, one proven workout method stands out for delivering fast and efficient results: push-pull exercises.

What Are Push-Pull Workouts?

The pull-push exercise regimen divides exercises based on muscle movement patterns, targeting "pushing" muscles—like the chest, shoulders, and triceps—on one day, and "pulling" muscles—such as the back, biceps, and forearms—on another. A separate session is typically dedicated to the lower body and core, making it a full-body training system.

A Quick Sample Pull-Push Workout Regime You Can Follow

Here is a sample push-pull routine with workouts separated by a rest day. For optimum results, perform 3–4 sets of 8–12 repetitions for each exercise, and rest for 2–3 minutes between sets.

Push Exercises

Seated dumbbell shoulder press: With dumbbells positioned to each side of your shoulders and elbows below your wrists, press up until your arms are extended overhead. Pause for a second at the top, and then slowly lower your elbows back down to the starting position.

Dumbbell incline chest press: Position dumbbells to the sides of your upper chest and press up until your arms are extended, and then slowly lower your elbows back to the starting position.

Bodyweight triceps dips: Grip parallel bars, or put your hands on the edge of a chair or bench, facing away from it. Starting with your arms straight and hips and knees bent, lower your body by bending your arms until you feel a stretch in your chest. Slowly push yourself back up until your arms are fully extended again.

Cable rope triceps pushdown: Facing a high pulley cable system, grasp the rope attachment. With elbows to your sides, extend your arms down and turn palms down at the bottom. Slowly let your forearms come back up while keeping your elbows pinned to the sides of your body.

Incline dumbbell chest fly: With dumbbells above your upper chest, palms facing inward, and arms extended in a slightly bent position, lower dumbbells outward to the sides of your shoulders. Keep elbows slightly bent and bring the dumbbells back together in a hugging motion above your upper chest.

Dumbbell lateral shoulder raises: Holding dumbbells at your sides, keep your elbows slightly bent while raising your arms until your elbows are at shoulder height. Slowly lower your elbows back down.

One Day Break

Pull Exercises

Bent-over barbell row: Hold the barbell with a shoulder-width overhand grip. Keep your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent. Slowly hinge by pushing your hips back, keeping your arms and the barbell close to your legs. While maintaining a long and neutral spine, bend your elbows, pulling them back alongside your body, and then slowly straighten your arms again.

Cable pulldown: Grasp a cable bar slightly wider than shoulder width and sit with your thighs under the support pads. Pull the cable bar down to your upper chest, keeping your lower back slightly curved. Slowly begin to straighten your arms and return to the starting position.

Dumbbell shrugs: Holding dumbbells at your sides, shrug your shoulders as high as possible, and then relax them back down.

Biceps curls: Grasp a barbell or dumbbell with a shoulder-width underhand grip. Keeping your elbows at your sides, raise the weight until your forearms are vertical. Pause at the top, and then slowly lower the weight back to the starting position.

One day break

Legs and core

Deadlift: Squat down and grasp the barbell with a shoulder-width overhand grip. Keep your feet flat and lift the bar by fully extending your hips and knees. Slowly lower the bar back down to the floor by hinging at your hips with a slight bend in your knees.

Barbell back squat: Position the barbell on the back of your shoulders and grasp the bar to stabilize it. Squat down by bending at the hips until your knees and hips are fully bent. Return to standing by pressing through your heels and squeezing your glutes.

Quadriceps leg extensions: Sitting on a leg extension machine, extend your knees until your legs are straight, and then slowly bend your knees back to the starting position.

Seated hamstring leg curls: Sitting on a leg curl machine, bring your lower legs to the back of your thighs by flexing your knees, and then slowly straighten your legs again.

Dumbbell standing calf raise: Grasp the dumbbells in each hand at your sides. Position the balls of your feet on a platform with your heels hanging over. Raise your heels as high as possible, and then slowly lower them back down.

Hanging leg raises. Grasp a bar overhead. Raise your legs by flexing at the hips and knees until your hips are fully flexed, slowly bringing your knees up toward your chest. Lower your legs back down. For more challenges, keep your legs straight, as in the example below.

We often think of exercise as just two things: getting our heart pumping with activities like running or building muscles by lifting weights. But there are two other really important parts of fitness: flexibility and balance. These are super important, especially as we get older. Yoga is amazing because it can work on all four of these at a time. Plus, new studies suggest yoga has good effects on many things that keep your heart healthy.

Many believe yoga is only about physical poses, but it offers much more. Yoga is a powerful tool for a healthy heart, connecting your body, mind, and breath. It also aids in weight management and improves flexibility. Combining yoga with other exercises is crucial for overall fitness and a strong heart.

How Yoga Helps Your Heart

A keyway yoga benefits your heart is by reducing stress. Managing stress is super important for your overall well-being, and yoga is excellent at this. Regular practice also boosts your flexibility, strength, and stamina. This combination of stress relief and physical improvement makes yoga a powerful ally for heart health.

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

This basic pose is excellent for heart health and strengthens your lower back. Stand tall, join your feet, interlock hands, and stretch arms upwards while inhaling. Look up gently, hold for 5-10 seconds, then repeat. It's a simple start for better posture and stability.

Utkatasana (Chair Pose)

The Chair Pose boosts your breathing, which directly helps your heart. It's a great "heart-opening" pose. Start standing, bend knees as if sitting, and raise arms. Keep shoulders relaxed. Hold for 5-10 breaths, then slowly return. This builds leg strength and improves circulation.

Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)

As easy as Mountain Pose, Tree Pose strengthens shoulders and improves posture. Stand tall, lift one leg to your inner thigh, and bring hands together above your head. Keep your back straight and hold for a few breaths. This pose enhances balance and focus.

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Uttanasana is a calming, relaxing pose that helps soothe your mind, though it needs some flexibility. Begin standing tall, then exhale and bend forward from your waist. Place hands on the floor near your feet. Hold briefly and release. This stretch can relieve stress and gently decompress your spine.

Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose)

This pose is great for reducing stress and anxiety, working your thighs and calves. It also helps manage high blood pressure. Stand, put hands on hips, exhale, and bend to grab your big toes. Pull your belly in. Hold briefly and release. This deep stretch can calm your nervous system.

Adho Mukho Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)

Downward Dog calms your mind and improves balance. It strengthens your shoulders and knees. Start on hands and knees, lift hips back, forming an inverted V-shape. Press through palms, keep legs active. Hold for 5-8 breaths. This pose stretches the whole body and sends blood flow to the brain.

Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

This pose can boost your immune system and is excellent for heart health, though it requires flexibility. Sit with legs together, lean forward from your waist, trying to touch your stomach to thighs. Hold for 8-10 breaths. This deep stretch calms the brain and relieves stress.

Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)

The Bridge Pose improves balance, strengthens your body, and helps relieve stress. Lie on your back, feet apart. Press down to lift hips off the mat. Place arms by your sides. Push hips up, hold for 3-4 breaths, then release. This pose stretches the chest and neck, while strengthening the back and glutes.

Good posture is super important for a healthy spine and strong upper back muscles. But simply sitting up straight isn't always enough to prevent or fix upper back pain. That's where yoga poses can really help!

Everyday habits, things like texting, typing on a computer, or carrying a heavy bag can worsen your pain. Medical experts also point to overusing your back muscles or pressure on your spinal nerves from a herniated disc as other common causes.

Yoga Poses For Upper Back Pain

While yoga can definitely help ease upper back pain, it's important to practice safely to avoid further injury. Claudia Jasper advises that when you do these stretches, always be mindful not to let your shoulders roll forward. Instead, actively roll your shoulders back throughout your practice. This movement helps your shoulder blades slide down your back, opening your chest and keeping your spine long and healthy.

If you have ongoing (chronic) upper back pain, always talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.

Cat Pose (Marjaryasana) and Cow Pose (Bitilasana)

This gentle flow is a fantastic way to warm up and energize your upper back. Make sure to move slowly and smoothly between the two poses. You can do this classic pair on your hands and knees (Tabletop position) or even while sitting comfortably in Easy Pose.

Thread the Needle Pose (Urdhva Mukha Pasasana)

This calming pose is excellent for opening your upper back and releasing tension in your shoulders. It encourages your shoulder blades to move away from your spine, creating more length and space. Start from a Tabletop position to enter this pose.

Eagle Arms (Garudasana)

Eagle Arms is a great stretch for your upper back and shoulders. You can do this arm position on its own, while sitting in a chair, or as part of the full Eagle Pose. You can also combine it with Hero Pose for added benefits.

Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana)

Can't decide between the relaxation of Child's Pose and the stretch of Downward-Facing Dog? Extended Puppy Pose combines elements of both! It helps to lengthen and stretch your entire spine. Claudia Jasper loves this pose for opening the chest and shoulders, which is key for relieving upper back pain. You can even place a block under your forehead for extra comfort.

Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

Camel Pose is a favorite of Jasper's for upper back relief. This gentle backbend opens your heart, chest, and shoulders, allowing you to breathe more deeply into your upper body. You can adjust how deep the stretch is by keeping your hands on your lower back or placing them on blocks.

Supported Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Give your upper back some much-needed relief in this supported, relaxing pose. Claudia Jasper particularly likes using a bolster (a long pillow) for an extra chest stretch. To set up, place the bolster along your spine at the top of your mat. Sit down at the top of your mat, bring the soles of your feet together with your knees spread open, and gently lie back onto the bolster so it's aligned with your spine.

You've just finished a long trip, whether by car, plane, or train, and your body feels stiff and achy. Being cooped up in small spaces can leave you feeling tense and uncomfortable. But what if you could stretch out and feel better right from your seat?

Yoga is a fantastic stress reliever. Through deep breathing exercises and mindful movements, it helps calm your nervous system, lowering stress hormones like cortisol. This shift from a "fight or flight" state to a more relaxed one helps your body restore itself, leading to feelings of tranquility and mental clarity.

Regular yoga practice can also significantly improve sleep quality. By reducing stress and calming the mind, it prepares your body for a deeper, more restful sleep, which is essential for feeling truly rejuvenated.

How Yoga After Travel Helps

Yoga helps your muscles and joints in several key ways. Its gentle stretches increase your flexibility and range of motion, allowing your joints to move more easily and reducing daily stiffness and aches. Poses to Ease Travel Aches and Pains

Here are shares easy yet effective yoga tips for long car rides and other travel, even when space is tight. These simple motions can help you feel much better and make your journey more comfortable.

Seated Cat-Cow Pose

This gentle movement helps your spine become more flexible and lubricated, creating subtle space between your backbones. It also increases blood flow, which can help you feel refreshed. Remember to coordinate your breath with the movement, exhaling as you lean forward and inhaling as you round your spine.

Seated Spinal Twist

Even in a cramped airplane or car seat, you can give your back a good stretch. These twists gently stretch your middle body, ribs, and the muscles you use for breathing. They can even provide a light massage to your internal organs, helping you feel more relaxed and comfortable on your journey.

Neck Rolls

Simple and effective, slow neck rolls are easy to do on any trip. They loosen tight muscles, helping to ease tension that often builds up in your shoulders and neck during travel. Just imagine your nose drawing a slow circle on a clock in front of you, letting the weight of your head guide the stretch.

Shoulder Rolls

Release tension and loosen up your shoulder muscles with these easy, yet impactful, rolls. Slightly scoot forward in your seat so your back isn't touching the seatback. Then, draw circles with your shoulders, first in one direction (thinking "up, back, and down"), and then reverse. Keep your breath steady with each roll.

Seated Forward Fold

This simple stretch is excellent for your lower and upper back. While it might require a little more room to lean forward, it's perfect for getting some movement in at the airport terminal or on trains and buses. Remember to keep your feet flat and breathe deeply as you fold forward gently.

When you're on the go, the main idea is to move your body in different ways and pay attention to what it needs. Try to move as much as you can to help your blood flow, and always remember to breathe deeply.