Triceps (Credit: Canva)
Let's face it. You cannot build strong, bulky arms by focusing on just one muscle. Most men fall for the classic dumbbell curl, which focuses only on their biceps. What they fail to realise is that most of the show comes from the triceps. These muscles are the largest in your arms, and they are responsible for elbow extension, making them essential for movements like pressing.
Triceps press downs are a popular choice for isolating the triceps and improving elbow extension, which is the muscle’s primary function. To perform the triceps press down, stand in front of a cable machine or resistance band setup, holding a rope or handle at chest level. Engage your core, keep your shoulder blades tight, and press down to extend your arms, moving only at the elbows. For a variation, lie back on a bench set to a 45-degree incline, keeping abs and glutes tight, and push down. This version emphasizes form and limits any assistance from other muscles. Aim for 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Close-Grip Pushup
The close-grip pushup is a bodyweight exercise that emphasizes triceps engagement and can be done almost anywhere. Start in a pushup position, placing your hands just slightly narrower than shoulder-width, with your hands below your shoulders, core tight, and glutes engaged. Lower yourself by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle without letting them flare out. Pause at the bottom, then press back up by straightening your arms. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 12 to 15 reps for a challenging triceps workout.
Bench Dips
Bench dips are a straightforward exercise but can stress the shoulders, so perform them only if you have good shoulder mobility. Sit on a bench, place your hands down with knuckles facing outward, and extend your legs straight. Squeeze your glutes and shoulder blades, supporting your weight on your hands. Lower yourself to a comfortable depth, then extend your arms to lift back up. Aim for 3 to 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps.
Close-Grip Bench Press
The close-grip bench press is a variation that targets the triceps by bringing your hands closer together on the bar. Hold the barbell above your sternum with arms straight, then lower the bar slowly and press back up. This change in grip increases triceps activation, promoting growth and strength. Perform 3 to 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps.
EZ Bar Skull Crushers
Skull crushers isolate the triceps by removing any momentum from other muscles. Lie on a bench, feet flat, glutes and core engaged, and hold the bar above your chest. Lower it to your head, moving only at the elbows. Extend your elbows to lift the weight back up. This exercise is best done for 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Rocker Bodyweight Skull Crusher
This bodyweight skull crusher variation incorporates a rocking motion to stretch the triceps more effectively. Begin in plank position, then shift your torso forward, bringing your shoulders in front of your elbows. Lower your torso while keeping forearms on the ground, then straighten your arms to press up and return to plank. Do 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Bench Overhead Triceps Extension
Using a bench for overhead triceps extensions offers more support and reduces strain on the shoulders and lower back. Lie back on a bench, hold a dumbbell with both hands, extend your arms overhead, and then extend your elbows to raise the weight. Aim for 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
JM Press
The JM Press blends the skull crusher with a close-grip bench press, emphasizing triceps strength. Lie on a bench, feet grounded, holding the weights above your chest, then adjust your arms to a 92-degree angle. Lower the weights until your elbows touch your ribs, then lift back up. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Bodyweight Triceps Extension
This bodyweight exercise is gentler on the shoulders. Using a straight bar at about eye level, lock out your elbows in a plank-like stance. Bend your elbows to lower your torso, then straighten your arms to return. Perform 3 to 4 sets of 12 to 15 reps.
Dumbbell Bench Press
The dumbbell bench press targets the triceps and chest, allowing a larger range of motion. Lie on a bench with dumbbells at chest level, elbows angled at 45 degrees. Press the weights up, then control them as you lower. Aim for 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Tall Kneeling Triceps Pressdowns
In this variation, kneel with thighs in line with your torso, grasping a resistance band. Extend each arm in turn, keeping your core tight and elbows in place. This exercise works best with 3 to 4 sets of 10 to 12 reps per arm.
Half-Bench Skull Crusher
This exercise combines core and triceps work. Lie on a bench with only half your torso supported. Hold a dumbbell and lower it towards your forehead by bending your elbow, then extend back up. Perform 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps per arm.
Triceps Kickback
For triceps kickbacks, hinge forward while holding a dumbbell and raise your elbow to keep your upper arm parallel to the floor. Extend your arm fully, squeezing the triceps, then lower. Complete 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps.
Cable Triceps Kickback
Using a cable machine for triceps kickbacks keeps tension constant. Stagger your stance, hold the cable, and extend your elbow without moving the upper arm. Lower slowly for 3 to 4 sets of 12 to 15 reps.
TRX Tricep Extension
With TRX bands, grip the handles and extend your arms while leaning forward. Bend your elbows, lowering your head between your hands, then extend back up. Do 3 to 4 sets of 12 to 15 reps.
Credits: Instagram
Kareena Kapoor Khan, and whatever she does, is always making headlines. Even at the age of 44, she is an epitome of fitness. Out of her duties, she ensures to devote time to fitness, through various workout forms, including yoga.
Her Yoga instructor, Anushka Parwani, revealed in a recent interview with ETimes that Kareena in fact was her first ever student. She had always focused on fitness over weight loss.
Anushka Parwani is a celebrity trainer, who has trained Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone. In the interview, she shared insights from Kareena's routine and how her dedication to yoga keeps her fit!
What has helped Kareena is how she has been able to understand her body and its need and thus she compliments those needs with yoga. Her instructor also revealed that Kareena never desired to lose weight, but to maintain her overall fitness, including adjusting her waist size.
"Kareena is the most aware of her body. I know this because I have been with her...she was my first-ever student, not just the first actor I worked with. There is so much to learn form her because she is so aware. She has always loved yoga, and she understands her body as well. So, we know when to push a little and alter the workout or when to do variations and just do breathwork. Right now, we are very balanced. It is also about pausing. With experience and age comes pausing; she knows when to pause," shared her instructor.
Her instructor also revealed that the actor does a lot of mixes of animal flows, and strength, as well as cardiovascular-based workouts.
However, reveals her instructor, her true best friend to fitness has been yoga. This is also because Yoga offers a sustainable and holistic solution. It also combines fat-burning, muscle toning, and core strengthening benefits. Furthermore, yoga also helps one calm there mind.
Here are 6 yoga asanas that can help you stay fit and keep your waistline in check like Kareena Kapoor khan.
Here's for you to try out:
Benefits: Strengthens legs, stretches the spine and waist, improves digestion.
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Benefits: Tones abs, improves balance, strengthens core and hip flexors.
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Benefits: Improves spinal flexibility, aids digestion, massages internal organs.
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Benefits: Strengthens thighs and glutes, improves balanceand detoxification.
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Benefits: Strengthens back muscles, opens chest, relieves stress.
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Benefits: Strengthens arms, core, and legs; improves balance.
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(Credit-Canva)
Yoga is an adaptable exercise that has poses and asanas to accommodate people according to their needs. Not everyone can perform the exercises at the same level as an experienced yoga practitioner. There are standing, flowing as well as sitting poses, these ranges allow people with all kinds of abilities to practice yoga, whether they have mobility issue, or motor control issues etc.
When it comes to conditions like heart issues, high blood pressure and blood sugar issues, people have to be very cautious. While controlling food helps them improve their health, without exercise it is not easy to do so. If you are also struggling with these issues but are unsure of what exercises you must do, try yoga. There are many poses that can help you build your health and live a healthier life like Vajrasana pose. It is a simple sitting pose that not only improves high blood pressure, but also reduces back pain, increases focus etc.
In Vajrasana, when you kneel and sit back, it gently takes some of the pressure off your knees. This position is often used when you're doing breathing exercises to calm your mind or when you're meditating to feel more peaceful inside. People who follow Ayurvedic medicine, an old Indian system of health, believe that sitting in this way helps your body become as strong and stable as a diamond. It's about finding strength in being still and focusing your energy.
Here’s how to do it
Before you start doing any yoga exercises, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can tell you how yoga might affect your current health and suggest ways to do it safely so you don't have any problems. Here are some reasons why you should avoid doing this pose.
(Credit-Canva)
One of the biggest benefits of yoga is its effectiveness to relieve stress and help you focus on your current self of well-being. While you may think yoga needs to be done in a certain place at a certain dedicated time, most yoga poses do not need extra bells and whistles. All you need is the right yoga pose. One such yoga pose that you can do anywhere and anytime is Padmasana. It may look similar to sitting cross-legged, but there are slight differences between them.
Also known as the Lotus pose, it is a pose that symbolises peace and resilience. While you can definitely practice this at home, if you have a comfortable work chair you can practice this a well. While it may be a bit difficult to sustain this pose, you will notice many differences in your body after a while of doing it.
Regular practice of Padmasana offers several physical benefits. It provides a beneficial stretch to the muscles of the thighs, calves, ankles, and hips. Additionally, it can help in correcting minor irregularities in the spinal alignment and positively affect the pelvic region and the lower abdomen.
Beyond the physical stretch, Padmasana offers therapeutic advantages. By encouraging an erect spine it helps to correct posture. It also enhances flexibility in the lower extremities, specifically stretching the ankle and knee joints. Furthermore, it can improve blood circulation in the abdominal area and may be helpful in managing menstrual discomfort and sciatica issues.
Beyond the physical stretch, Padmasana offers therapeutic advantages. By encouraging an erect spine, it helps to correct posture. It also enhances flexibility in the lower extremities, specifically stretching the ankle and knee joints. Furthermore, it can improve blood circulation in the abdominal area and may be helpful in managing menstrual discomfort and sciatica issues.
The practice of Padmasana involves several muscle groups working together. These include the hip abductors, flexors, and medial rotators in the hips. The pose also engages the muscles around the knees and elbows, as well as the ankle plantar flexors in the ankles.