Pushups can work your arms, shoulders, and chest like no other—but did you know they can work other crucial areas of your body, too? Skip the crunches and try this pushup variation that lets you work your arms and abs at once, saving you some serious time in the process. (You can also save time by dancing your way to fit with High-Intensity Dance Cardio, the first-ever socanomics DVD!)
It’s called the pushup to alternating knee-tap, and it’s a great way to work your arms and core, says Farouk Houssein, a personal trainer at New York City’s Fhitting Room. Plus, the form is pretty easy to follow.
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To do it, start in a plank position, making sure that your hands are under your shoulders and your feet are a little wider than shoulder-width apart. Lower your body down, keeping your elbows close to your ribs, before pushing yourself back into a plank position.
Here’s where the variation comes in: Once you've reached the top of your pushup, pull your right knee in toward your body and briefly touch it with your left hand. Repeat this motion on the opposite side. Then, complete a full pushup again. Keep an eye on your form—you don’t want to twist excessively or let your hips sag.
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As you get the hang of it, pick up your speed to get your heart rate up in the process.
Try working this into your lifting days, a few times a week, to see some serious results.
