Maybe you are like me and remember a day long ago in gym class when you were asked to do a certain number of Push Ups and there was more struggle than the amount of reps. For me, I am transported to 7th grade Hip Hop class. We had a specific warm up we did to the song Waterfalls, by TLC because it was the 90’s and that song is still awesome. We did the same thing every time. I loved it until we got to the Push Ups. I can still feel the resentment for my teacher for making us do it, myself for my floppy arms and lack of ability to make my body do much movement in this position at all. I could do a back handspring. But not a Push Up. I felt like a wimp and let me tell you, I was not a wimp. 

Once I started taking Pilates a few years later, I was grateful that at least in Pilates class we only had to do three at a time. But I still mostly struggled. As an adult, once myself and my Pilates teacher, the same one from high school, had a lot more experience behind us I was finally able to crack the Push Up code. Pilates has developed my strength like nothing else! Push Ups are something I actually enjoy doing now. I especially like doing them with the Magic Circle and the Wunda Chair. But you don’t have to have any special equipment to build up your own Push Up strength. 

The most important thing to know about Push Ups is that you can make them work for you! If you have trouble doing a ‘military' Push Up, on the ground with your arms straight under you and your legs straight behind you, then start somewhere else! You don’t build a house by starting with skyscraper blueprints. You probably can’t build a skyscraper in the same place you would want to build your house. So change the blueprints! It’s that simple. You can do Push Ups on the wall or you can do them the way I share in this video. In this video I share how I overcame the struggle of Push Ups and built up my strength. You can too! This quick video show you how you can finally build up your arm strength so you work through a Push Up in the best way for your body and then later you can add more challenge! Want the video? Get tips to build a better push up!