Perfect Your Pushup

Master this body-weight basic to sculpt a strong chest, arms, shoulders, and core

- ALYSSA SHAFFER

AT SOME POINT in the past few workouts, you've probably done a pushup, and there's a good chance you've done it wrong. "People often do pushups incorrectly. They'll place their hands in the wrong position, let the midsection sag, or flare the elbows out," says Julia Ladewski, a strength and conditioning coach. "These mistakes don't allow the right muscles to be targeted." That's no reason to give up on this most classic of training moves. "Pushups are a true measure of relative strength-plus there are so many variations, and they can be done anywhere," says Ladewski. Here, she breaks down the perfect pushup.