If
you don't have access to a pull-up bar at home or at a gym,
use a swing set or other sturdy horizontal playground bar.
This exercise does triple duty because it gives your biceps
and shoulders a workout, too.
1.
With your palms facing away from you, grasp the pull-up bar
with your hands set just wider than your shoulders.
2.
Exhale as you pull your body up until your elbows are bent
and pointing down.
3.
Inhale as you lower your body slowly. Repeat 8 to 10 times.
This is 1 set.
Keep
your abs (stomach muscles) gently pulled in to protect your
lower back.
Try
to keep still as you do this move. Don't let your body wriggle
around.
If
you aren't strong enough to lift your body yet, keep one foot
on a sturdy chair for support.
Be
patient. It may take you weeks of regular training to lift
your body using your upper back strength. But every time you
try, you are building strength. So, think about how exciting
it will be when you achieve that goal and pull-up!
Don't
hold your breath. Exhale through your mouth when you lift
and inhale through your nose when you lower your body. This
helps deliver oxygen to your muscles. It also helps you get
into a rhythm, so you're not working too fast or too slow.
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