Traditional arm exercises like bicep curls and shoulder presses work great for strengthening the upper body—but they usually require some weights to get the best benefit. So what if you want an efficient, effective workout, without having to worry about equipment (like, when you’re traveling, have limited space, or just can’t make it to the gym)? Enter, bodyweight arm exercises. Pushing, pulling, and holding your own bodyweight takes some serious work and requires strength and stability. Plus, if you’re new to strength training, starting with exercises sans equipment is the smartest thing to do. It’s important to get comfortable with an exercise and nail proper form before adding any external resistance—that’s one surefire strategy for sidestepping injury. To get you building up your upper body, try these 10 bodyweight arm exercises. Do them in your living room, hotel room, or wherever else you feel like you need to get a quick workout in. Do the arm exercises below anytime and anywhere youz have enough space to plank. They all target your arms—specifically, triceps, biceps, and shoulders—but many of them also work your core, glutes, chest, and back muscles, too. (Your abs will definitely be on fire with all the planking.) Pick four or five exercises to do circuit-style, either for time (anywhere from 30-60 seconds) or reps (aim for 10-12). Complete the entire circuit 2-4 times, depending on how long you want to work out. If you’re at the gym and want to grab the weights after, try using these moves as your warm-up.
Tricep Dip
Sit on the floor with knees bent and feet flat. Place hands behind you, elbows bent, wrists underneath shoulders, and fingertips facing in toward the body. Straighten arms and lift butt off the floor.
Slowly bend elbows to lower your body toward the floor.
Straighten arms again, using triceps to push yourself up. Repeat.
Reverse Plank
Sit on the floor with legs extended in front of you. Place hands slightly behind you, palms on the floor underneath shoulders, fingertips facing in toward the body.
Press into palms to lift hips and torso off the floor. Keep arms and legs straight and make sure abs and glutes are engaged. Pause for a few seconds.
Lower back down to the ground. Repeat.
Eccentric Push-Up
Start in a high plank position with hands flat on the floor about shoulder-width apart, and wrists stacked under shoulders.
Keeping your body in one long line from shoulders to heels, bend elbows at a 45-degree angle to your body as you take 3-4 seconds to lower toward the floor.
With knees on the floor, press through palms to push back up to start. Bring knees up to a high plank and repeat.
Triceps Push Up
Start in a high plank position with hands flat on the floor about shoulder-width apart, wrists stacked under shoulders. Rotate elbows so that the insides face in front of you.
Keeping elbows close to your sides and your body in one straight line from shoulders to heels, bend arms behind you and lower to the floor. Maintain a straight line from shoulders to heels. Elbows should squeeze in tight toward the body.
Press through palms to push back up to start. Repeat.
Up-Down Plank
Start in a high plank position with hands flat on the floor about shoulder-width apart, wrists stacked under shoulders.
Place your right forearm down on the ground, maintaining a plank. Then come down to the left forearm and pause in a forearm plank.
Press back into the right hand, then left hand to return to a high plank. Move as quickly as you can while keeping abs and glutes engaged, hips stable, and a straight line from shoulders to heels.
Repeat, alternating which arm you start with each time.
Forearm Side Plank with Rotation
Start lying on the left side with your left elbow stacked underneath the left shoulder, forearm on the floor, legs extended and hips and knees stacked. Engage abs and glutes and extend your right arm toward the ceiling. Press through the left forearm to lift hips toward the ceiling. This is your starting position.
Rotate the torso toward the floor as you thread your right arm underneath your body.
Rotate back to start, bringing the right arm back toward the ceiling. Repeat. Then switch sides.
Plank Shoulder Tap
Start in a high plank position with hands flat on the floor about shoulder-width apart, wrists stacked under shoulders.
Tap right hand to left shoulder, then return to start, keeping abs and glutes engaged to keep hips as stable as possible.
Repeat, tapping left hand to right shoulder. Continue alternating.
Superwoman
Start lying on stomach, arms and legs extended.
Lift arms, shoulders, chest, and legs off the floor and hold. Squeeze glutes and keep your gaze toward the floor so the neck stays neutral.
Then lower back down to the floor. Repeat.
