All Exercises
Beginner

Beginner Exercises

Perfect for those new to strength training.

Showing 421–450 of 562 exercises

Side Standing Long Jump

Begin standing with your feet hip width apart in an athletic stance. Your head and chest should be up, knees and hips slightly bent. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Side to Side Box Shuffle

Stand to one side of the box with your left foot resting on the middle of it.

Quadriceps
Abductors
Adductors
Beginner

Side Wrist Pull

This stretch works best standing. Cross your left arm over the midline of your body and hold the left wrist in your right hand down at the level of your hips. Start the stretch with a bent left arm.

Shoulders
Forearms
Lats
Beginner

Single-Arm Cable Crossover

Begin by moving the pulleys to the high position, select the resistance to be used, and take a handle in each hand.

Chest
Beginner

Single-Cone Sprint Drill

This drill teaches quick foot action. You need a single cone. Begin standing next to the cone with one arm back and one arm forward.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Single Dumbbell Raise

With a wide stance, hold a dumbell with both hands, grasping the head of the dumbbell instead of the handle. Your arms should be extended and hanging at the waist. This will be your starting position.

Shoulders
Forearms
Traps
Beginner

Single-Leg Balance

An isometric balance hold on one leg. Builds the foot, ankle, and hip proprioception that supports stance-leg stability under fatigue. A foundational drill for runners — every running stride is a brief single-leg stance phase.

Beginner

Single Leg Butt Kick

Begin by standing on one leg, with the bent knee raised. This will be your start position.

Quadriceps
Calves
Hamstrings
Beginner

Single-Leg Calf Raise

A unilateral calf raise targeting one side at a time through full range. Uncovers and corrects left-right calf strength imbalances — common in runners after long miles or following an Achilles flare-up. Different stimulus from bilateral Calf Raises (which let the stronger side dominate) and from Eccentric Heel Drop (which is eccentric-only).

Beginner

Single-Leg Glute Bridge

Unilateral glute activation that exposes and corrects left-right imbalances. More challenging than bilateral bridge.

Glutes
Hamstrings
Beginner

Single-Leg High Box Squat

Position a box in a rack. Secure a band or rope in place above the box.

Quadriceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Beginner

Single-Leg Hop Progression

Arrange a line of cones in front of you. Assume a relaxed standing position, balanced on one leg. Raise the knee of your opposite leg. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Abductors
Adductors
Beginner

Single-Leg Lateral Hop

Stand to the side of a cone or hurdle. To get into the start position, stand on one leg with your knee slightly bent.

Quadriceps
Abductors
Adductors
Beginner

Single-Leg Leg Extension

Seat yourself in the machine and adjust it so that you are positioned properly. The pad should be against the lower part of the shin but not in contact with the ankle. Adjust the seat so that the pivot point is in line with your knee. Select a weight appropriate for your abilities.

Quadriceps
Beginner

Single Leg Push-off

Stand on the ground with one foot resting on the box, heel close to the edge.

Quadriceps
Calves
Hamstrings
Beginner

Single-Leg Stride Jump

Stand to the side of a box with your inside foot on top of it, close to the edge.

Quadriceps
Abductors
Adductors
Beginner

Sit Squats

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Abductors
Glutes
Beginner

Sit-Up

Lie down on the floor placing your feet either under something that will not move or by having a partner hold them. Your legs should be bent at the knees.

Core
Beginner

Sled Drag - Harness

To begin, load the sled with the desired weight and attach the pulling strap. You can pull with handles, use a harness, or attach the pulling strap to a weight belt.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Sledgehammer Swings

You will need a tire and a sledgehammer for this exercise. Stand in front of the tire about two feet away from it with a staggered stance. Grip the sledgehammer.

Core
Calves
Forearms
Beginner

Sled Overhead Backward Walk

Attach dual handles to a sled connected by a rope or chain. Load the sled to a light weight.

Shoulders
Calves
Middle Back
Beginner

Sled Overhead Triceps Extension

Attach dual handles to a sled using a chain or rope. Load the sled to an appropriate load.

Triceps
Beginner

Sled Push

Load your pushing sled with the desired weight.

Quadriceps
Calves
Chest
Beginner

Sled Reverse Flye

Attach dual handles to a sled connected by a rope or chain. Load the sled to a light weight.

Shoulders
Beginner

Sled Row

Attach dual handles to a sled connected by a rope or chain. Load the sled to an appropriate weight. Face the sled, backing up until there is some tension in the line.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Smith Incline Shoulder Raise

Place an incline bench underneath the smith machine. Place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the incline bench and make sure your shoulders are aligned right under the barbell.

Shoulders
Chest
Beginner

Smith Machine Behind the Back Shrug

With the bar at thigh level, load an appropriate weight.

Traps
Shoulders
Beginner

Smith Machine Bench Press

Place a flat bench underneath the smith machine. Now place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the flat bench. Using a pronated grip that is wider than shoulder width, unlock the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.

Chest
Shoulders
Triceps
Beginner

Smith Machine Bent Over Row

Set the barbell attached to the smith machine to a height that is about 2 inches below your knees.

Middle Back
Biceps
Lats
Beginner

Smith Machine Calf Raise

Place a block or weight plate below the bar on the Smith machine. Set the bar to a position that best matches your height. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step onto the plates with the balls of your feet and place the bar on the back of your shoulders.

Calves
Beginner