Chair Dips: The Underrated Exercise You Need to Try
When it comes to strength training, there are countless exercises to choose from. One exercise that often gets overlooked but can provide significant benefits is the chair dip. Chair dips are a great way to work the muscles in your upper body, particularly the triceps, chest, and shoulders. They also engage the core muscles, making it a full-body exercise that can help improve overall strength and stability.
To perform a chair dip, all you need is a sturdy chair or bench. Sit on the edge of the chair with your hands gripping the front edge, fingers facing forward. Walk your feet out in front of you so your knees are at a 90-degree angle and your feet are firmly planted on the ground. Lower your body down by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your body, until your upper arms are parallel to the ground. Push yourself back up to the starting position, fully extending your elbows. Repeat for a set number of repetitions.
One of the great things about chair dips is that they can be easily modified to suit different fitness levels. For beginners, they can be performed with bent knees instead of straight legs, which reduces the amount of body weight being lifted. As strength improves, the exercise can be made more challenging by straightening the legs or elevating the feet on another chair or bench.
Chair dips are a highly effective exercise for targeting the triceps, which can be difficult to isolate with other exercises. They also engage the chest and shoulders, making it a multi-joint exercise that works several major muscle groups at once. This can help improve overall upper body strength and endurance.
In addition to being a great upper body exercise, chair dips also engage the core muscles to help stabilize the body during the movement. This can help improve overall core strength and stability, which is important for everyday activities and sports performance. Chair dips can also help to improve shoulder mobility and flexibility, which is important for preventing injury and maintaining functional movement.
Incorporating chair dips into your workout routine can help to improve overall upper body strength, stability, and endurance. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gym-goer, chair dips are a versatile exercise that can be easily adapted to suit different fitness levels. Give chair dips a try and experience the benefits of this underrated exercise for yourself.