Think the bench press is best reserved for bodybuilders?

Think again.

There are reasons why the movement is so trendy in the bodybuilding world. And these reasons extend to the casual lifter, as well.

Here are three reasons why you should consider incorporating the bench press into your Greenville health club weight lifting regimen:

• Muscle building. The bench press targets the upper-body with a special focus on the pectoralis major muscles of the chest. Though predominantly a chest-building exercise, the movement also engages and works the deltoids, triceps, biceps, rhomboids, rotator cuff, serratus anterior and abdominals. As such, the bench press is a compound workout, meaning that almost all the muscles of your body are involved. If performed correctly and consistently, this movement is bound to boost the muscle definition and strength of your chest area and upper-body as a whole, with the added bonus of fat loss. If you’re short on time and need your upper-body workout fix, bench press is what you want to do.
• Bone health. As research has suggested again and again, weight training does wonders for your bones, increasing your bone density while also, decreasing your odds of developing osteoarthritis. If nothing else, bench press to keep your bones happy and healthy!
• Pushing power. When it comes to making you stronger for pushing exercises, the bench press is where it’s at! The movement hits the upper-body hard, which will increase your pushing power for other pushing exercises including standard push-ups, overhead press, handstands, handstand push-ups, bridge push-ups, or dips. For anything that requires a good push, the bench press is the best exercise to boost your power.

To really absorb the benefits of bench press, be sure you practice with proper form. If unsure, seek the guidance of a Greenville gym trainer and learn how to execute proper technique before integrating the movement into your Greenville athletic club routine.