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Getting Started with Upper Body Workouts - Beginner's Guide

Tanisha Sharma | Aug 28 2024
Getting Started with Upper Body Workouts - Beginner's Guide

Going to the gym can seem like a task, but it’s something we need to do for our overall body health. But where to start? What equipment to use? And how to do a particular exercise? That’s where strength training, especially upper body workouts in the gym comes in.
One of the most important parts of working out is the upper body, which contains the core of the body. In this blog, we’ll find out some of the top upper body workouts and exercises to build muscles along with some of the most frequently asked questions about upper body weight training.

Upper Body Workouts | Upper Body Exercises For Gym

There are 7 top upper body workouts that you need to know about when starting out. From the basic pullups to advanced gym exercises like the front raise, we’ve got everything covered with step-by-step instructions on how to do them. Let’s take a look at upper body exercises for gym:

1. Pullups
If you are proficient with doing pull-ups frequently and well, this alone demonstrates much about your overall endurance and upper body strength and fitness.
How to do a pullup for upper body exercise:
1. Grasp the bar at a shoulder-width distance and hang from the bar until your arms are straight and palms facing away from you.
2. Through the power of your back muscles and arms, bend your elbows as you pull your body upward until your chin goes above or over the bar level.
3. Lower yourself back to the starting position.
4. Repeat.

2. Overhead Press
This is a great workout for core stability and the shoulders. The dumbbell version is an active workout that helps increase shoulder size and muscles in the elbow, which in turn helps to grow the triceps.
How to do an Overhead Press for upper body exercise:
1. Stand with your feet at shoulder-width.
2. Hold a barbell or dumbbell at shoulder height. (palms facing towards you)
3. Extend arms straight up, extending completely.
4. Lowering weight back to shoulder height.
5. Repeat.

3. Pushup
The pushup is an exercise that works your entire body and helps you get stronger and burn extra calories, and a good exercise for flexibility, balance, and good posture.
How to do a Pushup for upper body exercise:
1. Assume a plank position with your body in a straight line.
 2. Lower your entire body until your chest is nearly touching the floor.
3. Push through your hands to return your body to the starting position.
4. Repeat. 

4. Dumbbell Bench Press
The dumbbell bench press is a compound exercise done with dumbbells instead of a barbell to obtain power and strength in the upper body.
How to do a Dumbbell Bench Press for upper body exercise:
1. Lie on the bench by grasping a dumbbell with each hand; the palms should be in front.
2. Your feet should be on the floor.
3. Slowly push the dumbbells up until your arms are fully extended.
4. Lower the arms back to chest level slowly.
5. Repeat

5. Biceps Curl
The bicep curl is one of the basic weight-training exercises to build the biceps by bending the arm at the elbow and moving a weight towards the shoulder.
How to do a Biceps Curl for upper body exercise:
1. Stand with feet apart at shoulder-width.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing towards you.
3. Keep your upper arms still; bend your elbows holding the weight up towards your shoulders
4. Repeat

6. Face Pull
A Face Pull is a resistance exercise focusing on developing strength in the upper back muscles and the muscles of the shoulders. It is considered one of the most important upper body exercises for overall shoulder health and strength.
How to do a Face Pull for upper body exercise:
1. Stand facing a cable machine with the rope attachment set to about upper chest height.
2. With your palms turned toward each other, grasp the rope with both hands.
3. Pull the rope into your face area, keeping your elbows up,
4. Squeeze your shoulder blades together.
5. Repeat

7. Front Raise
The front raise is an exercise that uses weights, which is useful for increasing the mobility of your shoulders and strengthening them. Thus, it is very useful in everyday activities like carrying groceries or putting something on a shelf.
How to do a Front Raise for upper body exercise:
1. Stand with a position of the feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing down.
2. Raising the dumbbells directly in front of the body until the arms are parallel to the ground.
3. Repeat

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Is The Best Upper Body Workout?
The best and simplest upper body workout is the combination of pushups and pullups.

Q2. Is It Ok To Do Upper Body Everyday?
No, doing upper body exercises every day causes overtraining and an increased risk of injuries.

Q3. What Are The 5 Major Upper Body Muscle Groups?
The 5 major upper body muscle groups are the Biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles, Pectoral muscles (chest), Deltoids, and rotator cuffs (shoulders), Trapezius muscles (upper back), and Latissimus dorsi (sides and lower back.)

Q4. Can I Train Chest And Back Together?
Absolutely. You can train your chest and back muscles on the same day creating a balanced workout routine.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a beginner or someone with advanced training, knowing how to properly train your upper body is a must. Upper body exercises like pullups, overhead presses, pushups, dumbbell bench presses, bicep curls, face pull, and front raise can have multiple benefits. These exercises can help you increase the mobility of your shoulders, build your core, and strengthen your upper body.