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7 Arm Exercises You Can Do Without Weights, From Our Favorite Trainers

Author:

Kristine Thomason

March 27, 2021

Health Writer & Editor

By Kristine Thomason

Health Writer & Editor

Kristine is a writer, editor, and editorial consultant who lives in Long Beach, CA.

Image by mbg Creative

March 27, 2021

While core workouts and leg routines tend to get a lot of buzz—building and maintaining arm strength is also key to supporting a functional body. Think about it: Whether you want to hold an advanced yoga balancing posture or simply put jars away in your pantry, those arm muscles are coming into play.

And while, for the most part, upper-body workouts are synonymous with classic weighted moves (think biceps curls, rows, triceps kickbacks), there are plenty of arm exercises you can do with just your bodyweight.

Below, we've rounded up a handful of fun and unique arm exercises that don't require weights, from our favorite mbg moves trainers. For a complete bodyweight arm workout, try weaving a few of them together:

Arm Circles

Image by mbg Creative

Start in a kneeling position with your legs hip-width apart, activating the inner thighs.
Without arching your back, lift your arms to the side of your body.
Slowly move your arms in small circles, activating your arms and maintaining control.
Keep your arms at shoulder height.
Continue for 8 breaths, then reverse direction and repeat.

Hug the World

Image by mbg Creative

Start in a kneeling position with your legs hip-width apart, activating the inner thighs.
Without arching your back, lift your arms to the side of your body.
Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, inhale and hug your arms inward.
Exhale as you bring the arms back to starting position, opening up your chest as you do so.

Mountain Climber

Image by mbg Creative

Start in a plank pose, with shoulders over wrists. Pull waist in, drag shoulder blades down the back, and engage the core.
Fire up the belly by pulling one knee in, then the other. That's one rep.

Tabletop Triceps Pushup

Image by mbg Creative

Start on all fours in a tabletop position. Stack shoulders right on top of the hands and hips right over knees.
Keep your elbows pointed toward your knees. Inhale as you bend the elbows and bring your chest toward the floor. Go as far down as you can; try to line your nose up with your fingertips.
Engage your core, and slowly lift your chest back up to start. Keep your chest open, but don't arch your back.

Single-Leg Tabletop Triceps Pushup

Image by mbg Creative

Start on all fours, in a tabletop position. Stack the shoulders right on top of the hands, and your hips right over your knees.
Extend one leg out, keeping it at hip height. Be sure the hips stay parallel. Keep your elbows pointed toward your knees.
Inhale as you bend your elbows and bring your chest toward the floor. Go as far down as you can; try to line your nose up with your fingertips. Press the opposite shin into the ground.
Engage your core, and slowly lift your chest back up to start. Keep your chest open, but don't arch your back.

Downward-Dog Waves

Image by mbg Creative / mbg Creative

From all fours, allow your hips to rise, coming into downward dog.
Ground down through the palms of your hands; allow your heels to rise.
Pull your body forward, into a plank pose.
Pull your chest open, and allow the hips to lift and move back into downward dog. (You can do this movement with straight legs or bent knees.)

Half Pushup Hover

Image by mbg Creative

Get into a plank position, with your wrists directly under your shoulders. Engage your core.
Bend your elbows, and slowly lower until your body is halfway toward the floor.
Hold for a few breaths, then lower to the ground.