Glenn DawsonReset-U Fitness · Owner and CEO of Reset-U Fitness

How to Work Your Core With Incline Push-Ups Using a Bench

24 Aug 2026 · 1 min

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In this short tutorial, the instructor explains how to use an inclined bench to target the core while practicing push‑up mechanics, especially for those who struggle with standard push‑ups. He describes positioning the bench so its edge contacts the lower chest, placing the hands slightly outside the shoulders with the base of the palms on the bench, and performing a controlled lowering motion. Once the basic movement is mastered, he suggests an advanced explosive version where the body leaves the bench, creating a weightless moment. He also offers programming tips, recommending the exercise as a finisher after a workout or as an early‑session drill for beginners aiming to build the strength needed for full push‑ups.

Chapters

If you want to work your core more in your push-ups, but you're just not that good at push-ups, start with the bench. With the bench, you're going to line up the bench so it hits right at the lower part of your chest, hands outside of your shoulders. I like to use the base of my palms here and slowly lower. Now, once you've got this movement down, you can advance this movement a lot by exploding up and becoming weightless. Try this as your finisher at the end of your workout, or if you're just getting started, just put this in your workout at the very beginning because you want to be able to do push-ups.