The proper way to do a push up?

When I do push ups, my arms come outward also, as well as parallel to the ground. I think keeping your arms in would strain your elbows and perhaps work different arm muscles. I don’t think you are doing it wrong.

Yes, I think it would work your neck muscles if you keep your head up, but I usually keep my head down.

Good push up form also involves keeping your body straight (no arching of back).

@lilikoi Thats what I thought but in the video he seems to do it differently right?

When you arch your back that basically causes stress towards the back and is not working the chest as much then?

Wait I just watched the video. I’ve done it like that before, but not typically. Yeah, in the video he’s keeping his hands close to his body, unlike the girl in the picture here, which is how I usually do it. I’m thinking when you do it like in the video, it works your triceps and other arm muscles more whereas the picture way feels like it spreads out the load better across your upper back and arms.

Yes to the arching back thing. Plus I’m not sure if it’s good for your back to do that.

@lilikoi Ah I see, it seems both ways are ok, as long as the over body position(back,feet,body straight) is correct and the arms become parallel because lower to that the guy in the pictures seem to be doing the push-ups like in the video I showed.

@lilikoi I suppose I could do both styles, and get a more fuller work-out or the such, yes?

elbows out = pecs
elbows w/ the elbow crease forward = shoulders and triceps
Then there is the whole hands close together of out spread eagle. I thinks it’s obvious what that does.
In yoga we usually keep the elbow crease forward making the elbows bend to the rear.
Dips are great too, if you have access to the equipment

@12_func_multi_tool Do you have a video or picture, it would be easier for me to get a better idea.

and I can use a table or chair for dips though right?

I think I can post a link of downward dog or cobra (I know, I should be in sanskrit now) let me check. And, yes, yes, get creative with common objects as equipment, even lifting a chair overhead can do an imitation of military press.
http://yoga.org.nz/postures/dog_yoga_instruction.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E0KVUKpI6M
You can ignore the first, the second one is what you should be looking at. Do you see the orientation, the rotation of the arms?

@12_func_multi_tool That is some strange looking stuff….

Your talking about 0:14 – 0:27 in the video yeah?

or am I suppose to do that whole thing O.O

Yes you must do the entire thing. Each asana (pose) has a counter-pose to maintain a physical and mental and spiritual balance. Ok, somethings to concentrate on: when doing the forward bend to touch the floor, do put your hands on the floor even if you have to bend your knees. It might be cobra or another asana but the one that looks like you’re doing a pushup but just push up the shoulders and the back arches, I would start w/ arching the back with a little aid from the hand and arms, then while trying to keep that position lift your hand off of the floor. Later on you can alternate w/ full cobra, which is probably illustrated in the first link. If anything hurts ease off or stop. This is a very basic yoga series, I do not know the others by heart. Hope you get what you want out of it. ba bye

@12_func_multi_tool Ok, cool thank you I’ll give it a go! if I don’t fall or bust my ass…lol…

In my opinion there is no one way to do a push up. There are many variations of the same basic idea, which is pushing your body up with your arms.

Standard Pushup you should have your hands shoulder width apart, elbows at 45 degrees from your shoulders, not flat against your ribs, but also not out at your sides at 90 degrees.

If you want a strong body you shouldn’t work the same muscles over and over again. Do 10 push ups at a time with a different variation. Go wide, diamond, standard, military (close), rowers, plyometric, fist. This shows some good variations.