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Weighted Push-Up Squat Progression

Loaded push-up and squat work with leg mobility to finish.

Warm-up

Loosen hips and hamstrings and prep shoulders and chest for squats and push-ups.

Cat-Cow
Cat-Cow30 sec
How to

A gentle spine mobility move on hands and knees that warms up your back, neck, and hips.

  1. Start on hands and knees with wrists under shoulders and knees under hips.
  2. Inhale and drop your belly as you lift your chest and tailbone.
  3. Exhale and round your back as you tuck your chin and tailbone.
  4. Move slowly between positions with your breath.
Form cues
  • Move one vertebra at a time
  • Keep your hands and knees planted
Common mistakes
  • Shrugging your shoulders toward your ears
  • Forcing your neck at the end range
World's Greatest Stretch
World's Greatest Stretch35 sec both sides
How to

A dynamic lunge stretch that opens your hips, hamstrings, and upper back as you alternate sides.

  1. Start in a high plank with hands under shoulders.
  2. Step your right foot outside your right hand.
  3. Drop your hips, then rotate your right arm up toward the ceiling.
  4. Place your hand down and step back to plank.
  5. Repeat on the left side, alternating sides each rep.
Form cues
  • Keep your front foot flat.
  • Reach long through your top hand.
Common mistakes
  • Letting your front heel lift off the floor.
  • Rushing the rotation without control.
Leg Swings
Leg Swings30 sec both sides
How to

A dynamic hip mobility move that swings each leg to warm up your hips, glutes, and hamstrings.

  1. Stand tall beside a wall or stable support.
  2. Brace lightly and shift your weight to one foot.
  3. Swing the other leg forward and back under control.
  4. Place it down, then repeat with the other leg.
  5. Alternate legs for the set.
Form cues
  • Keep your torso tall
  • Move from the hip
Common mistakes
  • Arching your back to swing higher
  • Letting the leg swing out of control
Hip Circles
Hip Circles25 sec
How to

A dynamic hip mobility move that trains hip control, glutes, and balance.

  1. Stand tall and hold a wall if you need support.
  2. Lift one knee in front of your hip.
  3. Circle the knee out, around, and back with control.
  4. Finish your reps in both directions, then lower your foot.
  5. Switch legs and repeat.
Form cues
  • Keep your torso tall.
  • Move from your hip.
Common mistakes
  • Leaning or twisting your torso.
  • Rushing through the circle.
Arm Circles
Arm Circles30 sec
How to

A simple shoulder warm-up that moves both arms in circles and trains shoulder control.

  1. Stand tall with your feet about hip-width apart.
  2. Raise both arms out to your sides at shoulder height.
  3. Make small, controlled circles with both arms.
  4. Keep circling for the set time, then reverse direction if told.
  5. Lower your arms to finish.
Form cues
  • Keep your ribs down
  • Move smoothly, not fast
Common mistakes
  • Shrugging your shoulders toward your ears
  • Arching your back to keep the arms up

Push Strength

Build pressing strength with low-rep loaded push-up work.

Weighted Push Up
Weighted Push Up5x
How to

A push-up with added load that trains your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core.

  1. Set up in a high plank with the weight secure on your upper back.
  2. Place your hands under your shoulders and brace your core.
  3. Lower your chest toward the floor with elbows angled back.
  4. Press the floor away until your arms are straight.
  5. Repeat for all reps, keeping the weight steady.
Form cues
  • Keep your body in one line
  • Brace your core before each rep
Common mistakes
  • Letting the weight slide or bounce
  • Sagging your hips as you press
Resistance Band Push Up
Resistance Band Push Up8x
How to

A band-resisted push-up that trains your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core.

  1. Loop the band across your upper back and hold one end under each hand.
  2. Set up in a high plank with hands under shoulders and feet back.
  3. Bend your elbows and lower your chest toward the floor.
  4. Press through your hands to return to the top.
  5. Repeat for all reps while keeping the band secure.
Form cues
  • Keep your body in one straight line.
  • Press the floor away at the top.
Common mistakes
  • Letting your hips sag or pike up.
  • Flaring your elbows straight out to the sides.
4 rounds · 1m 30s rest

Squat Strength

Drive leg strength first, then add controlled band tension.

Goblet Squat
Goblet Squat8x
How to

A squat holding a weight at your chest. It trains your quads, glutes, and core.

  1. Stand with feet about shoulder-width and hold the weight at your chest.
  2. Brace your core and keep your chest tall.
  3. Bend your knees and hips to squat down under control.
  4. Lower until comfortable, with knees tracking over toes.
  5. Drive through your feet to stand back up.
Form cues
  • Keep your chest tall
  • Knees track over toes
Common mistakes
  • Letting your knees cave inward
  • Rounding your back at the bottom
Resistance Band Squat
Resistance Band Squat12x
How to

A band-resisted squat that trains your legs and glutes with extra tension as you stand.

  1. Stand on the band with feet shoulder-width. Hold the ends at your shoulders.
  2. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
  3. Bend your knees and hips to lower into a squat.
  4. Push through your feet to stand tall against the band.
Form cues
  • Keep your knees tracking over your toes.
  • Drive the floor away as you stand.
Common mistakes
  • Letting your knees cave inward.
  • Rounding your back as you lower.
4 rounds · 1m 15s rest

Leg Reset

Finish with simple holds to start opening tight hips and hamstrings.

Hamstring Stretch
Hamstring Stretch30 sec each side
How to

A held stretch for the back of your thigh that targets your hamstrings.

  1. Sit tall with your target leg straight and toes up.
  2. Hinge at your hips and reach toward your foot.
  3. Stop when you feel a gentle stretch behind your thigh.
  4. Hold the stretch and breathe slowly.
  5. Release slowly, then switch sides if stretching one leg.
Form cues
  • Keep your back long.
  • Hinge from your hips.
Common mistakes
  • Rounding your back to reach farther.
  • Bouncing in the stretch.
Hip Flexor Stretch
Hip Flexor Stretch30 sec each side
How to

A kneeling stretch for the front of your hip. It targets the hip flexors on one side at a time.

  1. Kneel with one foot forward and the other knee on the floor.
  2. Tuck your hips slightly and stand tall through your chest.
  3. Shift your hips forward until you feel a stretch in the back-leg hip.
  4. Hold and breathe slowly without bouncing.
  5. Release gently, then switch sides.
Form cues
  • Keep your ribs stacked over your hips
  • Squeeze the back-leg glute lightly
Common mistakes
  • Arching your lower back to go deeper
  • Bouncing in the stretch
Butterfly Stretch
Butterfly Stretch45 sec
How to

A seated hip stretch that targets your inner thighs and groin.

  1. Sit tall and bring the soles of your feet together.
  2. Let your knees fall out to the sides.
  3. Hold your feet or ankles and lengthen through your spine.
  4. Relax your thighs and hold, breathing slowly.
Form cues
  • Keep your chest lifted
  • Let your knees drop naturally
Common mistakes
  • Forcing your knees down with your hands
  • Rounding your back to reach your feet
Loaded Patterns Before Band Deload

Loaded Patterns Before Band Deload

Weighted Push Ups drive progressive pectoral and anterior deltoid hypertrophy through added mechanical tension, while Resistance Band Push Ups extend the set with accommodating resistance that peaks at lockout. Goblet Squats front-load the spine to force upright torso mechanics, training quad dominance and deep hip flexion simultaneously.

The Push-Squat Athlete's Weak Links

The Push-Squat Athlete's Weak Links

Pairing horizontal push with bilateral squat exposes the two most common breakdowns in general strength: shoulder stability under load and hip mobility under depth. Tight hip flexors and adductors directly limit squat depth and knee tracking, which is exactly why the Leg Reset section exists — not as an afterthought, but as structural maintenance.

Tension First, Mobility After

Tension First, Mobility After

Placing strength blocks before the Leg Reset follows a deliberate sequencing principle: muscles are most receptive to lengthening after they've been loaded and warmed through full range. The World's Greatest Stretch and Hip Circles address the exact hip flexion and thoracic rotation demands taxed during Goblet Squats. To personalize, add one extra set to whichever strength block felt weakest — tha

Weighted Push-Up Squat Progression | Mighty Nimble | Mighty Nimble