Good Morning
The good morning exercise is so named becuase it resembles bowing to say good morning to someone. It is a very hard exercise on the back especially so should not be performed by anyone with back problems.
Teaching points
- Start with the bar across your shoulders and behind your neck, gripping it just wider than shoulder width.
- Start with your feet shoulder width apart, back upright and chest held high.
- Allow the knees to bent slightly as you hinge forwards from your hips.
- Maintain the arches in your back throughout the movement.
- Once you have reached your full range of motion (dependant on hamstring flexibility), slowly return to the start position.
Variations and progressions
- Perform with a straight leg, allowing no degree of knee flexion. This places more emphasis on the Gluteus Maximus.
Muscles worked
- Erector spinae.
- Biceps Femoris.
- Semitendinosus.
- Semimembranosus.
- Gluteus Maximus.
Alternative exercises
- Dead lift Bridge.
Related injuries
- Hamstring strain.
