Chelsea’s back.  This time she’s analyzing one of our favorite lifts in the gym – The Deadlift.  It’s a must for any complete workout and if you’ve never done it, this is the information you need try it out.

If you’re a weightlifter to any degree, you may have done deadlifts in the past as part of your workout routine. No matter which of the several variations of deadlifts you do, they’re a great compound exercise, meaning they recruit mostly every muscle in the body during execution. In addition to the compound nature of this exercise, deadlifts also work two of the most aesthetic muscles- the core (abs/obliques) and the glutes. Whether you’re a seasoned deadlift veteran or have never done a deadlift in your life, there are techniques you need to deploy when doing this lift. Let’s look at what it takes to do a conventional deadlift.

First, set up a free bar on the floor. If this is your first time deadlifting, do not add weight until you get the form right. Otherwise, start by adding a light weight to each side. Next, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. You can grip the bar wide or narrow, depending on what feels most comfortable. Reverse grip the bar, with one palm up and the other down. In a crouched position (think of how the bottom of a squat looks), with the bar against your shins, pull the bar up using explosiveness from your legs and with your back tight, chest lifted and head up (it’s important to keep your lower back in a neutral position and not round your spine). Lock your hips and knees, then return the bar to the floor by bending your knees and slowly letting the weight down.

Deadlifting is a great core, back, and leg workout. It will improve your other, smaller lifts overall, as you will gain strength through repetitiveness of the deadlift motion and become more confident in your lifts. It will help you with explosiveness in your other lifts, especially your squat. You can get a total body workout from deadlifts in only a short period of time. Unlike isolated lifts, such as bicep curls or tricep extensions, you are able to work the entire body with just one lift.