Is it Possible to Love a Push-up?
I am not the kind of girl who ever thought she would love a push-up. But I think I might have fallen in love. Or maybe…is it just a crush?
There is nothing simple about completing this body weight exercise facing the floor, where one lowers to the ground as their torso is in line with their thighs, and then uses muscular force to push against the floor back up to the starting position.
Simple it looks, but simple it is not. People are not born doing push-ups; they are learned.
As a child who devoted most free time to anything gymnastics-related, I began practicing this exercise religiously in fifth grade. Even during my less athletic years as a young adult, my body automatically remembered the movement any time I attempted it because of the foundation of strength I had established as an adolescent.
For me, as a girl, being able to execute multiple push-ups in a row is like carrying a rabbit’s foot in your back pocket (remember those from the eighties?) - an amulet of good luck, a secret weapon of badassery.
Recently at the dinner table, my daughter mentioned that she is now able to complete a dozen push-ups in her workout routine without collapsing to the floor in exhaustion. Upon hearing this news, I opened my eyes wide, shrieking, “YAAAAAASSSSS!” and aggressively pumping my fist in the air. I challenged her to prove her strength and skill, and she immediately dropped to the floor and performed twelve perfect push-ups without hesitation.
For this was the girl, who one year ago when accompanying me to the gym, would protest when asked to complete a few upright push-ups (meant to be less difficult than on the floor) on a bench. With extensive practice and determination, she has come a long way.
This celebratory news came a month after witnessing my teen son also complete a string of flawless push-up repetitions during his basement workout. Covid - 19, and the events surrounding this time, may have stripped my children of many precious and valuable experiences, but improving push-ups shall not be remembered as one of them. In fact, I am certain that learning to do a perfect push-up will be in the short column of positives for 2020.
Eight months ago, I winced while watching my kids struggle to complete this exercise, both of them closely resembling seals flopping on the ground. Now I am elated to see that they truly own it. Their determination and dedication has made their mother proud.
Maybe the feeling I experienced this week will be similar to the one that I will have when both of my children land their first job out of college, get married, or give me grandchildren, if they choose to do so. While a push-up is not as significant, it is indeed special and I am thrilled for their accomplishment.
For the past seven days, my city was covered in a blanket of smoke from forest fires. It is as if someone dared 2020 to get worse, and 2020 replied: “Just try me.” In the past week when the sun was unable to shine through the haze, holding on to the simple joy of an accomplished push-up made my day better. For someone who loves physical fitness, I will gladly replay these moments of delight to help with the doldrums.
The Humble Push-Up
Push-ups are often referred to as a foundational exercise, old school, a movement where you “go back to the basics.” No matter if you have a cutting-edge strength training routine or well developed muscles, you are never too advanced to do push-ups.
As my children do not have an abundance of weight training machines to use in our make-shift basement gym, this approach of focusing on fundamental movements feels appropriate to where we are in 2020. Life’s complicated schedules and activities have been altered or taken away entirely due to the restrictions of the pandemic as routines and rituals have been disrupted. Whether we like it or not, we have been forced to live in more simple ways: wake up, go to work or school (most often at home), complete basic tasks, and then spend time with the same people for months on end. Whether it be in our daily habits, mindset, or even in our exercise, when we can do simple things well in a time such as this, it should be celebrated.
Here is to going back to the basics and perfecting the modest push-up during a pandemic. Even more important, here is to noticing and savoring even the smallest moments that can bring us joy. Awe and wonder are in rare supply these days, so whenever and wherever it can be found, I will hold on tightly.
It would be remiss of me if I didn’t include the steps to perform a push-up. If you are able to get on the ground, it is never too late to learn.
How to Do a Push-Up
Get down on all fours, placing your hands slightly wider than your shoulders.
Straighten your arms and legs.
Lower your body until your chest nearly touches the floor.
Pause, then push yourself back up.
Repeat.
My push-up partners in crime.