My Favorite Back Exercises

Today's Best Body Boot Camp workout included several back exercises, like upright rows and one-arm dumbbell rows. Upper back and shoulder exercises tend to make me nervous, because I injured my neck/upper back doing an overhead press in college. While I'm much stronger (in terms of core and overall musculature)  and safer in my weight lifting now, I tend to choose super light weights for overhead press, lateral raises, and rows.

But I've also really grown to love working my back. For a long time after my injury I avoided all back work, and when I finally saw a sports therapist he told me he was shocked at how much my muscles had atrophied. That's never a good sign. So I sloooooowly eased back into bodyweight exercises and yoga/Pilates moves, eventually working up to light dumbbells. Now I feel much better, and my posture is improving, too!

Here are a few of my favorite back exercises--enjoy!

Upper Back

• Upright Row (dumbbell, cable, or barbell)

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Mid-Back

• Wide-Grip Lat Pull Downs - Alternatively, try an assisted (or unassisted, if you're awesome) pull up

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• One-Arm Bent Over Row

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• Dumbbell Pullover - Requires far more muscles than it seems but focuses on those lats!

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Lower Back (part of your core)

• Superman Lifts - Ridiculously unassuming little buggers.

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• Back Extension on Ball (can also be done using a bench and/or with a weight)

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Add your favorite back exercises below!