No, not push-ups — try the ‘steering wheel’ exercise to strengthen your upper body instead – 1v1 Video Chat & LIve Streaming & Influencer Subscription

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How to do the “steering wheel” exercise
The steering wheel sounds like the sort of move you’d throw down on the dancefloor after a few beers, but while you can save it for the dancefloor, I would save it for the gym floor instead.
Grab a weight and follow these steps:

Stand holding a weight with both hands — use a “9 and 3” hand position
Engage your core and slightly tuck your pelvis under to maintain a strong torso without arching your back
Relax your shoulders away from your ears — no hunching
Extend your arms at shoulder height with a soft bend in your elbows
Start rotating your weight from side to side, as if driving a car
Aim for time-on-time-off, depending on your workout routine.
Test the weight first, then find a weight that feels challenging but allows you to maintain your form.

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The benefits
Extending your arms and holding the position for a period of time tests the endurance and strength of your shoulders; this also holds your core muscles under tension to stabilize your torso as you stand and hold a weight away from your body.

You need your core muscles to work hard here to prevent your back from arching, especially when weight is situated away from the midline.
You need your core muscles to work hard here to prevent your back from arching, especially when weight is situated away from the midline. It’s crucial for this reason alone that you choose a weight you can grip at shoulder height without losing form.
When muscles are held under tension, contracting without moving through a range of motion like flexion or extension, this is known as isometric contraction.
Isometric contractions are typically more low-impact (think planks or wall sits, for example), but kick up a deep burn in the working muscles regardless, making it a test of pure endurance.
You’ll also feel the steering wheel exercise across the fronts of your shoulders, known as the anterior deltoids, and your upper chest and arms. The only movement to be generated from this move is when you begin rotating the “wheel,” but everything waist-down should stay static.
How long can you hang on for?
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Fitness Editor and Coach

Sam Hopes is a level 3 qualified trainer, a level 2 Reiki practitioner and fitness editor at Tom’s Guide. She is also currently undertaking her Yoga For Athletes training course.
Sam has written for various fitness brands and websites over the years and has experience across brands at Future, such as Live Science, Fit&Well, Coach, and T3.
Having coached at fitness studios like F45 and Virgin Active and personal trained, Sam now primarily teaches outdoor bootcamps, bodyweight, calisthenics and kettlebells.
She also coaches mobility and flexibility classes several times a week and believes that true strength comes from a holistic approach to training your body.
Sam has completed two mixed doubles Hyrox competitions in London and the Netherlands and finished her first doubles attempt in 1:11.

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