Wall Push Up

The wall push up is a standing push up performed against a wall, and it is the gentlest entry point into pressing there is. Standing about an arm's length away with the hands on the wall at chest height, you bend the elbows to bring the chest toward the wall and press back. Because most of your bodyweight stays on your feet, the load is a fraction of a floor push up — which is exactly what makes it useful for someone rebuilding after injury, starting from nothing, or learning to hold a rigid line before adding load. The progression is simple: step your feet further from the wall and the exercise gets harder, one small step at a time. Keep the body straight from head to heels and the abs braced; letting the hips sag turns it into a shoulder exercise.