From Deadlifts to Squats: 9 Compound Exercises You Need to Try!

Compound exercises are important because they target multiple muscle groups at once. This allows you to build strength and muscle faster than if you were only doing isolation exercises that target one muscle group at a time.

Compound exercises also help to improve your balance and coordination since you are using more than one joint at a time. This can help you avoid injuries in the future.

Finally, compound exercises are just more fun! They add variety to your workout routine and make it more interesting. Plus, who doesn’t love feeling like a 90s bodybuilder and getting shredded?

Deadlifts:

In addition to being one of the most effective compound exercises, deadlifts are also incredibly versatile. They can be performed with a barbell, dumbbells, or even a kettlebell.

Deadlifts work multiple muscle groups, including the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. They also require the use of stabilizer muscles, which help to improve overall balance and coordination.

Deadlifts are a great option if you’re looking for a compound exercise that will help you build strength and improve your overall fitness level. Give them a try. Remember to obtain good posture since injuring yourself while deadlifting due to bad form is a common mistake.

Tips For Deadlifting:

The deadlift is one of the most effective exercises you can do to target your posterior chain. This exercise works your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back, making it an excellent move for building strength and power. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your deadlifts:

  • Start with the barbell on the ground in front of you. Look ahead, bend at the hips and knees to grab the barbell with an overhand grip, keeping your back straight.
  • Initiate the lift by driving through your heels and extending your hips and knees until you stand tall with the barbell in front of your thighs.
  • Reverse the motion by hingeing at the hips and lowering the barbell back to the ground under control.
  • Get shredded and have fun!

Squats:

Squats are a compound exercise that works multiple muscle groups in your legs and core. They’re often considered the best exercise for lower-body strength and can be done with or without weight.

Squats have many benefits, including increased lower-body strength, improved athletic performance, and decreased risk of injury. If you’re new to squatting, start with bodyweight squats and progress to adding weight as you get stronger.

Here are a few reasons you should be squatting.

  • Squats increase lower-body strength.
  • Squats improve athletic performance.
  • Squats decrease the risk of injury.
  • Squats build functional muscle.
  • Squats burn more calories than isolation exercises.
  • Squats increase hormone production.

Tips For Squats:

Deadlifts and squats are two of the most effective when it comes to compound exercises that work for multiple muscle groups. Here are some tips for making sure your squats are effective:

  • Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing slightly outward.
  • Bend the hips and knees to lower your body into a squatting position. Keep your back straight and knees in line with your toes.
  • Lower yourself until your thighs parallel the ground, then drive back up to the starting position.
  • As you get stronger, you can try using weights to make the exercise more challenging. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at arm’s length down by your sides, or place a barbell across your upper back behind your neck.

Bench press:

A bench press is one of the most popular exercises for developing upper body strength, but most people think it just trains the chest, but they are wrong. The basic movement is simple.

However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to do the exercise safely and effectively. First, set up a barbell to be stable on the rack. If you have a spotter, they should be able to catch the weight if you fail on a rep.

Tips For Bench Press:

The bench press is a great compound exercise for developing upper body strength. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your bench press workout:

  • Start with a light weight and gradually increase the weight you lift as you get stronger.
  • Use a spotter when lifting heavy weights to ensure safety.
  • Use a full range of motion, touching the bar to your chest and pressing it back up until your arms are fully extended.
  • Breathe deeply and exhale as you push the bar up, holding your breath at the top of the lift for a brief pause before inhaling as you lower the bar back down.
  • Keep your core engaged throughout the exercise to maintain stability and avoid injury.

Pull-ups:

If you’re looking for compound exercises that will work for multiple muscle groups simultaneously, look no further than pull-ups. Pull-ups are a great way to build upper body strength and can be modified to target different muscle groups.

Start by gripping the bar with your hands shoulder-width apart to do a basic pull-up. Engage your core and pull yourself up until your chin clears the bar. Lower yourself back down slowly and control. If you can’t do a full pull-up, try starting with negative reps (lowering yourself from the top position) or using an assisted pull-up machine.

Once you have the fundamental movement down, you can start to mix things up to target different muscle groups. For example, narrow grip pull-ups will hit your triceps more, while wide grip pull-ups emphasize your lats.

Tips For Pull-ups:

One of the most effective exercises you can do is the pull-up. It works your back, biceps, and core and can be done almost anywhere. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your pull-ups:

Start with your palms facing away from you and your hands shoulder-width apart. Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades together as you pull yourself up until your chin is over the bar. Lower yourself back down slowly and control. As you get stronger, you can try different variations, like adding weight or changing grip width.

If you’re struggling to do a full pull-up, start with negatives by jumping up to the top position and then slowly lowering yourself down. Or use an assisted pull-up machine at the gym.