How Do You Do Lat Exercises With Free Weights?
Your lat muscles (also known as “latissimus dorsi”) are the wing-like muscles that span the upper middle part of your back on either side of your spine. Strong back muscles are necessary for good posture and for protecting against spinal injuries. In order to do lat exercises with free weights (as opposed to weight machines), you will need dumbbells, a barbell and a chair or bench. Warm up your back muscles for about 10 minutes in preparation for your lat exercises. Some possible stretches include: standing with feet together and arms stretched up towards the ceiling (palms together) and moving in a straight line from side to side; dropping your head and arms back and pushing your legs, hips and stomach forward while doing a gentle backward bend; and contracting your stomach muscles and bending forward from your waist to touch the ground. Strengthen your lat muscles by using free weights during pull-ups. Stand under a pull-up bar with a dumbbell held between your feet. Place your hands
