Helping someone with upper body strength

[Steven Low]

Good. Tell her that and possibly handstands are the only good thing the smith machine is good for.

[Mike ODonnell]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

Good. Tell her that and possibly handstands are the only good thing the smith machine is good for.

also can do angled pushups....moving the bar down as they progress. I'd take that over kneeling pushups as a strength move any day. If you want to be a pain in their ass.....just push against their back while they are doing it....that increases the difficulty level quite nicely.

[Craig Brown]

The Smith machine is really a great device for rows and pushups! With the pad left on it from somebody's monster squat session it's a great foot rest...for working up into handstand pushups. Sweet beast, the Smith machine.

[Dave Van Skike]

Pullups and handstand pushup progressions are nice......

here's something that I've worked with some women on...

bent rows, from the floor a little sloppy.

bench, strict, medium grip.

overhead press, push press, push jerk........

you can build a fair amount of upper body strength in a progressive manner using a barbell.