The Push-Up

Although it's one of the hardest exercises to do, the push-up is also one of the best. It involves using many upper body muscles and core muscles. And it also forces your lower body muscles to statically contract in order to provide stability for the body. It is an overall quick, efficient, and highly effective workout when you're in a hurry, you want to target as many muscles as possible into one exercise, or you just want to get a great upper body workout.

Muscles Used
-Pectoralis major and minor (chest)
-Anterior, Medial, and Posterior Deltoid (shoulder)
-Trapezius (upper back)
-Latissimus dorsi (lats/"bra fat")
-Biceps (front of upper arm)
-Triceps (back of upper arm)
-Abdominals (entire stomach region)
-Obliques (sides of mid-section/"lovehandles")
-Erector Spinae (mid-lower back)

Daily Use of Muscles
-picking up children/groceries
-bending/leaning forwards or backwards
-balancing
-putting food away
-cleaning, sweeping
-sitting up straight/correct posture
-driving a car

Things to Remember
-hands need to be about shoulder-width apart, maybe a bit wider
-start in the "up" position
-be sure not to let hips sag
-try not to stick hips out in the air-keep a streamline form from head to toe
-keep head in line with spine
-if starting on hands and toes is too hard, start on your knees and build up
-if starting on the ground is too intense, try doing wall push-ups

Picture of a push-up
Video of a push-up