The bench press is a compound exercise that targets the muscles of the upper body. It involves lying on a bench and pressing weight upward using either a barbell or a pair of dumbbells. During a bench press, you lower the weight down to chest level and then press upwards while extending your arms.

Commonly used to build muscle size and body strength; this exercise targets the upper body muscles including: chest, triceps, and shoulders. The barbell bench press requires the person working out to lie flat on a bench which allows for improved muscle stability and the ability to lift a heavy amount of weight.

Here’s how to Bench Press with proper form: Lie on the bench with your eyes under the bar Grab the bar with a medium grip-width (thumbs around the bar!) Unrack the bar by straightening your arms Lower the bar to your mid-chest Press the bar back up until your arms are straight Hold the weight for a second at the top, with straight arms. Breathe.