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Superman

Equipment

No Equipment Needed

Muscle Group

Core

Setup

Use a mat on a flat surface with enough space to fully extend your arms and legs. This is a low-back and posterior-chain endurance exercise—move slowly and avoid forcing range if it causes pinching in your low back.

Starting Position

Use a mat on a flat surface with enough space to fully extend your arms and legs. This is a low-back and posterior-chain endurance exercise—move slowly and avoid forcing range if it causes pinching in your low back.

Execution

Inhale and brace. Lift your chest and legs slightly off the floor at the same time, keeping your neck neutral and arms reaching long. Aim for a controlled, moderate lift—not maximum height. Exhale and hold briefly at the top, squeezing glutes and upper back. Slowly lower back down under control and repeat for the desired reps, or hold the top position for time.

Tips on doing this exercise
  • Think “lift long, not high”—reach fingertips and toes away to create length.
  • Squeeze glutes to support the low back and control the lift.
  • Keep your ribs down and core lightly braced so you don’t over-arch.
  • If full Superman bothers your back, regress to alternating arm/leg lifts (bird-dog on the floor) or lift only the chest or legs.
  • Stop if you feel sharp pain—this should feel like controlled muscle work, not joint compression.
  • Common Mistakes
  • Overextending the low back and lifting too high (pinching/pain)
  • Cranking the neck up and looking forward instead of keeping neutral
  • Holding breath and losing control
  • Kicking legs or bouncing into reps
  • Letting glutes relax and shifting stress into the low back
  • Moving too fast and losing tension
  • Recommended Ranges
  • Overextending the low back and lifting too high (pinching/pain)
  • Cranking the neck up and looking forward instead of keeping neutral
  • Holding breath and losing control
  • Kicking legs or bouncing into reps
  • Letting glutes relax and shifting stress into the low back
  • Moving too fast and losing tension
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