Skip to content

Content starts here

CLOSE ×

Red Membership Card

AARP Membership — $15 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Work Out With Denise Austin: Mini Push-Ups

They can help strengthen and tone your arms, chest and shoulders

By

Staying Sharp

Updated July 30, 2024

Updated July 30, 2024

generic-video-poster

Try This Today

Practice Mini Push-Ups — follow the demonstration by Denise Austin.
Do 20 half push-ups from your knees.
Keep your arms directly under your shoulders.
Keep your back strong and straight.
Adapt the exercise to your level of fitness. For example, beginners may find it difficult get down on their knees, so do the mini push-ups against a wall until you feel stronger.
To build your strength and toning routine, add Mini Squats.

Why

Mini Push-Ups help strengthen and tone your arms, chest and shoulders. Strength training, when done consistently over time, may improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, weight, body composition, sleep and mood — as well as reduce the deterioration of white matter in the brain, according to a review from the American Heart Association reported in Circulation in 2023.

Legal Disclaimer

Best Of

Hearing Health Is Part of Brain Health

The Brain-Gut Connection

The Power of Social Connections

More From Staying Sharp

Make Exercise More Mindful

Here’s how to pump up benefits of your next workout

MEMBERS ONLY

Nature Could Improve Your Mood

Improve your mood by spending time outside and learn how to maximize the benefits

Work Out With Denise Austin: Plank Series

Planks are a challenging exercise to help strengthen and tone your core

Most Popular

Benefits Recommended For You

Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

Unused AARP Rewards points expire 12 months after they are earned, in monthly batches on a rolling basis.