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Exercise Library / Good Morning

Good Morning

The good morning hinges forward at the hips with a bar across your shoulders.

Strength Training

What this exercise does

The good morning hinges forward at the hips with a bar across your shoulders. It strengthens your hamstrings, glutes and lower back, and it teaches the hip hinge in a controlled way.

At a glance

Body part
Butt / Hips, Back
Muscles worked
Hamstrings, Lower Back, Glutes
Experience
Intermediate
Equipment
Barbell
Good for
Bone Health

How to do it

  1. Place a barbell across your upper back, or use the lightest bar or broomstick to learn the move.
  2. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and a soft bend in your knees.
  3. Push your hips straight back and lean your chest forward, keeping your back flat.
  4. Go down until your torso is about halfway to horizontal.
  5. Squeeze your glutes to return to standing. Do 8 to 10 reps.

Common mistakes

  • Rounding the back.
  • Bending the knees too much, turning it into a squat.
  • Going heavier than you can control.

Make it easier or harder

Make it easier

Do it with no weight and hands on your hips, or with a broomstick.

Make it harder

Add weight slowly, or pause at the bottom.

Keep it safe

This lifts load on your lower back. Begin with no weight and keep the range small. Skip it if your back feels sore afterward and try the Romanian deadlift.

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