Strengthen your Hamstrings with Good Mornings

The third foundational exercise
We've already covered squats and pull-ups, so now we turn to strengthening your hamstrings with a group of exercises called good mornings. Squats were a hip pushing movement, and Good Mornings are a hip pulling movement. The emphasis is on your glutes, hamstrings, hips, and lower back.

Most people over-develop their quad and under-develop the hamstring. Often the quad is twice as big as the hamstring, and that imbalance can cause knee problems, back pain, and pulled hamstrings.

Types of Good Mornings
Bodyweight-more difficult than it looks
Single-leg-requires more balance and strength in the hamstring
With weights-you can do this on two legs or with the single-leg version
With cables-another way to add difficulty

How to do the bodyweight Good Morning
Place your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart (you'll notice this placement with most exercises because it gives a good base of support), but keep your toes pointed forward.

Bend your knees slightly, and keep your back straight.

Bend at the waist, keeping your back straight and your head in neutral alignment.

When you reach 90 degrees at the waist, push into your heels and pull yourself upright with your hips. Go all the way through until you push your hips forward into a slight back hyper-extension.

*You can put your hands behind your head, at your shoulders, or by your sides.

I don't have any challenges for this exercise because it's an odd exercise for challenges. But you can set a goal for weighted good mornings.