Ask any fitness enthusiast to name the hurts-so-good exercise they despise the most, and there’s a good chance they’ll call out burpees. And understandably so: The exercise is a killer form of cardio and core training and leaves you breathless after just one set. But once you try out manmakers (aka human makers or people makers), burpees will feel like child’s play.
Keep Your Hands On Your Mat
Some folks may experience discomfort in their wrists while gripping dumbbells during the high plank, says Elliott. In that instance, feel free to place your hands on the mat directly next to your dumbbells and pick up the weights once you're ready to row and jump into the low squat, she suggests.
Widen Your Stance
While in your high plank, consider placing your feet as wide as your shoulders or your mat, which will help prevent your hips from swaying while you row, suggests Razavi. “When you’re doing the row, you want to make sure your hips are both stable and even because if they’re swaying, you’re not getting the full benefit of the row and you’re opening yourself up to back injury,” she says. “[Widening] your feet placement will stabilize your weight and allow you to row without swaying the hips side to side, [which helps] make your core strong and your back strong.”
And as you learn to master the man maker exercise, remember to pay attention to your form, your breath, and how you're feeling overall during every single rep, says Razavi. "I think sometimes people just power through things just to finish a rep, but…there's no rush — you don't have to have it perfect today," she says. "I'd rather you be working healthfully down a journey as opposed to injuring yourself now and be stunted."
