Barbell Good Morning

When performed correctly, the barbell good morning is one of the best hamstring, glute and lower back exercises you can do. Form is essential in this exercise and most people in the gym do this one wrong. Start with the barbell on your upper back just below C7 (the little bone that sticks out at the bottom of the back of your neck). Grip width on bar depends on shoulder flexibility and comfort, but lifter needs to be able to hold barbell in place and not allow it to roll onto neck when bending forward. Stance is wide with toes and knees pointed out, chest up and abdominals drawn inward toward spine. Slowly push back on hips and allow trunk to lower toward the floor keeping lower back arched which will keep hamstrings and lower back in an optimal position to stabilize the resistance. Knees should bend to between 15 and 20 degrees to allow the IT band to activate gluteal muscles, chest and eyes should be up. Bottom position for most is slightly above the point where the torso is parallel to the ground but should be determined by the ability to maintain lordotic posture (arch) in the lower back.