Or you might have nightmarish flashbacks to high school gym class.

Either way, if your fitness goal is tobuild a stronger, leaner upper body, thenpushupsare a must.

We’ve put together five pushup variations to build a stronger upper body, so listen up.

fitness man doing stability ball pushups to build a stronger upper body

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Also, your body will become so used to conventional pushups that it will stop responding to them.

This is because your muscles adapt when exposed to a new stimulus, causing them to grow.

If you’ve hit a wall with yourstrength training, we’ve got your back.

woman on mat demonstrating raised leg pushup variations to build a stronger body

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This advanced version of the classic pushup engages your core and lower body while improving your balance.

Keep the raised leg straight as you lower down into a pushup.

This variation annihilates your core and helps improve your coordination since you perform multiple movements simultaneously.

fitness man demonstrating pike pushups

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Be sure to maintain a strong core while focusing on performing reps with proper form.

Next, straighten your arms to push back up into the starting V-position."

Staggered Pushups

Another excellent variation in building your upper body is the staggered pushup.

fitness man demonstrating Bosu ball pushups

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This variation engages muscles on each side of your body while delivering a solid upper-body workout.

“First, get into a typical pushup position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.

Then, move one of your hands forward until it is above your shoulder,” instructs Meier.

“Move the other hand back until it is below shoulder level.

“Start by lying face-down with your chest supported on a stability ball.

“That means your shoulders should align with your hips and ankles.

Push up from this position, then pause at the top before lowering back down.

check that your arms are nearly straight, but your elbows are not locked out at the top.”