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Exercise guide

Atlas Stones

How to do the Atlas Stones with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundOtherExpertPull
Primary muscles

Lower Back

Secondary

Abs, Adductors, Biceps, Calves, Forearms, Glutes, Hamstrings, Mid Back, Quads, Traps

Equipment

Other

Step by step

How to do the Atlas Stones

  1. 1

    Begin with the atlas stone between your feet. Bend at the hips to wrap your arms vertically around the Atlas Stone, attempting to get your fingers underneath the stone. Many stones will have a small flat portion on the bottom, which will make the stone easier to hold.

  2. 2

    Pulling the stone into your torso, drive through the back half of your feet to pull the stone from the ground.

  3. 3

    As the stone passes the knees, lap it by sitting backward, pulling the stone on top of your thighs.

  4. 4

    Sit low, getting the stone high onto your chest as you change your grip to reach over the stone. Stand, driving through with your hips. Close distance to the loading platform, and lean back, extending the hips to get the stone as high as possible.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Atlas Stones set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your lower back volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More lower back exercises

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