The staple exercise of generations of Hindu wrestlers, Matt Furey brought these back out of the mists of time. They crested in popularity a few years ago with many people - they just didn't deliver the fat burning torch and muscle building properties they were promised.

However, are they all that bad? I did them for several years. Following the lead of John Peterson, I did them morning and night with Hindu Squats and got where I could do 200 consecutively. But the end just didn't justify the means. I developed a lot of expansion in the rib cage (I looked like I swallowed a barrel), good respiratory endurance, and a broader back, but not much else in the way of muscle and strength building.

Does that make Hindu push-ups an inferior exercise? Absolutely not. You look at it for what it does do. First though, let's look at high repetitions. I say nix on that. Why? Experience has taught me while there is great satisfaction in completing high consecutive numbers and brief high intensity programs, the opportunity costs in wear on the joints and adrenal overload doesn't justify the effort. It pays to do less repetitions in sets and with more concentration on the muscles being worked; say four sets of 25 reps as opposed to one set of 100.

Now the positives of the Hindu push-ups are the following: they stretch and elongate the spine, they stretch and encapsulate the shoulder muscles and girdle as a whole, and they create an elastic, coordinated strength for the body. Obviously something that could be beneficial for an athlete. Too, if you don't go for speed and concentrate on brushing your chest against the floor as you lower into the low position, you work the triceps and upper chest strongly.

On the negative side, I've seen a few reports of taller individuals having lower back pain from this exercise. As with any exercise, your body dimensions and prior injury make a difference on how suitable certain exercises are for you. As well, overdoing any exercise can cause small micro tears and injuries to the tendons, muscles and ligaments.

Stay tuned for a video tutorial on the Hindu, a.k.a. Tiger Stretch Push-up.