Ok we all know about the standard pushups and situps as the staple exercises to get in shape and build muscle strength. Why stop there when there are so many other great exercises that utilize your own body weight to build your core, increase your fitness levels and build muscles. Here are some of our favorites that you should think about integrating into your fitness routine.

Inverted Row

This exercise is great to build the muscles in your back. Find some ropes, suspension straps or even a smith machine and you are ready to get started. Grab a hold of the option of your choice (ropes, bar, etc.) and face the ceiling. Put your feet out in front of you and you should hang at about a 30 degree angle. You should pull yourself up in a rowing type fashion, with your elbows in close to your sides. Hold at the top for a second or two, then lower yourself back down slowly.

Pull Up / Chin Up

Again, this exercise is great to build the muscles in your back Find a bar that is taller than you. For a pull up, grab the bar with your palms facing away from you. To work your back, widen your grip so your hands are wider than shoulder width apart. Pull yourself up so your head is above the bar. Slowly lower yourself back down. For a chin up, reverse your grip so your palms are facing towards you. Keep a narrower grip, about shoulder width apart. Pull yourself up so your head is above the bar. Slowly lower yourself back down.

Hand Walk-Crawl

This exercise is a great way to build your shoulders and triceps, as well as build up all the small stabilizer muscles and works on your core. You can either do this as a front crawl, with your face down towards the ground, and your butt raised in the air. You can also do this as the crab crawl, by starting in a sitting position on the ground. Put your hands behind you, and get on your hands and feet in a crawl position.

Wall Sit

This exercise is great to build your legs and core. Put your back against a wall and lower yourself so your in a position of 90 degrees at your legs, bent at the knee. Hold this position for as long as you can and feel the muscles burn.

Handstand pushup

This works your chest and shoulders, as well as several of the small stabilizer muscles in your upper body. Get in a handstand position against a wall, with your feet over your head. To work your shoulders more in this exercise, have your heads and hands closer to the wall. To work your chest more in this exercise, put your hands further away from the wall. Now perform a pushup with your feet propped agains the wall.

Dips

This exercise is great for your triceps and chest. Utilize a dip bar. Your hands should be about shoulder width apart. Lean slightly forward for better balance. Now lower yourself down, bending at the elbow. Try to go down as far as possible to maximize the muscle building potential. If no dip bar is available, find two benches. Put your heels on one bench, and reach behind you to put your hands, palms down, on the other bench. In a sitting position, lower yourself down, only bending at the elbows. Push yourself back up to the starting position.

Plyometric Deadlift

Stand on the left leg and bend forward at the hips until the right leg and chest are about parallel to the. In one rapid movement, swing the arms forward, raise the chest and jump up off the floor. Softly land on the left leg again and slowly lower back into the starting position.

Squat

Squats are some of the best exercises for your legs, and this version is good for beginners. Put your hands behind your head, which helps you maintain proper posture and positioning. Keep your back straight and squat down, bending at your knees. You should have your legs be at least at a 45 degree position at the bottom of the squat. Slow sand back up and then repeat.