Preacher Curl Benches
You don't have to be an active member of any particular house of worship to own one of these. Resistance exercises called preacher curls are performed on this slanted bench that looks sort of like a preacher's pulpit. I find that performing preacher curls on the complimentary bench is the absolute best way to isolate my biceps, so this bench is a permanent fixture in my home gym.
If you can't picture a preacher curl bench off the top of your head I like to compare using one to how I would sit behind a podium or a reverse music stand. The only difference is that a preacher curl bench offers an angled pad for you to lean your forearms on. The pad acts as support, but also prevents you from swinging your arms upwards, and it isolates your bicep muscles completely from any supporting muscles that would help out if you were performing standing or basic seated bicep curls.
I do preacher curls with a standard curl bar, but you can also use an Olympic bar, a combo bar or dumbbells if you prefer. These benches are only about 50 pounds and they don't take up a lot of space. Plus, I purchased mine for only $150 online. Preacher curls are performed like so:
- Position yourself comfortably behind a preacher bench.
- Grasp the barbell with both hands using an shoulder width underhand grip.
- Press the backs of your triceps firmly against the front of preacher pad and your chest firmly against the back.
- With your elbows firmly against the front of the pad curl the barbell up until it almost touches the biceps.
- Lower the barbell until your arms are fully extended.
- Repeat.
