Being lighter will make pull-ups easier, but so will getting stronger. The final section of the workout involves a cooldown run or bike ride for 10 minutes, followed by a good upper-body stretch.

A 65-year-old is proving that fitness training and building strength isn’t just for young people. Teresa Burkett, who shares inspirational videos doing pull-ups and strength exercises on her ...

Add a weight vest for push-ups and pull-ups to overload muscles. Perform negative reps by slowly lowering yourself from the top position of a pull-up or push-up, fighting gravity for 3-5 seconds.

“If you can do a good pull-up, this means your back is strong,” he says. For that reason, pull-ups are fantastic for posture, too. If you can’t do a pull-up, no biggie—many people can’t.