Upper back exercise · body weight
Skin the Cat
The skin the cat is a bodyweight exercise that targets the upper back, with the shoulders and core assisting.
- Target muscle
- Upper back
- Also works
- Shoulders, core
- Equipment
- Body weight
- Body part
- Back
How to do the skin the cat
- Start by hanging from a bar with your arms fully extended and your body relaxed.
- Engage your core and lift your legs up, bringing your knees towards your chest.
- Continue to lift your legs up and over your head, allowing your body to pass through the arms.
- Once your legs are fully extended over your head, begin to lower them back down towards the starting position.
- As you lower your legs, allow your body to pass back through the arms until you are hanging with your arms fully extended again.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps
Start with 3 sets of 10–15 reps, resting 45–60 seconds. When every set feels easy, add reps, slow the lowering phase or move to a harder variation.
Muscles worked
The main muscle is the upper back. The shoulders and core work as secondary muscles. See all upper back exercises or every bodyweight exercise.
