Chris Hemsworth's chest workout builds upper body strength in just four moves
Develop your chest and work your upper body with Hemsworth's short routine


Chris Hemsworth is best known for his superhero physique, but you don't need a massive home gym to train like him. If you've been looking for a way to build upper body strength, Hemsworth recently posted a four-move chest workout you can do at home.
Although the routine is designed for the gym, you only need a set of the best adjustable dumbbells if you're training at home. These customizable weights combine several dumbbells in one, and you can quickly change the load mid-workout.
The routine was developed for Hemsworth's fitness and wellbeing app, Centr, in collaboration with his personal trainer Luke Zocchi. It's a time-efficient way to train, helping you fit the most effective exercises into a quick dumbbell routine.
Hemsworth uses a chest press machine, but you can switch this to a dumbbell press, laying down flat and raising the weights above your body. You can also change cable flys for dumbbell flys, laying down with the weights lifted above you and lowering them to the side.
It's a short routine, so the aim is to train intensely and do all four exercises without a break. At the end of the round, take a one-minute rest, then repeat the round four times for an effective upper body workout you can do even when you're short on time.
Watch Chris Hemsworth's four-move chest workout
A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth)
A photo posted by on
Each move is designed to work several muscles in your upper body simultaneously to get the most from this short routine. This isn't too surprising, as Zocchi is a fan of these multi-muscle compound exercises to build muscle and burn fat.
We've listed all the moves you need to get started if you want to give the session a go. You'll do all four exercises back-to-back before taking a one-minute rest, then repeat the round three more times.
Get the Fit&Well Newsletter
Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox.
Chris Hemsworth's four-move chest routine
- Incline chest press x12
- Seated chest press x12
- Cable flys x10
- Wide-arm push-up x10
It's an effective routine for building upper body strength, but dumbbells can be expensive—even dumbbells on sale can set you back $100 or more—and you need to find a place to store them, which can be difficult, especially in apartments or shared houses.
Helpfully, if you're after a way to work your chest and build upper body strength without breaking the bank, all you need is a set of the best resistance bands. Then you can take on the best chest workouts with resistance bands, even when you're away from home.
James is a London-based journalist and Fitness Editor at Fit&Well. He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf. In 2014 he was diagnosed with a chronic health condition, which spurred his interest in health, fitness, and lifestyle management.
In the years since, he has become a devoted meditator, experimented with workout styles and exercises, and used various gadgets to monitor his health. In recent times, James has been absorbed by the intersection between mental health, fitness, sustainability, and environmentalism. When not concerning himself with health and technology, James can be found excitedly checking out each week’s New Music Friday releases.
-
The one type of movement you should include in your workouts to boost core strength and stability
Workout Make sure you're doing this one move to injury-proof your body
By Maddy Biddulph Published
-
If I had weak knees, these are the strength exercises I’d do to build strength—no equipment needed
workout Build muscles around this lower-body joint by doing these moves
By Maddy Biddulph Published
-
Chris Hemsworth's new home gym The Shed is a one-stop shop for getting shredded—here's how to recreate it for less
Home gym Hemsworth debuted The Shed on YouTube last week and it's kitted out with Centr home gym equipment that's reduced for Black Friday
By Sam Rider Published
-
Chris Hemsworth says this quick upper-body workout will help you cut body fat and gain muscle
The routine is inspired by the new Power Shred program in his Centr fitness app
By Harry Bullmore Published
-
Build full-body strength and muscle at home with this 15-minute resistance band workout from Chris Hemsworth
Workout Build muscle, boost your metabolism and improve your cardiovascular fitness with the Thor star's short routine
By Harry Bullmore Published
-
This 17-minute workout from Chris Hemsworth will help you build full-body strength
Workout Build strength, develop your core and improve your cardiovascular fitness with this routine from the Thor star
By Harry Bullmore Published
-
I tried Chris Hemsworth's four-move core workout, and I can't wait to do it again
Workout This short routine worked my mid-section hard, but it reminded me how much fun exercise can be
By Harry Bullmore Published
-
Use Chris Hemsworth's eight-move ab workout to build core strength
Workout The Thor actor has shared his 'go-to core workout' — and you don't need a gym to try it for yourself
By Harry Bullmore Published
-
Chris Hemsworth's five-move dumbbell workout builds upper body muscle
Workout It only takes five moves and a set of dumbbells to develop strength with this Chris Pratt-approved workout
By James Frew Published
-
Build muscle and burn fat with Chris Hemsworth's 10-move dumbbell workout
Workout The Thor star's high-intensity routine helps you develop lean muscle and drop pounds
By James Frew Published