One of the most basic exercises in existence is the deadlift. At face value, it's as simple as the popular Planet Fitness joke says—you pick it up and put it down. Sure, just about anyone can work up ...

Set up a barbell on a rack. Heeping your core tight and back neutral, drive your hips forward and pull your shoulders back to deadlift the bar up to the top position. Return to the rack and repeat.

Sure, the barbell gets a lot of praise for its strength-boosting benefits, but in some scenarios, it’s not the right tool for the job. Especially for those new to barbell exercises like deadlifts and ...