Exercise Comparison
Atlas Stones vs Seated Good Mornings




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Atlas Stones
Instructions
Atlas Stones
Begin with the atlas stone between your feet. Bend at the hips to wrap your arms vertically around the Atlas Stone, attempting to get your fingers underneath the stone. Many stones will have a small flat portion on the bottom, which will make the stone easier to hold.
Pulling the stone into your torso, drive through the back half of your feet to pull the stone from the ground.
As the stone passes the knees, lap it by sitting backward, pulling the stone on top of your thighs.
Sit low, getting the stone high onto your chest as you change your grip to reach over the stone. Stand, driving through with your hips. Close distance to the loading platform, and lean back, extending the hips to get the stone as high as possible.
Seated Good Mornings
Set up a box in a power rack. The pins should be set at an appropriate height. Begin by stepping under the bar and placing it across the back of the shoulders, not on top of your traps. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and rotate your elbows forward, attempting to bend the bar across your shoulders.
Remove the bar from the rack, creating a tight arch in your lower back. Keep your head facing forward. With your back, shoulders, and core tight, push your knees and butt out and you begin your descent. Sit back with your hips until you are seated on the box. This will be your starting position.
Keeping the bar tight, bend forward at the hips as much as possible. If you set the pins to what would be parallel, you not only have a safety if you fail, but know when to stop.
Pause just above the pins and reverse the motion until your torso it upright.
Verdict
Both exercises target the lower back. Atlas Stones is a expert exercise using other, while Seated Good Mornings is intermediate and uses barbell. Choose Seated Good Mornings if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Atlas Stones for a greater challenge.