In the fitness world, it’s fair to say that not all exercises are created equal. How difficult you find a move depends not only on how fit you are but what your body is having to do to complete it. And this means that some moves are just, well… harder than others.

Isometric moves – static exercises that put pressure on a specific muscle – can be excruciating (eg holding a plank), while bigger, more explosive moves such as air squats feel tough because our biggest muscles suddenly need large bursts of energy, fast – which is exhausting.

If the humble push up is still literally bringing you to your knees, don’t despair. Here, we take a look at why some moves feel so much tougher than others and discuss some of the best ways you can master them, step by step.

These are the hardest exercises to master no matter how fit you are, according to PTs