GREAT DANE!

FITNESS PROFILE

Dane Percheron's laundry bills must be sky-high. After all, the super-ripped Canadian spends most of his time sweating hard. If he's not working as a dancer in a club, gyrating under the lights, then he's likely to be found at a gym, pumping iron, or outdoors doing any number of aerobic exercises or playing sports. Hey, you don't get a body like Great Dane's without a ton of effort.

"I'm about as active as a human can be," says the 5'-5" and 175-pound native of Montreal. "I hit the weights six times a week, then work in a lot of different aerobic workouts. "Boxing, martial arts, in-line skating, dancing, hockey and more. But it's all got to be fun."

Percheron understands that while building a peak physique isn't easy, you can't just perform hardcore exercise over and over without enjoying it, otherwise burnout will occur. "Focus on feeling and looking good," he advises. "Don't get into doing a dull routine over and over, or pursuing a target weight. Fitness should be a lifelong pursuit, and you have to be able to enjoy the process in order for it to last."

Bodybuilding is also on Percheron's plate. He's competed in several competitions, doing well, and sees being on stage as a great way to express his muscularity and dancing ability. "To do well as a bodybuilder you need to move your muscles and body in ways that get the audience and judges to respond positively. So get in the habit of checking yourself out in the mirror to chisel great symmetry."

DANE PERCHERON'S PUSH-UPS PROGRAM

Model, bodybuilder and dancer Dane Percheron works out hard six times a week. He has built up his impressive upper body partly with the use of push-ups. Upper-torso weakness can be overcome with a stringent program of push-ups, requiring very little in terms of equipment. Chest, deltoids, triceps and shoulders are beneficiaries of this ancient exercise. There are numerous variations on the push-up theme to stifle boredom and zero in on specific muscle groups. Feet and legs should be parallel for all push-ups, with back and legs straight throughout. Exhale while pushing and inhale on the return.

KNEE-HIGH PUSHOFF
Using a knee-high surface, place hands on top and lower until your chest touches the surface. Push back to starting position.

INVERTED PUSH-UPS
This exercise works deltoid muscles. Place hands six inches wider than shoulder-width with fingers facing each other. Lower until upper arms are parallel with the floor.

ONE-ARM PUSH-UPS
Grasp your left wrist with your right hand and push up to arms' length. Perform sets with each arm pushing up.

MODIFIED PUSH-UPS
This exercise increases the load on shoulder and chest muscles. Keep your body straight, with feet on a chair. Lower until your chest touches the ground, then push back up.

FRONT PUSH-UPS
This exercise increases the load on triceps and shoulders. Align yourself between two benches, with a hand on each. Push up, pause, and return down.

INCLINE PUSH-UPS
Place two benches or other suitable objects a little more than shoulder-width apart. Lower your upper body between them, pause, and push back up.

CLOSE-GRIP PUSH-UPS
This exercise increases the load on inner chest. Place hands next to each other under the center of your chest, fingers facing forward. Lower until chest touches hands, then press back up, without elbows locking.

THREE-POINT PUSH-UPS
This exercise works the tricep muscles. Overlap the fingers of one hand on the
other under your chest. Lower down, then press up through the heels of your hands.